HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/17/1979 Business Meeting 298 JULY 17, 1979
The City Council met in session on this date at 2:00 P.M. in the Council
Chambers of City Hall, Yakima, Washington. Council members present were
Mayor Betty L. Edmondson, Henry Beauchamp, Don Hinman, Nadine Lee, Jack
Sparling and Gordon Wonder. Lynn Buchanan absent.
Carol Darby, Director of Community Development, reviewed her staff
report regarding the Yakima County Outside Utility Request for
Fairview-Sumac area. The Planning Commission recommends that the plan
be submitted to the City for approval and that the area agree to annex.
She reported that normally staff does not send out public hearing
notices for an outside utility request, however, in this instance, they
did. Based on that input, the Planning Commission came up with the
following recommendations: the County retains ownership and operation
and maintenance of facility; the County assume liability for capital
cost recovery charge and collect reimbursement from the property owners.
She Stated the area residents were not interested in annexing. Dick
Anderwald, representing the Yakima County Commissioners, reviewed the
four proposals suggested in their letter of June 8, 1979. He requested
that the City consider Alternative #2 - "Upon completion of con-
struction, ownership of the collector system would be transferred to the
City via fee simple title, whereafter the City would operate and main-
tain the system under the terms of its standard outside utility agree-
ment excluding annexation provisions of paragraph 3 of said document".
It was MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Hinman to deny the request.
Councilman Hinman inquired if they really want to annex that area. Miss
Darby stated there are a lot of problems in that area regarding water,
street improvements, lighting and sidewalks and did not recommend annex-
ation. Councilman Wonder stated that under Alternative #2, the City
would not even have the option to annex in the future if it seemed
feasible. Council members discussed the various ,options available to
them. Larry Wright, Principal Planner, reported that *staff has rec-
ommended that none of the alternatives, as submitted by the County
except No. 4, be accepted. He recommended that Council deny the request
and reach an impasse and negotiate at this time. The question was
called for the vote on the motion: carried, Beauchamp, Edmondson,
Hinman, Lee, Sparling and Wonder voting aye by voice vote. Buchanan
absent. Miss Darby stated that the next step would be to have an im-
passe meeting with the County. Mayor Edmondson stated that the City and
the County must provide the residents information on the cost for them
to annex and service charges. Council members discussed the payment of
the capital cost recovery charge - should it be up front or on time
payment like a L.I.D. Following further discussion on the capital cost
recovery charge, Mayor Edmondson stated that there will be a 90 day
period when the County staff and City staff will get together on this.
Willis White, Public Works Director, reviewed his report on transit
system developing and funding sources, dated July 10, 1979. This report
is in response to questions addressed by the Council on June 5, 1979.
He explained the process to obtain an UMTA grant and the process follow-
ed to receive the actual funds. Council members discussed the service
level of the transit system and that any increased service level should
be based on the needs of the community. Mr. White suggested that con-
sideration should be given to going to 16 hour service. He reported
there are a lot of needs coming out ncw that weren't known before. Mr.
White reported that with the increase of expenditures since 1966, a fare
box increase is justfied. The fare box should generate 20% of operating
costs. We want to achieve 25%. We don't want to increase rates higher
than 40%, however. The fare box increase should be from 25 to 35 for
adults and from 15c to 20c for students and from 10 to 15' for honored
citizens or a pass for $3.00 per month. Councilman Hinman inquired
which has the greater flexibility - UMTA funds or sales tax. Mr. Site
suggested that sales tax has the greatest flexibility. If it is approv-
ed by the voters you know what is going to happen and the City could
still apply for UMTA funds for capital outlay. City Manager Zais re-
ported that a 0.1% sales tax would maintain the current system without
UMTA dependency for operational purposes. Council members discussed the
sales tax, pointing out that the sales tax would probably cost the
householder more than 65 per month. It would also generate fUnds from
sources that are using the transit system without being taxed. Council-
man Wonder stated that if the sales tax passed, the Yakima Mall would
have a higher sales tax than the Valley Mall in Union Gap. Mr. %bite
reported that Union Gap has been trying to get bus service to their City
and they would impose a tax. The Council discussed putting the sales
tax issue on the ballot. Councilman Sparling questioned why the transit
system should be subsidized so drastically and stated that people using
the bus should pay for it. Discussion followed regarding the needs of
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JULY 17, 1979
