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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/21/1983 Special Meeting 496 JUNE 21, 1983. SPECIAL BUSINESS MEETING 1. ROLL CALL The City Council met in session on this date at 2:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, Yakima, Washington. Mayor Lynn Carmichael presiding, Council members Henry Beauchamp, Lynn Buchanan, Shirley Doty, W. K. "Pete" Moore and Jack Sparling and City Manager Zais and City Attorney Andrews present on roll call. Council member Clarence Barnett absent and excused. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Carmichael. 3. CONSENT AGENDA II/ Mayor Carmichael referred to the items 'placed on the Consent Agenda, questioning whether there were any additions or dele- tions from either Council members or citizens present. Council member Sparling requested Item No. 7 be removed from the Consent Agenda. It was the general' consensus of the Council that the deletion of Item No. 7, as requested, be made. The City Clerk then read the Consent Agenda ,items, including resolutions and ordinances by title. It was MOVED by Doty; seconded by Moore 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.) *4. RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMITS FOR THE RETAIL .SALE OF FIREWORKS FOR 1983 RESOLUTION NO. D-4813, A RESOLUTION granting permits for the retail sale of fireworks within the City of Yakima for 1983. *5. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH THE YAKIMA AREA AGENCY ON AGING RESOLUTION NO. D-4814, A RESOLUTION ratifying the execution of an agreement with the Yakima County Department of Human Services, Area Agency on Aging, to finance a Senior Employment Program. *6. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING YAKIMA AIR TERMINAL BOARD ACCEPTANCE OF FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION GRANT FUNDS RESOLUTION NO. D-4815, A RESOLUTION authorizing the acceptance of Federal assistance and assurances made therein by the Yakima Air Terminal Board. 7. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING DRIVING WHILE II/ INTOXICATED AND RELATED OFFENSES The ordinance amending the Municipal Code regarding driving while intoxicated and related offenses, having been read by title, it was MOVED by Doty, seconded by Moore that the ordinance, as read, be passed. Council member Sparling stated he did not want to vote on this item at this time as he had not had sufficient time to review the item. He questioned the requirement for a unanimous vote to enact the ordinance. City Attorney Andrews informed Council a unanimous vote was necessary to validate the emergency clause contained in the ordinance, thereby allowing the ordinance to become effective July 1 and comply with the recent State Legislature amendment. Discussion followed regarding the timeliness involved with the passage of the ordinance, at which time the City Clerk informed Council the ordinance could be postponed one week, and if approved at that time, the ordinance could still be JUNE 21, 1983 +97 published in time to become effective July 1. It was MOVED by Moore, seconded by Beauchamp to table the motion one week, until the June 28th Business Meeting. Carried by 5-1 voice vote. Doty voting nay. Barnett absent. STUDY SESSION , 8. , OPEN DISCUSSION FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER • Mayor Carmichael presented an Outstanding Citizenship Award to Betty Gaudette for her ,efforts in the recent ,Rat Abatement Program. Mayor Carmichael also expressed her appreciation to • Council members Doty and Moore for their collective efforts in the program., 11/ Council member Doty informed Council she had received a telephone call, from Jay Shepard of the Department of Ecology questioning if the City would provide bus passes for six individuals who are working in an _urban clean-up program in •various low income areas. Bill Schultz, Transit Manager, urged Council to consider the precedence that would be set if the bus passes were provided free of charge., He suggested - charging $5 to • $10 for the passes by which the City would then honor the passes for a specific time frame. Discussion followed .regarding the merits and legality of the request and the possible precedence that may be set by providing the passes free of charge. It:was MOVED by Buchanan to table this item until the next Business Meeting.. The motion died for Lack , of. a ,second. It was MOVED by Moore, seconded by Beauchamp to request staff to research the legality or validity of issuing the passes as requested and report back to Council. Unanimously carried by voice vote. Barnett absent. Mayor Carmichael addressed the need, for the Council Planning Commission Committee ,to meet and address the upcoming term expiration on the Planning Commission. Denny Covell, Director of__Engineering and Utilities, informed Council of .a possible major water leak in,a water line running under the_ Naches river which services the Gleed area. He informed Council- that efforts to determine the extent of the leak are underway and staff will keep Council informed of their findings. 9. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION - a. Presentation by Doris Dickinsen and Versa K'ang, Yakima Valley Museum. ) Doris, Dickenson, President, Board of, Trustees of the Yakima Valley Museum ,and. Historical Association, was • • • , present to express her appreciation of Council's consideration of the.Yakima -Valley.Museum as a potential - recipient of funds from the Margaret Coffin Holmes • bequest. She elaborated on the manner in which the -Museum • operates financially, informing Council a substantial portion of their operating budget comes from special. gifts, memorials,, admissions and fund raisers. Versa K'ang, Director, Yakima Valley Museum and Historical Association, was present to expand upon. the various services provided by the Museum and expressed her appreciation of Council's consideration of allocating a . portion of the bequest funds to the Museum. Ines Rice, 4409 West Arlington, was present to compliment staff members, Dave Rhodes, Director of Public Works, and _John Beer, Jr., Director of Community and Economic . 