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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. - - 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- • 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 II/ 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- . 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. • (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. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY DATE (:) 1 COUNCILMAN DATE 1 7 COUNCILMAN ATTEST: orf fi alLa • A" CITY CLE / MAYOR 0