HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/04/2020 02 Coronavirus (COVID-19) UpdateB US INE S S O F T HE C I T Y C O UNC I L
YAK I M A, WAS HING T O N
AG E ND A S TAT E M E NT
I tem No. 2.A .
F or Meeting of: August 4, 2020
I T E M T IT L E :Coronavirus (C O V I D-19) update
S UB M IT T E D B Y:A lex Meyerhoff, I nterim City Manager
S UM M ARY E X P L ANAT I O N:
The attached memo summarizes the City of Yakima's local response to the C O V I D-19
emergency, declared in Yakima on March 11, 2020.
I T E M B UD G E T E D:NA
S T RAT E G I C P RI O RI T Y:
AP P RO V E D F O R S UB M IT TAL B Y T HE C IT Y M ANAG E R
RE C O M M E ND AT I O N:
AT TAC HM E NT S :
Description Upload Date Type
memo 7/29/2020 Cover Memo
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TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Yakima City Council
FROM: Alex Meyerhoff, Interim City Manager
DATE: August 4, 2020
RE: Update - COVID-19’s Effect on City Services and Finances
The COVID-19 emergency has and will continue to present many challenges. The City of
Yakima is committed to protecting the health and safety of its employees and customers, the
continuity of government services, and the responsible management of the City’s finances.
The City’s current financial situation is stable, meaning the City is able at this time to continue to
provide critical public services to the community. However, the City, along with local
governments throughout Washington State and across the country, is preparing for an expected
decrease in normal revenue streams, which will likely negatively affect the City’s ability to
operate as it did before the COVID-19 emergency.
The City’s senior management team is working with the City Council to address the impact of
the COVID-19 emergency. Senior staff is conducting ongoing, comprehensive analysis to
determine the level and severity of the financial impacts resulting from the pandemic.
This is to provide an update to the City’s COVID response that was reviewed at the July 21,
2020 City Council meeting.
Fiscal Issues: Staff is monitoring and managing five areas: Revenues, Operating Expenses,
Capital Expenditures, Treasury and Debt, and 2021 Budget Planning. The following
assessments are preliminary and we will update as new information becomes available.
Revenues: Looking at 2020 and beyond.
• Some cities are looking to the 2008 downturn for an example; Yakima’s Sales Tax
dropped $1 million 2008 to 2009 and didn’t recover until 2012. It’s unclear, however,
whether the depth and length of the 2020 disaster is similar to that of 2008.
• Sales tax data now includes the June remittance for April actuals. The June receipt
was down $105,000 from prior year actuals or $128,000 from budget so the General
Fund is behind budget $144,000 year-to-date.
• Water, wastewater and refuse revenues were all up in June, higher than prior year,
all three roughly at 103% of budget year-to-date.
• Lodging Tax is continuing to experience a large reduction and it’s anticipated to
continue through 2021. {Hotel occupancy, as of early June, was 27%, down 60%
from May 2019.} Two hotels that had closed are now open (Hilton Garden Inn and
Hotel Maison). Lodging Tax revenue from March was 42% of the March 2019
revenue. The 2020 Lodging variance to budget is projected at a $800,000 deficit
through December. Priorities for this revenue is to pay the Convention Center and
Capitol Theatre debt first, then operations second, then capital project funding.
• Gambling Tax, a General Fund source designated for public safety purposes,
through June is down $69,000, at 87% of prior year.
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• Both REET 1 and REET 2 are down $100,000 or 20% each.
• Property taxes are not expected to decline.
• Utilities taxes and Franchise fees are being monitored similarly.
• Sales Tax data is presently available through March 2020. Staff is awaiting the June
remittance for April actuals. Staff is monitoring new data to forecast the next few
months. March’s $361,000 reduction for that month impacted the General Fund by
$204,000. Because the number of months that will be affected is still unclear, a
downturn from $1 million to $3 million is possible.
• Property taxes are not expected to decline.
• Utilities taxes and Franchise fees are being monitored similarly.
