HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/01/2011 00 Action Minutes ACTION ON
YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
BUSINESS MEETING
MARCH 1, 2011
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, YAKIMA CITY HALL
5:00 P.M. — EXECUTIVE SESSION
1. Roll CaII
Present:
Council: Mayor Micah Cawley, presiding, Assistant Mayor Kathy Coffey, Council
Members Dave Edler, Rick Ensey, Dave EttI and Bill Lover
Absent: Council Member Maureen Adkison (excused)
2. Executive Session (allow 1 hour)
• Pending and prospective litigation
Executive Session was held and adjoumed at 5:46 p.m.
6:00 P.M. — BUSINESS MEETING
1. Roll Call
Present:
Council: Mayor Micah Cawley, presiding, Assistant Mayor Kathy Coffey, Council
Members, Dave Edler, Rick Ensey, Dave EttI and Bill Lover
Staff: City Manager Zais, City Attorney Cutter and City Clerk Kloster
Absent: Council Member Maureen Adkison (excused)
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Cawley led the Pledge of Allegiance
3. Open Discussion for the Good of the Order
A. Proclamations
• Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Month
Gene Rostvold, Mel Moore and Rich Austin accepted the proclamation. They gave a
brief overview of the state basketball tournaments and other events that would be
held during the month of March in association with WIAA.
B. Presentations /recognitions /introductions
• John Cooper, President/CEO of the Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention
Bureau, distributed to the Council copies of the 2010 Annual Report and the
Yakima Valley Official Visitors Guide and gave a report on tourism activities and
statistics from 2010.
C. Status reports on prior meeting's citizen service requests
1. Response regarding AFSCME Budget Reductions Suggestions
Cindy Epperson, Deputy Director of Accounting and Budgeting, stated that in
December 2010, representatives from the City's AFSCME bargaining unit
submitted to Council some cost - containment measures to consider in reducing
the 2011 budget and improving efficiencies in providing services to citizens.
Members of several departments recently met with AFSCME represented staff to
discuss these issues.
2. Response regarding Street Lighting requests
Public Works Director Chris Waarvick advised that Pacific Power has denied the
requests to install streetlights on existing poles at two locations. In addition, no
suitable locations are available to add additional poles at either of the two
requested sites. He said a report regarding signage issues in City -owned parking
Tots would be provided at a later date.
D. Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Council Committees — None
4. Consent Agenda
ACTION: A motion carried to approve the consent agenda as read. VOTE: 6 -0,
Adkison absent
*A. Consideration of approval of City Council Meeting Minutes
• Special Meeting — January 12, 2011; Business Meetings — January 18 and
February 1, 2011
ACTION: Council meeting minutes were approved.
*B. Consideration of approval of Council Committee Meeting Minutes
• Gang Free Initiative Steering Committee — February 3, 2011
ACTION: Council Committee meeting minutes were approved.
5. Audience Participation
Jeremie Dufault, volunteer attorney for the indoor soccer arena, thanked City staff for
their help in bringing the soccer arena into compliance after being shut down for non -
permitted issues. He encouraged Council to visit the arena to see the diversity of
individuals that are using the arena. He reported that one of the conditions to reopen
the arena was to hire CWI as a third party fire watch. He stated they would like to use
CWI for the remainder of the week to track occupancy counts and if that figure doesn't
reach the 80 occupancy limit, he asked Council to consider removing that requirement
and use fire, police or legal volunteers to maintain the occupancy count in the future so
the money used to pay CWI could be put back into the arena for the benefit of the users.
Candie Turner, representing Yakima Valley Pet Rescue Association, invited the Council
and public to attend a chili cook off fundraiser on March 12. She explained briefly the
services the organization provides to animals prior to adoption.
Bill Duerr directed his comments to Council Members Lover, Edler and Ensey who were
involved in the recent election for a change of government regarding political signs in the
downtown area that were not taken down in the required 14 -day time period following an
election according to City code. He believed they were responsible for violating the code
and should have received penalties.
Mike Hunnel again complained about discrimination against the disabled regarding
parking stalls and ADA requirements that were being ignored and not being enforced by
City staff.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS
6. Report on Yakima Gang Free Initiative (GFI)
Police Officer Mike Merryman and GFI Consultant Steve MagaIlan reviewed the report
that had been provide to Council on the status of the implementation strategy,
development and progress in the efforts of suppression, prevention and intervention.
