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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/18/1979 Business Meeting SEPTEMBER 18, 1979 341 The City Council net 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 and Jack Sparling present on roll call. Councilman Gordon Wonder present after 2:10 P.M. Mayor Edmondson read a letter which was received from the American Red Cross commending Pat Brady for her efforts in initiating a blood drawing among City employees, and also commending those employees who gave blood. The City; Manager and City Council were also commended for allowing the employees to participate in the blood drawing. Mayor Edmondson reported that Laurie Rbbillard, representing "Catch '79" fund raising for Catholic Schools, contacted her asking if Council would like to enter one Of the catagories to help raise money for "Catch '79." Following discussion, it was the general consensus of the Council to II/ respond individually on this matter. Mayor Edmondson announced that there will be an open house on Wednesday, September 19, 1979 for the Yakima Specialities, Inc., 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. She also announced that.the Senior Citizen Center will be holding an open house in honor of their 6th anniversary on Sunday, September 23, 1979 at 1:30 P.M. Councilman Wonder present after 2:10 P.M. Council member Lee reported that groundbreaking ceremonies at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital will take place at 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, September 19, 1979: Council member Lee reported that she and Councilman Beauchamp have interviewed two of the candidates interested in-serving on the Planning Commission. She reported that Manuel Olivas works for Migrant Education for Washington and resides within the City limits. He has the time to serve and is interested in serving. She stated that he has a good background and has a great deal of expertise to bring to the Commission. She stated that she and Councilman Beauchamp are recommending that he be appointed to the Planning Commission to serve a four year term filling the vacancy which occurred when Russ Miller's term expired. She reported that they also interviewed Jeff. Jensen, who works for Pioneer National Title CoMpany and. resides within the Citylimits. Mr. Jensen has the time to serve and is willing to serve. She stated that they recommend him to fill the unexpired term vacated by Mark Fortier. Several Council members expressed the desire that more than two candidates be interviewed. 'Following discussion, it was the general consensus of the Council to continue this to next week. City Manager Manager Zais gave the Council two options relating to the preparation of the budget - does Council wish to have a summary report on the budget, which could be brought to than in mid-October; or should staff proceed with preparing a preliminary budget which would cane to Council approximately the third week of NOveMber. He stated that the summary would probably raise questions in Council members' minds; however, it would be more accurate in November. He stated that staff is following Council's directions in not including any FRS funds and to make reductions in service. No other new revenue sources are being used at this time. Councilman Sperling suggested that sane action should be taken on no hires in the last quarter of this year. City Manager Zais reported that staff is controlling spending now; however, no blanket restrictions have been set. Councilman Wonder expressed concern about the time limit for Council involvement if they wait until November. Councilman Hinman stated that staff was given directions previously on the budget and staff can work it out and come back in November. City • Manager Zais stated that in terms of tine and energy, doing would involveEsome duplication. It was MOVED by Beauchamp, seconded by Lee to go the second recommendation City Manager Zais made in terms of a preliminary budget in November. Councilman Wonder. again expressed concern about. waiting until the or third week in November before knowing what the expenditures will. be. Following further discussion, the question was called for the vote on the motion: - carried, Beauchamp, Buchanan, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee, and Sparling voting aye by voice vote. Wonder nay. It .was MOVED by Hinman, seconded by Sperling that if it looks like we are going to have a cut in a department in January, to go ahead and do it in this quarter. Following discussion, the question was called for the vote on the motion: Beauchamp, Buchanan and Sparling voting aye by voice vote. Edmondson, Hinman, Lee and Wonder voting nay. The motion failed for lack of a majority vote. 342 SEPTEMBER 18, 1979 Ellis Cummins appeared on behalf of Central Washington State Fair Board to request extension of the City bus schedule during the Fair week. He reported that this was discussed with Willis %bite, Public Works Director, and the only thought that was projected was that it would be possible if the Central Washington Fair would underwrite the expenses for this. If the hours of bus service could be extended, it would be a great boom to the Fair and the people of Yakima. Councilman Wonder