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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-17-15 MinutesTakima City Council Partnerships Committee Friday, April 17th, 2015 Members in attendance: City of Yakima staff in attendance: - Mayor Micah Cawley - City Manager Tony O'Rourke - Councilmember Adkison - City Attorney Jeff Cutter - Utilities & Engineering Director Debbie Cook - Comm. & Public Affairs Dir. Randy Beehler Guests in attendance: - Yakima County Commissioner Mike Leita - Yakima County Director of Public Services Vern Redifer Mayor Cawley called the meeting to order at 11:11 am - Discuss Yakima County proposal for the City of Yakima to enter into an interlocal agreement which transfers the assets and responsibilities of Drainage Improvement Districts #29, #38 #39, #40, #41, and #48 to the City Commissioner Leita and Director of Public Services Redifer presented information about Drainage Improvement Districts ("DIDs") and their purposes. DIDs are special purpose districts formed to construct and maintain infrastructure that drains excess surface water from properties within each district. As with other special purpose districts, DIDs are typically operated by a three-member board. If a DID board ceases, for whatever reason, under state statute responsibility for operation of a DID falls to the county within which the DID is located. As long as two decades ago, the boards of six DIDs (listed in the agenda item title above) located within the Yakima city limits ceased, and responsibility for the operation of the DIDs fell to Yakima County. The County is now proposing that the City take over responsibility for operation of the six DIDs. City Manager O'Rourke suggested that the City needs to perform due diligence with regard to the condition of the six DIDs and what financial obligation the City may have were it to take on operation of the DIDs. Commissioner Leita encouraged the City to respond by the end of May to the County's proposal for the City to take over operation of the DIDs. City Manager O'Rourke said the City will move forward with its due diligence with that timeline in mind. The meeting was adjourned at 11:56 am.