Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2011-104 Richard A. Zais, Jr. Center for Law and Justice, Name Designation for Building at 200 South Third St. RESOLUTION NO. R- 2011 -104 A RESOLUTION of the City of Yakima, Washington, designating the name of the "Richard A. Zais, Jr. Center for Law and Justice" as the name of the City of Yakima building at 200 South Third Street in Yakima, Washington, in honor and recognition of the outstanding service of City Manager Dick Zais to the City of Yakima. WHEREAS, Dick Zais has served the City of Yakima with honor and distinction for 38 years since 1973, serving as the City Manager for the City of Yakima for 32 years; and WHEREAS, the City Council has recognized some of the many accomplishments Dick Zais has contributed to the City of Yakima in the City Council's "Proclamation of Commendation and Appreciation for City Manager Dick Zais ", which was read by the City Council at the City Council business meeting on July 5, 2011, and the Proclamation of Commendation and Appreciation is incorporated by reference into this Resolution; and WHEREAS, Dick Zais has been a prominent leader for 38 years in the City of Yakima and has sought to improve the quality of life for its citizens; and WHEREAS, Dick Zais has continuously fostered the highest standards of ethics and professionalism in City government, and promoted integrity in the civil and criminal justice system; and WHEREAS, Dick Zais has left an enduring legacy of professionalism and demonstrated the highest ethics, honesty, dignity, tolerance, wisdom and ideals in upholding the public trust over the 38 years of his service to the City of Yakima, and he has advocated through his words and by his example how others should be treated with respect; and WHEREAS, as a testament to the leadership and accomplishments of City Manager Dick Zais, the City Council desires to recognize him in a manner that acknowledges into the future all that City Manager Dick Zais has contributed to the City of Yakima over his 38 years of service; and WHEREAS, the Yakima Municipal Court, the Yakima Police Department and the City Legal Department are located in the City building at 200 South Third Street in Yakima; and WHEREAS, in honor and commendation of Dick Zais and his years of service with distinction to the City of Yakima, it is the desire of the City Council that the City building located at 200 South Third Street in Yakima, Washington be formally named the "Richard A. Zais, Jr. Center for Law and Justice "; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds it in the best interest of the City of Yakima that this name be designated for the City building; now, therefore: BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA: The name of the "Richard A. Zais, Jr. Center for Law and Justice" is hereby designated as the official name of the City of Yakima building located at 200 South Third Street in Yakima, Washington, in honor and recognition of the years of outstanding service of City Manager Dick Zais to the City of Yakima. ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 5 day of July, 2011. 42a Micah awley, Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk 2 • A PROCLAMATION OF COMMENDATION AND APPRECIATION FOR CITY MANAGER DICK ZAIS WHEREAS, Dick Zais has served the City of Yakima with honor and distinction for 38 years — appointed Assistant to the City Manager in 1973, Assistant City Manager in 1977, and City Manager in January 1979; and WHEREAS, Dick worked for and with 55 Council Members and 12 Mayors, attended over 2,200 Council meetings, signed over 200,000 official City documents, appointed over 6,000 current and former City employees, and is presently the City's longest serving active employee; and WHEREAS, as City Manager, Dick Zais was responsible for the delivery of quality municipal services while overseeing the growth of the city from 45,000 to over 91,000 residents and from 12 to 28 square miles in size; and WHEREAS, Dick Zais worked with City Councils to successfully promote and lobby for the City's state and federal legislative priorities and to secure over $300 million in federal and state grants, financial assistance, and tax incentives to support and finance economic development, transportation, and criminal justice initiatives as well as public works infrastructure projects; and WHEREAS, Dick prepared and administered 33 years of balanced, fiscally - responsible City budgets and financial reports .which have been recognized by the City Council, State Auditors, and the National Government Finance Officers Association for excellence and distinguished fiscal management in budget preparation, financial reporting, and audit compliance; and WHEREAS, Dick Zais helped to secure financing and manage construction of more than $500 million in Yakima municipal capital improvements and infrastructure for public safety, public works, and parks facilities including a new Police Station and Legal Center, water, irrigation, wastewater treatment, and stormwater utilities, railroad underpasses for Lincoln Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, the Gateway Sports Complex, the Kiwanis Skate Park, Chesterley Park soccer fields and skate park, Randall Park, Kissel Park, the Harman Senior Center, new fire