inquired about the cost to extend the bus service. Willis White distributed material and outlined a 30-60 minute service from downtown area to the Fair and back. He stated that 30 minute round trip basis on Sunday and evenings could he arranged. The cost is approximately $20 per hour, so service to the CBD area to the Fair and back from September 28 through October 6 would be approximately $1100. He stated that they talked about service fran the CBD area to the Fair because of the traffic and parking situation at the Fairgrounds. Mr. Cummins requested that the evening schedule be extended until 11:00 P.M. He also stated that transporting people from the CBD area and the Fair would not reach as many people. Mr. hbite stated that the cost to extend the bus service fran 6:00 P.M to 11:00 P.M. is approximately $4,000. Councilman Hinman questioned if that would be an eligible expense for reimbursement by UMTA and Mr. White replied in the negative. Mayor Edmondson inquired if this includes fare box. Mr. White stated that it doesn't, however, fare box revenues generally recovers only one quarter of the expenses. Councilman Wonder questioned if this is an eligible item for room tax funds to help defray the cost. City Manager Zais stated that Legal would have to research this question. Councilman Wonder stated that this is going to benefit the Fair and the Fair Board and inquired if they would be willing to underwrite one half of the cost. Mr. Cummins stated that he would like to take this question back to the Fair Board. Councilman members discussed one half hour service vs. one hour service and Mr. White stated that there would be one hour service unless one half hour service was justified. It was MOVED. by Hinman, seconded by Lee that staff be given authority to work out an agreement with the Fair Board and look at some funding within the City that could pay for it and bring it back to Council next week. Councilman Sparling stated that it would have to be advertised so that people will use it. Mr. Cummins stated that they would like to advertise it as soon as a decision is made. The question was called for the vote on the motion: carried, Beauchamp, Buchanan, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee, Sparling.and Wonder voting aye by voice vote. Yakima School District gave a slide presentation on the various programs the schools offer and the relationship between the school and the parents. Following the presentation, Mayor Edmondson thanked them for their presentation. Council members discussed the cost and funding of the Christmas decorations. Willis White, Public Works Director, stated that the cost for materials has been reduced fran $9,300 to $1,000; labor costs to put the materials together is estimated to be about $1,000; contingency of $2,000 and labor costs in the Street and Traffic Engineering is $7,500. Council discussed the Christmas decorations to be used. Lee Semon, representing the DARC Canmittee, expressed two concerns. The Christmas decorations cost $12,000 and it would be a shame not to put them up. He also stated that this proposal was to be covered by excess funds in the PBIA Fund. He stated that he has been told that there aren't any excess funds in that account. He stated that when the PBIA was formed, the City came up with $550,000 matching money for redevelopment of the downtown area. PBIA pays the City $60,000 yearly and of that money, $5,000 was to be used for promotion of downtown area and Christmas decorations. If there is an excess of $10,000 to cover this proposal, where is the money that was to be used for promotion of the downtown area? He stated that each year there is a deficit of $98, without the $5,000 for promotion. Jean Groth, Finance Department, explained the PBIA Fund and the balance in the account. Councilman Wonder stated that there is a fixed assessment per employee and it can't be raised, so the only way the fund will grcw is by having more employees work in the CBD area. Therefore, if there is a little bit of a balance left to carry forward, it should be saved in case it is needed. Councilman Beauchamp asked what other choices are there besides PBIA funding. City Manager Zais stated that the individual departments involved could be asked to absorb the expenses or allocate funding from contingency reserve or give it back to the businessmen. Councilman Wonder inquired if there is any passibility of tieing the Christmas decorations in with tourist promotion. Mr. Senon stated that the businessmen handled the Christmas decorations in the past, however, they did not have a $1,000 tO put the SEPTEMBER 18, 1979 343 decorations up and take them dcwn so they asked for volunteers. It was MOVED by Lee, seconded by Wonder to give the Christmas decoration project back to the businessmen. Mayor Edmondson stated that Council made some commitments to the Christmas Festival Committee and they went out and purchased banners for this year. Mr. Semon reported that the PBIA was told that when they get to the place where they have $60,000 in their fund, then $5,000 was for promotion and Christmas decorations. Council member Lee withdrew her motion and Councilman Wonder withdrew his second. Following discussion, it was MOVED by Hinman, seconded by Wonder to