• All departments are engaging in Federal and State COVID-related programs as they
are made known. Transit, Airport, and Police have gained CARES Act approvals
and are working on clarifying requirements and restrictions. The City has received
COVID-19 Emergency Funding including $6.2 million in FTA (airport) funding and
$1.2 million in FAA (transit) funding through the CARES Act which will be allocated to
transit and the airport respectively. The Governor’s office also announced a $2.8
million state grant with yet-to-be disclosed requirements and restrictions.
• Finance staff is spending considerable time communicating with FEMA program
management and other city finance staff in efforts to identify expenses that qualify for
reimbursement. Current FEMA and CARES Act guidelines exclude reimbursement
for revenue shortfall and reimbursement for budgeted expenses which seems to
exclude the exact squeeze the city faces.
Operating Expenses: Managing within 2020 Budget.
• All city departments are evaluating COVID requirements to deliver existing services.
In addition to new expenses like cleaning supplies, gloves and masks, social
distancing requires expanded vehicle use and office configurations. CARES Act
funding is being pursued to reimburse for COVID-related expenses.
• Maintaining staff safety and health has been managed within budget. Employee
illness requiring their quarantine may still require additional overtime shifts to backfill
for service delivery. While public safety come immediately to mind, this could also
affect staff working in streets, transit, water treatment, refuse, wastewater treatment
and administrative functions like IT, payroll, and management across all
departments.
Capital Expenditures: Long-term planning is in our current-year problem-solving.
• The vehicle fleet city-wide is aging. Further deferrals really aren’t an option as the
City COVID course-corrects.
• Infrastructure operations and maintenance is a regular and recurring expense.
• Both of the above issues were discussed during the 2020 Budget process and
become increasingly a priority for the 2021 Budget.
Treasury and Debt:
• Evidenced by quarterly treasury reports, the City continues to have excellent liquidity
already in place.
• Refinancing debt to lower rates and payments in conjunction with the convention
center expansion debt issue had already been initiated prior to COVID.
• Improved perpetual vehicle replacement planning and long-term capital planning is
still needed to improve prudent debt planning and is a high priority for 2021 Budget.
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2021 Budget:
• Staff is aware that a decision-package methodology will be required to incorporate
comprehensive prioritizing. Reacting one problem at a time would result in priorities
being skipped.
• Reliable reporting of 2020 is key to 2021 Budget planning, and the operational
demands of the COVID crisis has now eclipsed routine financial management in all
departments. The City will adapt as information is learned about the depth and
length of this crisis.
Administration:
• On June 2, 2020, the Yakima City Council voted to recommend the use of masks in
public to address the spread of COVID-19 in Yakima. Staff subsequently embarked on
the “Mask Up to Open Up!” public information campaign in coordination with Yakima
County, the Yakima Health District, the Chamber of Commerce, local grocery stores and
retailers. The campaign included multi-lingual English and Spanish language messaging
to the local media, utilizing the city’s multiple social media platforms and throughout the
city using both stationery electronic message reader boards and Yakima Transit’s bus
fleet which also contain electronic reader boards. Through this partnership, the City was
able to distribute over 100,000 masks to community members to further reduce the
spread of infection.
• On July 2, 2020, Governor Inslee approved moving Yakima County to Modified Stage 1.
This was largely in response to public health concerns that, should the county remain at
Stage 1, residents would travel outside the county to access goods and services, and
potentially spread COVID throughout the state. Because of concerns about continued
spread of COVID-19 infection elsewhere in Washington, on July 13, 2020, Governor
Inslee instituted a statewide pause on any further reopening though July 28.
• Yakima County has been recognized for its leadership in reducing COVID-19
transmission in Washington through the “Mask Up to Open Up!” campaign. As of July
11, 2020, community surveys have indicated that 95% of the public are wearing masks
in Yakima County, which is up from 65% one month ago and 35% two months back.
Recent Trends:
• While the resurgence in cases was originally limited to a few hot spots, upwards trends
are now prominent in most counties in Washington State. One encouraging exception is
Yakima County, where we have growing confidence that mitigation efforts are working.