2. Development, for their quick and efficient response to • her request regarding the clean-up of an excessively • weedy. lot which was brought to her attention. She 1 4 98 JUNE 21, 1983 addressed the recent retirement announcement of the Chief of Police, and urged Council to appoint a replacement from the City staff. City Manager Zais elaborated on the appointment procedure. 10. REPORT ON REHABILITATION SPECIALIST I POSITION City Manager Zais began discussion, referring to the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) review included in staff's report. He stated the review was very complimentary of staff's overall program for compliance with the HUD guidelines. John Beer, Jr., Director of Community and Economic Development, provided - a brief review of the report. He addressed the six month evaluation of the Rehabilitation Specialist I position as requested by Council during the 1983 Community Development Block Grant budget process. He informed Council, upon review of that position, it is his recommendation that the position of Rehabilitation Specialist I be terminated as of July 15, 1983. He referred to the HUD report which addressed the need for the reduction of administrative costs from 35%-36% to 20% to meet HUD guidelines and stated the termination of the Rehabilitation Specialist I position would accomplish that administrative requirement. John Beer responded to Council's questions. It was MOVED by Moore, seconded by Sparling to adopt staff's recommendation as outlined. Council member Doty indicated she would vote against the motion as she felt there were other alternatives for administrative cuts, such as the Craftsman Corp, to meet the HUD requirements and expressed her concern that those alternatives have not been addressed. Council member Moore addressed the loan process utilized for the rehabilitation projects wherein a loan is granted to the owners of the house which is being rehabilitated. He commented that the current loan procedure provides if those individuals live in the house for five years, the loan is forgiven. He expressed his desire to see the City receive a payback on the loan if the individual sells the house, or upon their death. He suggested further consideration be given to this idea. The question was called for a vote on the motion. Carried by 5-1 voice vote. Doty voting nay. Barnett absent. It was the general consensus of the Council to request staff to return to Council with a proposal to implement a program of regaining some of the funds that are expended in the rehabilitation projects. 11. RECONSIDERATION OF TEMPORARY COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE It was MOVED by Moore, seconded by Buchanan to accept staff's recommendation to prepare legislation making the temporary schedule observed during the past three months permanent. Council member Doty stated she was in opposition to the temporary meeting format, and expressed her concern of excessive formal action occurring during the Study Session meetings. City Manager Zais commented that the new meeting format allowed for better agenda planning for staff. He II/ addressed the four evening meetings held during the year, questioning if Council preferred to begin the meeting at 6:30 P.M. or 7:30 P.M. It was the general consensus of the Council to begin the four evening meetings at 6:30 P.M. The question was called for a vote on the motion. Carried by 4-2 voice vote. Carmichael and Doty voting nay. Barnett absent. 12. REPORT FROM PARKS COMMISSION REGARDING CEMETERY STUDY ° r Paul Schafer, Cha-i-rman of the Tahoma Cemetery Study Committee,. introduced the members of the Committee which were present. Bernie Sims, Committee member, provided a slide presentation of Tahoma Cemetery wherein Paul Schafer provided background information about the cemetery. Bill Sturgeon, Committee member, addressed the City's heritage regarding Tahoma Cemetery, and spoke in support of the City's continued involvement with the cemetery. Paul Schafer referred to the Committee's report and elaborated on the recommendations made JUNE 21, 1983 tf 99 by the Committee, which included: 1) the City should continue to operate Tahoma Cemetery; 2) the need for the City to establish a direct management responsibility for the cemetery in which a manager would be responsible for drafting and implementing a plan addressing those areas identified by the Committee; 3) the Parks and Recreation Commission should continue to exercise advisory oversight powers, and 4) the need for management to actively seek additional labor; i.e., volunteers, O.I.C. and possibly prisoners. He also informed Council of a 160 -page appendix to this study and expanded upon the national background information contained in the appendix. Paul Schafer commented on the problem that revenues generated from the services, lot sales and endowment care trust fund of the cemetery do not adequately cover the expenses of operation. He indicated the Committee would return to Council, requesting a number of changes be made in the ordinance that governs Tahoma Cemetery. Mr. Schafer referred to the nine alternatives outlined in the report and stated the Committee unanimously recommends the City retain and operate Tahoma Cemetery. Council member Beauchamp requested clarification of the proposed changes to the ordinance. Mr. Schafer responded, stating the proposed changes would include the allowance for combined grave placement, the closure of the cemetery at night, elimination of some roads in the cemetery, and the possibility of moving the location of the cemetery office to 16th Avenue and Tahoma Avenue. Mr. Schafer responded to the Council's questions. Discussion followed regarding past and present management and maintenance techniques of the cemetery. It was the general consensus of the Council to convey the Council's appreciation to the Committee for the report. 