HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/10/1977 Business Meeting )
JANUARY 10, 1977
The City Council met in session on this date at 1:30 P.M., in the Conference
Room, City Hall, Yakima, Washington. Council members present were Assistant
Mayor W. K. "Pete' Moore, Jean Allard, Ralph Holbrook and Gordon Wonder. Council
1 members absent were Mayor Betty L. Edmondson, Dr. Bill Simmons and Nadine
Walker.
The Council members went into Executive Session to discuss the legal aspects of
the Downtown Redevelopment Project.
At the conclusion of the Executive Session, the matter of setting a date for a
joint meeting with the Yakima Housing Authority was discussed. Fred Stouder,
II/ , Director of Community Development, indicated that some time in the near future
would be a good time for the Housing Authority and the Council to get together.
It was the consensus of the Council that this meeting might be held at a
Thursday noon meeting and Fred Stouder will ask the Housing Authority members
which Thursday will be best for them to meet with the Council.
The report from the Association of Washington Cities in regard to the Abolition
of Local LEOFF Disability Boards, was reviewed. The AWC is asking the various
City Councils for their input. The report is mainly informational stating that
in recent months an issue has arisen regarding local disability boards which
operate as a part of the Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Retirement
system. It has been suggested by some legislators that the structure of local
boards should be eliminated and replaced by a board or agency at the state level
which would make the retirement and medical payment decisions now made by the
i local boards. Information is given in the report on arguments for and against
! the elimination of local boards. The AWC at this point does not have a formally
adopted position on this matter and listed possible positions it might take, and
is seeking guidance from cities on helping them reach a decision: Walt Chappel,
City Treasurer and a member of both Boards, reported on a meeting he attended
in Seattle recently, held for employer members of the Boards and giving informa-
tion on pension matters. He stated that the present Pension Law is hard to
legislate. Councilman Moore indicated that he feels that the disability boards'
responsibilities should be turned over to the State providing they assume the
medical responsibility. He also indicated that there should be some better
guidelines set up for boards to follow. Councilman Holbrook stated that he is
in favor of keeping the local boards, but support the development of standard
guidelines for the local boards to follow. Councilman Allard indicated that he
1 thinks the complete program should be given back to the State and that then
something would have to be done about it. Councilman Wonder referred to the
possible positions listed by the AWC report, stating that possibly parts of
suggestions ,#3 and #4 could be combined, which would support the State organiza-
tion and the development Of uniform standards and policies. There was some
! discussion on meeting with our legislators on this matter. Acting City Manager
Dick Zais reported that information is received from the A.W.C.on legislative
matters and giving its stand, and these can be given to Council members.
1 After further discussion on this matter, it was the consensus of the Council
members present that there should be some further discussion next week at
Study session and possibly take some stand to report back to A.W.C.
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JANUARY 10, 1977
At 3:00 P.M., the Council members moved into the Council Chambers
' for the balance of the meeting, Assistant Mayor W. K. "Pete"
Moore presiding, Councilmen Allard, Holbrook and Wonder, Acting
City Manager Zais and City Attorney Andrews present on roll
! call. Council members absent were Mayor Betty Edmondson, Councilmen
Simmons and Walker.
' The Invocation was given by City Attorney Andrews.
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, Assistant Mayor Moore declared
said minutes approved as recorded.
Assistant Mayor Moore referred to the items placed on the Consent
Agenda questioning whether there were any additions or deletions
from either Council member or citizen present. Councilman
Holbrook requested that item #9 be deleted from the Consent
Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.
Acting City Manager Zais requested that items 13c and d be
deleted from the Consent Agenda and considered in their normal
sequence. It was the consensus of the Council that the deletions,
! as requested, be made. The City Clerk then read the Consent
' Agenda items including ordinances by title. It was MOVED by
Wonder, seconded by Holbrook that the Consent Agenda, as read,
be passed: carried, Allard, Holbrook, Moore and Wonder voting
1 aye on roll call. Edmondson, Simmons and Walker absent.- (Para-
. graphs preceded by an asterisk (*) indicate items on the Consent
Agenda to be handled under one motion without further discussion.)
Phil Goodhue of 405 So. 31st Avenue and Don Elefson of 3600
Howard Avenue spoke to Council regarding the cost of using
the new Yakima Center. They stated they are juniors at Eisenhower
High School and the junior and senior class wanted to use the
Yakima Center for their prom. They stated they could afford
to rent the Center, but that all the catering is done by M &
M Incorporated, run by Mr. Moultray. They stated Mr. Moultray
; quoted them a price of $3.00 per person which would make the
total cost over $1500. Mr. Moultray also told them it would
be the same price if they only had coffee furnished. They asked
' Council to consider making some changes so the Yakima Center
i can really be for the whole community. Assistant Mayor Moore,
stated that he agreed with these gentlemen that the Center should
be for the whole community. It was the consensus of the Council
that this matter be looked into and an answer given to the students
at Eisenhower. ,
Mr. Margaret Serman of 1405 N. 1st Street addressed-the Council
presenting them with a damage claim. It was the consensus of
' the Council that this claim go through the normal channels of
staff.
