HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/05/2019 07 Misc. Distributed at Meeting Distributed at the
Meeting
Henry Beauchamp Community Center
Advisory Board
1211 South 7th Street
Yakima, WA. 98901
November 5, 2019
Dear Councilman Jason White,
RE: Feasibility Study for Henry Beuchamp Community Center(HBCC)
It has been brought to the attention of the H.B.C.C. Advisory Board that you as a Councilman
representing District 2 chose to vote no against the Feasibility Study for our Community Center thus
recommending that the financial support for the study be given other needs in the City of Yakima.
We, as the Advisory Board are concerned about your recommendation not to support the feasibility
study at HBCC:
• During the Advisory Board Meeting on 10/29/19, the board and community members present
felt blindsided by your decision not to support the study as you had no communication with our
board members during this year.
• There was also no communication with the O.I.C. management team, previous to your
statement at the last City Council Meeting.
• The lack of attendance at the quarterly Advisory Board Meetings clearing reflects the lack of
communication and support with the community center. The records indicate you have missed
at least 7 Quarterly Meeting since being assigned to the board. Our concern is how are you able
to speak effectively on the center's behalf if you are not attending meeting and being apart of
the discussions to be aware of the issues.
• Your statement per YPAC video tape that you had discussed the feasibility study with members
of the community, and this was their position. However, we would like to review the data and
or have the opportunity to discuss with these individuals to properly have the opportunity to
hear their voice. Were they invited to the Advisory Board Meeting to share their concerns?
• Community members are concerned that they were not a part of your survey or discussion as
there thousands of parents, youth, members of this community and agencies that utilize the
space who are not from here on a daily/weekly basis and feel strongly about maintaining the
center.
• Last year the Assistant City Manager, Ana Cortez stated that the center is a City owned building
and does need to be maintained,just as the other city owned buildings, the Convention Center,
Harman Center and the Capitol Theatre were referenced at the time. The Advisory Board
submitted a five-year plan that was developed in partnership with the city staff at the end of
2018. If there is not going to be a feasibility study will the items on the plan be addressed?
• The council had a site visit during the 2nd Quarterly Meeting, April 2019, in which you were not
in attendance. We pointed out some immediate needs, and it was agreed upon that they would
be held off on based on the fact the council had approved that the feasibility study would be
done this year. Has staff been given a directive from council what to do at this point regarding
the immediate needs of the center, i.e., Kitchen Floor, Parking Lots, and Fire Panel, since the
feasibility study is not approved? These are capitol needs and therefore not the responsibility of
OIC of Washington.
We want to remind you that the community center serves a very diverse population of all ages. The
community center is open all year round and has many programs, community activities and partners
with a number of agencies to carry out the mission. It is not just a place that serve children, but also the
elderly and those most in need in our community. We are linked with so many other agencies who are
willing to volunteer and assist us in creating a stronger community that helps those we serve become
the best that they can be. We would like you to please reconsider your position for the feasibility study
at HBCC.This is a necessary step, to maintain the 50-year matriarch of the community. You are our
representative and we have faith in your ability to make effective change. In the future we would
welcome the opportunity to host listening session regarding important changes, especially ones
approved by council. So that we are considerate of the community's voice, and not making decisions
that is not representative of the individuals,families, youth and stakeholders who it will directly impact.
The Advisory Board was developed many years ago due to this same issue. The community voice was
not inclusive of decisions being made. We have made progress since then, and hope together we can
continue on the road with being fair and transparent in all that we do.
Sincerely,
.limes Parks, President
H.B.C.C, Advisory Board