HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/05/1979 Business Meeting JUNE 5, 1979 273
The City Council met in session on this date at 2:00 PM in the Council
Chambers of City Hall, Yakima, Washington. Council members present were
Mayor Betty L. Edmondson, Lynn Buchanan, Don Hinman, Nadine Lee and
Gordon Mender. Henry Beauchamp and Jack Sperling absent. It was MOVED
by Wonder, seconded by Hinman that Council members Beauchamp and Spar
ling be excused from this meeting: carried, Buchanan, Edmondson, Hin-
man, Lee and Wonder voting aye by voice vote. Beauchamp and Sperling
absent.
The Invocation was given by Councilman Buchanan.
Mayor Edmondson announced that she will be in Spokane on June 12 attend-
ing the AWC Convention and will not be able to attend the next Council
meeting. She stated that an Acting Mayor must be appointed to chair
that meeting. It was MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Lee that Councilman
Hinman serve as Acting Mayor for the Council meeting of June 12, 1979:
carried, Buchanan, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee and Wonder voting aye by voice
vote. Beauchamp and Sperling absent.
Council members discussed the format of the Study Session, Council
member Lee stating she thought a more informal meeting was going to be
held in the Conference Roam. She stated that the Council Chambers was
not conducive for good eye-to-eye contact and informal discussion of
items on the Study Session Agenda. Several Council members mentioned
that the Conference Roam may not be large enough to accommodate the news
media and citizens attending the meetings.
There was discussion on the matter of excusing absent Council members.
Several Council members indicated that they did not feel it necessary to
do this by a motion: It was noted that the City Council Rules and
Procedures spells out the correct.process,for excusing absent meMbers.
It was MOVED by Wbnder, seconded by Hinman that Section B, paragraph 1,
(Members must attend meetings) be stricken from the Rules-and Procedures
' of Yakima City Council. and the preceding paragraphs renumbered: car-
ried, Buchanan, Hinman, Lee and Wander voting aye by voice vote. Edmond-
son voting nay. Beauchamp and Sperling absent. Mayor Edmondson explain-
ed her vote, stating she thought there should be some accountability
given to the public.
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Council members Wonder and Hinman reviewed the recommendations of the
Council Committee on the-Ccomunity Relations Officer position, to change
that position to be Affirmative Action Specialist. Councilman Wonder
reported that these recommendations have been reviewed by two of the
members of the Human Relations Canmission and they have approved them.
Al Falk, Vice Chairman, Human Relations Commission, stated that those
members present at the last Human Relations Commission meeting have
agreed that the proposals given are acceptable. City Manager Zais named
sane of the duties that the Affirmative Action Specialist would perform.
If Council approves this, it would be submitted for formal ratification
by the Civil Service Commission. This position would be under the
general supervision of the Personnel Officer. He stated that the salary
would be less than that of the Community Relations Officer to correlate
with that of the Personnel Analyst. If Council approves this, it would
be sdbmitted for formal ratification by the Civil Service Commission.
Following discussion, it was MOVED by Hinman, seconded by Lee to direct
staff to proceed with the development of a new classification for Affir-
mative Action Specialist to be under the supervision of the Personnel
Officer: carried, Buchanan, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee and Wonder voting
aye by voice vote. Beauchamp and Sperling absent: Council members
discussed the need to appoint members to the Human Relations Canmission
due to the size of the Comoission being reduced.- Mr. Falk reported on
the attendance of the existing -Commission members and those who are
interested in continuing to serve. It was MOVED by Wonder, seconded by
Hinman to appoint Dolores Goodman, Al Falk, Chris Jackson, Abe Gonzales,
Kay Burgstaller, and George McElroy to serve on the Human Relations
Canmission: carried, Buchanan, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee and Wonder voting
aye by voice vote. Beauchamp and Sperling absent. It was the general
consensus of the Council to have letters:sent to the Commission -members
and have Mayor Edmondson bring names of citizens interested in serving
on the Human Relations Commission in order to appoint the seventh Com-
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mission member. -
Council members discussed staff's recommendation regarding transit
funding alternatives given in the June 1, 1979 memo from Willis White,
Director of Public Works. - Mr. White stated that if the City .retains
274 JUNE 5, 1979
UMTA grant funding, we cannot afford the balance of the five year plan.
Council members discussed the 13(c) agreement; Larry Wittenberg, Assist-
ant City Manager, explained the terms of the agreement pertaining to
protection of employees benefits. Several Council members indicated
there should be an increase in the bus fares. Mr. White stated that
staff focused on trying to reduce UMTA participation of $300,000 and so
focused on major revenue sources. In order to increase the revenue from
the farebox to cover the revenue needed, the rate would have to be
increased by 10 times the present amount. Bob Knight, Transit Manager,
reported that although ridership has increased, the revenue has not
increased significantly because most of the additional passengers are
elderly or handicapped. Following discussion, it was the general con-
sensus of the Council to have staff bring back information on fare rates
for the next Study Session. Mr. White reported that he will bring an
Ordinance to the Council next week to establish a capital reserve fund.
