HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-19-15 MinutesTakima City Council
Partnerships Committee
Thursday, February 19th, 2015
Members in attendance: City of Yakima staff in attendance:
- Mayor Micah Cawley - City Manager Tony O'Rourke
- Asst. Mayor Kathy Coffey - Comm. & Public Affairs Dir. Randy Beehler
Mayor Cawley called the meeting to order at 11:07 am.
Letter of Support Request from Yakima Specialties, Inc.
Yakima Specialties, Inc. Executive Director Tom Gannon told the committee about a project his
organization is seeking federal funding for, which would result in the construction of a system to
convert waste wood from neighboring forests into steam. The resulting steam would be utilized in
Yakima Specialties' commercial laundry facility and the neighboring John I. Haas hop processing
facility. Mr. Gannon requested the Yakima City Council provide a letter of support to the USDA
Forest Service regarding the waste wood biomass project.
Action: Mayor Cawley made a motion for the committee to recommend to the full City Council that
a letter of support be provided to Yakima Specialties. Assistant Mayor Coffey seconded the motion,
which passed unanimously.
The letter of support request will be considered by the full City Council at its March 3 d business
meeting.
Review Draft Itinerary for February 23-24 Council Delegation Trip to Olympia
The City's Olympia lobbyist, Jim Justin (via conference call), reviewed the itinerary for the February
23-24 trip to Olympia by a Council delegation. The delegation would consist of Mayor Cawley, Asst.
Mayor Kathy Coffey, and Councilmember Dave Ettl. City Manager Tony O'Rourke, Yakima Police
Chief Dominic Rizzi, and Communications & Public Affairs Director Randy Beehler would
accompany the delegation. The trip would include visits with members of the 13th, 14th, and 15tH
legislative districts delegations, Governor Jay Inslee, Lt. Governor Brad Owen, Department of
Ecology Director Maia Bellon, and other legislators. The delegation would present information
regarding the Council's 2015 State Legislative & Administrative Priorities. Emphasis during
meetings would be placed on the continually improving crime rate in Yakima, various capital
investments being made by the City (downtown plaza, road improvements, aquatics facility, soccer
complex, etc.), and other potential or pending legislation of interest to the City.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:48 am.