They spoke about exploring different funding opportunities and their involvement in the
current application process for an OJJDP grant in cooperation with the Yakima County
Gang Commission and Sunnyside's Promise.
7. Report from City Management regarding Request for Qualifications for City Manager
Search and Management plans for interim and permanent Police Chief
City Manager Dick Zais stated he believed the next City Manager should appoint a
permanent Police Chief. He announced that he had asked Greg Copeland, Interim
Police Chief, to continue serving in that capacity and that Mr. Copeland had agreed to
serve through 2011 if necessary. He briefly explained the process that would be used in
the recruitment of a new police chief.
Acting City Manager Michael Morales explained that per City Council's direction, staff
has provided information on executive search firms in order to begin the recruitment and
selection process for the next City Manager. He stated that the purchasing division had
sent out a request for statements of qualifications and seven firms had responded to the
request, which the Council received tonight. Purchasing Manager Sue Ownby explained
the RFQ process and the specifications on what the firms were to supply. City Manager
Zais said if Council wished, staff could prepare a matrix to be used in ranking the
different firms to either narrow the field or apply it to all seven firms. Council consensus
was for staff to prepare a matrix by the next business meeting.
*8. Consideration of a Resolution authorizing execution of a second amendment to the 911
Support Services Agreement with Yakima County for the provision of 911 services that
extends the term of the agreement to December 31, 2011
ACTION: Resolution adopted. RESOLUTION NO. R- 2011 -37
*9. Consideration of Resolutions authorizing execution of agreements to provide geriatric
foot care services at the Harman Center during 2011 with:
A. Melanie Marvel, R.N.
ACTION: Resolution adopted. RESOLUTION NO. R- 2011 -38
B. Rosemary Bonsen, R.N.
ACTION: Resolution adopted. RESOLUTION NO. R- 2011 -38
*10. Set date of final public hearing for March 15, 2011 on the 2010 Consolidated Annual
Performance Evaluation Report
ACTION: March 15, 2011 was set for the final public hearing on the 2010 Consolidated
Annual Performance Evaluation Report
*11. Set date of closed record public hearing for March 15, 2011 regarding the City of
Yakima's 2010/2011 Urban Area Zoning Ordinance amendments
ACTION: March 15, 2011 was set for a closed record public hearing regarding the City of
Yakima's 2010/2011 Urban Area Zoning Ordinance amendments
ORDINANCES
*12. Consideration of an Ordinance granting a non - exclusive franchise to Advanced TelCom,
Inc. and Electric Lightwave, LLC, (ATI /ELI) wholly -owned subsidiaries of Integra
Telecom Holdings, Inc. which authorizes ATI /ELI to occupy City of Yakima rights -of -way
in order to construct, operate and maintain a telecommunications system
ACTION: Ordinance passed. ORDINANCE NO. 2011-11
*13. Consideration of an Ordinance amending the 2011 Budget and making appropriations in the
333 -Law and Justice Capital Fund and the 152 - Police Grants Fund to purchase grant
funded public safety equipment and services (no action required at this meeting; second
reading scheduled 3- 15-11)
An Ordinance amending the 2010 budget and appropriating funds to purchase grant funded
public safety equipment and services, was read by title only, and laid on the table until March
15, 2011 fora second reading.
14. Other Business
• Discussion regarding Council retreat agenda and timelines
Council members talked about the format and subjects for the upcoming retreat on
March 22. They agreed to use Community Relations Manager Randy Beehler as the
facilitator. Each Council member was asked to provide him with five priority issues
they would like to discuss at the retreat.
Council Member Edler stated that regarding Mr. Duerr's statement about violating the
code concerning non - removal of political signs, as co -chair of that committee, he
takes full responsibility for the violation and apologized. Council Members Lover and
Ensey should not have been included as responsible parties.
City Manager Zais commented on the recent guest editorial in the Herald- Republic
written by Greg Bohn concerning the City's budgeting practices. He plans to
respond to allegations Mr. Bond made about the City's use of funds, specifically the
use of the .3% sales tax.
15. Adjournment — 7:26 p.m.
ACTION: A motion carried to adjourn to the next Council business meeting on March
15, 2011. VOTE: 6-0, Adkison absent