Dennis Bertek, Supervising Sanitary Engineer, referred to the 5/17/79
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memo regarding the existing sewer system condition, and gave a brief
history of the sewer system. He reported that undersized lines, piece-
meal growth of the system, exfiltration/infiltration, plugged lines and
passage unacceptable waste, restricted access to manholes for clean-
ing and vandalism are reasons for the existing problems with our system.
He distributed photos of the sewer lines which showed plugged lines.
Larry Wright, Principal Planner, referred to a map of existing sewer
conditions, pointing out the most critical area of Carriage Hill/ Engle-
wood/Lincoln Avenue area. Dennis Bertek outlined staff's recommend-
ations, as given in the staff report, to correct the problems and pro-
vide needed improvements to the existing system. The short-term require-
ments would be to cease sewer connections in the critical area, review
on a case-by-case basis sewer connections in an area which has demon-
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strated consistent problems, establish a preventative maintenance pro-
gram and a comprehensive monitoring program should also he established.
The long-term 'commitments would be to develop an ongoing utilities
planning program, establish a captial improvements program and imple-
mentation of the program on a prioritized schedule. Carol Darby, Dir-
ector of Community Development, requested Council direction on the
following issues:
(a) establishment of framework for systematic monitoring program,
(priorities -timeframe). Council action: general consensus to
direct staff to establish the framework.
(b) take steps to establish preventative maintenance program.
Council action: general consensus to direct staff to estab-
lish preventative maintenance program and report costs. '
(c) Initiate development of comprehensive utilities plan. This
' has to be done with the Regional Comprehensive Planning pro-
cess and will take approximately 1-1 years. Council action:
general consensus to direct staff to initiate development of
comprehensive utilities plan.
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(d) Establish policy for case-by-case review of building permits
(sewer connections) within the critical area. Council ex-
pressed concern regarding the appearance of fairness when
staff is making the decision to permit or deny a sewer con-
nection. Council action: following discussion, it was gen-
eral consensus to direct staff to establish the policy and
bring it back to Council.
City Manager Zais reported that there will be an Ordinance on next
week's agenda relating to reimbursement of employee expenses.
City Manager Zais reported that in addition to the out-of-state travel
request for Ken Crawford, an out-of-state travel request has been sub-
mitted from the Fire Pension Board for Gary Vance, Fire Department, to
attend the 1979 Health SymposiuM, June 10 through 15, in San Diego at a
cost of $681 which will be paid out of the Fire Pension Fund. Ken
Groth, Fire Battalion Chief and Fire Pension Board Member, reported that
he had attended the last Symposium and explained the benefits the City
would receive by having Gary Vance attend it. Following discussion, it
was MOVED by Hinman, seconded by Buchanan to authorize the out-of-state
travel for Ken Crawford, Housing Services Center, to Washington, D.C. to
review innovative grant applications to gain experience in grant appli-
cation review process, at the request of NAHRO, June 10 through 15, 1979
275
JUNE 5, 1979
at a cot of $1,191 to be paid by NARK) and for Gary Vance, Fire Depart-
ment, to attend the 1979 Health Symposium, June 10 through 15, in San
Diego, California at a cost of $681 to be paid from the Fire Pension
Fund: carried, Buchanan, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee and Wonder voting aye
by voice vote. Beauchamp and Sparling absent.
City Manager Zais reported that at next week's Council meeting, formal
action for grant increase application for the Wastewater Project will
have to be taken.
It was MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Hinman that the next Study Session
be held in the Conference Roan to see if it works as a better format:
carried, Buchanan, Hinman, Lee and Wonder voting aye by voice vote.
Edmondson voting nay. Beauchamp and Sparling absent.
Items of information supplied to Council were: letter fran Greater
Yakima Chamber of Cammerce expressing appreciation for the cooperation
of the City in obtaining the new location for the Chamber of CoMmerce.
5/15/79; letter from Paul Ludwick, City of Casa Grande, Arizona re 312
Loan Seminar put on by Ken Crawford and Darrell Griek. 5/15/79; memo
from Director of Community Development re HJR 22-Community Redevelopment
Financing (previously called Tax Increment Financing). 5/25/79; memo
fran Director of Community Development re Outside Utility Request filed
by Cox Cable of Yakhna, Inc., for water and sewer service. 5/25/79;
memo from Director of . Community Development re Outside Utility Request
filed by Dale S. Kroll for sewer service. 5/25/79; memo from Director
of Community Development re Outside Utility Request filed by Donald
Matthews for sewer service. 5/25/79; and information from Public Works
Department re Preston Shepherd and Associates Engineering Agreements
costs increase. 5/31/79.
There being no further business to - before the Council, Mayor Edmond-
son declared the meeting be adjo ed at the hour of 5:15 PM.
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