the community and the economic status of the riders. City Manager Zais
reported that there isn't a transit system in the United States that has
been able to achieve a significant source of revenue to meet expenses
fram fare box revenue. Councilman Wonder stated that when the system
initially started, the passengers were paying 80% of expenses and he
believes that the fare should be 40. He stated that there should be an
increase in ridership due to the energy crisis. It was MOVED by Wbnder,
seconded by Hinman to request staff to set bus rate fares at 40 per
adults, 20 per students and 20 for honored citizens. Councilman Lee
stated that she did not want to raise the bus fares this high and if the
sales tax is not passed, then Council can look at the bus fare rate
again. The question was called for the vote on the motion: Wonder and
Hinman voting aye by voice vote. Beauchamp, Edmondson, Lee and Sperling
voting nay. Buchanan absent. The motion failed for lack of a majority
vote. It was MOVED by Hinman, seconded by Lee to accept the staff
recommendation on transit fares and instruct staff to prepare leg-
islation to give citizens the chance to vote on the sales tax issue and
set standards on how we develop bus standards and do more work in that
area and Council develop policy. Following discussion, Councilman
Hinman withdrew his motion and Council member Lee withdrew her second to
the motion. It was MOVED by Hinman, seconded by Lee to accept thec,gtetf_**
report & transit fares as recommended by staff: carried, Beauchamp, Edmondson,
Hinman, Lee and Wonder voting aye by voice vote. Sperling voting nay.
Buchanan absent. It was MOVED by Hinman, seconded by Beauchamp to
instruct staff to prepare legislation using 0.3% sales tax and bring it
back to Council, and hold a public hearing. Following di scussion, the
question was called for the vote on the motion: carried, Beauchamp,
Edmondson, Hinman, and Lee voting aye by voice vote. Sperling and
Wonder voting nay. Buchanan absent. Bob Knight, Transit Manager,
reported that a public hearing will have to be held on the fare
increase.
It was MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Hinman to accept the staff recom-
mendation and instruct staff to prepare legislation for the land trans-
action for the Yakima Valley Museum expansion proposal at Franklin Park:
carried, Beauchamp, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee, Sperling and Wonder voting
aye by voice vote. Buchanan absent.
City Manager Zais reported that the City has allowed change orders to
contracts as long as they were covered in the budget, however, any
increased amount to the contract required Council action. Be reported
that in the Wastewater Contract, there is a further requirement within
the contract that the amount has to be authorized by the legislative
body. He stated that he was not aware of this clause and approved three
that were over the budgeted amount and will bring them to Council.
Dennis Bertek, Supervising Sanitary Engineer, explained that there is a
need to have someone close to the project to authorize additional work
and have it written up into a change order. Staff would assemble the
change order and make justifications, review the cost and then present
it for Council review as a Consent Agenda item. He suggested that the
project manager be authorized to make changes up to a value of $10,000
which would cover changes that need immediate action. He suggested that
the City Manager be authorized to make changes up to a value of $50,000.
Changes beyond $50,000 require design changes and would involve more
time and. give time for Council action. City Manager Zais inquired if
this suggestion is to cover emergency action on the field only. Mr.
Bertek stated that he would propose this for all changes because there
might be quite a few change orders. Willis White, Public Works
Director, stated that staff would try to avoid additional costs. If
there is a change order that needs immediate action, where the delay
would cost the City money, he would like staff to be able authorize
the changes. council members discussed the advantages in allowing staff
to make the changes, however, they expressed concern ab0ut permitting
staff to authorize change orders that are not on an emergency basis.
City Attorney Andrews referred to a clause in the contract which states
that a change order must have Council approval except for emergency
change orders; however, "emergency" is not defined. Councilman Beau-
champ, stated that he doesn't like one staff person making an independent
judgment for approval of a change order for that amount. Mr. White
stated that the change order would be discussed with the expertise .
available from our consulting engineer and it would also be discussed
with the City Manager. Following this discussion, it was MOVED by \
Hinman, seconded by Lee to provide authorization of $10,000 for the
project manager and $50,000 for the City Manager for change orders on
the wastewater project using the definition for emergency in the con-
tract. Following discussion, it was MOVED by Hinman to amend the motion
**inadvertently :!Prnitted.
'31 JULY 17, 1979
to have the authorization expire when 75% of the contingency has been
Obtained. The amendment to the motion died for lack of a second. Mr.
