HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/05/1977 Business Meeting 648
DECEMBER 5, 1977
The City Council met in session on this date at 1:30 P.M. in the Conference
Room of Yakima City Hall. Council members present were Mayor Betty L.
Edmondson, Ralph HolbrOok, W. K. "Pete" Moore, Dr. Bill Simmons, Nadine
Walker, and Gordon Wonder. Councilman Allard absent.
Mayor Edmondson stated:that Mike Schwab is no longer able to serve on
the Human Relations Commission and has submitted his resignation. Mayor
Edmondson asked for nominations to serve on the Human Relations Commission,
preferably an attorney. Council member Nadine Walker suggested Bill
Weigand.
Council members discussed the appointment of a representative on the AWC
Board. Councilman Moore stated that he would like to take the name to
II/ the meeting on the 16th of this month. It was the general consensus of
the Council to delay this matter for one week to give Council members
and Council members-elect time to think about this matter.
Jim Watson, Pacific Power and Light, introduced John Ness, Yakima
District Manager for Pp & L, who gave a slide presentation for the new
Bonneville legislation. The slide discussed the need for the Northwest
to work together on electrical power supply. There is legislation
pending entitled "The Electric Power Supply and Conservation Act."
The Act would authorize the formation of PNEPCO, Pacific Northwest
Electric Planning and Conservation Organization. Mr. Ness stated that
90% of the utility companies are in favor of this plan. It was MOVED by
Moore, seconded by Wonder, that the Council go on record in support of
the concept of PNEPCO and asked staff to prepare the proper legislation
of endorsement: carried, Edmondson, Holbrook, Moore, Simmons, Walker
and Wonder voting aye by voice vote. Allard absent.
City Manager Eastman gave a brief report on the trolleys. He stated
that the. City has four contracts involving the trolleys, which he and
the City Attorney reviewed. He stated that the letter from the Visitors
and Convention Bureau offering to operate the trolleysris general and
not precise. He also stated that it would require redoing the contracts
the City has with YVT, Yakima County, and the V E C, and as proposed, it
violates the bid laws. Council member Moore absent after 2:45 P.M. Mr.
Eastman stated that if Council does not want to allocate the funds from
FRS, 'then the S11,000 fund can be used for the repair of the motors and
V & C can try to raise the money necessary to refinish the motors and do
the body work. He recommended that Council use FRS funds to do the
motor repairs and the body work in order to be sure the City is protected
from mechanical liabilities. It was MOVED by Simmons, seconded by
Walker that Council allocate $25,000 from FRS funds to repair the
motors, as well as the body work, for the trolleys and to change the V &
C contract to provide promotion and scheduling only for a predetermined
fee, and to consider redoing all existing contracts for next year:
carried, Edmondson, Simmons, and Walker voting aye by voice vote.
Holbrook and Wonder voting nay. Allard and Moore absent. Councilman
Holbrook expressed concern about voting on this issue without the full
Council being in session. Mayor Edmondson stated that the proper legislation
II/ would have to be prepared and this will come up for a vote again.
Dick Hilligus, Parks and Recreation Director, stated that the Christmas
tree will be in front of the Federal Building this year.
At 3:00 P.M. the Council members moved into the Council Chambers for the
balance of the meeting, Mayor Edmondson presiding, Council members
Holbrook, Simmons, Walker and Wonder, City Manager Eastman and City
Attorney Andrews present on roll call. Council members Allard and Moore
absent. Mayor Edmondson reported that Councilman Allard is out of town,
and Councilman Moore had an appointment. It was MOVED by Simmons,
seconded by Walker, to excuse Council members Allard and Moore from this
meeting: carried, Edmondson, Holbrook, Simmons, Walker and Wonder
voting aye by voice vote. Allard and Moore absent.
The Invocation was given by City Attorney Andrews.
Mayor Edmondson referred to the items placed on the Consent Agenda,
questioning whether there were any additions or deletions from either
Council members or citizens present. Councilman Wonder requested that
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DECEMBER 5, 1977
items number 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, and 20 be removed from
the Consent Agenda. It was the general consensus of the Council that
items number 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, and 20 be deleted from
the Consent Agenda, The City Clerk then read the Consent
Agenda, which consisted of approval of the minutes of the previous
meeting. It was MOVED by Walker, seconded by Simmons, that the Consent
Agenda, as read, be passed: carried, Edmondson, Holbrook, Simmons,
Walker and Wonder voting aye on roll call. Allard and Moore absent.
(Subsequent paragraphs preceded by an asterisk (*) indicate items on the
Consent Agenda to be handled under one motion without further discussion.)
*It was MOVED by Walker, seconded by Simmons that the minutes of the
previous meeting, having been duly certified accurate by two Councilmen,
and no one present wishing to have said minutes read publicly, be approved:
carried, Edmondson, Holbrook, Simmons, Walker and Wonder voting aye on
roll call. Allard and Moore absent.
