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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/27/2016 Council Retreat 480 a • , YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL RETREAT September 27, 2016 City of Yakima University, 421 E. Chestnut Ave, Yakima, WA 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. -- MINUTES 1. Roll Call Council: Mayor Kathy Coffey, presiding, Assistant Mayor Carmen Mendez, Council Members Holly Cousens, Avina Gutierrez, Dulce Gutierrez and Bill Lover Staff: City Manager Moore, City Attorney Cutter and City Clerk Claar Tee Absent: Council Member Maureen Adkison (excused) 2. 9:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. Review Agenda City Manager Moore reviewed the agenda with Council members. There were no changes. 3. 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Budget Update City Manager Moore reviewed a letter from the YMCA regarding the planned deficit and expected charges for admission to the new aquatic center. Council Member D. Gutierrez expressed interest in continuing a conversation with the YMCA regarding the admission fees. Chief Engineer Sheffield and Public Works Director Schafer discussed road improvements and transit service to the SOZO sports center and the YMCA aquatic center. Fire Chief Stewart reviewed fire inspection fees and Community Development Director Davenport talked about planning fees. Scott Schafer, Public Works Director, reviewed utility rates and impacts. Finance & Budget Director Epperson discussed possible revenue options. Council members would like to see a fee comparison study related to codes, planning and utility rate fees with neighboring jurisdictions. It was Council consensus to implement fire inspection fees and to bring back more information on private utility taxes, brokered natural gas utility tax and a Transportation Benefit District, as well as more information on recycling and bundling options. City Manager Moore discussed the ending fund balance and the possibility of layoffs. Council members voiced concerns over layoffs and would like to see other reduction possibilities. 4. 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Plaza Update Economic Development Manager Hawkins provided an update on the Plaza issues and discussed combining the various downtown committees, groups and associations into one central committee. Council members discussed parking fee issues. 5. 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Gang Free Initiative City Manager Moore briefed Council on the current contracts related to the Yakima Police Athletic Page 1 of 3 481 League (YPAL), People for People and the Gang Free Initiative. Council discussed the program and functions of YPAL and whether the space is being under - utilized. It was Council consensi for City Manager Moore to request input from each individual Council member regardin their vision for YPAL and to notify People for People its contract will not be renewed. 6. 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Council Committees Public Works Director Schafer noted the Transit Advisory Committee will fall under the Council Neighborhood and Community Building Committee (NCBC) and the Transit Advisory Committee will take official minutes and provide the agendas to the NCBC. Council members reviewed the Committee structure. It was Council consensus to make the following changE A. Gutierrez replaces Cousens on the Front Street Association; D. Gutierrez will be the liaison on the Transaction Committee; D. Gutierrez will be the Transit Advisory Commit liaison; Mendez will replace Coffey as Chair of the Public Safety Committee; D. Gutierre will be the Community Integration Exploratory Committee liaison; A. Gutierrez will be the Ethics & Equal Rights Exploratory Committee liaison; and "emergency management" v be eliminated from the list. Council Member Lover requested the Intergovernmental Committe be renamed to Inter - County Committee and to have it televised on YPAC. Council Member Lover has heard a city employee is asking fire districts for an increase in call -tal fees related to ambulances. City Manager Moore will look into this. City Clerk Claar Tee reviewed the Council Nominating Committee's appointment process. It was Council consensus that when a Council appointed committee vacancy occurs, the entire Council will be notified and the position advertised regardless of whether there a applications on file. Community Development Director Davenport and Senior Assistant City Attorney Watkins review( the September 19, 2016, memo regarding vision statements for the exploratory committees. Council Member D. Gutierrez asked if there were any objections to examples: A, B, C, E and F, as well as every child being able to walk to a park, trail or public recreation area, desired goals and outcomes to put on the table for the exploratory committees to vet. There were no objections. Ms. Watkins asked Council members with any additional ideas to e them to Ms. Davenport and they will be added to a list for the next NCBC meeting. Council Meml A. Gutierrez suggested one idea would be to make these exploratory committees permanent. It consensus that Council members email Ms. Davenport their desired outcomes and goals for the exploratory committees. 7. 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Homeless Issues Joan Davenport, Community Development Director, reported the City recently received Yakima Valley Conference of Government's draft 5 -year plan. Staff has concerns about the draft and ha: prepared a letter in response. It was Council consensus to have the Mayor and City Maria! sign and send the letter on behalf of the entire Council. Codes Manager Caruso provided update on the homeless encampment. 8. 2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Cultural Competency Training This item was postponed. 9. 3:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Council Meetings This item was postponed. 10. 3:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Wrap up -- Debrief Page: 482 Council members stated they felt this was a very productive meeting. 11. Adjournment MOTION: Coffey moved to adjourn to a City Council Executive Session on October 4, 2016, at 5 p.m. followed by a City Council Business meeting at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers. The motion carried by unanimous vote, Adkison absent. The meeting adjourned at 4:07 p.m. CERTIFICATION READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY /1) � l /i OUNCIL MEMB ( DA E 1 L 377 Or COUNCIL MEMBER ATE ATTEST: ' / () L ��'' I( �� (A 1b11 rt, g!' \J CITY CLERK / , 4 , �} �� R f1/ 1 Page 3 of 3