13. FINAL REPORT FROM PARKS DIVISION REGARDING REVIEW OF CITY POOL NEEDS Mike Nixon, Parks and Recreation Commission member, was present to provide background information on Lions Pool and the Aquatic Needs Assessment Study. He addressed the numerous surveys taken for the study and stated he was pleased with the type of representation and responses received from the surveys. Mr. Nixon informed Council the study addressed a number of issues which include Lions Pool and a number of recommendations regarding the future outlook for all the City pools. Referring to Lions Pool, he addressed the five alternatives to deal with the pool, as outlined in the study. Those alternatives included: 1) do nothing to the building and leave the facility inoperative as it is; 2) convert the existing pool to an outdoor facility only, similar in design and use to Eisenhower Pool; 3) repair the deficiencies as necessary to be able to open the pool, therefore, allowing the pool to operate as originally designed; 4) modernize the facility to current design standards, both in terms of functional requirements and energy useage, and 5) expand the scope of use of the facility to include other various activities as well as modernize the existing building as described in No. 4 above. Mr. Nixon informed Council staff's recommendation for Lions Pool is No. 4, as modernization of the existing facility would be the best solution for indoor aquatics in Yakima, if funding can be found. He commented that has been researching possible grant opportunities and addressed the need for an additional structural analysis study pertaining to an engineering analysis and energy source assessment. Dave Rhodes, Director of Public Works, referred to staff's recommendation and indicated if staff's report is accepted, he would pursue additional funding of approximately $10,000 of capital improvement funds from the balance of the Metropolitan Park District fund to retain a professional firm to complete the engineering analysis and energy source assessment. Discussion followed regarding possible grant resources and the potential need for a winter aquatics facility. It was MOVED by Beauchamp, seconded by Buchanan to accept staff's report, with Council's appreciation. 500 JUNE 21, 1983 Unanimously carried by voice, vote. _Barnett absent. It was MOVED by Beauchamp, seconded by Moore to authorize staff to proceed and bring back proper legislation that would allow for expenditures up to $10,000 for a structural engineering analysis and geothermal .study; to prepare the proper applications for any future grant funding for Lions Pool. Unanimously carried by voice vote. Barnett absent. Council member. Moore questioned the status of the $20,000 bequest by Margaret Coffin Holmes. He indicated, .he would like to have a proposal prepared for next week's meeting which would allocate $10,000 to the Yakima Valley Museum and $10,000 to the Yakima Valley Regional Library. Discussion followed regarding different alternatives by which the bequest could be utilized. It was the general consensus of the Council to request staff to bring this item back to Council at the next business meeting for further discussion. II/ Information Items Items of information supplied to Council were: letter from Joseph Andreotti resigning from the Utility Rate Advisory Board, 6/10/83; letter from James Daily resigning from the Utility Rate Advisory Board, 6/3/83; minutes of the 6/3/83 Utility Rate Advisory Board meeting; minutes of the 5/3/83 Community Programming Advisory Committee; Community Television Newsletter, Vol. 1, No. 5, May, 1983; Emergency Activity Report from the Yakima Fire Department for May, 1983; letters of commendation from the Fire Chief to Al Richards and Virgil Glessner, 6/16/83; letter of appreciation from Crowley Environmental Services Corporation to Bob Shampine, City Inspector, 6/2/83; memo from the Director of Community and Economic Development and Code Administration Manager regarding weed abatement, 6/15/83; memo from the Director of Community and Economic Development regarding Washington State Energy Office Contracts for Technical Assistance, 6/16/83; report from the Permit Center for May, 1983; activities report from Code Administration Office for May, 1983; minutes of May 24, 1983, Board of Adjustment meeting; minutes of May 18, 1983, Yakima Air Terminal Board meeting; minutes of May 19, 1983, Civil Service Commission meeting, and minutes of May 10, 1983 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. 14. EXECUTIVE SESSION It was MOVED by Beauchamp, seconded by Buchanan to move into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining and then immediately adjourn the meeting. Unanimously carried by voice vote. Barnett absent. 15. ADJOURNMENT Following the completion of the Executive Session, the meeting was adjourned at the hour of 5:50 P.M. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY /e 4114,4 DATE/Min . COUNCIL M kl■ A . ow, DATET- 1F COUNCIL BER ATTEST: -NLIee oomyytAt_c1S CITY CLERK MAYOR