HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/04/1984 Study Session 366 SEPTEMBER 4, 1984
STUDY SESSION
The City Council met in session on this date at 2:00 p.m. in the Council
Chambers of City Hall, Yakima, Washington. Council members present were
Assistant Mayor Shirley Doty, Henry Beauchamp, Lynn Buchanan and Lynn
Carmichael. Council member Jack Sparling present after 2:07 p.m. Mayor
Clarence Barnett absent.
1. OPEN DISCUSSION FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
Council member Carmichael stated she will he unable to attend
the Downtown Area Redevelopment Committee meeting on Thursday,
September 6, 1984 and requested that one of the other Council
members attend in her place. Council member Sparling
indicated he could attend the meeting.
2. STATUS REPORT ON FEDERAL CABLE TV LEGISLATION
Bruce Crest, Cable Communications Coordinator, commented on
the status report on Federal Cable TV Legislation and House
Bill 4103, an amendment to the Communications Act of 1934. He
stated negotiations were held on this bill by representatives
of National Cable TV Association (NCTA), the National League
of Cities (NEC) and the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM). The
NCTA Board has called for renegotiations to change the nature
and scope of this proposed federal cable policy. Mr. Crest
indicated the most important issue for Yakima is the franchise
renewal with the cable operators which would fall under this
new policy. Mr. Crest asked direction from the Council. It
was MOVED by Buchanan, seconded by Carmichael, to move Item
No. 2 to Item No. 8a in the Business Session. Unanimously
carried by voice vote. Barnett absent.
3. REPORTS FROM ENGINEERING & UTILITIES DEPARTMENT:
a. Storm Drainage Study. (Continued from 6/26/84)
Dennis Covell, Director of Engineering & Utilities, reported
that the Storm Drainage Study Update has been an ongoing
project for the last couple of years. He recomffended City and
County officials and staff meet to discuss storm drainage
problems. Discussion followed regarding the sources of
funding for storm drainage improvements. It was MOVED by
Carmichael, seconded by Buchanan, to move Item No. 3a to Item
No. 8b in the Business Session. Unanimously carried by voice
vote. Barnett absent. Lee Adams, 905 So. 44th Avenue,
Arlington Apts., a concerned citizen, came to the meeting
today to speak on the drainage problems in his area. He
stated he has lived at that address for five years, and it
gets worse each year. Mr. Adams stated there are two storm
drains on his property and the water backs up into his units,
whenever it rains. Assistant Mayor Doty asked the City staff
to contact Mr. Adams to discuss this problem.
b. Status of Street Capital Improverrents, Authorized in April,
1983 and amended in December, 1983
Dennis Covell, Director of Engineering & Utilities, commented
on the status report on Street Rehabilitation Projects.
Discussion followed on the projects and Mr. Covell asked the
Council to consider use of FAUS Funds. It was MOVED by
Carmichael, seconded by Buchanan to move Item No. 3b to Item
No. 8c in the Business Session. Unanimously carried by voice
vote. Barnett absent.
SEPTEMBER 4, 1984 3617
BUSINESS MEETING
5. mu CALL
At 3:00 p.m, the Council members commenced the regular
meeting, Assistant Mayor Doty presiding, Council members
Beauchamp, Buchanan, Carmichael and Sparling, and City Manager
Zais and Assistant City Attorney Vanek present on roll call.
Mayor Barnett present after 3:15 p.m.
6. INVOCATION
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Council member Carmichael.
7. CONSENT AGENDA
Assistant Mayor Doty referred to the Items placed on the
Consent Agenda, questioning whether there were any additions
or deletions from either Council members or citizens present.
Council member Buchanan requested that Item No. 14 be added to
the Consent Agenda and Council member Carmichael requested
that Items Nos. 8a, 8b, and 8c be added to the Consent Agenda.
It was the general consensus of the Council that addition of
Items Nos. 8a, 8b, 8c and 14, as requested, be made. The City
Clerk then read the Consent Agenda items, including
resolutions and ordinances by title. It was MOVED by
Carmichael, seconded by Buchanan, that the Consent Agenda, as
read, be passed. Unanimously carried by roll call vote.
Barnett absent. (Subsequent paragraphs preceded by an
asterisk (*) indicate items on the Consent Agenda handled
under one motion without further discussion.)
8. CURRENT STUDY SESSION ITEMS
*a. Item No. 2
Staff was directed to prepare correspondence from the City Council
to the Washington State Congressional delegation urging immediate
passage of HB 4103 (proposed cable TV legislation).
*b. Item No. 3a
The staff recommendation to form a joint committee with City/County
staff to meet and discuss viable approaches to address storm
drainage problems, was accepted.