• In the Puget Sound area and in Spokane County, the increase in testing has been
outpaced by the increase in cases, as evidenced by rising test positivity from mid-June
onward. Meanwhile, in Yakima County, falling test positivity is encouraging given the
relatively stable testing volume.
• Model-based estimates of COVID-19 prevalence are rising in the Puget Sound area and
are comparable to peak levels from late March. Meanwhile, in Spokane County, it is
estimated that prevalence is likely higher than it’s ever been. Finally, the declining trend
in Yakima suggests that mitigation efforts have had success but need to continue since
prevalence is still comparable to late April levels.
• The Yakima Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) Labor Area Summary (LSA) non-farm
employment May 2020 county-level unemployment figures were released on June 23.
The negative effects of COVID-19 related layoffs become apparent with the release of
the April and May reports. For the last two months unemployment rates in Yakima
County remained below the statewide average, most recently in May at 11.5% and
11.7% respectively.
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• Staff is preparing a reopening plan for city facilities.
• Freezing all general government positions, excluding uniformed police officers,
correction officers, and firefighter positions. All staffing requests will be reviewed and
approved by the Interim City Manager before proceeding with any hiring process.
• Canceling all non-essential travel
• Canceling all non-essential training
• Deferring all non-essential purchases
• Evaluating budgeted discretionary spending and opportunities to delay or cancel
purchases
• Discontinuing new subscriptions and memberships unless they are required to
maintain a license or certification
• Evaluating existing contracts for cost and fee reductions
• Evaluating City services for overlap and redundancy
• Evaluating opportunities for consolidation and collaboration of services
• Reviewing current surplus property inventory for joint development opportunities
• Maximizing administrative expenses of all grant resources
• Pursuing grant opportunities consistent with existing programs
• Evaluating transit service for possible reductions in service
• Evaluating recreation services and possible reduction in services
• Meeting with labor unions to discuss opportunities for cost savings
• Deferring fleet and equipment replacement
Police:
• NO UPDATES
• YPD has witnessed a decrease in calls to 911 (almost 35%). Theft and auto theft are
generally up, burglary is steady and both robbery and sex assault are generally
down. There has been an increase in domestic violence calls.
• With the addition of School Resource Officers to patrol (there wasn’t a need for them
at the schools), YPD has been able to manage well and focus on emerging
problems.
• YPD has created an online process for Concealed Pistol License renewals. This will
enable folks to keep their licenses up to date despite the current COVID situation. It
will also increase efficiency moving forward.
• As of this writing, YPD has planned for two separate protests about the Governor’s
orders around COVID and the censure of Council member White. These responses
are staff intensive to protect Constitutional Rights and preserve public safety.
• YPD is working with the Yakima School District to assist with a modified high school
graduation ceremony.
• All services are available and online reporting is being utilized to lower interpersonal
exposure during crime reporting (for low level incidents).
• All employees are now required to wear masks when they are out of their workspace
within YPD or out of their vehicle.
• Most clerical staff and detectives are working on their cases remotely. They still
respond to crime scenes as required.
Fire:
• NO UPDATES
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• The department is currently status quo with maintaining social distancing, wearing
face masks and using preventive hygiene measures. Overall EMS incidents remain
40% above normal as a result of the COVID-19 emergency.
• YFD committed 1,726 hours of staff time in emergency response for COVID-19 for
March. Staff is obtaining the data for staff time committed to the emergency
response for COVID-19 for April and May.
• Only employees and janitors are allowed on the dispatch floor at SunComm.
• Call numbers remain steady – no significant increase or decrease.
• Fire inspectors will be transitioning back to conducting limited fire inspections in
occupancies where it is safe to do so.
• Fire inspectors may consider virtual inspections if occupants have the capability
(example: small in-home daycares).
• Staff ordered two AeroClaves for the decontamination of fire department apparatus’
and facilities. During the initial outbreak none were available.
• MOU on vacation cancellation has expired. No additional MOUs are expected at this
time as some recreational activities are now allowed.