Mr. Alan Bushley of R. W. Beck & Associates in Seattle spoke
to Council on the status of the Yakima Wastewater Facilities
project. He presented Council members with a written report
and also stated that each project has three steps; the planning,
designing and the construction. He stated they would go out
for bids on the West Valley interceptors this April and will
complete the sewer rehabilitation bids for the relining this
summer. He stated that EPA will not allow sewer and water rate
structures to be together so the City will have to change their
rate structure. He stated that the secondary treatment will
meet the EPA requirements for 1983 and is being designed for
the year 2000. Councilman Wonder stated he had understood that
it would be a tertiary treatment rather than secondary. Director
of Public Works, Dave Vargas stated they have been planning
for secondary treatment since the project first started and
that tertiary treatment would be double the cost of secondary.
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JANUARY 10, 1977
Mr. Preston Shepherd was also present and stated that R. W.
Beck & Associates,and Mr. Alan Bushely have done a find
job and he thinks the project is going well. It was the
consensus of the Council that Mr. Bushley be instructed
to pursue no further with the land application.
Fire Chief Ed Carroll reviewed with the Council his report
on hi ranger snorkel overhaul dated January 6, 1977. Councilman
Moore stated that evidently there had been a misunderstanding
in the past. He stated he did not feel the money for the
emergency vehicles and the snorkel repair should come out
1, of FRS funds, but they would go elsewhere in the budget.
Acting City Manager Zais stated the staff did not feel
they could be funded in the regular budget without cutting
down on personnel. It was MOVED by Allard, seconded by
Wonder that staff be instructed to proceed with securing
the contract to repair the snorkel and find the funding
in the present budget to pay for this. If staff is unable
to find the money, they are to come back to the Council:
carried, Allard, Holbrook, Moore and Wonder voting aye
by voice vote. Edmondson, Simmons and Walker absent.
*It was MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Holbrook that the
report of the City Engineer dated January 5, 1977, with
respect to the completion of the work on Public Works Contracts
10th Street and "A" Street, 12-inch watermain, Schedule -
I, be approved, the work be accepted and payment of the
final estimates as therein setforth be hereby authorized:
carried, Allard, Holbrook, Moore and Wonder voting aye
on roll call. Edmondson, Simmons and Walker absent.
It was MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Holbrook that the
outside utility request for water at 514 N. 22nd Avenue
filed by Derline Bishop be granted: carried, Allard, Holbrook,
Moore and Wonder voting aye on roll call. Edmondson, Simmons
and Walker absent.
Fire Chief Ed Carroll gave a short explanation of the reasons
for Ordinance No. 2040 stating that this is the first time
since January 1976 the Fire Department has had a full crew
and now some of the men who have been denied time-off in
order to keep a full crew will be allowed to use some of
their time that has built up. It was MOVED by Allard,
seconded by Holbrook that Ordinance No. 2040 specifying
the vacation accrual provisions for certain Fire Department
employees, be passed: carried, Allard, Holbrook, Moore
and Wonder voting aye on roll call. Edmondson, Simmons
and Walker absent.
ORDINANCE NO. 2040, AN ORDINANCE relating to City government
personnel; specifying vacation accrual provisions for certain
City employees and amending subsection 2.22.060 of
the City of Yakima Municipal Code.
*An Ordinance transferring and appropriating the amount
of $20,000 in the General Fund to provide a grant to Yakima
County for provision of services for 1977 having been read
by title only at this meeting, was laid on the table for
one week or until January 17, 1977.
It was MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Holbrook that Ordinance
No. 2041, relating to City holidays be passed: carried,
Allard, Holbrook, Moore, and Wonder voting aye on roll
call. Edmondson, Simmons and Walker absent.
-
ORDINANCE NO. 2041, AN ORDINANCE relating to city personnel;
designating holidays for City employees; amending Section
2.40.080 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code.
Council members reviewed a letter from Yakima Valley Construction
Federation requesting the combination of permits for
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JANUARY 10, 1977
code departments of the City, i.e., one -stop permit system.
It was the consensus of the Council to refer this matter to
staff for their report and to have the Joint Board discuss this.
It will be discussed with the Yakima Valley Construction
Federation at a Thursday luncheon session.
