HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-29-15 YPC MinutesCity of Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) City Hall Council Chambers
Meeting Minutes of April 29, 2015
Call to Order
Chairman Dave Fonfara called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
Roll Call
YPC Members Present: Chairman Dave Fonfara, Bill Cook, Al Rose, Ron Anderson,
Carmen Mendez
YPC Members Absent: Vice -chair Scott Clark, Patricia Byers
Staff Present: Robbie Aaron, Assistant Planner; Valerie Smith, Senior
Planner; Mark Kunkler, Senior Assistant City Attorney; Joan
Davenport, Planning Manager/ Community Development
Director
Others: Bev Luby Bartz, Phyllis Musgrove, Dennis Macias
Staff Announcements
Senior Planner Valerie Smith described two events coming up in May including,
"Voices for Our Streets" and "Feet in the Streets."
Assistant Planner Robbie Aaron mentioned that he, Joan Davenport, and Airport
Manager Rob Peterson attended a Union Gap planning commission meeting where the
three of them presented the airport safety overlay to their commission.
Audience Participation
None noted.
Planning Commission's Recommendation on the Public Participation Plan PPP
Guide for the Ci 's Comprehensive Plan Update Pro am
Commissioner Al Rose made a motion for the Planning Commission to recommend
approval of the Comprehensive Plan 2040 Horizon Public Participation Plan Guide.
The motion was seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Study Session - Discussion on "Community Resource Service Center" Use and
Definition
Senior Assistant City Attorney Mark Kunkler made a remark that the information
submitted by Yakima Neighborhood Health Services was beneficial. Commissioner
Anderson added that Neighborhood Health was thorough in describing their goal.
Commissioner Mendez agreed with Commissioner Anderson and commented that she
was pleased with the information they provided. Commissioner Rose observed that the
expanded definition of "community resource service center" was adequately described
in the additional material provided by Neighborhood Health.
James Carmody, representing Neighborhood Health, highlighted new information
added to the proposed definition including development standards, legal standards,
demonstrating the need for a resource and shelter facility in communities, and locating
community resource service centers in the "renewal community."
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Chairman Dave Fonfara brought up a concern about the site being too small for the
proposal, which expands beyond an emergency shelter.
Mendez asked if the pre -homeless will go to the shelter or to the depot. Carmody
clarified that all services will be consolidated at the proposed site.
Fonfara also questioned what will happen if the need for services exceeds the maximum
of 50 beds as proposed by Neighborhood Health. Carmody answered that the facility
will not change or expand at that point.
Commissioner Anderson asked how many days it is anticipated for individuals to stay
at the proposed resource service center. Carmody answered that the plan is to take in
individuals overnight and then evaluate them and send them off the next day to where
they need to go according to their needs.
Fonfara discussed the difference between studies conducted on the affects to property
values as a result of the location of shelters versus the neighborhood perception, as
many concerns regarding the negative impact on safety and other aspects have been
raised by the public who live near Roy's Market or near an SCC zone. Carmody
responded that their concerns are legitimate but that the purpose of shelters and the
resource service center is to get people off of the streets.
Mendez asked if the center will only be open during extreme weather. Carmody
responded that the center will be open year-round.
Commissioner Bill Cook asked how many of the SCC zones in the city are located in the
renewal community to which Joan Davenport answered that there are a few. She
explained that the renewal community is a block grant program and expressed her
concerns about relying on a block grant program that may not be around for a long
period of time. Cook expanded on possible legal issues that may result due to limiting
resource service centers to the renewal community. Carmody explained Neighborhood
Health's intent to define a geographic area for resource service centers based upon
objective criteria. Mark Kunkler communicated his agreement with Carmody and
Neighborhood Health's intent and expanded on the idea of using census data in
determining where to appropriately locate these resource service centers. Commissioner
Rose mentioned the possibility of drastic changes in census data over 10 years. Cook
commented on the shift in areas who may be affected by the proposal and who may
need to be notified of the final decision. Davenport added that notice requirements have
been satisfied thus far. Kunkler discussed the strategy of using an overlay along with a
list of criteria that needs to be met. Rose commented that using an overlay would
eliminate the current zoning issue causing conflict with Neighborhood Health's
proposal to which Davenport added that the community resource service center use
will still be prohibited in some zoning districts.
A member of the audience, Bev Luby Bartz, shared recent negative experiences she's
had living in the neighborhood of the proposed community resource service center.
Another member of the audience, Phyllis Musgrove, mentioned that the Union Gospel
Mission never reaches the maximum occupancy level. She added that the rules
Neighborhood Health are proposing to enforce are unknown and that Neighborhood
Health will not kick anyone out who breaks the rules. Musgrove also asked if the grant
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funding is going away. She shared her personal opinion that the proposal should be
moved to North 1St Street, close to the mission.
Audience member Dennis Macias talked about the difference between needs and wants
and emphasized that the community does not support this proposal, as shown by the
300 petitions signed in opposition to the proposal. He also mentioned confusion on the
overlay, the presence of a daycare in the area of Roy's Market, the change in the number
of beds proposed from the last meeting, trouble in the neighborhood where he owns
property, and the status of the ownership of the Roy's Market property.
Rhonda Hauff, Chief Operating Officer of Yakima Neighborhood Health Services,
addressed Neighborhood Health's rules, the help of case managers, and the network of
services.
Rose expressed his interest in taking a further look into the possibility of applying an
overlay. The commission had consensus to go forth with investigating this option.
Other Business
Valerie Smith reported that 6 comprehensive plan amendment applications have been
received and that the deadline is April 30, 2015.
A motion to adjourn to May 13, 2015 was passed with unanimous vote. This meeting
adjourned at 5:03 p.m.
Chairman Dave Fon.ara Date
This meeting was filmed by YPAC. Minutes for this meeting submitted by: Lisa Maxey, Department Assistant II
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