HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/16/1979 Business Meeting October 16, 1979
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The City Council met in session on this date at 2:00 P.M. in the Council
.Chambers of City Hall, Yakima, Washington; Mayor Betty L. Edmondson
presiding, Council members Henry Beauchamp, Lynn Buchanan, Don Hinman,
Nadine Lee, Jack Sparling and Gordon Wonder present on roll call.
In answer to Councilman Beauchamp's inquiry regarding the status of the
American Legion Auxiliary request for a flag in the CBD area, Mayor
Edmondson reported that the Auxiliary was taking it back to the other
Auxiliaries to possibly raise some money for the flag; then they were
going to report back to staff.
Mayor Edmondson advised Council that she will be out-of-town from
October 27 through November 17 and suggested that an Assistant Mayor be
appointed for that period of time. It was MOVED by Hinman, seconded by
Buchanan to appoint Council member Nadine Lee as Assistant Mayor for
those three weeks: carried, Beauchamp, Buchanan, Edmondson, Hinman,
Lee, Sparling and Wonder voting aye by voice vote.
Referring to the report received from the Garfield School area
neighborhood group and a petition received regarding weed control by the
16th Avenue entrance to the Airport, Mayor Edmondson stated that these
communications have been referred to staff and a report will cane back
to Council.
Council member Lee stated that as President of the Retired Senior
Volunteer Program, she will have to leave for a short time so that she
may attend a United Way Allocation Committee meeting.
Councilman Hinman questioned why there is a blinking red light signal on
Yakima and 16th Avenues. Carol Darby, Director of Community Development
reported that the control unit was damaged in an accident and another
one is on order:
Councilman Wonder stated that he would like to discuss the letter
received from the Yakima Housing Authority Board, stating that he did
not believe all the events are accurate. Council members discussed the
meeting with the Housing Authority Board members which occured in March,
at which time Council expressed concern regarding the Director's
actions. Councilman Wonder stated that he was concerned about the
impact the situation may have on the City, relating to federal funds.
(Council member Lee temporarily absent after 2 :20 p.m.) City Manager
Zais reported that the City had verbal conversation with HUD and we have
requested an official statement from them on this matter. It was MOVED
by Wonder, seconded by Buchanan that Council go on record as requesting
the urgency of this question being answered by HUD regarding the
liability of the Council in this matter: carried, Beauchamp, Buchanan,
Edmondson, Hinman, Sparling and Wonder voting aye by voice vote. Lee
temporarily absent. Councilman Hinman gave his opinion regarding the
matter stating that the Housing' Authority has not denied that the
Director has not done any of the things that were revealed by the Audit.
The Housing Authority is refusing to supervise its employees. He stated
that the Council is the only one in the City who has any control over
the Housing Authority and he thinks Council should begin action and
notify then that Ithey should be removed. Councilman Wonder suggested
that Council get some legal advice and it was the general consensus of
the Council to go into Executive Session'when Council member Lee is
present.
Willis Wriite, Public Works Director, reviewed the information in the
Council packet regarding Speas' application for connection to the City's
sanitary sewer .system. After review by the- Office of Code
Administration and Department of Public Works, staff recommends that the
connection be made. Mr. Wriite requested Council direction on two
policies which would apply to any industrial user wishing to connect to
the sanitary sewer. He stated that those industries that are on the
industrial system' had committed in the past to certain improvements to
the sewer system paying on an annual basis. He stated that staff is
asking that Council approve a policy that when a firm changes from the
industrial system'+' and goes onto the sanitary sewer, that they retire
their debt. He stated that in this instance, that amount is $46,000.
He also reported that 8,000 pounds BOD was reserved for the industrial
waste users, of which Speas would represent approximately 1,000 pounds.
362 October 16, 1979
He stated he would like to make it a policy that when a firm transfers
to this sanitary sewer that its reserved allotment of the BOD loading
capacity be transferred also. Councilman Wbnder inquired why Speas
wants to make this change. Willis White stated that Speas operates
year-round and so 50% of their waste is already being treated though the
plant. Following discussion, it was MOVED by Hinman, seconded by
Beauchamp to adopt the two policy recommendations by staff regarding
industries disconnection from the industrial waste system and connection
to the sanitary sewer system: carried, Beauchamp, Buchanan, Edmondson,
Hinman, Sparling and Wbnder voting aye by voice vote. Lee absent.
An Ordinance amending the 1979 budget, appropriating transferring and
reappropriating $15,000 for Capitol Theatre Litigation, having been read
by title only previously, it was MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Sparling
that Ordinance No. 2342 amending the 1979 budget, appropriating,
transferring and reappropriating $15,000, be passed: carried,
Beauchamp, Buchanan, Edmondson, Hinman, Sparling and Wbnder voting aye
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on roll call. Lee absent.