II/
Council members discussed the Capitol Theatre Restoration Grant. City
Manager Eastman reported that the State Historic Preservation Office has
agreed that in the event that the State's option to acquire the property
is exercised, they have consented to have two property appraisals made --
one by a private appraisal, and one by a State appraisal. Mr. Eastman
stated that the 30 year maintenance clause must remain in the contract
as originally stated. The State will allow the City to return the
$60,000 in the event the City would not want to restore the building
after destruction by fire. The State requires fire insurance on the
premises of not less than Si udllion. Completion date of the grant work
is negotiable. After discussion it was MOVED by Walker, seconded by
Simmons to accept the grant from the State for the rebuilding of the
Capitol Theatre, accept their contract, and prepare the proper legis-
lation to make the changes as negotiated: carried, Edmondson, Holbrook,
Simmons, Walker and Wonder voting aye by voice vote. Allard and Moore
absent.
This being the time fixed for the hearing on the 1978 budget, Norman
Stewart, 217 No. 16th Avenue, stated he is a member of the Citizens'
Advisory Committee, which was formed by the U. S. Department of Transportation,
UMPTA, and COG. He stated that it is hard to believe the request for
eliminating the position of Transit Manager and referred to the Yakima
Metropolitan Area Short Range Transit Development Study, prepared by
Howard, Needles, Tammen, and Bergendoff in August, 1977, giving a brief
history of the Transit Department. M. Stewart spoke of the need of
keeping the position of Transit Manager and stated that Bob Knight has
done an excellent job of managing the Transit lines. Rita Gordon, South
15th Avenue,. stated that she was representing a citizens' committee for
responsible City government. She would like a preliminary budget prepared
which is understandable to everyone, and requested a Town Hall meeting
at the Yakima Center so that the budget could be discussed and explained.
Ms. Gordon spoke against the dismissals of several management personnel
and requested the dismissal of City Manager Eastman, Willis White,
Public Works Director, and Judy Sheridan, Transportation Director. Ms.
Gordon also stated that the names of the persons on this citizens'
committee would be given at the Town Hall meeting. Ines Rice,, 4409
Arlington, spoke in support of the elected officials of the City and
II/
also the City Manager. She also requested Council to consider the need
of the Police Department so that they will be able to protect the
community adequately. Clarence Marshal4(CaStleView Drive, asked
several questions regarding the additions and deletions of personnel in
various departments. Mr.. Marshall objected to the addition of personnel
in the Inspection Department as he believes there will be a decrease in
building in Yakima in 1978. It was MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Simmons,
to continue the 1978 budget hearing for one week, to December 12, 1977:
carried, Edmondson, Holbrook, Simmons, Walker and Wonder voting aye by
voice vote. Allard and Moore absent.
Neil Buren, member of the Board of Special Projects for the Handicapped,
a non-profit organization, which was organized 15 years ago to assist
the handicapped persons in our community who have some capacity to
develop into useful citizens, stated that three years ago the City
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DECEMBER 5, 1977
donated some property on which they wanted to build a work facility
complex. He stated that this project is going to cost more than they had
anticipated. He stated that the amount of the bids to construct plan
A, (entire complex) is S581,507.50; and the amount of money they
are short is S176,860,36. The amount of the bid to construct plan B
(minus administration office) is S477,859.69, and the amount of money
short is $73,212.36. Mr.. Buren stated that $349,000 is being funded by
Referendum 29 funds and in order to obtain those funds the County Commissioners
must be assured by tomorrow morning that the balance of the money needed
has been raised. He stated that he has raised S40,000 in pledges this
morning, and a local bank has committed themselves to loaning the balance
needed. He stated that this would be a one time only request by their
organization for FRS funds. Mayor Edmondson inquired if the facilities
would service the entire Yakima County. Mr. Buren stated that it would,
II/ however, about 80% to 85% of the citizens come from Yakima. Councilman
Wonder stated that he thought the County should match either in service
or dollars the amount of FRS funds allocated by the City. After discussion
on the amount of FRS funds to be donated, it was MOVED by Holbrook,
seconded by Simmons to earmark an allocation of $50,000 of 1978 FRS
funds for the construction of work facilities for Special Projects
for the Handicapped: carried, Edmondson, Holbrook, Simmons, Walker and
Wonder voting aye by voice vote. Allard and Moore absent.
Paul Cook, 607 East Yakima Avenue, stated that in fairness to the City
Manager, and the City employees, Council would be well advised to appoint
an unbiased committee to investigate if there is a problem at City Hall
regarding management and personnel.
Mayor Edmondson announced that there will be the hanging of the Christmas •
decorations in the Uptown area on the morning of Thursday, December 8,
1977.
Council member Nadine Walker absent after 5:00 P.M. , having previously being
excused.
Council member Wonder asked to be excused as he had another meeting to
attend. Mayor Edmondson asked if the Consent Agenda could be adopted
before he left, however, Councilman Wonder stated that he would like to
discuss them.. Mayor Edmondson then asked the City Manager if there were
items on the agenda which had to be enacted. In the discussion that
followed, Council member Wonder excused himself and left the meeting at
5:05 P.M. Mayor Edmondson announced that the Council no longer had a
quorum and no business, could be conducted, whereupon the meeting was '
adjourned. Mayor Edmondson called a special meeting, with Council members
Holbrook and Simmons concurring, for Thursday, December 8, 1977, at 9:00
A.M. for the purpose of considering the balance of the items on the
12/5/77 Council Agenda and then to continue with the Study Session of
items such as,Aput.nOt limited to, the budget review schedule.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY ..,4;,&, ..,,,, DATE 7.•111,11
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