HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/27/2018 03 City Manager UpdateBUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
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Item No. 3.
For Meeting of: November 27, 2018
ITEM TITLE: City Manager update
SUBMITTED BY: Cliff Moore, City Manager
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
City Manager Update Items:
1. Follow-up on Council direction to send a letter to YSD regarding Safe Routes to
School (letter attached)
2. Follow-up on Council direction to send a letter to the Lodging Tax Advisory
Committee on Council decision on Sun Dome operations funding (letter attached)
3. Seasons loan issue (letter attached)
4. YPD update (key messages attached)
5. Staff update
6. Possible next steps for permanent low -barrier shelter (Joan Davenport November
13, 2018 memo attached)
7. Update re: Community Integration Committee
8. Update on December 7 meeting with local legislative delegation (agenda and
priorities attached)
9. Update: Meeting with Greenway scheduled for December 13 at 5:00 pm at
Greenway Office
10. Review draft letter to BoCC re: 2163 funding (draft attached)
11. Clean City Program: Update on approach
12. Chamber request (letter attached)
13. Discuss plan for January 2019 check-in on Strategic Plan/Council retreat — Possible topics:
a. Review Strategic Plan Priorities
b. Review Downtown Master Plan
c. Review Economic Development Strategic Plan
d. Discuss possible capital budget request
e. Update on City debt
f. TBD update (revenue, projects, schedule)
14. Council quarterly roundtable?
ITEM BUDGETED:
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
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STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
BOARD/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
City Manager Update 11/20;2018 Cover Memo
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
129 North Second Street
City Hall, Yakima, Washington 98901
Phone (509) 575-6040
November 20, 2018
Jack Ilion
Yakima School District Superintendent
104 North 4th Avenue
Yakima, WA 98902
Dear Jack,
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The City of Yakima and the Council Public Safety Committee are committed to providing children
and adults with safe routes to and from Iocal schools. As you know, one of Council's strategic
priorities is to actively pursue grant opportunities to fund such pjecta. In order to ensure we are
addressing the needs of the schools, and prepare compelling and comprehensive grant applications,
feedback from Yakima School District (Y8[)) staff and families would be extremely helpful.
Specifically, our planning and funding requests would benefit from knowing the following about each
elementary and middle school in the district:
1. What are the conditions of the sidewalks around schools?
2. Are there Iighting deficiencies near YSD schools?
3. What traffic reconfiguration ideas do you have (Le. making streets one way)?
4. Where are the dangerous properties and aggressive dogs near YSD schools?
5. What code enforcement issues need to be addressed near YSD schools?
While there are typical grant cycles for Safe Routes to Schoo, our hope is that we can look
holistically at our needs SO that we develop a long-term, realistic project plan, with associated costs,
to address the various issues we are asking about.
know that your facilities team has met with our Public Works and Engineering staif and has some of
this data, but a comprehensive district wide survey to gather this information would be very helpful.
The City Council is requesting that the YSD communicate with parents and staff and ask for their
feedback.
Also, |annvery pleased to advise you that the Yakima Police Department (YPD) will be returnito
"Beat" assignments in 2019. This means there will be opportunities for local residents to get to know
police officers who will be patrolling their neighborhoods in informal settings which should help
improve public safety. Along with SR{]o, we hope that "Beat" officers will be able to attend PTA
meetings and other school events. If you will share with YPD schedules of events and opportunities
for officers to meet students, staff and fmmni|ies, we would be most appreciative.
Kind regards,
Cliff Moore
City Manager
Yakima
1994
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OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
129 North Second Street
City Hall, Yakima, Washington 98901
Phone (509) 575-6040
November 19, 2018
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
0/0 Kathy Coffey, Chair
129 North 2"d Street
Yakima, WA 98901
Dear Committee Members:
RCW 67.28.1816(2)(b)(ii) indicates that the legislative body may only choose Lodging Tax fund
recipients from the list of candidates and recommended amounts provided by the Lodging Tax
Advisory Committee (LTAC). The Yakima City Council is the legislative body for the City of
Yakima; from the list of candidates provided by the LTAC recommending Lodging Tax fund
recipients the City Council wishes to select the following candidates to receive Lodging Tax
distributions in 2019:
Convention Center Operations
Convention Center Capital
• Convention Center Debt
Capitol Theater Operations
The City Council rejects the following candidate as a potential recipient of Lodging Tax funds in
2019:
Sundome Operations- $75,000
In accordance with RCW 67.28.1817(2), upon the LTAC's receipt of the City Council's proposed
change in use of the Lodging Tax funds or recipients the LTAC has 45 days to provide
comments on the proposal back to the City Council, after which time the City Council may make
its selection on the designation of fund recipients and uses. Upon making its final decision
regarding disbursement of the funds the Council will amend its 2019 budget accordingly.