• SunComm call numbers from February 29 to April 30 are below:
o Total EMS Calls for YKFD: 1,426
o 2019 total EMS Calls for same time period: 1,226
o COVID confirmed/presumed related EMS calls: 30 (*based on reporting party
advising of a positive test or awaiting test results with significant symptoms or
others in the residence/facility tested positive with significant symptoms)
o Calls for service that included symptoms of COVID, to include difficulty
breathing, shortness of breath, fever or cough. A single symptom call was
not counted, only multi-symptom:
2020: 620 Calls (43% of all calls)
2019: 333 Calls (27% of all calls)
• The Deputy Chief that had been working in the EOC is back to his normal duties but
remains available if he is needed.
• Developed COVID Infection Prevention Recommendations and posted on City ICE
for employees.
• Sending out Daily Situation Reports to all members.
• Allowed for a change in vacation schedules to accommodate the fact that people are
not traveling/vacationing and signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Union.
• Arranged for quarantine quarters to house staff who may potentially test positive
from exposure.
• Fire Code Division is working an alternate work schedule.
• All members are wearing face masks in the stations (except when eating and
sleeping).
• All stations are closed to the public for any non-essential business.
• All stations have be disinfected by a donation from Baxter Construction.
• Ramped up cleaning of the stations and apparatus.
• Have a Deputy Chief representing the fire and police departments as a liaison in the
County’s EOC.
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• Modified dispatch/response protocols to calls to minimize exposures (e.g.: one person
goes in a residence or the patient comes out of the residence when able and extra
PPE).
Public Works Admin:
• NO UPDATES
• Continue to operate as normal.
• Monitoring the revenue for Clean City. Due to businesses being closed or partially
open, reduced amount of waste collected by Yakima Waste negatively impacts the
revenue to fund Clean City.
Streets:
• NO UPDATES
• Continue to operate as normal.
Refuse:
• NO UPDATES
• Experiencing heavier volume of trash due to individuals staying home – increase in
landfill tipping fees. Tonnage has increased by approximately 9% and tipping fees
have increased about 7%.
• Increase in trash is also due to Yakima County not accepting yard waste from private
haulers due to COVID concerns.
• Working with residents to bag all garbage and request extra carts if needed to allow
staff to safely and efficiently remove trash by carts only (no direct handling of trash
by staff).
• Continue to operate as normal as possible.
Water / Wastewater:
• NO UPDATES
• Continue to operate as normal.
Transit:
• NO UPDATES
• Plexi-glass doors have been ordered and will be installed on all buses (26) were
installed on all buses.
• Bus routes continue to operate as normal; however, ridership is approximately 82%
lower than normal.
• Dial-A-Ride service continues to operate as normal.
• The Yakima/Ellensburg commuter service continues to operate as normal run for
now. However, it is the only charter service A&A Motor Coach is conducting on the
east side of the cascades. They have completely shut down on the west
side. Approximately 20 riders are serviced for the entire day; will begin utilizing cut-
away buses instead of the standard-sized buses to save money due to significant
drop in ridership. This commuter service may go away soon.
Engineering:
• NO UPDATES
• Continue to operate as normal
•
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Parks:
• A Bearable Adventure recreation program launched on July 28.
• The Harman Center staff has mailed over 400 “thinking of you” cards to the regular
program participants at the Harman Center.
• The Harman Center staff has also made over 100 “check in” phone calls and trip and
tour updates to our regular volunteers and travelers.
• The Harman Center staff along with Park & Recreation Commissioner, Jo Miles,
have also been completing some light maintenance work around the center and in
Gailleon Park.
• The city offers several virtual recreation programs online through the parks website.
Additional programs will be added soon.
• Our “Step Up & Park It” program is starting its second week
• The Yakima Health District gave the city permission to open Lions Pool on Tuesday,
July 7, but called Wednesday morning and reversed their approval. We were
following all of the modified Stage 1.5 requirements that were created for King
County, but we were told that King County’s modified Stage 1.5 did not apply to
Yakima County.
