HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/14/2023 Council Retreat 125
MINUTES
YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL RETREAT
March 14, 2023
Washington Fruit Community Center, 602 N.4th Street, Yakima, WA
4 p.m. Retreat continuation
1. Roll Call
Present: Mayor Janice Deccio, presiding,Assistant Mayor Soneya Lund and Councilmembers Matt
Brown, Patricia Byers, Danny Herrera and Eliana Macias
Staff: City Manager Robert Harrison, Communication& Public Affairs Manager Randy Beehler and
City Clerk Sonya Claar Tee
Absent: Councilmember Holly Cousens
2. Public Comment(allow 15 minutes)
None.
3. City Council Retreat Follow Up and Budget Discussion
As facilitator, Communication& Public Affairs Manager Randy Beehler outlined the retreat agenda.
City Manager Harrison reviewed a memo on the City budget, format and schedule, noting the focus
will be on all City's services funded by the general fund.
4. Status of Downtown Planning Efforts
Community Development Director Davenport reviewed a PowerPoint on downtown planning efforts,
including challenges in the Central Business District and a status update on the 2014 Downtown
Master Plan action steps. Council discussed enforcing truck routes in order to remove trucks from
Yakima Avenue. Ms. Davenport noted this would require a traffic and engineering study as well as
new traffic signals. Public Works Director Schafer discussed clean city enforcement in the
downtown area.
Assistant Mayor Lund requested a future discussion on the Downtown Master Plan action steps
with the exception of the plaza, with Council agreement. City Manager Harrision reported downtown
cruising is coming soon,which will result in complaints. Councilmember Brown noted the ordinance
doesn't specify where cruising begins and ends.Assistant Mayor Lund suggested starting two
blocks west of Naches, which may alleviate some complaints. Mayor Deccio shared her concern
that semi-trucks were participating. Chief Murray stated he will provide a report from the YPD Traffic
division related to cruising in the near future.
5. Downtown Improvement Projects
Public Works Director Schafer reviewed improvement projects that have occurred within the past
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few years and noted downtown infrastructure conditions. He also mentioned the 2017 LED lighting
project, with an estimated cost of$2.3 million for the downtown area.
Assistant Mayor Lund and Councilmember Brown shared a concern about a lack of lighting in the
City parking lot on Second Street. City Manager Harrison noted there are no funds currently
available to pay for improved lighting in the City-owned parking lots. Councilmember Brown asked
about obtaining funding from the legislature to help with more projects. City Manager Harrison noted
there are not as many funding opportunities available as there were in the past and the City recently
recieved funding assistance for the North First Street project as well as Miller Park.
6. 2022 Fire Response Statistics
Fire Chief Markham provided more detail on the number of emergency fire and medical calls in the
downtown area. Councilmember Byers questioned how many house fires had smoke alarms. Chief
Markham will see if the information is recorded.
7. Downtown Safety Issues
Councilmember Byers shared her frustration with the number of crimes committed downtown
considering the City's investments and asked about utilizing electronic home monitoring for chronic
offenders. Chief Murray noted the cost of home monitioring is paid by the client to avoid losing their
job. Councilmember Brown asked how many offenders are chronic offenders. Chief Murray will see
if there is a report that could be provided. Councilmember Macias asked about crimes happening
on North First Street and what can be done. Chief Murray reported the Police Department is
working with Code Enforcement and Legal to abate issues on North First Street similar to a recent
abatement in the Garfield Avenue area.
City Manager Harrison suggested a future study session with homeless partners to discuss
solutions, which Council agreed would be helpful.
8. Adjournment
MOTION: Lund moved and Byers seconded to adjourn to the next Council regular
meeting on March 21, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The motion
carried by unanimous vote, Cousens absent. The meeting adjourned at 5:46 p.m.
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