*c. Item No. 3b
The staff report and recommendation to authorize the use of FAUS
Funds and half-cent gas tax funds as local match funds to complete
projects #970 and #1033, was accepted.
9. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
a. Appearance by Willette Cheatom, Americans United for Washing-
/ ton Park 15th Willette Cheatan, 813 No. 15 Avenue, representing the Americans
United for Washington Park, read a letter expressing their conrprns
about changing the name of Washington Park to honor Martin Luther
King, Jr. In their letter they requested Council reconsider their
position on renaming Washington Park, expressing their opinion that
once an honor is bestowed upon a person (George Washington), it
should not be taken away.
10. HEARING ON A STREET VACATION FOR 10TH AVENUE, BETWEEN CHESTNUT AND
WALNUT STREETS, AND REZONE OF PROPERTY IN THE VICINITY OF 110 SO.
10TH AVENUE, REQUESTED BY ST. ELIZABETH MEDICAL CENTER.
This being the time fixed for the hearing on the street
vacation and rezone requested by St. Elizabeth Medical Center,
Tarry Wright commented this Plan and Program is in conformance
with the Comprehensive Plan and is within the parameter of the
instructions staff and the Planning Commission received con-
cerning the sub-area plan for the vicinity of the Medical
Center. He stated the resolution of this issue will provide
sane of the necessary information for staff to complete a
368 SEPTEMBER 4, 1984
sub-area plan for the St. Elizabeth Medical Center and the
Medical Center vicinity. Assistant Mayor Doty requested
testimony from the proponents at this time. Patrick Farwell,
2812 W. Yakima. Avenue, Assistant Administrator at St.
Elizabeth Medical Center, commented that Council has received
all of the materials and documents presented previously and
that present at the meeting today is their architect and a
representative fran the consulting firm hired to perform a
parking and traffic flow study. (Mayor Barnett present after
3:15 p.m.) He reported there have been several neighborhood
neetings held, with the architect and the traffic consultant
present to respond to the neighbor's questions. He stated he
has letters of support fran many of the neighbors and
businesses in the area. He further comuented that most of the
opposition to the development are from people who do not live
in the area, but work or do business in this area. He spoke
about the advantages of having on-campus office buildings. He
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further stated that both the vacation and the rezone are being
recommended to Council by the staff and Planning Commission.
Dale Hazen, 2102 St. Helens, Chairman of the Community Board
for St. Elizabeth Medical Center, consisting of 33 local
residents, submitted a list of those members (Exhibit P-2).
He gave sane historical background information on St.
Elizabeth Medical Center, which was established in 1891. He
urged Council to approve the rezone and street vacation to
allow expansion to respond to community needs. He referred to
the Site Plan (Exhibit P-1) hanging on the wall, and commented
that if this is approved, they will probably not expand beyond
these several blocks. Rip Hollingbery, 504 N. Naches Avenue,
architect for the project, referred to Exhibit P-1, and
explained the site plan showing the existing facility and the
proposed expansion. He stated the primary purpose in siting
the building was the connection to the hospital via a
crosswalk and overhead walkway. He reported there will be
extensive landscaping in the parking lot and the drainage will
be addressed on site. He further commented that all the
utilities will be below ground. He stated they have responded
to some of the neighbors specific concerns regarding the alley
maintenance and elimination of alley parking, except those
designated for doctors, which will have very law turnover. He
spoke about the design of the building which is campatible
with the hospital. Mr. Farwell stated that to address one of
the concerns that arose at the Planning Commission hearing,
regarding the impact of the street vacation and haw they would
accommodate the parking in that area, a consultant was hired.
Dave Enger, Transportation Planning and Engineering, Inc.,
2101-112 Avenue, N.E., #110, Bellevue, WA, stated that the
results of their traffic study indicated the traffic pattern
would be compatible with the arterial street plan and the
existing streets can compensate for this street vacation. He
stated the second part of their study was to ascertain the
impact of the development on the parking in the area. He
commented they counted the number of cars in the hospital
parking lots and those on the streets within a block of the
hospital to identify the supply and demand for parking. He
stated they concluded that although some street parking would
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be lost through the street vacation and some additional
parking stalls would be needed for the new building, the
Medical Center will be providing several new parking lots to
accommodate those needs. Barbara Aalpoel, Loofburrow/
Hollingbery Associates, distributed and explained the
information regarding On-Site Parking Supply and Demand for
St. Elizabeth Medical Center and Medical Office Building per
Pending Yakima Urban Area Zoning Ordinance (Exhibit P-3) Which
indicates the Medical Center is providing more parking spaces
than will be required in the pending Yakima Urban Area Zoning
Ordinance. Mr. Farwell and Ms. AalFoel responded to Council's
questions regarding the parking requirenents and the parking
spaces provided in the development. Dr. John Boyken,
internist and Medical Director of Dialysis Unit at St.