• Parks continue to be very busy with walkers, joggers and people riding bikes. Disc
golf has been popular too. Most people utilizing the parks are following social
distancing requirements.
• Virtual Recreation Programs were created and are located on the Yakimaparks.com
webpage. There is no cost to the public to participate in these programs. Additional
virtual programs will be added in the next few days and weeks, including activities for
kids, sports training tips, senior citizen trips picture log and water safety. The
Recreation Department is working with Y-PAC. The Recreation staff continues to be
very creative in their ideas for programs.
• Franklin Pool is closed for 2020.
• Summer Sunset Concert Series at all locations, Miller, Franklin and MLK Jr. Parks,
have been cancelled.
• Public restrooms have been opened.
• Recreation staff have been assisting parks maintenance with irrigation repairs and
irrigation renovation of field #3 at Chesterley Park.
• Harman Center staff have been assisting with facilities maintenance at the Harman
Center by pressure washing the outside of the building and doing lawn and
landscaping bed maintenance. Staff have also been producing videos and putting
them out to the seniors. The completed a video on how to make “Whipped Coffee”,
(which apparently is a new thing). Leslie provided online training for seniors to learn
how to Zoom with their families. They have also been calling some of our seniors
and checking on them.
• People for People continues providing frozen meals for pick up out of the Harman
Center. They are providing approximately 190 meals per week through the Harman
center drive-thru pick up.
• The recreation leader has scanned all of the Parks & Recreation Commission
meeting minutes and agendas making them searchable.
• Recreation staff members have also helped with field maintenance, over seeding
and aerating and fertilizing of park areas throughout the city. The areas on Naches
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Parkway that had bare spots were also aerated, seeded and fertilized with the
support of recreation staff.
• Staff finalized the restroom and swimming pool opening protocols and is actively
working with Health District representatives so the facilities are ready to open when
allowed under the Governor’s phased opening guidelines (Phase 3).
• Golf activities are scheduled to resume on May 5th.
• Staff is evaluating the feasibility of summer recreation programs.
• People for People is still offering meals to seniors from the Harman Center and
Henry Beauchamp Community Center.
• HBCC is having frozen meal pickups on Friday from 10-12. United First is not a
location pickup at this time. The only other pickup location in Yakima is the Salvation
Army on Thursdays from 10-12.
• All parks recreational facilities for active recreation have been closed including the dog
park, tennis and pickle ball courts, however, parks are open for passive recreation.
Equipment Rental/Building Maintenance:
• NO UPDATES
• Continue to operate as normal.
• ER to work overtime to install plexi-glass doors on the transit buses as soon as
possible.
• Building Maintenance spending extra time and effort in cleaning and sanitizing work
areas.
Community Development/Codes/Planning/ONDS:
• NO UPDATES
• The Community Development staff worked closely with the Downtown Association of
Yakima to identify a number of locations that should be reserved for “15-minute
Parking – Curbside Pickup Zone”. The signs were produced and installed by the
Streets Division of Public Works at the request of the adjacent restaurant or
retail business owner.
• Building maintenance is measuring and requesting quotes to have plexi-glass
installed at the community development and engineering service counters. A local
vendor has been called to provide an estimate and installation date; however, that
information is not available at this time.
• Staff is working with City Clerk, YPAC and IT to determine the feasibility of “virtual
public meetings”, (such as “Zoom”) especially for the Hearing Examiner, as multiple
items have been tabled since March.
• Staff is discussing phasing the move back into the building
o Employees first
o Public by appointment only
o Public, no restrictions (if necessary)
• Some staff could continue to work from home, if practical.
• Staff members are reviewing plans electronically using plan review software.
• Working with finance to accept credit cards over the phone (Municipal Court is now
allowed to, due to the shutdown).
• Staff is earning from all these experiences in how we can do our jobs with less paper
handling (electronic application processes, internal processes, etc.).
• The inability to hold public meetings/hearings for both Planning Commission and City
Council is creating a backlog of planning projects that are effectively “on-hold” until
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these meetings can resume. The public hearing components of these projects are
required under local ordinance and/or state law.
