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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. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY et t„ ( k DATE Ghtho CIIMAN DATE COUNCILMAN ATTEST: ' .0". CITY *07RK MAYOR 1