ask staff to explore Councilman Wonder's_suggestion of using room tax funds and see if it would he eligible to fund Christmas decorations from now on. Councilman Hinman stated that he thinks the Christmas decoratiOns should be put on a match basis with the downtown businessmen. Councilman Wonder then withdrew his second to the motion, stating that he also wants to put it on a match basis.. The motion was then seconded by Beauchanp: carried, Beauchamp, Buchanan, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee and Sperling voting aye by voice vote. Wonder voting nay. Mr. Semon stated that a lot of money has been spent on the downtown area and it now looks terrible. He spoke about the litter and about the condition of the plantings. It was MOVED by Lee, seconded by Buchanan to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing pending litigation: carried, Beauchamp, Buchanan, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee, Sparling and Wonder voting aye by voice vote. - _ Upon canpletion of Executive Session, City Manager Zais informed the Council of the difficulties staff has experienced in trying to hire a City Engineer. He reported that the position has been offered to three candidates and all three have declined the position .based on salary and management benefits. He stated that staff is in the process of making a management analysis which should come to Council in October and is in the process of internal factoring of responsibilities and duties. The City Engineer position was factored, and based on that, it is recommended that the salary range be raised to a maximum of $28,389. lialmrAImprid§pn stated,that theapplicants „applied knowing the present salary range. Carol Darby, Director of Comrnunity iieNielOpm and City Zalsitsipongkeithabaotutwhseonnethifrsinwgaes iitdserheedinigmothffeelistbyitothwaers cities which would compensate for the lower salary. It was MOVED by Sparling, seconded' by Hinman to raise the maximum ccmpensation for the position of City Engineer, as recommended by staff: carried, Beauchamp, Buchanan, EdmondsOn, Hinman, Lee, Sparling and Wonder voting aye by voice vote. Carol Darby, Director of Community Development, informed Council that staff is negotiating with APCOA regarding their lease for parking at the Airport, which expired the beginning of August. Since then, they have been operating on a verbal agreement and now want to formalize that agreement. She also suggested that Council consider increasing the parking rates. The existing rates are as follows: 0-1 hour - -2% each additional hour is 10; daily maximum is $1.50 and weekly basis is $7.50. The rates proposed are as follaes: 0-1 hour --35', -3% each additional hour would be 15; daily maximum would be $2.00 and weekly would be $10.00. 1 Councilman Wonder expressed concern about the rate Illargeee , b enefits discovered that APCOA would make the first $10,000 then the City would get more money. Carol Darby explained the agreement, reporting that it would not be the case in the instance. She also explained the parking validation agreement with Frasu's Restaurant and stated that staff would like APCOA to take over that relationship. Following discussion, it was MOVED by Hinman, seconded by Buchanan to authorize staff to prepare legislation to extend the lease with APCOA for two months, with the new rates: carried, Beauchamp, Buchanan, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee, Sparling and Wonder voting aye by voice vote. City Manager Zais reported that the appraisal on the Larson Garage, performed by Ralph Korn, has been received and staff is ncw examining it. A report will come to Council later. Robert Brown, 110 No. 56th Avenue, referred to a newspaper article in the Herald-Republic regarding possible cutbacks in the Police and Fire Departments. He questioned haw Council can afford to appeal the Safeway decision. If the City is not going to pay the appeal costs, he questioned who is. He requested Council to consider dropping the appeal. Mayor Edmondson stated that this is still a matter for Executive Session and therefore no comments may be given. • 344 SEPTEMBER 18, 1979 Items of information supplied to Council were: letter from Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Records re Housing Authority employee. 9/7/79; letter from Preston, ThorgrimSon,,Ellis, Holman and Fletcher - Forrest W. Walls re independent methods of financing the City of Yakima AiLport. 9/5/79; Minutes of Yakima Housing Authority meeting on discussion on Moderate Rehab Program. .8/14/79; minutes of Yakima Housing Authority meeting of August 15, 1979; notice of appeal-Safeway Stores, Inc. v. the City of Yakima. 9/13/79; AWC Bulletin re Elected Officials and Key City Staff Members 'encouraged to attend AWC Fall "Mini Convention". 9/10/79; and Yakima Valley Conference of Governments newsletter-9/4/79. There being no further business to cane before the Council, it was MOVED by Buchanan, seconded by ,Hinman that this meeting be adjourned at the hour of 6:30 P.M.: carried, Beauchamp, Buchanan, Edmandson, Hinman, Lee,-Sparling and Wonder voting aye by voice vote. /7 / READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE DATEq6V DATE/Op/77 COUNCILMAN ATTEST: er Let - CITY elm RK ( MAYOR • • • •