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YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
STUDY SESSION
March 29, 2018
City Hall -- Council Chambers
4 p.m. Council Briefing -- MINUTES
1. Roll Call
Council: Mayor Kathy Coffey, presiding, Assistant Mayor Dulce Gutierrez, Council Members
Holly Cousens, Kay Funk, Brad Hill, Carmen Mendez and Jason White
Staff: City Manager Cliff Moore, Assistant City Manager Ana Cortez, City Attorney Jeff
Cutter, and City Clerk Sonya Claar Tee
MOTION: Gutierrez moved and Mendez seconded to adjourn to Executive Session
for up to 45 minutes to discuss prospective litigation. The motion carried by unanimous
vote. Executive Session was held and adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
2. Council updates
Council Member White reported on the Historic Preservation meeting, which is looking at
Fruit Row and Naches Avenue as possible additions to the Register of Historic Places. He
also reported that the Economic Development Committee and the Arts Commission will seek
Council approval to apply for a Creative District certification.
Council Member Funk reported she would like to send a letter in her role as Council member
to the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments (YVCOG) Board regarding what she feels
are improper procedures related to the recent Request for Proposals (RFP), outcome data
from Camp Hope, and other homeless issues. Council Member Hill stated he is the Council
representative on YVCOG and is not sure what she hopes to achieve with this letter. Mayor
Coffey suggested Council Members Hill and Funk meet with the City Manager to discuss this
issue in more detail.
Council Member Cousens reported she brought the idea of the City utilizing YVCC interns, at
no cost to the City, to the Economic Development Committee and anticipates bringing this to
the full Council soon.
Assistant Mayor Gutierrez reviewed items from the Public Safety Committee including having
the Community Integration Committee review traffic calming procedures to make it a more
equitable process. She stated that hearing no objections from Council on this issue, she will
ask the Community Integration Committee to look at this topic. She reported that she will
bring forward the notes on the Community Forums at the next Council meeting. Ms. Gutierrez
reported on the dangerous dog ordinance as discussed at the Public Safety Committee
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meeting and stated it is the recommendation of Council Members Funk and Cousens to have
an advisory vote on the November ballot related to the pit bull ban.
Council Members Mendez and Hill reported on the Partnership Committee meeting
and noted according to the Council's current Rules of Procedures, it takes four Council
members to add an item to the agenda, not two as has been the recent practice. Council
Member Hill noted the Committee will bring back recommendations on the Council's Rules of
Procedures, which will include telephonic participation. Assistant Mayor Gutierrez questioned
why the Partnership Committee is reviewing the rules and not another Committee. City Clerk
Claar Tee read a portion of the February 26, 2018, Special Meeting minutes wherein the City
Manager stated Rules of Procedure and Policies fall under the Partnership Committee and at
that meeting the Council voted to send the telephonic participation issue to the Partnership
Committee. Assistant City Manager Cortez provided a memo related to Special Meetings
aka Briefing Meetings and noted some minor changes to the future Briefing agendas.
Council Member Hill reported the YVCOG Executive Committee and General Membership
Committee has selected him to be the representative at the YVCOG National Association of
Regional conferences.
Council Member Cousens stated the Economic Development Committee will be
recommending that Council Member White attend the RECON convention in Las Vegas.
Council Member White reported the Planning Commission is recommending H2A or
boarding house zoning in the City of Yakima. Assistant Mayor Gutierrez stated she would like
to know what other cities in the State have allowed H2A housing and if there are any negative
public safety impacts due to that allowance. City Manager Moore will review the concerns and
report back at the May 1, 2018 meeting.
3. Agenda preview for April 3 & 17, 2018
City Manager Moore reviewed the April 3 & 17, 2018 agendas. Council Member Hill asked
how much money is being requested for the Cinco De Mayo event and what has been done
in the past. City Manager Moore stated the contract is for $20,000 and Assistant City
Manager Cortez noted she will provide historical information on this contract at Tuesday's
meeting. Assistant•C—itq-Ib}arra Gutierrez suggested the Economic Development
Committee or Partnership Committee look at a competitive process for events seeking City
funding. tf P yoR ?m•
4. City Manager update
City Manager reviewed a draft agenda for the joint City Council meeting with the Yakima
School District on April 16, 2018, which he will condense after Council discussion. Mr. Moore
reviewed the following issues with Council: costs related to the Pit Bull ban; 2163 and 2060
funding amounts; Mill Site follow-up; intent to apply fora YVCOG RFP; site visit by Senator
Murray's local representative Raquel Crowley to the Airport and Mill site on April 5, which
several Council members expressed an interest in attending; and, an update on the Fire
Chief search. City Manager Moore asked if a Council member would like to be on the
interview panel for the Fire Chief. Assistant Mayor Gutierrez volunteered to be on the
interview panel.
5. Adjournment
MOTION: Gutierrez moved and Hill seconded to adjourn to the next City Council
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Business meeting on April 3, 2018, at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers. The motion
carried by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 6:39 p.m.
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