*It was MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Holbrook that the
hearing for the rezone request filed by United Builders of
Washington for property 200 feet south of Nob Hill and So.
22nd Avenue be fixed for January 31, 1977: carried, Allard,
Holbrook, Moore and Wonder voting aye on roll call. Edmondson,
Simmons and Walker absent.
*It was MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Holbrook that the
hearing for the rezone requested filed by Mark Hemstreet,
(Shilo Inns) for property located on N. 1st Street and
Gordon Road, be fixed for January 31, 1977: carried, Allard,
Holbrook, Moore and Wonder voting aye on roll call. Edmondson,
Simmons and Walker absent.
It was MOVED by Allard, seconded by Holbrook that the outside
utility request filed by Sentinal Land Company for the 1400
block of So. 40th Avenue, be approved with the five conditions
as suggested by the Planning Commission: carried, Allard,
Holbrook, Moore and Wonder voting aye by voice vote. Edmondson,
Simmons and Walker absent. The five conditions are as
follows:
1. A letter of assurance is to be provided by the
developer to the City from Nob Hill Water Company
stating that it can provide the water necessary to
meet City standards.
2. That an 8 -inch looped or grid water system be
installed.
3. That fire hydrants meeting City standards be
placed according to the City Fire Marshal before
construction.
4. That all easements for sewer location be at the
direction of the City Engineer.
5. That all sewer design be at the direction and
receive approval from the City Engineer.
It was MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Holbrook that the outside
utility request filed by Groenig- Buckley- Wachsmith, for
property located at N. 6th Avenue and River Road be approved
with the two conditons as suggested by the Planning Commission:
carried, Allard, Holbrook, Moore and Walker voting aye by
I/
voice vote. Edmondson, Simmons and Walker absent. The two
conditions are as follows:
1. That a letter of agreement be signed between the
applicants and the City stating that the septic
tank system is temporary and that they will immediately
hook -up upon the availablility of a sanitary sewer
system.
2. That the applicants meet the conditions as stated
by the City Fire Marshal (a) hydrants be of City
standards and placed according to the City Fire
Marshal's direction and (b) 8 -inch mains or larger
be installed in a looped or grid system suitable
to provide the necessary fire flow.
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JANUARY 10,1977
Acting City Manager Zais stated he had a request for out -of-
state travel for Steve Knopp and Vern Collins of the Traffic
Division. He stated one of them would drive the truck that
is to be repaired to Portland and the other would drive a
City car so the two of them could leave the truck to be
repaired and come back in the City car. It was MOVED by
Holbrook that this request be granted: motion failed for
want of a second. Councilman Wonder stated that he felt one
employee could take the truck to Portland and ride the bus
home and save money by both employees not missing a day's
work. It was MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Allard that one
I/ employee be granted out -of -state travel for Portland,
Oregon: carried, Allard, Holbrook, Moore and Wonder voting
aye by voice vote. Edmondson, Simmons and Walker absent.
Mr. Ted Cowan addressed Council stating that Naches High
School has a bond issue in February and he wanted to know if
the City was allowing any more hook -ups on the line from the
reservoir, so the school would know if it could hook -up to
it. The Council referred this matter to staff stating they
didn't believe that there was any more hook -ups to be made,
but Mr. Cowan should speak to staff.
Council members had discussion re Mary Gustafson's case
report of a City employee who had filed a complaint feeling ,
she had been discriminated against. The complaint was
dropped when the employee hired for the position left the
City and the complaintant was moved into the position.
The Council showed great concern regarding long-
time City employees moving into higher City jobs when they
are qualified applicants. They stated they feel that a
qualified long -time City employee should be strongly considered
over hiring an over - qualified non -City employee candidate.
Director of Management & Budget, Chuck Rains spoke stating
he did not feel the complaintant had been discriminated
against, but thought she had drawn conclusions without
having facts. Mary Gustafson stated that
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a maximum of five
points is added no matter how many years a person has been
with the City and that no points are given for job performance.
Mr. Rains stated that employees tend to object to points for
job performance because the management makes the decision as
to how many points to givd.-
There being no furthe' business to come before the Council,
it was MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Allard that this meeting
be adjourned at the hour of 5:45 P.M. to then meet on Thursday,
January 13, 1977 in the Council Chambers, City hall, at
12:30: carried, Allard, Holbrook, Moore and Wonder voting
aye by voice vote. Edmondson, Simmons and Walker absent.
I/ �J
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY .S��r�� vY� 1/641, DATE 0 A
AO/ ! ✓ / ..,. � PATE 577
01 LMA.
ATTEST:
CITY AERK / MAY