The City Council would also like to review the LTAC application process used when seeking
candidates for Lodging Tax funds. This process should identify specific dates for release of
applications available to candidates seeking funding, sample applications and the basic
elements of the review process and selection criteria. Please provide this information within 45
days of your receipt of this letter.
In the future, the list of recommended fund recipients and fund allocations should be submitted
to the City Council no later than July 1 on any given year. The Council will then review the list
and notify the LTAC of who they have selected to receive funds and in what amounts.
In the past, the timing of submitting LTAC recommendations has not allowed for proper review
and has thus diminished the role of the Council. This dynamic needs to change so that the
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LTAC and City may be in cooperative compliance with RCW and so that a broader sector of our
community has an opportunity to apply to receive the benefit of funding if their activities and
programs comply with the funding requirements and the application process.
Thank you for your partnership and collaboration,
Sincerely,
Cliff Moore
City Manager
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THE SEANcSEOHANLLS
Pat Strosahl, Interim Executive Director
181 N. Naches Ave
Yakima, WA 98901
509'453'1888
director @theseasonsyakima.com
November 14, 2018
Carmen Mendez
Yakima City Council
120 N 2nd Street
Yakima, WA 98901
Dear Carmen
It was my impression from our meeting last week with the City Manager, that you and the
City Council — under the purview of the Partnerships Committee — might entertain the
foliowing proposal. The proposal has features which similar, but not identical, to what |
was suggesting regarding The Seasons' debt to the City ofYakima at our meeting.
Attached is a short summary of a proposal and a .pdf outlining the re -structuring being
implemented at The Seasons over the next six months or so. Thank you for your
consideration...
J. Patrick Strosahl
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Dealing with Debt at The Performance Hall
Problem Statement:
Because ofThe Seasons recurring cash flow problems, it is essential for the organization to
make a leap from a surviving, but not prospering, arts organization to a stable, viable non-
pnofit that can take its place as a permanent institution. This transformation would yield
significant benefits the city and region and its emerging economic profile as an arts/wine/
ale destination. In addition it would create a repair and replacement budget to maintain
one of the key historical buildings in Yakima. One key recurring debt that can feel crippling
each time it comes around is the $20,000 mortgage payment to The City of Yakima.
Proposal:
This proposal contemplates a true thi between the City andTh Seasons which
alleviates the debt problem of the recurring payment in exchange for the City of Yakima
becoming one ownership partner in a newly proposed non-profit facility ownership group
(The Seasons Performance Hall non-profit). It is contemplated that this group will purchase
The Seasons on favorable terms in exchange for helping continue and support the mission
of a separate music -presenting non-profit, The Music of The Seasons. The City Manager has
documented a $214,000 debt still being paid off by The Seasons. This proposal asks that
the City invest all or a portion of that debt into an ownership share. The minimum
investment currently being offered in the donor community is $100,000. The total purchase
price being offered to this ownership group is $600,000 for an asset that was Commercially
appraised at $1.6 million in 2009, prior to code upgrades to all areas of the building. Our
proposal is not contemplating any additional money, but the conversion of its HUD Loan
to an ownership share, which we understand from our discussion might be tantamount to
the same thing.
What the City Gets:
The benefit to the City would be enhanced stability for an asset, similar to the Capitol
Theater, that so many of all cultures and ages in the city would be bereft if they had to do
without. It would give the City transparent knowledge of, and a measure of ownership
control over, the direction ofThe Seasons and its associated music presenter group. In
addition, the combination of the two non -profits would be charged with financing or
arranging near constant concert offerings appealing to all sectors of the Yakima region's
musical and cultural tastes as well as drawing wine tourists from their hotels into the city.
This would enhance the current branding of The Seasons as a place where "Something's
always nappmn/ng...' A $100,000 ownership share also provides that share access to 10 or
more full use dates a calendar year, which could be used for public meetings, city/non-
profitpartoershipx, or applied to roughly 50 Diversion Court dates a year, etc. $200,00
would convert to 20 fuli dates according to this calcuiation.
Logistics:
It is our understanding, based on a conversation with the City Manager and Councillor
Carmen Mendez iast week, that a "conversion of the HUD Loan to grant status" may be a
misnomer. It seems that to preserve HUD funding as a resource for future loans, any loans
that are forgiven or converted must bereplaced withmonies\hnnmthe generalfu d ofThe
City. What we are proposing is not a huge transfer of funds in this regard, but it comes in a
year of fiscal caution. Yet funds were allocated for participation in the Plaza projected for
10 times this amount, and it is arguabie that, in terms of bringing people peopie downtown into
our core, The Seasons impact is at ieast as important, and definiteiy more constant in its
impact on theYakima Cuiturai Renaissance.
