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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 (141 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 650 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 Ari otkiC. / a . F' ' _ _..„,■' . - -mw i ATTEST: . , , , ' Agel f -Aidgr../4 1/.' 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