HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/31/2018 Study Session362
YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
STUDY SESSION
July 31,2018
City Hall -- Council Chambers
3 p.m. — No quorum present -- meeting notes — no action taken
. Roll Call
Council: Mayor Kathy Coffey, presiding, Assistant Mayor Dulce Gutierrez and Council
Member Jason White
Staff: City Manager Moore and Acting City Clerk Stephens
Absent: Council Members Kay Funk (excused), Brad Hill (excused), Carmen
Mendez (excused) and Holly Cousens (excused)
2. Homeless Issues
Mayor Coffey reported it is unfortunate they just found out several Council members are not
available to attend due to work issues. She stated they will go forward with the meeting, even
with a lack of quorum, in order for other Council members to watch the meeting on YPAC.
Senior Assistant City Attorney Sara Watkins presented a PowerPoint on homelessness and
housing.
Rhonda Hauff, Chief Operating Officer with Yakima Neighborhood Health Services, gave an
update on the Roy's Market project.
Lowell Krueger, Executive Director of Yakima Housing Authority, gave an update on the
Armory project, which will be a Veterans supportive housing and service center where
formerly homeless veterans and veteran families find support, gain stability and connect with
other veterans.
Josh Jackson, Executive Director of Rod's House, provided an update on youth
homelessness.
Ms. Watkins provided an update on Camp Hope and there was a discussion about the
RFP/RFQ procedure for the permanent location for homeless housing east of K -mart. Mayor
Coffey recommended this issue could go before the Partnership Committee, which would be
less cumbersome than bringing it before the entire Council and this could be discussed
under other business at the next Council meeting.
Assistant Mayor Gutierrez suggested rescheduling this study session to another time and
stressed the importance of having further discussions on this topic. Mayor Coffey shared her
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frustration with the lack of attendance and suggested the absent members read the agenda
packet and watch the video instead of repeating the meeting.
Assistant Mayor Gutierrez asked about requiring magnetic tracking devices on all store
shopping carts and if other cities have requirements. Senior Assistant City Attorney Watkins
stated it is hard to enforce a policy when homeless people are utilizing shopping carts for
their belongings. She encouraged anyone to report abandoned shopping carts.
3 Public comment (allow 15 minutes)
Kellie Connaughton, Executive Director of the Yakima Greenway, thanked the City of Yakima
and the Code Division for helping with the homeless camping issues on the Greenway.
4. Adjournment
MOTION: Gutierrez moved and White seconded to adjourn to the next City Council
Business Meeting on August 6, 2018, at 6 p.m. at City Hall in the Council Chambers.
The motion carried by unanimous vote, Funk, Hill, Mendez and Cousens absent.
The meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m.
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