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We fervently hope the Partnerships Committee will commit to this partnership and be a
rt of a community-wideeffort to stabiiize and create success for one of the most
important arts organizations to emerge in Yakima since the turn of the century. Thank you
for considering our request. We would be happy to answer any questions and exchange
further information at the Committee's request.
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Sofia Ramirez Investigation Re -opened
Key Messages
- The investigation into the death of Sofia Ramirez on May 7th, 2017 has been reopened
- Additional questions regarding the shooting death have arisen, therefore the case,
which had been closed, has been reopened and will be further investigated
- Specifics with regard to the additional questions that have arisen cannot be shared at
this time in order to protect the integrity of the investigation
- It is not uncommon for cases that result in death(s) to be reopened if additional
questions arise
- Yakima police encourage anyone with information about the death of Sofia Ramirez on
May 7th, 2017 to contact Yakima Police Department detectives by calling 509-575-
6200
- Tips can also be reported to Yakima County Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-248-
9980, on the organization's website at crimestopeersvakimaco.org, or on the "P3" app
that can be downloaded for free at p3intel„com/.
* If you are asked a question to which you do not know the answer, simply reply
with a statement along the lines of, "1 don't know the answer to that question but
will try and find out the answer and either 1 or a City staff member will get back to
you.,,
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Cliff Moore, City Manager
FROM: Joan Davenport, Director of Community Development
DATE: November 13, 2018
SUBJECT: Next Steps for Development of Homeless and Housing Shelter
The Yakima City Council has taken the first step in development of a facility for low -barrier homeless
housing with the rezone of 2.6 acres in the vicinity of South 22nd Street and SR 24. As stated in the rezone
process, the project for the site has not been defined. The path forward to convert this vacant tract of
land to a much needed housing facility requires community input, facility planning and broad partnerships
in order create success.
The City of Yakima will need broad support, agency cooperation and expertise in order to facilitate a
housing/shelter combination that will address community needs.
Preliminary Task — Seat an Advising RFP Committee
Staff recommends one of the first steps in the development of a facility is to create a committee that will
help draft a Request for Proposals (RFP) and Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Council review. The
Council should solicit a limited number of participants to advise them on the scoping of this project. The
Partnership Committee could be used to seat this committee. Staff suggests a committee of
approximately 9 persons to potentially include:
2 City Council members
• 1 County Commissioner/ Representative
• 1 Greenway Representative
• 1 Arboretum Representative
1 Expert on Programs (like Neighborhood Health)
• 1 Expert on Housing (like Catholic Charities)
• 2 Community Members
If directed to solicit applicants for a "Homeless Housing RFP Committee" staff suggests approximately
30 days to open the committee opportunity for interested persons. The Partnership Committee could
review and recommend membership in January or February 2019 to the Full City Council. The RFP
Committee may take several meeting to draft a scope of the RFP. Staff support is expected to include
the City Manager's office, Community Development, Legal and Purchasing. The goal would be to have
a project RFP/RFQ out for solicitations in the Spring of 2018.
Funding for Development, Maintenance and Operations of a Homeless Housing Facility
1. The Healthy Communities and Neighborhood Building Committee recommended at their
November 8, 2018 meeting that the City Council request the Yakima County Commissioners set
aside the 2018 authorized increase of $22 per Filing Fee Revenue into a Capital Facility Fund
with a priority of supporting a facility on this site. This fee increase was authorized by the State
Legislature and went into effect in July 2018. At this time, we do not have an estimate of the
annual revenue for 2019 or subsequent years.
Page 1 of 2
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2. The cost of funding for the construction of a project at this site will depend upon a facility as
defined in the RFP/RFQ process. Some funding for a future project construction may be available
from the Housing Trust Fund, or other grants. A potential site plan cannot be developed until the
scope of the facility is known.
3. The City of Yakima is in the process of extending public water and sewer to the current location
of Camp Hope. Public water and sewer could be extended in the future to the rezone site. Utility
costs and designs will depend upon the facility to be constructed.
Community Partnerships
1. Yakima County: The County Commissioners have indicated they would support site development
by working with the Greenway to install appropriate landscaping and other buffering of the rezone
site. Approximately $300,000 has been identified to assist this portion of the project.
2. Yakima County: City Council will consider the request of the Commissioners to set aside a Capital
Facility Fund from the Filing Fee revenue, as discussed.
