HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/30/1981 Special Meeting L: /
SPECIAL MEETING — JOINT LAW ENFORCEMENT FACILITY
JULY 30, 1981
The City Council met in session on this date at 10;00 A.M. in the
Council Chambers of City Hall, Yakima, Washington. Council members
present were Mayor Betty L. Edmondson, Henry Beauchamp, Lynn
Carmichael, Bruce Crest, Shirley Doty and Don Hinman. Council member
Lynn Buchanan absent.
Mayor Edmondson stated that notice was given about this special
meeting yesterday, which was called for the purpose of discussing the
joint law enforcement huildiog. She stated that there is a provision
in the State law in which Council members may sign a waiver of notice
for the special meeting, which has been done. She referred to an
article in the Yakima Herald Republic in which it was reported she was
furious after reading an article in the paper regarding the County's
discussion on discontinuance of the joint law enforcement building
p]aus. She stated that she would not be a responsible elected official
if she were to call a special meeting because she was furious. She
' stated that there was a mutually accepted outline of -procedure to
address the joint law enforcement building. She further stated that a
Council member came to her with her concern about the timing of the
release of this information in the paper and that the procedure had
not been followed. There was additional information that came to the
Mayor and Council member, so a special meeting was called and then a
joint meeting with the County Commissioners and joint staff was
requested. City Manager Zais stated that the procedure
had been agreed to that once we had a briefing with the joint elected
officials and there was discussion to proceed with further work on the
project, the plan would be for staff review to take place with City
officials, Police and Fire Department representatives, and the County
Sheriff, in cooperation with the orchitects, He stated that this was
an extensive study of a sharing of ideas and concepts at the staff
level. The plan agreed upon last February was to have the architects
begin work on the site analysis and prepare preliminary drawings and
follow—up on the feasibility studies that have been done. There had
been several staff meetings and the architects presented us with their
preliminary report and outlined 13 different options on the site where
the old Safeway store was located. We reduced those options to 3 or 4.
He stated he distributed a copy of the July 20t6 letter from the
architect addressed to the Joint Safety Review Committee, which gives
specific site plans which was felt to be the most conducive to
building this facility. He stated that this letter asked the Committee
to review this and there was a meeting for the staff committee held
yesterday at 3:00 P.M. The next step would be to continue working with
the architect until the committee was satisfied with the review work
and then the Committee would present their report to the City Council
and County Commissioners in a joint meeting. Be stated he was surprised
to see the article in the paper yestorday. The architect had not had
the opportunity to meet with the staff committee to discuss their
concerns. Be stated that the newspaper article was discussed at the
meeting yesterday; one of the concerns discussed was whether the
sheriff was desirous of completing this study. He indicated that he
was committed to seeing the architect work and the design project
complwted. The question of funding it and implementing it is a policy
decision by the City Council and County Commissinunco, City Manager
Zais stated he understands the financing of the jail is from FRS funds
and this project would be funded by a joint City/County bond issue.
Council member Carmichael spoke about her concern regarding the news—
' paper article and commented she felt that it was a joint effort and if
it was going to be discontinued, that should be a joint decision. She 11/
stated she felt the architects had continued with their share of the
project in a responsive manner.
Council member Hinman stated that the Commissioners have the right to
meet and discuss this and we should give them the benefit of the
doubt. Mayor Edmondson stated that this discussion was premature. The
Council had not been presented with the material yet and it was still
in the staff committee review.
Mayor Edmondson stated that the County Commissioners, the review
staff and the architects will be meeting at 11:00 A.M. today for a
joint law enforcement meeting. The meeting was recessed until
11:00 A.M.
The meeting reconvened at 11;00 A.M. Council members present were
Mayor Betty L. Edmondson, Henry Beauchamp, Lynn Carmichael, Bruce
Crest, Shirley Doty and Don Hinman. Council member Lynn Buchanan
7
SPECIAL MEETING - JOINT LAW ENFORCEMENT FACILITY . c� /
JULY 30', 1981
absent. Yakima County Commissioners present were Chuck Klarich, Graham
Tollefson and Jim Wbitesido, Architects Bob Williams and Ed Weber,
Doudna-Williams, were present. Review staff members present were
- Yakima City Manager Dick Zais, Police Chief Jack LaRue, Captain
Harvey Qualley, Yakima Fire Representative, Bruce Belfield and Yakima
County Sheriff Dick Nessary.
Yakima City Manager Zais stated that staff has been engaged in
reviews of the work prepared by the architects. There was a meeting
yesterday to continue the staff discussion, presentations and request
for changes on any of the preliminary plan that were outlined. He
stated the 7/20/81 letter brought out concerns as to where this
project is headed and whether or not we have had any different plans
to discontinue this. It was the Committee's plan to continue with
staff meetings until the study was completed and recommendations
finalized and then there should be a presentation by the architects
to the City Council and County Commissioners. This is still in the
preliminary stage. Our understanding is that the County hao questions
about the funding of this project. Bob Williams, architect,
Doudna-Williams, distributed copies of the preliminary plans and
reviewed the work on this project performed by his firm. He stated he
recommended that consideration be given to the acquisition of another
site which could accommodate parking for staff and visitors. An
alternative was suggested to investigate using the railroad property
for additional parking. Commissioner Klarich commenced that the County
has an application with the railroad company for County parking.
Mr. Williams reported that there was another suggestion to vacate a
portion of Front Street for parking. He stated that no formal action
was taken by the Committee because they weren't sure it would be
necessary. He reported that the Committee reviewed all the documents
received from the architect and the preference for Scheme 1-A was
indicated, however, no selection was actually made. It was decided
that the architect should prepare initial plan studies. He stated
that these documents were submitted with a request that the committee
study the site/building relationship, department stacking and to
comment on the relationship within the separate departments. Since
the development of these programs, other things have come up that
were either missed in the programming study or added to the concepts,
i.e, interview rooms for attorneys, coroner's office, and emergency
services. He stated that at the meeting yesterday, the committee
indicated a preference for the alternate plan submicted. There were
some changes to be made regarding the stacking of the departments and
it was determined that the original space allocation for the consoli-
dated communication was not adequate. He stated he was instructed to
continue with further review of the project and to work with the
Police Chief and the Sheriff regarding department space. He stated he
has written a letter to the City Council and County Commissioners,
which he distributed. City Manager Zais asked if the Committee is
still in agreement with the procedure to be followed as far as this
project is concerned. He asked if the committee is still to do the
staff work with the architects until we prepare to present a recommen-
dation to the Commissioners and Council. Commissioner Tollefson
commented that at the meeting between the Commissioners and the
Sheriff, he said that he wanted to make absolutely sure the City
understood the County's situation for capital pznjects. He stated
that they are reluctant to commit themselves to construction of the
joint law facility at this time, and won't be in a position to look
II/ at funding t6ia project foz a minimum nf two years. Diucussiou
followed and it was suggested by Commissioner Whiteside that a
committee should study the financing of this project while the
planning is being done. Mayor Edmondson asked about the compositon of
this committee, stating she thought it is a good idea. Commissioner
Whitside requested that the County get back with an answer after the
first part of the week.
The meeting was adjourned at cba of 12:15 P.M.
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