HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/10/1980 Adjourned Meeting ADJOURNED MEETING -- COMMUNITY FORUM 495
APRIL 10, 1980
The City Council met in session on this date at 7:00 P.M. in the Ware-
house Theatre, 5000 West Lincoln Avenue, Yakima, Washington. Council
members present were Lynn Carmichael and Don Hinman. Councilman Henry
Beauchamp present after 7:20 P.M., and Council member Shirley Doty
present after 7:30 P.M. Also present were City Manager Dick Zais and
the meeting facilitator Patty Nagle.
Ms. Nagle explained the purpose of the community forum meeting and
opened the floor for questions. Vincent Bogatich, 62nd Avenue, stated
that at the time his area was annexed, the people were promised street
lights. He stated he has not made contact with City officials for over
a year, but at that time was told there was a study being made by PP&L
on costs and what is needed. He asked about the status of that report.
City Manager Zais reported that PP&L did prepare a study and that was
analyzed and presented to the City Council. The major hindrance to
implementing this program was financing. The City had no source of
income other than to impose a utility tax increase. Council asked staff
to prepare a report re-analyzing costs and financing. Last September, a
report was given to Council giving several options for financing: FRS
funds, Community Development Block Grant Funds within the CDBG or a
percentage increase of the utility tax. The Council was not inclined to
make a decision and requested further information on alternate sources
of income. He reported that that project is near completion now, and
will come before the Council in the next few months or so. Frank War-
ren, 53rd Avenue, reported that his area has a problem with speeding
cars from Scenic Drive. He reported he has contacted the Police, how-
ever, he was told there wasn't enough staff to patrol that area. He
stated he feels there is a lack of concern on youth safety, referring to
no bicycle licenses, no efficient places to lock up bikes and no side-
walks to ride the bikes on. He stated that he thinks we should have
free buses. He also suggested that the City should notify the people
that collect paper, cans, etc., on garbage day and have them go behind
the trucks and pick this up. Marguerite Hackett, North 31st Avenue,
expressed concern about the drive-in window of the Dairy Queen on 36th
Avenue and Summitview. She stated that the cars back up, blocking the
access to the intersection. She suggested that the drive-up window
should be on the other side of the building. City Manager Zais spoke
about the bicycle safety program that the Police Department used to have
before the budget cuts made it necessary to prioritize their programs.
He stated it is now up to the individuals to identify their bikes. He
reported that the City was registering only 10% of the bikes in the
area. He 'stated the City is engaged in preparing a bike plan which will
come to the Council in the next month. City Manager Zais spoke about
the financial problems of the Transit system. He explained one alter-
native for funding the Transit system by implementing a .3% Sales Tax
which would have to be voted on by the public. Councilman Hinman stated
that he is anticipating that the funds the City receives from the State
and Federal governments are' to be reduC6d. He stated it is impor-
tant that the citizens get out and talk to the Council members and tell
what their priorities are. Council member Doty brought up the issue of
the City financing the Airport. City Manager Zais stated that the
Airport is in trouble financially, as the costs are constant and the
income is not there. He stated that we are looking at other options to
finance it, i.e. special taxing districts, joint with the County, and
trying to attract additional industry in the area. Marguerite Hackett
reported that some of the bus shelters are deteriorating and have broken
glass panels in them. She questioned if the City was just going to let
them continue to deteriorate. She stated that the glass at the mall bus
shelter is almost all broken. She also expressed concern about some of
the trees in the downtown area dying. Councilman Hinman explained that
Council had taken action on cleaning up the downtown area by using CETA
4 96 ADJOURNED MEETING -- COMMUNITY FORUM
APRIL 10, 1980
personnel in a clean -up project. Patty Nagle also reported that the
League of Women Voters will be voting on replacing some of the trees in
the downtown area in the name of Laurie Plath.
The meeting was adjourned at the ho ,r of 715 P.M.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY ! ., , 4 ' _ ` DATE ' .10 -t
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C4 NCILMAN
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D.c CITY CLERK (MAYOR