• The Governor’s plan to re-open construction activities went into effect May 1st. The
April 29th construction guidelines clarify that the plan to re-open construction is
limited to projects that had already been started. City staff have been working with all
development interests by actively reviewing plans and applications. Construction
sites are working to develop their site safety plans which is required now by Labor
and Industries. Staff has not experienced a surge in new permit applications or
requests for inspections yet, however, they will continue to monitor activity.
• Employees are working alternate shifts or are working remotely. Staff members
remain available to answer phone calls, emails, or meet with individuals by
appointment.
• Staff processing land use and permit applications within the guidelines of
Washington State rules.
• Graffiti paint out still occurring.
Human Resources:
• NO UPDATES
• In response to the COVID-19 emergency, the Civil Service team has made
significant modifications to recruitment and testing processes:
o Implementation of a new electronic testing option allowing the team to
develop customized and unique electronic written tests which applicants can
take remotely
o A candidate confidentially agreement was developed and scores are
electronically processed following the exam
o Civil Service oral board exams are being facilitated and proctored utilizing a
developed matrix and a Zoom meeting with the Chief Examiner, the HR
Proctor/Facilitator, the candidates, and multiple board members/assessors all
participating from separate locations
• The on-boarding process for newly hired permanent and temporary employees are
now all done electronically.
• Personnel Action Forms (PA’s) are being processed electronically utilizing electronic
signatures, etc. rather than paper copies being routed throughout the various
divisions.
• The electronic evaluation program is continuing to be rolled out.
• City of Yakima University (CYU) trainer is developing a CPR program that will
provide appropriate training while still adhering to the emergency declarations.
Initially, this training will be for the Parks & Recreation Division to ensure lifeguards,
etc. have the required training prior to facilities reopening.
• The City’s Wellness Committee has canceled the annual picnic originally scheduled
for June but is continuing to look for ways to keep employees engaged in healthy
activities.
• Staff is continually monitoring federal programs related to personnel impacts and is
adjusting city policies as needed.
• Staff schedules have been adjusted to limit the number of people in the office –
employees are working remotely.
• A Temporary Telecommunication Policy & Agreement has been developed and
implemented. Approximately 130 employees have been authorized to work from home
in some capacity.
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• Administrative Policy #1-910 Families First Coronavirus Relief Act was drafted and
enacted to ensure compliance with the law. Application forms were created and a
process was put in place to assist employees needing to utilize the time defined in
the policy to care for themselves or families.
• Human Resources has shifted to an enormous workload as situational problem-
solving for COVID has eclipsed an already-busy department. It’s too early to gauge
the impact to employee benefit programs the city will be required to bear.
Finance:
• NO UPDATES
• Purchasing has been working with departments to help identify contract cost
reductions as a result of decreased need for services in closed facilities (e.g. Yakima
Convention Center has frozen their landscape maintenance contract and other
departments have reduced laundry services).
• The City’s website has a notice requiring all contractors providing on-site services to
adhere to CDC & OSHA strategies/guidelines related to COVID-19 and provided
links.
• Purchasing and Finance staff have paused FEMA processes regarding possible
reimbursement of qualified expenses because CARES may reimburse more fully, but
will continue to determine the optimal process for accessing both funding sources.
• Purchasing, engineering, Yakima Air Terminal and others have been able to work
with YCTV/YPAC to live stream bid openings. Pre-bid on-site meetings are being
held with social distancing, are being done “virtually”, or have been delayed.
• Surplus auctions were put on hold due to facility closures; however, staff will begin
listing some items for Public Works via online auction while practicing social
distancing and wearing PPE for item pick up.
• The City has not noticed an increase in late or delinquent utility accounts.
• Finance staff members continue to focus on revenue forecasting, monitoring health
district stats daily, and collaborating with other cities finance staff.
• Utility Billing has continued to bill all 26 cycles across the city, no cut-offs due to
nonpayment, staff is alternating days in office and working remotely as possible.
