HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/04/2010 04B-3 Minutes 04-14-2010 Council Economic Development Committee 4 -lt 3 —,3
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CouncilEconomic Development Committee
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
2:30 p.m.
Council Members present: M aureen Adkison, David Edler, Bill Lover
Staff: Dick Zais, Dave Zabell, Bill Cook, Joan Davenport, Joe Caruso, Jeff Peters
Participating Guests: Joe Morrier
Discussion regarding property transfer: Bill Cook introduced a letter of intent regarding a
proposal to transfer property, including a sidewalk vacation. The transfer is related to "A"
Street improvements as part of Phase IV of the Downtown Yakima Futures Initiative project.
He noted that the actual process of vacating a sidewalk must go to the Hearing Examiner
and the full Council for approval. Under this proposal, the sidewalk immediately north of the
old Yakima Mall would be vacated west from Naches Avenue to where the improved
sidewalk begins, just east of Third Street. In exchange, the City would receive ten feet of
right -of -way on the north side of "A" Street from Naches Avenue to 4th Street. This would
allow parking to be changed from parallel to angle parking on "A" Street. The number of
parking spaces gained on "A" Street would exceed the number that would be removed on
Naches Avenue to allow an entry way into the hotel that Joe Morrier has proposed for the
old J.C. Penney building. Chairman Adkison asked Mr. Cook to alter the letter to show the
previous number and the new number of parking spaces. With that change, the motion to
move forward with the proposal was unanimously approved.
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Update from Yakima County re floodplain: Yakima County Surface Water Manager Terry
Keenhan talked to the Committee about the status of the FEMA maps. He showed the
current version of the Wide Hollow Creek — Shaw Creek maps. Joan Davenport noted that
the new draft working maps are very different than the city's current floodplain maps and
asked Terry to talk about the public process. Terry said that new preliminary maps will be
available approximately June 1. There will be a 30 -day comment period, followed by a 90-
day appeal period. Appeals must be based on technical information, not personal impact.
A letter of final determination (LFD) is generated following the appeal period and the maps
become effective in approximately six months. When the maps become effective, they are
in place with insurance companies and the community must have adopted them, or the
community is considered non - compliant. The 30 -day input period will run approximately
June 1 — July 1. The appeal period will run July 1 — November 1, 2010, and they new maps
will go into effect approximately April 30, 2011. The city must adopt the maps by April 30,
2011. The Ahtanum Creek maps are running about two months behind Wide Hollow.
Ms. Davenport asked the Committee how they felt about the timing for adoption, and noted
that there are advantages to not waiting. Dave Edler encouraged staff to be working toward
solutions. Mr. Keenhan said that a new channel might help solve some of the drainage
problems. The Committee requested a copy of the channel map.
Explore community visioning process: Chairman Adkison reported that she talked to
several of the people that were part of the 2010 visioning project. One person told her they
felt the concept was somewhat flawed from the outset because financial considerations
0 were not part of the process. Dick Zais talked about the successful visioning process that
Medford went through when the community decided to become a state of the art regional
medical center. The Committee agreed that while some of the concepts from the last
process might be worth a second look, now is not the time to embark on a new process. A •
motion to the full Council recommending no action on a visioning process at this time was
unanimously approved.
Planning for Capital Facilities presentation to full Council:
The full Council has identified "planning for capital facilities" as a Council priority for 2010,
and preliminary work was assigned to the Council Economic Development Committee.
Dave Zabell distributed a packet of documents and explained that staff has attempted to
provide them with an overview of a very large number of documents that encompass the
city's capital facility needs. Many of the plans are mandated; most need to be updated,
prioritized and planned,for. He mentioned that it would be helpful to have more dialog with
citizens in regard to capital facilities planning. In addition to mandates, there are
advantages to having solid plans — a coordinated effort and visioning process can make
good things happen. Projects can be combined and leveraged. Dick Zais suggested a
special meeting of the Committee when the members have had a chance to familiarize
themselves with the documents. Staff will need further guidance from the Committee to
begin to prepare for the presentation to Council.
Sandwich Board (sidewalk signs) Ordinance:
Taking direction from the April 6 Council Business Meeting, Joan Davenport reported that
staff's recommendation is to remove sidewalk signs from the zoning ordinance and to
process instead under the right -of -way use permit chapter. Recommendations from Council
can be included, such as one sign per business, no moving parts on the signs and moving
the signs off the sidewalks at dusk. Councilmember Lover suggested a one -time fee.
Councilmember Edler wants a chance to talk to the downtown merchant groups. He also
asked for a discussion about sign content. Joe Caruso said the posters on the Dream Girls
signs meet current regulations. Ms. Davenport said that one suggestion to control content
would be to limit sidewalk signs to text only. Jeff Peters reported that three of the ten
communities he researched regulate content of sandwich board signs. Bill Cook suggested
that the Committee and staff might consider banning "electrified" signs because of cord
safety issues. The Committee's direction to staff was to continue to enforce the code as it is
for the time being. Mr. Edler asked for a list of bullet points that can be presented to CDY,
as soon as possible so they can weigh in quickly: Chairman Adkison echoed the request for
the Westside Merchants. Mr. Lover asked for an opinion from the Legal Department on
banning campaign signs downtown (Walnut to MLK — 7th Avenue to 9th Street). Dick Zais
also directed the Legal Department to provide a memo on what content may be regulated.
The next meeting of the Council Economic Development Committee is scheduled for
Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at 2:30 p.m.
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Maureen Adkison, Chair / a te
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