HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/21/2009 04B Minutes 07-07-2009 Council Intergovernmental Relations Committee £ ,'" ,'w, - Ya „,„,„, ,,,, omm.ttee_,,tee _ng ._ - „ .
C
Ill
ouncil Intergovernmenta(iataons Committee
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
3:00 p.m.
CED Large Conference Room
Council present: Dave Edler, Rick Ensey, Bill Lover
Commissioner: Mike Leita
City staff present: Dick Zais, Dave Zabell, Jeff Cutter, Bill Cook, Joan Davenport, Sue
Ownby
County staff present: Vern Redifer, Steve Erickson, Craig Warner . ,
Union Gap representatives: Robert Noe, Bill Rathbone
Update on City /County purchasing merger
Sue Ownby reported that the target merge date is. October 1, 2009. She referred to the
Executive Summary of the Purchasing Merger and Implementation Plan. Work continues
regarding a variety of functions including technology, workforce, E- procurement, P- cards,
furnishings, work space and County decentralization.
Crisis Intervention Training
Mayor Edler reported that the diversion program is saving city and county funds, and that
there may be an opportunity for more funding if the city and county partner with other cities O
as well. Commissioner Leita gave permission for the Mayor to work with Kim Tully to
attempt to secure additional funding for the program.
Bill Lover reminded that because this may indicate an increase in transitional and clean .
and sober housing; everyone needs to realize that the city has an ordinance that allows
only five unrelated, people per house in zones R -1 and R -2.
Reconstitution of joint board for urban area
Steve Erickson reported on the historical significance of the Regional Planning Agreement:
Its purpose was to set up an interim Planning Commission to facilitate some common
standards within the Yakima Urban Area and to set up.a joint board to direct the interim
Planning Commission. This initial agreement was modified in 1977, creating the Regional
Planning Commission (RPC). With the adoption of the Urban Area Comprehensive Plan,
the urban growth areas were no longer in sync with the original boundary as established
by the Regional Planning Agreement - the urban growth area became larger than the
original urban area. Steve distributed a memo with a list of options for suggested
alternatives to the current RPC /Planning Agreement structure.
Commissioner Leita said the county is flexible but we need to be more in sync. The
current RPC has Union Gap participation in City of Yakima issues and he does not see the
logic in that arrangement.
Joan Davenport pointed out that the first option on Steve's list appears to be the intent of Ill
the seventh amendment that happened in 2006. It was pretty clear that the intent was to
•
W ake sure that any change in the growth areas for Yakima, Union Gap and Terrace
Heights will become, in effect, the sewer service area. Vern Redifer said that we failed to
amend the planning agreement when we did the 2006 amendment. The planning
agreement and the sewer agreement were together in the beginning but we've treated
them differently since. Bill Cook said that the importance of the distinction is that the
Coolidge area, for example, would not be included in the RPC jurisdiction. Jeff Cutter said
that he believes that the RPC jurisdiction is the Urban Growth Area.
Commissioner Leita asked if the City of Yakima continues to believe it is in their interest to
have Union Gap's participation in the Planning Commission. Mayor Edler asked Bill
Rathbone if Union Gap wanted to continue representation on the joint board and regional
planning commission. Bill Rathbone replied that there are a number of issues of joint
interest and that the Union Gap Mayor and City Council would like to stay on the Regional
Planning Commission. Mayor Edler was appreciative of Union Gap's stance on the matter
and said that the Yakima City Council and staff would make a decision outside of the
Intergovernmental setting. Councilmember Ensey added that we have been trying to
_ ascertain Union Gap's position and now we know. Commissioner Leita suggested that the
respective entities assess the options (from Steve Erickson's memo) and bring their
decision to the next Intergovernmental Committee meeting. If the decisions do not agree,
•
we will decide how to proceed.
Four Party Agreement (4PA)
Mayor Edler asked Bill Rathbone to speak to the Union Gap Council a bout an update of
the 4PA. Councilmember Ensey asked about the process to update. Mayor Edler said
that the update will be a lengthy discussion but the first order of business is to produce a
document that allows the agreement to continue. Then the stakeholders need to come
together and update,the agreement. He also said we will make an ioutreach to Terrace
Heights. Commissioner Leita asked if staff should begin to work on the update of the
agreement. Dave Zabell said we should work to put together an agreement to continue
the agreement while we work on the larger issues.
Airport Overlay
Commissioner Leita said that the airport overlay is one of the issues pressing us toward
accomplishing the solidity of the RPC. The process to declare the county as the lead
SEPA agency needs to be determined. We need to know which planning commissions are
going to be involved. He said that the county will do the research and will bring it back to
the Intergovernmental Committee, probably at an August meeting.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan
Steve Erickson talked about the draft review schedule for the West Valley Neighborhood
Plan. The initial staff draft will be available for city staff review the week of July 20. County
and city staff can provide comment through the end of the second week in August. By the
end of August a draft will be ready to submit to the joint board and RPC. Then the public
review process will begin. Steve estimated twelve weeks from the RPC through adoption
• by public officials.
2nd Street & "A" Street Update
Commissioner Leita suggested that if the city would like to extend sidewalk improvements
to that block, construction will occur this fall and that would be a good time to do it.
Bill Cook called everyone's attention to the Intergovernmental Committee — Items Pending
list..
The next meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, July 28,
at 3:00 p.m.
Approv -d by:
�av Edler, Chair Date