• Parking Enforcement has continued the crucial support involving safety, blocked
disable access, dangerous situations, and supporting public safety and city work
crews.
• Purchasing has shifted in a big way to disaster-related procurement supporting
public safety first and all other city needs and has exercised tremendous creativity,
resourcefulness and perseverance in the face of shortages.
• Finance has continued paying bills, paying payroll (important that all city staff feel
supported during crisis), with some staff working remotely and alternate schedules to
maintain the flow of vital financial information.
• Citywide financial management in the emergency/disaster environment has taken
priority over “normal” necessary financial planning and reporting which may result in
some delay but overall reliability is still a priority.
Information Technology:
• NO UPDATES
• The City has seen a significant increase to network, email, and phone traffic during
this pandemic:
o averaging 100,000 more emails per month
o 10,000 to 12,000 more phone calls per month
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• The City has also noticed an increase in phishing and other cyber-security
challenges.
• Technicians are working alternate schedules and are working remotely.
• Staff members spent several hours purchasing and setting up devices for employees
city-wide to be able to work remotely.
Legal Department:
• NO UPDATES
• The City’s prosecutor has been named to the Court Recovery Task Force. The Task
force, formed by the Washington Supreme Court, is examining all aspects of court
operations to make recommendations to resume out-of-custody court hearings in the
safest manner.
• The Legal Department will have a volunteer intern that just completed her first year
of law school working primarily from home on several projects to assist the
Prosecution Division over the next couple of months. Otherwise attorneys continue
to work in the manner we have previously initiated.
• Two civil attorneys and 4 prosecutors are working remotely; prosecutors are shifting
the days in/out of the office to cover court calendars without any issues.
• Prosecutors are still available to telephonically meet with victims and witnesses.
• Several legal assistants are working four ten hour days per week, alternating days so
that there are always staff in the office. This is only permitted during the period of
emergency.
Airport:
• NO UPDATES
• Following Governor Inslee’s statewide mask mandate initiated June 26th, the Yakima
Airport has received a total of 12,500 cloth masks provided from Seattle-Tacoma
International Airport and FEMA. Masks will be made available to airport tenants and
both arriving and departing passengers at the main terminal building. Additional
signage has been placed in the terminal building alerting arriving passengers of
Inslee’s statewide mask mandate in order to minimize the spread of the
Coronavirus.
• The Transportation Security Administration reports daily passenger traffic has
increased by 13% since March 22, 2020. Total number of passengers that traversed
security checkpoints on June 4, 2020, climbed to 391,882 compared to 2019 figures
at 2.43 million.
• Alaska Airlines has reinstated a direct flight from Yakima to Seattle as opposed to a
tagged flight to Wenatchee due to the increasing passenger ridership out of
Yakima. The flight departs daily from Yakima at 7:30am and returns from Seattle at
6:51pm.
• The Federal Aviation Administration notified commercial service airports throughout
the United States that FEMA will provide facemasks for passengers and employees
who traverse passenger terminal buildings. The Yakima Airport is slated to receive
approximately 6,500 masks, of which should arrive within the next three to four
weeks.
• The rental car industry continues to be impacted due to the COVID-19 emergency
and the decreased passenger demands. On Friday, May 22, 2020, Hertz Global
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Holdings, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy while allowing the company to continue
to operate in order to devise a plan to pay creditors as they emerge from record low
rental car sales. Management overseeing the west coast region advised the region’s
sales rank higher compared to other areas of the country and operations at the
Yakima Airport will continue to function with little to no impact on customers.
• Alaska Air Group is implementing new products and processes to inspire confidence
throughout the travel process for all guests, beginning with the airport experience. As
part of this new process they’ve installed floor decals reminding airport guests and
passengers to “mind their wingspan” while following the social distancing protocol in
the airport. Additionally, the airline is now providing facemasks for customers who
may have misplaced their PPE supplies prior to their flight.