Bertek explained the existing change orders. The question was called
for the vote on the motion: carried, Beauchamp, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee,
Sparling and Wonder voting aye by voice vote. Buchanan absent.
Mayor Edmondson reported that item #8, consideration of request for
commercial refuse service and the Executive Session can be continued.
City Manager Zais reported that the cable TV legislation carries forth
the action which was designed in the original legislation for cable TV
franchise, creating a community programming advisory commission. Mayor
Edmondson stated that the Friends of KYVE have requested to be repre
sented in an official capacity on the board and the school board has
also made this same request. She reported that in the staff report it
is noted that it is mandated that this committee meet with the Board of
Regents of the Yakima Community C011ege, the boards of the local public
television and radio broadcasting licensees to develop a plan for max-
imum utilization of the access channel. Councilman Wonder expressed his
opinion that no member of the Yakima Valley School Board, Board of
Regents or Board of Radio and Television Licensees should serve on this
advisory committee, and he would like to see the ordinance amended to
exclude them. Following discussion regarding this suggestion, it was
MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Hinman to request staff to amend the pro-
posed ordinance before it's brought back to Council, expressing those
sentiments. Councilman Beauchamp stated he did not feel it would be
detrimental for them to be included on the Board. The question was
called for the vote on the motion: carried, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee,
Sparling and Wonder voting aye by voice vote. Beauchamp voting nay.
Buchanan absent. Mayor Edmondson inquired if staff is going to bring
some proposals on selection (an outline and guideline). city manager
Zais stated he would inquire.
Council members discussed the public hearing notice procedure on mail-
ing. It was MOVED by Hinman, seconded by Lee to open the hearings on
the rezone request filed by Hobart Weaver and the right-of-way vacation
requested by J. R. Gustafson and Robert Lynch for August 14, 1979.
Following discussion, it was MOVED by Hinman, seconded by Lee to amend
the motion to set the date of hearings for September 11, 1979: carried,
Beaudhalv, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee, Sparling and Wonder voting aye by
voice vote. Buchanan absent. The question was called for the vote on
the motion as amended: carried, BeauChamp, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee,
Sparling and Wonder voting aye by voice vote. Buchanan absent.
Councilman Sparling reported that he had been contacted about a light
that has been out for a year on 50th Avenue About a block from Bitter-
root by the park. He stated that PP&L has been contacted and they said
it is on their agenda to correct it. City Manager Zais stated he would
look into it.
Councilman Sparling inquired how revenues are coming in for the second
half of this year. He inquired if any cutbacks were indicated. City
Manager Zais reported that sales tax is down by about VO%. The general
fund budget at the end of six months is 48% spent which is a 2% savings.
The property taxes are coming in at the level projected. He stated that
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he intends to prepare a comprehensive six month budget report. He
stated there is a problem in the V&C Bureau and there will be a separate
report coming to Council on that.
Fred Andrews, City Attorney, read the statute on Executive Sessions,
effective June 7, 1979. There was a change in the law regarding real
estate transactions. When public discussion about a land transaction
might result in either an increase or decrease of price, then an Execu-
tive Session may be held. There is nothing in the statute that says
when the site of the location may be discussed in an Executive Session.
We have not bound ou*selves to a price for the sale of the property
(Larson Garage).
Depending on the appraisals, Council might be able to have an Executive
Session at that time. City Manager Zais reported that both the City and
Benny Kwong will be using Ralph Korn as their appraiser.
It was MOVED by Lee, seconded by Wonder to move into Executive Session
for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining: carried, Beau-
champ, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee, Sparling and Wonder voting aye by voice
vote. Buchanan absent.
JULY 17, 1979 301
Items of information supplied to Council were: Letter from Yakima Mall
Merchants Association re: expansion of bus service. 7/10/79; letter to
AFSCME Local 1122 re: Union Shop. 7/12/79; Memo from Director of
Community Development re: Outside Utility Agreement for sewer service
requested by Boyd Durrett. 7/11/79; Six Year Transportation Improvement
Program - 1980 to 1985; Newsletter from Conference of Governments. July
6, 1979. Volume 5, No. 7; and AWC State Action Bulletin, Issue No. 9,
June 20, 1979.
The Executive Session being completed, the meeting was adjourned at the
hour of 6:00 P.M.
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