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Home My WebLink About03/03/1987 Study Session 10 MARCH 3, 1987 STUDY SESSION 1. ROLL CALL The City Council met in session on this date at 2:00 p.m.. in the Council' Chambers of City Hall, Yakima, Washington. 'Mayor Henry Beauchamp, presiding, Council members Clarence Barnett, Pat Berndt, and Bernard Sims present on roll call. City Manager Zais, City Attorney Andrews, City. -Clerk Roberts, and Deputy City Clerk Toney also present. Council members Lynn Buchanan, Lynn Carmichael, and Jerry Foy absent and excused. 2. INVOCATION The Invocation was given by City Attorney Fred Andrews. 3. OPEN DISCUSSION FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER Mayor Beauchamp read a resolution of appreciation and commendation for services performed by City Attorney Andrews. The Resolution having been read in it's entirety, it was MOVED .by Berndt, seconded by Barnett, that the resolution be`adopted.'`Uhanimously carried by roll call vote. Buchanan, Carmichael and Foy absent. RESOLUTION NO. D -5332, A RESOLUTION of appreciation and commendation for the outstanding services performed by Fred H. Andrews during his 25 -year tenure as City Attorney for the City of Yakima. A Proclamation was read by Mayor Beauchamp in which the week of March 8 -14, 1987 was declared "Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week ". Ribbons and buttons with the theme "Fly High Naturally" printed on than were distributed to the Council members by Dave Schneider and Sister Janice Burke. Council member Barnett asked the Council to write a letter of endorsement supporting the 1st Substitute Senate Bill 5070 which changes certain provisions relating to alcohol and drug abuse. He stated this is an important issue and ties in with the effort being made in the downtown area. He asked Chief Green to comment on the issue briefly. Chief Green stated the engrossed 1st Substitute Senate Bill 5070 is in the House and scheduled to be heard next week. It deals with alcohol and drugs and amending the state law pertaining to consumption and possession of alcohol. It also includes the one party consent in that it authorizes the recording of certain telephone and other communications when it involves certain drug related criminal activities. He stated thirty -seven other states currently have one party consent. He encouraged Council to voice their support for this bill. It was MOVED by Barnett, seconded by Berndt, that Council endorse this and direct the Mayor to write the appropriate letter of endorsement to our legislative delegation. Unanimously carried by voice vote. Buchanan, Carmichael and Foy absent. • 4. STATUS REPORT ON CBD REDEVELOPMENT STUDY /CONSULTANT PROJECTS Glenn Rice, Director of Community & Economic Development, commented this process began over a year ago with informal meetings with some of the downtown merchants and other concerned citizens regarding the physical and financial status of the downtown area. From those meetings, the comprehensive downtown revitalization plan has evolved. Associate Planner Larry Lehman reviewed several charts depicting expenditures to date, the type of surveys conducted to date, and caning events. Mr. Lehman stated the amount budgeted for this project was $119,821.28 and there is a current balance of $79,287.23. Mr. Lehman stated the majority of the studies and surveys have been completed at this time, while the consultants have yet to compile and analyze the data. Mr. Lehman pointed out the economic study has been supplemented by A &M -2/1 MARCH 3,.1987- '11 • contributions from a number of local business people and land owners,-'totaling He stated the ambunt still expected to be collected by the private sector is $3,275. Mr. Rice concluded, • stating this study involved a 110 block area from the Freeway to 10th Avenue, and from Spruce to Lincoln Avenue and included a• study of specific issues, such as parking facilities, the North Front Street area, the empty buildings downtown, the railroad tracks, the , Convention Center, traffic circulation, the infra - structure, etc. It was MOVED by Berndt, seconded by Sims, to accept the report. Unanimously carried by voice vote. Buchanan, Carmichael and Foy absent. 5. REPORT FROM DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND'BUDGET REGARDING STATUS OF UTILITY BILLING SYSTEM - • Director of Finance and Budget John Hanson commented briefly on this item stating staff has done an exceptional job in developing a new utility billing system for the City and deserves to be • recognized for_ efforts. _ He invited Council to tour the Utility Office and the Data Processing Center to view some of the new equipment which will be used to issue the utility bills. Bert Tabayoyon, Customer__ Manager, reviewed the materials submitted in the Council,_packet and explained this system replaces the old. utility, billing system on the County's computer. He further,`.;exp1 fined ;the ,most obvious_ _change . is the . utility bill 'format which will itemize the charges, add information'about extra ' charges, and includes an eight line message space. This system replaces the current suspension notice with a reminder notice. Mr. Tabayoyon, stated.: in_ _the`_.future a self - addressed return envelope will be included in the utility billing. This system is fully automated and replaces the manual system. He introduced Troy Tschauner and Tom Sellstead who were responsible for writing all of the programs for the design, development and implementation of the new utility billing system. He added a tremendous amount of work was accomplished in the last eight • months to make this system operable. The Customer Services staff was also given recognition for maintaining two utility billing systems over the past two months. A brief discussion ensued regarding the cost of postage for the new billing system. Council member Sims asked what costs are involved in mailing the self - addressed envelope with the billings. Mr. Tabayoyon stated he does not remember the exact amount but can provide that information after checking his file. Council member Sims questioned if this is approved today, is Council consenting to the fact that the return envelope will be included. Mr. Tabayoyon responded in the negative. City Manager Zais stated the return envelope was proposed and contemplated as a part of the final development of the system, but if Council would prefer to wait and evaluate that cost, staff can certainly do that. He stated otherwise it would be staff's plan to include it. Mayor Beauchamp commented the concept is nice for the customer, but he has concerns regarding its cost. John Klingele, 1312 West Walnut Street, addressed Council to request that the billing include a breakdown of the charges, per unit used, for sewer and water. Mr. Hanson stated the standard rates could be included on the billing and this would allow the users to calculate their own billing. Following further discussion, it was MOVED by Berndt, seconded by Barnett, to accept the report. Unanimously carried by voice vote. Buchanan, Carmichael and Foy absent. Mayor Beauchamp voted in favor of the motion, however, stated in four months he would like to know the cost for the additional mailing. 6. OTHER BUSINESS • None Information Items Items of information supplied to Council were: Agenda for • March 4, 1987 Yakima Hearing Examiner meeting; Memorandum from Street and Refuse Divisions Manager regarding Spring Rally "87" /City Spring Clean -Up. 2/19/87; Memorandum from City Attorney • A &M -2/2 , • 12 MARCH 3, 1987 regarding Damage rClaims Referred .to Insurance Company., - 2/18/87; and Minutes of the January .28,• 1987 Yakima. Housing.- Authority meeting:, - . 7. EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING City Manager Zais .announced the Executive Session regarding collective-bargaining will be postponed for. approximately one week. . 8. ADJOURNMENT TO MARCH 10, 1987 AT 11:30 A.M. AT THE TOWNE PLAZA There being no further business to come before the Council, it was MOVED by Barnett, seconded by Sims, to adjourn,to March 10th at . 11:30 a.m. at the Towne Plaza. Unanimously carried by voice vote. Buchanan•, . Carmichael, and Foy absent. 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