Elizabeth'Medical Center, stated that as his department grows,
it has outgrown its space in the hospital. He reported on the
need for this facility, of which the dialysis unit will occupy
25% of the available spaces. He reported this facility is
SEPTEMBER 4, 1984 36.9
being built by a group of physicians who are leasing the
property from St. Elizabeth Medical Center at a fair market
rate. He commented that taxes will be paid on that building.
He stated that moving the dialysis unit to less expensive
office space would be more cost-effective and allow him to
operate within the amount of money paid by the Federal
Government for aialysis treatment. He stated he needs
immediate access to the hospital as many of his patients are
in-patients and would be transported through the skybridge on
the second floor. Mr. Farwell urged the Council to approve
this application and further stated that the hospital accepts
the five conditions recammeded by staff. Brad Tukey, 109 S.
llth Avenue, presented a statement signed by several residents
(Exhibit P-4) Which is not for or against the proposal, but
requests Council to not separate the request for rezone from
the request for the street vacation. He commented that he had
had some concerns regarding parking, however, he felt this had
been addressed by the hospital. (The Council recessed fran
4:10 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.) Assistant Mayor Doty requested
testimony from those citizens present wishing to speak against
the rezone and/or street vacation. Jo Read, 16 S. 10th
Avenue, stated she is apposed to the street vacation. She
commented she has had an expert real estate appraiser advise
her that if the street is vacated, her property will
depreciate in value by one-third percent. Barbara Harris
stated she is apposed to the closure of 10th Avenue. She
stated a petition signed by approximately 270 people opposed
to the street vacation had been submitted at the Planning
Canmission hearing. She expressed her concern that the
parking Which will be provided by the hospital will be
inadequate. She submitted photographs depicting the parking
problem in the area (Exhibits 0-1 through- 0-7). She also
expressed concern that two of the Planning Canmission members
did not excuse themselves from voting due to a conflict of
interest. Discussion followed regarding the petition which
was submitted to the Planning Commission and not included in
the Council's packet of information. John Haddix, Supervising
Planner, explained the petition was submitted to the Planning
Commission and only that information which is included in the
Final Plan and Program is submitted to the Council. He
removed the petition fran his file and presented it to Mrs.
Harris who submitted the petition to the Council (Exhibit
0-8). Ines Rice, 4409 W. Arlington, questioned the legality
of the Planning Commission's vote on this issue due to the
conflict of interest or appearance of fairness issue involving
two of the Commissioners. Helen Frandle, 1308 Dazet, employee
representing Drs. Stevenson, Place and Adkison, who were
unable to attend this hearing, spoke about the parking problem
in that area. Bonnie Wentz, 216 S. 34th Avenue, owner of the
day care facility at 4 So. 10th Avenue, presented the Council
with the results of a questionnaire mailed to property owners
which indicates that out of the 52 questionnaires returned, 45
were apposed to the closure of the street (Exhibit 0-9). She
11/ reported they canvassed the neighborhood, which included
renters and employees in the area, and 210 were apposed to the
street closure (Exhibit 0-10). Paul Harris, 1911 W. Yakima
Avenue, spoke against the proposed development and questioned
the legality of the vote of the Planning Commission. Art
Palmer, representing his mother, Mary Woerner, 209 S. 10th
Avenue, stated his mother does not want 10th Avenue closed
because it is a good north/south route and the parking in that
area is already poor. He further reported he spoke with one
of their neighbors and he was apposed to the street vacation
due to the parking problem in the area. He suggested
eliminating parking on Chestnut, which is a bicycle route. He
stated the majority of the traffic in the alley is not from
the residents in that area. Alice Walker, 305 S. 10th Avenue,
expressed concern about the street closure, stating that
people will use the alley instead. Vareta Thome, 207 S. 12th
Avenue, speaking against the proposed development, stated
there is enough traffic in that area. She further stated it
does not seem right to close a street for the benefit of a few
doctors or a certain group of people. Patrick Farwell stated
he also has letters that had been submitted at the Planning
370
SEPTEMBER 4, 1984
Commission hearing. He re-submitted those eight letters from
individuals supporting the proposed development (Exhibit P-5).