3. Yakima Greenway: The Greenway requested a Study Session with the City Council in order to
promote understanding and dialogue about this very important community asset. Staff
recommends this Study Session be conducted
4. Homeless Service and Provider Agencies: The Yakima community is blessed to have a number
of agencies that provide service to homeless persons and to affordable housing needs. A facility
on City -owned land must be coordinated and supported by the service providers in order to b e
successful.
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City of Yakima
2019 State Legislative Priorities Briefing
Friday, December 7th, 2018
Agenda
Mayor Kathy Coffey
City Manager Cliff Moore
- Welcome
- New City Lobbyists Introduction
- Introduction of 2019 City of Yakima
State Legislative Priorities
- Individual Legislator 2019 Priorities
- General Discussion
- Adjourn
City Manager Cliff Moore
Communications & Public
Affairs Director Randy Beehler
13th, 14th, 15th District Legislators
All
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City of Yakima
2019
State Legislative Priorities
Actively Pursue
- Increased state funding to support local efforts to provide homeless services
and affordable housing, including incentives for private developers to invest in
low -to -moderate income housing
- Replacing the one percent property tax revenue limit with a limit tied to cost
drivers (SB 5772 — HB 1764)
- Legislation designed to address the high rate of domestic violence present in
Washington State (SHB 2820)
- Equitable distribution of marijuana excise tax revenue to local government (SB
6552 — HB 2124)
- Increased state funding to support local gang prevention, intervention, and
suppression programs based on data generated from Yakima's pilot program
Support
- Efforts to reform and enhance the state behavioral health system
- Increased state funding to assist cities in meeting indigent defense obligations (HB 2031 —
HB 2012)
- Full funding of the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy
- Legislation allocating one percent (1%) of the airport fuel tax imposed by RCW 82.12.020 to
the aeronautics account to be used for airport capital projects (HB 2754)
- Removing the July 1st, 2019 sunset language from RCW 43.43.960, which would allow "all
risk resources" mobilizations to continue (HB 2508)
Monitor
- Legislation providing greater flexibility in the use of public funds for economic development
purposes
- Legislation allowing municipal fire departments and fire districts to obtain reimbursement
from parties found liable for causing an incident requiring a fire department and/or fire district
response (HB 2460)
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December 4, 2019
BoCC
Dear Commissioners,
As you know, during the 2018 legislative session, legislators increased the filing fee for real
estate documents from $40 to $63. Commonly referred to as the "2163 dollars", this funding is
designated to provide resources for the provision of services for the homeless; funding that is
under the local legislative purview of the Board of County Commissioners.
In addressing this pressing need in our community, a number of providers have received funding
for a variety of services and the City of Yakima appreciates the collaboration Commissioners
have fostered with the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments, the City, providers and
individuals in need of services.
We know that when the legislature increased the filing fee, thereby increasing the "2163 dollars"
available in the County, there was consideration of simply increasing awards to providers, or
perhaps running a separate RFP for the newly available funding.
It is the position of the Yakima City Council that the increase in this funding, the difference
between $40 and $63, should be set aside and a separate Capital Facility Development Fund
established so that providers could propose solutions consistent with the 5 Year Plan to Reduce
Homelessness in Yakima County, such as a permanent low barrier shelter, with the knowledge
that funding for such projects could be available.
Sincerely,
Kathy Coffey
Mayor
1RECENED
CITY OF YAKIMA
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OFFICE OF CITY
November 15 2018
City Council
DearCity Council Members:
15REATER YAKIMA
In September, the Chamber delivered a message of leadership and unity to each member of the current
City Council. Since then, we have met with most of the Council members individually and confirmed our
desire to continue and build our relationship in support of the growth of Yakima. We truly believe our
members (850 people!) want only success and positive results for each of you.
To continue to develop our relationship, it is critical we better understand our mutual interests and goals.
One way to achieve this is to include one of the Council members in each of our monthly Chamber Board
meetings, as an exofficio. This gives us a chance to share information and enhance our alliance. We believe
attendance by a Council member at our meetings is so critical for a successful partnership, that we ask
that the Council commit to sending a Council member to our monthly board meeting on a more regular
basis.
Thank you for listening, as we are excited to continue to move forward to a successful and prosperous
Yakima. We look forward to seeing a Council member at our upcoming meetings. Our next meeting is
scheduled at 10 North gth Street (the Chamber buliding) on December 11th, 2018.
Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce Board
Post Office Box 1490 • 10 North 9th Street, Yakima, Washington, 98907 • Phone (509) 248-2021 • Fax (509) 248-0601