HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/17/1980 Adjourned Meeting ADJOURNED MEETING -- COMMUNITY FORUM U 01
1 APRIL 17., 1980 1
The City Council met in session on this date at 7:30 P.M. in the library
of Robertson School, 2807 West Lincoln, Yakima, Washington. Council
members present were Henry Beauchamp, Lynn Carmichael, Bruce Crest, and
Shirley Doty. Also present were City Manager Dick Zais and the Meeting
Facilitator, Gary Kissling.
Mr. Kissling explained that this forum would give the people of the
neighborhood that are present a chance to ask questions of the Council
about various issues they might have in mind, and suggested a few:
1. The funding of the Transit System through .3% Sales Tax.
2. Airport service.
II 3. Annexation policy.
4. How we might increase the City's present tax base, etc.
Del Carmichael asked if it possible or if there are any plans for using
small buses. Councilman Beauchamp stated that there is no plan at this
time to go out for small buses. He further stated that there is a plan
to go after UMTA funds -- to fill out the requirement that the buses be
outfitted for the handicapped, but there is a 10 year time limit in
which to bring all the buses into compliance. He explained that one
alternative for funding the Transit system is by a .3% Sales Tax, which
would have to be voted on by the public. If this goes through, then
some new buses could be purchased that would be in compliance, there
would be the possibility of free bus rides, and the Household Tax would
go off. He stated there is a plan to make the buses run more often, on
the half hour, and start earlier. Council member Carmichael explained
that small buses would not be feasible as it takes the same amount of
personnel as the larger buses.
Jim Kurbitz, Hall Avenue, asked about the Yakima Valley Transportation
Exchange, stating that it is a very good service. City Manager Zais
explained that the Transportation Exchange is support by UMTA funds,
along with matching funds from the City and County.
Bob Van Dyke, North 29th Avenue, asked about the Ci Affirmative
Action Program. Council member Carmichael explained that the City's Af-
firmative Action Plan hasn't been presented to the Council as yet, and
that the Fire Department has had a working Affirmative Action Program.
Councilman Beauchamp explained that a Plan is being developed, and that
all the steps that have been taken to date have been minimal. Council
member Doty explained that the Council is going to look at some other
plans. Mr. Kissling asked if the City currently is not in compliance,
could they lose some funds. Councilman Crest stated that the City could
lose money that they have already spent in the past if it is found out
of compliance. The question was asked, what is being done to fore an
effective plan. City Manager Zais explained that the City is developing
a revised new and more demanding plan on the part of department heads
and management -- that a training program is needed and resources to
provide for a training program are needed. He further stated that the
program that the City adopts will have to be flexible so that it can be
revised in accordance with the change in census figures.
Facilitator Kissling asked about the Municipal Airport, who should fund
it --the City or the County -- and is the service satisfactory? City
Manager Zais explained that problems have just surfaced. Up until 1979
the Airport was selfsupporting. In 1979 the Airport was $50,000 in the
red, and will ', probably be up to $100,000 in the red this year unless
some other means of support is found. Council member Doty not that
the County has said they might be receptive to consideration of support
of some kind. Kissling asked about the fixed base operators at the
Airport, and was informed by the City Manager that the leases are being
reviewed at the present time by the Airport Advisory Commission along
with the Airport Manager. Bob Van Dyke asked if Council has reached a
decision about the volunteer firefighters. Council member Carmichael
explained that they are considering a supplemental volunteer firefighter
program, that they are not talking about replacing any current firemen.
Van Dyke stated that he is opposed to using volunteers. It was further
explained to him that the reason for using volunteers is that it is
considerably less money as the City can control or pay for the volun-
teers -- not in control as the regular firefighters. City Manager Zais
002 ADJOURNED MEETING -- OOMMUNITY FORUM
APRIL 17, 1980
explained that the City is exploring some ideas. He noted that other
cities in the State are showing that they have been doing an adequate
job with volunteer firefighters. He further stated that they are study-
ing this matter of volunteer firefighters with the idea of using than as
a back-up crew for the future.
There was some discussion regarding annexation. It was noted that the
only time people request annexation is when they need City services, and
it was suggested that people should be encouraged to annex in order to
increase the tax base.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 P.M.
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