He stated that most hospitals cover several city blocks and
St. Elizabeth needs to be allowed to expand in an organized
manner. Mr. Farwell responded to the Council's questions
regarding the proposed parking lots. He stated that without
the street vacation they would not be able to their
needs. Tarry Wright, Assistant Director of Community &
Economic Development, clarified for the record, that sane of
the information Council received was not provided to the
Planning Commission as same of the pecple who testified today
did not testify previously. He stated the appearance of
fairness question was specifically asked of the two Planning
Commission members and Mrs. Patterson indicated she had not
discussed this issue with her husband, Dr. Patterson, and Mr.
Menke stated he was able to vote in an objective manner even
though he participates in labor negotiations for the hospital.
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He further ccmmented that should 10th Avenue be developed into
an arterial, it would require a substantial amount of property
acquisition. He spoke about how the traffic pattern would be
changed in that area to accommodate north/south movement.
Following further discussion regarding the street vacation,
the public hearing was closed. There was discussion regarding
the number of parking spaces in the parking lots, however, it
was the general consensus of the Council to not reopen the
hearing to obtain additional information from the consultants.
Council member Beauchamp inquired if both the rezone and the
street vacation have to he considered in one decision.
Assistant City Attorney Vanek responded that if a decision is
made to grant the rezone, then Council should also consider a
favorable vote to vacate the street because part of the rezone
takes into consideration the development of the vacation of
the street. City Manager Zais commented that if this issue is
returned to the Planning Ccmmission, Council should identify
their concerns they wish the Planning Commission to address.
Mayor Barnett cammented he can concur with the approval of the
Planning Development, however, if it incorporates the closure
of 10th Avenue, he would have to vote against it. He stated
if this is sent back to the Planning Commission he would like
to ask than to consider this without the street vacation. It
was MOVED by Barnett, seconded by Carmichael, to send this
matter back to the Planning Commission to consider a Planned
Development that does not include the vacation of 10th Avenue.
Following discussion, the question was called for a vote on
the motion. Unanimously carried by roll call vote.
Carmichael voted aye, stating she believes the plan has not
shown that the necessity of vacating 10th Avenue in
conjunction with the Planned Development is in the best
interest of all the participants. Council member Doty voted
aye, stating she believes the plan can be modified so it can
more closely comply with the wishes of the neighbors who are
opposed to the street vacation. Council member Sperling voted
aye, expressing concern about the street vacation and parking.
Mayor Barnett voted aye, because of the opposition of the
neighborhood residents to the street vacation and parking
problems. Council member Beauchamp voted aye, stating he
doesn't believe the current plan demonstrates the need for the
closure of 10th Avenue. Council member Buchanan voted aye,
expressing concern about the closure of 10th Avenue.
*11. AUTHORIZATION FOR ABATEMENT OF CERTAIN WEEDY LOTS
RESOLUTION NO. D-5008, A RESOLUTION authorizing the Code
Administration Manager to clear certain weedy lots.
*12. SET DATE OF HEARING ON HOUSING ASSISTANCE PLAN
September 18, 1984 was set as the date of hearing on the
Housing Assistance Plan.
SEPTEMBER 4, 1984 371
*13. OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL FOR JEAN SHIPMAN, PURCHASING AGENT
The out-of-state travel for Jean Shipman, Purchasing Agent, to
attend the semi-annual Pacific Northwest Public Purchasing
Association Conference, in Victoria, B.C., OcLober 3-5, 1984
at a cost of $401.80, was approved.
*14. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 1984 BUDGET AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE GLEED WATER SYSTEM (SECOND READING)
An Ordinance appropriating funds for improvement to the Gleed
Water System having been read by title only at the previous
meeting, was brought before the Council for a second reading.
ORDINANCE NO. 2802, AN ORDINANCE amending the 1984 budget for
the City of Yakima; and making an appropriation in the
477-Water Construction Fund for expenditure during 1984.
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15. OTHER BUSINESS
Council member Sparling suggested briefly interviewing the
Council candidates during the next Study Session. Following
discussion, it was the general consensus of the Council to
direct the Mayor to schedule five to ten minute appointments
with the Council candidates during the September 18, 1984
Study Session, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Mayor Barnett stated he
will draw lots to assign the candidates their interview
appointment time.
Information Items
Items of information supplied to Council were: memo from
Assistant City Attorney re: Appeal of IAFF Local 469 v. City
of Yakima to the Washington Supreme Court. 8/31/84; letter
from Dr. Livingstone, St. Elizabeth Medical Center, re:
Dial-A-Ride Program. 8/29/84; and minutes of August 7, 1984
Planning Ccomission meeting.
16. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to cane before the Council, it
was MOVED by Sparling, seconded by Carmichael that this
meeting be adjourned at the hour of 6:10 p.m. Unanimously
carried by voice vote.
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coUNCIL MEMBER
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COUNCIL mu: R
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
MAYOR
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