• Passenger traffic nationwide remains 95% below 2019 levels and continues to
require airlines to adjust their flight schedules. Given these factors, beginning May
3rd through May 31st Alaska Airlines has modified Yakima Airport’s schedule to a 6:00
a.m. departure to Wenatchee where the aircraft receives additional passengers and
then departs to Seattle. Yakima will witness a similar return route from Seattle to
Wenatchee and will arrive in Yakima at 7:00 p.m. Staff has adjusted the terminal
building hours to accommodate passenger activities and remains open during normal
business hours.
• Airport staff is coordinating three capital improvement projects as Governor Inslee
reopens the state’s economy through a phased approach. These projects include
the replacement of the airport’s fuel pumps, replacement of a portion of the terminal’s
roof to prevent future roof leaks, and the airport’s $1.4 million rehabilitation project on
its primary runway.
• The Federal Aviation Administration has notified the City of Yakima the CARES Act
grant agreement will be administered no later than Friday, May 15th, 2020. Airport
staff will work closely with the finance department to ensure funds expensed will
meet Federal Aviation Administration requirements while ensuring the airport
remains financially sustainable.
• Passenger activity appears to be slowly recovering from the lowest count on April 14,
2020 where only 87,534 passengers traversed the nation’s security checkpoints. On
May 11, 2020, this number had increased to 215,645 passengers as some states
started to lift travel restrictions and adopt a phased approach to reopening the
economy. As a result, the Yakima Airport has witnessed a minor increase in
passenger counts.
• Due to the COVID-19 virus and the various governmental entities recommended
“stay at home orders”, Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field’s passenger activities
have declined to historic lows. Given this decrease in activities, Alaska Airlines has
reduced its flight schedule to one flight daily to SEATAC International Airport.
• Although the airport remains open and staff continues to maintain the facility, the
main terminal building hours of operations have been reduced due to the reduction in
business activity. The new terminal hours are 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Staff members have been proactive to minimize the potential of contracting the virus
by exercising “social distancing”, alternating schedules, and working remotely.
• Construction in/around the airport has been put on hold in accordance with the
Governor’s order. However, in the event the order is extended the airport is slated to
conduct a $1.4 million dollar rehabilitation project on its primary
runway. Unfortunately, the timing of this project must remain on-schedule in order to
minimize additional impacts on the aviation industry.
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• Airport staff continues to monitor the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security
(CARES) Act to determine funding options for both Capital Improvement Projects
and the airport’s operations budget. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has
announced additional funding will be provided during the 2020 Airport Improvement
Program grants. Staff has prepared a resolution for Council’s approval to accept
said funds once they are made available.
• Staff is monitoring industry trends and business activities with tenants to assist with
their daily operations.
City Clerk:
• NO UPDATES
• Public record requests are being processed in compliance with the Governor’s
orders.
• Staff members are alternating days in the office to limit the number of people at city
hall while the remainder work remotely.
• Phones are forwarded when staff members are not in the office (during break/lunch
time) to ensure someone is always available to answer calls.
Communications:
• NO UPDATES
• Community Relations staff continue to update a page on the City website specifically
devoted to COVID-19 information as well as updating the fire department’s COVID-
19 page. Staff continue to post on City social media platforms City Council updates,
governor news conferences, PPE and precautionary measures for residents, and
various other COVID-19-related messaging. Additionally, staff is producing and
airing weekly “Y-PAC Check-Ins” interview segments specifically focused on COVID-
19 information
• Community Relations staff is partnering with local high schools and other education
providers (YVC, for example) to air virtual graduations on the City’s public access
channel, YCTV.
• Staff is supporting the Council’s facemask proclamation/YHD directive through
posting the “Mask Up to Open Up” message in website and social media updates,
news releases and the Issues Brief newsletter. Staff is also coordinating the
distribution of 95,000-plus masks to Yakima community members.
• Staff members are working with the Yakima Health District to record twice weekly
updates.
• Staff members are alternating days in the office to limit the number of people and a
few are working remotely.
• Created a city webpage dedicated to the coronavirus.
• Continue to provide council updates, Governor news conferences, PPE and
precautionary measures for residents, and various other city messages on social
media platforms.
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