ORDINANCE NO. 2342, AN ORDINANCE amending the 1979 budget for the City
of Yakima; and appropriating, transferring and reappropriating the
amount of $15,000 as an appropriation for the 1979 City of Yakima
Budget.
Larry Wright, Principal Planner, reviewed the preliminary annexation
policy. He stated that staff's goal is to provide for the planned
expansion of the City in a manner compatible with the City's ability to
expand and provide the full range of City services and facilities. He
referred to a map which indicates the high, medium and low priority
areas for annexation. He stated that the City has a tremendous
extension of utility services outside the City Limits, which is not
common. He reviewed alternative approaches the City could use, listed
on page 20 of the report. The alternatives suggested are:
disincorporation, freeze City Limits, formation of metropolitan
jurisdiction, immediate annexation election, or follow the policies
given under the goals and policies section of this report. (Council
member Lee present after 3:25 p.m.) Councilman Wonder expressed concern
regarding the Outside Utility Agreement and its lack of enforcement
capability regarding the annexation requirement. City Attorney Andrews
stated that he does not know of one instance where that specific
convenant regarding annexation has been tested in court. He stated that
it is his opinion that that is a valid and enforcable agreement. It was
MOVED by Hinman, seconded by Buchanan that staff be directed to further
develop the goals and policies as set forth in their report: carried,
Beauchamp, Buchanan, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee, Sparling and Wonder voting
aye by voice vote.
It was MDVED by Wonder, seconded by Hinman to move into Executive
Session for the purpose of discussing the Housing Authority appointees:
carried, Beauchamp, Buchanan, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee, Sparling and
Wonder voting aye by voice vote.
Following the conclusion of the Executive Session:, Hank Hein,
Supervising Traffic Engineer, referred to a map which indicates the
placement of street lights and the type of lighting it is. He reported
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on the advantages and disadvantages of the different bulbs and
recommended the high pressure sodium type. He showed some slides which
he had taken of the different street lights and spoke of their
efficiency. (Councilman Wonder absent after 5:00 P.M) He referred to
page 6 of his report stating that the payback was calculated to be about
4.2 years, converting to the high pressure sodium lights. Eva Ford, 703
No. Naches Avenue, reported her concerns about the 700 block of No.
Naches Avenue not having any lighting. She reported that several years
ago when the other lighting was installed on Naches Avenue, the
neighbors questioned why a light wasn't installed on their block and
were told that it would cost $10,000. Mary Kirby and Mr. and Mrs.
Melville were also present regarding this issue. It was the general
consensus of the Council to request staff to look into why lighting was
not installed in the 700 block of No. Naches Avenue and to bring back a
recommendation. Carol Darby, Director of Community Development,
reviewed staff's recommendations as given in the report on the bulb
recommendation lighting standArds, and lighting levels. Council next
discussed the financing of the street lighting program. Councilman
Hinman suggested councilmatic bonds. Hank Hein stated that
approximately $40,000 could be saved, even adding almost 300 lights.
Carol Darby suggested several alternatives - FAM funding, 1.A gas tax,
October 16, 1979 363
increase the utility tax (2% increase would generate $150,000 annually),
household tax (about 66 a month) or City-wide or specialized L.I.D.'s.
Mayor Edmondson questioned hcw long it would take to implement this
program. Mr. Hein stated that it would he phased in over a five year
period. Councilman Hinman stated he would like a report on the
councilmatic bond possibility. It was MOVED by Hinman, seconded by
Buchanan to accept the staff's recommendations on bulbs and lighting
levels and come back with additional options on financing: carried,
Beauchamp, Buchanan, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee and Sparling voting aye by
voice vote. Wonder absent.
It was MDVED by Buchanan, seconded by Sparling to move into Executive
Session for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining and then
adjourn the meeting: carried, Beauchamp, Buchanan, Edmondson, Hinman,
Lee, and Sparling voting aye by voice vote. Wonder absent.
Items of information supplied to Council were: memo from Director of
Finance & Budget re EDA Audit-Dogntown Project. 10/11/79; Revenue
Sharing for States: An Endangered Species; Petition fran residents and
property owners along 16th Avenue re entrance to City fran Yakima City
Air Terminal; Outside Utility request for Sewer & Water, by William and
Mary Scott. 10/5/79; Outside Utility request for sewer, by Debora
Nelson. 10/8/79; Letter fran Visitors & Convention Bureau re Initiative
19. 10/4/79; minutes of Yakima Housing Authority meeting of Sept. 11,
1979; monthly report of Police Chief LaRue for Sept. 1979; monthly
report for August, 1979 re Yakima Air Terminal; and COG Monthly
Newsletter - October 5, 1979.
Upon completion of the Executive Session, and there being no further
business to come before the Council, it was MOVED by Buchanan, seconded
by Lee that this meeting be adjourned at the hour of 6:15 p.m.:
carried, Beauchamp, Buchanan, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee and Sparling voting
aye by voice vote. Wonder absent.
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