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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/03/1985 Business Meeting 138 SEPTEMBER 3, 1985 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 Clarence Barnett presiding. Council members Pat Berndt, Lynn Buchanan, Lynn Carmichael and Jerry Foy present on roll call. Council member Henry Beauchamp present at 2:10 p.m. and.Council member Jack Sparling present at 2:15 p.m. Staff members 'present were City Manager Zais, Assistant City Attorney Vanek and City Clerk Roberts. 2. INVOCATION The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Council member Foy. Proclamation - Mayor Barnett presented Shane Roberts, Administrator of Osteopathic Hospital., with a proclamation declaring the week of September 8 -14, 1985 as National Osteopathic Medicine Week. 3. OPEN DISCUSSION FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER Mayor Barnett stated it has been requested that Item No. 7 be discussed prior to Item No. 6. It was the general consensus of the Council to discuss Item No. 7 out of sequence of the agenda. 4. REPORT FROM TRANSIT DIVISION REGARDING PROPOSED BUS TRANSFER FACILITY Bill Schultz, Transit Manager, commented the interim staff report reflects the Transit Committee met and reviewed the report submitted by Doug Johnson, Yakima Valley Conference of Governments. It was determined that four of the sites had to be eliminated due to various problems. The Cammittee's recommendation is to continue investigation of site number 13 in further detail. Mayor Barnett questioned from where would the remaining 20% funding crane if UMTA funds 80%. Bill Schultz responded the remaining 20% would come from the Transit Capital Reserve Fund. Discussion followed regarding the possibility of the Federal funding being reduced. Council members deliberated on the suitability of using site number 13 as a bus transfer facility, considering the necessity for partial closure ofEast "A" Street. Council member Foy expressed his concern about closing East "A" Street because it will be a major access to the proposed water slide development. He questioned if staff had considered the lots on the northeast corner of 8th Street and E. Yakima Avenue, across from the Yakima Center. Mr. Schultz stated those lots had been considered, however, they are part of the Convention Center Master Plan and the City has to keep those lots available for that purpose. City Manager Zais stated this preliminary report does not contain a traffic engineering analysis, and staff has yet to investigate the Yakima Center parking lot requirements. Council member Foy inquired if the additional work, as mentioned in the staff recommendation, would be performed by staff. Mr. Schultz stated most of it would be done by City staff, however, they would still utilize COG's staff. Mayor Barnett suggested staff obtain a traffic engineering analysis and investigate any possible restrictive convenants on the Center parking lot before Council gives final consideration to the Transit Cammittee's recommendation. 5. REPORT FROM CITY MANAGEMENT REGARDING STATUS OF COUNCIL WORKSHOP PRIORITIES /FUTURE GOALS City Manager Zais commented this is a report that he and the Assistant City Manager prepared to provide Council with a comprehensive status of the goals /priorities that were established 139 SEPTEMBER 3, 1985 by the five Council members present at the workshop. He stated this same exercise' was conducted by staff and that information was also included in the Council packets. He commented that staff is working on most of these issues listed in the report. Mayor Barnett stated it was . his understanding the Chamber of Cammerce has reviewed the Research Council study that was made scan time ago and is'preparing an update on that report. He stated that report should became available in a few weeks and questioned if Council would like to review the results of that presentation in conjunction with report. Council member Sparling concurred with that idea. Council member Berndt asked if a staff /Council workshop was still a possibility, as previously discussed. City Manager Zais stated he had thought to do that after the first of the year unless Council wants to hold a special meeting to do so. It was the general consensus of the Council to have staff bring this back at the time the Chamber of Commerce makes their presentation. 6. CABLE TV PRESENTATION Presentation followed discussion of Item No. 7. 7. OTHER BUSINESS City Manager Zais stated that staff has been providing Council with information regarding budget impacts such as the Fair Labor Standards Act. He stated this is the year for Federal budget mandates; another one has been issued for 1986, however, this one may still be eligible for lobbying efforts. In the new budget package that has been enacted by Congress they are requiring Medicare and Social Security coverage for state and local employees who were not previously covered, i.e. Fire and Police. • He stated staff has just ascertained the exact employees this would effect. In the case of new employees hired after October 1, any new employee would be required to pay the full' 7.1% Social Security tax; the same is true for the City. Depending upon how many new employees are hired within a year, it be a $15,000 to $20,000 - impact: All current and new' employees have to pay the 1.44% Medicare tax. It would be about another $73,000 to $75,000. This budget impact could be in the $90,000 'range and more. City Manager Zais stated he has been informed the City's' insurance for 1986 could double and could be significantly higher if we maintain the same package. He stated the City pays an annual premium of $207,000. Staff will be looking at a number of options to reduce that cost; having the City assume more risk. Council ' member Carmichael reported The Association of Washington Cities is trying - to assist cities and other organizations to form a task force, and the counties have agreed to join to take this to the State legislature. 6. CABLE TV PRESENTATION Bruce Crest, Cable Communications Coordinator, presented a 20 minute video, of which the first part was from the Tacana Municipal Programming and the balance was an overview of sane programs which had been locally produced. 8. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to came before the Council, it was MOVED by Carmichael, seconded by Buchanan, that this meeting be adjourned at the hour of 3:30 •.m. Unanimously carried' by voice vote. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE B I,LIi ► + .�. . Date S ounc i 1 Member ' ► -- ��- Date S Council Member ATTEST: /r . �_.._._...,.m ........__,.m- ..:.... ._�,..,,.:,.. ..fit _ � .. City Clerk Mayor