stations at Nob Hill Boulevard, 40 Avenue, West Valley, and the fire training facility, the downtown Transit Center, and the Public Works complex; and WHEREAS, Dick helped lead, promote, and direct the investment of $200 million in economic development initiatives through public /private partnerships which have significantly stimulated growth, business expansion, investment, tourism, and job creation in our community. Examples include the construction and expansion of the Deccio Higher Education Center at Yakima Valley Community College, the Yakima Armory, the Downtown Futures Initiative, the Hilton Garden Inn, two expansions of the Yakima Convention Center, the Visitors Information Center, construction and expansion of the Yakima SunDome, improvements to the Central Washington State Fairgrounds, reconstruction and expansion of the Capitol Theatre, and the rehabilitation of housing for seniors and disadvantaged citizens; and WHEREAS, through his experience and expertise, Dick helped the City develop and expand its influence and lobbying efforts at state and federal levels regarding major public policy issues including, growth management, economic development, community revitalization, public safety, education, and intergovernmental relations between city, county, state, and federal governments; and WHEREAS, Dick significantly increased employee productivity, professionalism, and efficiency in serving the public through the recruitment of highly - qualified and respected city staff, enhanced training, and implementation of state -of- the -art information systems throughout the City; and WHEREAS, Dick successfully managed and directed the City of Yakima's $15 million self- insured employee benefit programs for health insurance, municipal liability, property insurance, workers' compensation and wellness; and WHEREAS, Dick dealt with sensitive and difficult personnel matters, resolved conflict, and settled grievance issues with professionalism, compassion, and integrity; and WHEREAS, Dick significantly increased the employment of minorities and women in the City's workforce thereby making it more representative of the community's cultural and ethnic diversity; and WHEREAS, Dick creatively negotiated and resolved challenging public policy issues, labor contracts, water rights issues, property acquisition, environmental land use disputes, intergovernmental issues, and other conflicts in a positive, diplomatic, fair, and fiscally -sound manner; and WHEREAS, Dick helped to establish the City's Municipal Court and implemented a Safe Community Action Plan. Those two steps have led to a reduction in crime rates and decreased criminal gang activity and youth crime in our community; and WHEREAS, Dick helped to improve communication and working relationships with citizens, the business community, and media through the City's community relations program and cable access TV channels; and WHEREAS, Dick Zais achieved broad intergovernmental cooperation in growth management planning, regional wastewater service, municipal annexations, uniform urban area zoning, airport operations, a regional stormwater utility, and helped to secure and protect the City's domestic and irrigation water rights for future generations; and WHEREAS, Dick mobilized, coordinated, and managed the City of Yakima's highly successful response to the 1980 Mt. St. Helens eruption and ash fall on Yakima; and WHEREAS, Dick Zais has given his time, talents, and resources to numerous local, regional, and national organizations including: Chair — U of W Evans School of Public Affairs Denny Alumni Council; Member — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Local Government Advisory Committee; Board member — Committee for Downtown Yakima; Member — Yakima County Fair Board; Board Member — Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau; Board Member — Yakima County Development Association; Board Member — Yakima County Substance Abuse Coalition; Member — Yakima Rotary Club; Member — Washington City /County Management Association; Vice President — International City /County Management Association ( "ICMA "); Chair — ICMA Committee on Governmental Affairs and Policy; Co -Chair — ICMA Task Force on Environmental Mandates; Member — Yale University's "Next Generation Project on Environmental Policy Reform; President, Vice President, and Board Director — Washington City /County Management Association; Board Member — Association of Washington Cities ( "AWC "); Member — AWC Legislative Lobbying Committee; Member — AWC Urban Growth Committee; Member — AWC Environmental Policy Committee; Member — AWC Personnel and Labor Relations; Member - AWC Municipal Budgeting Committee; Member — AWC City /County Relations Committee; Member — AWC Emergency Preparedness Committee; Member — AWC Economic Development Committee; Member — AWC Council- Management Communications Committee; Member — AWC Municipal Intergovernmental Relations Committee; and WHEREAS, Dick Zais has received numerous awards recognizing his exceptional career including: Chairman's Award for Service to the Yakima Valley's Travel and Tourism Industry — Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau; Joe Miller Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Public Service and Professional City Management — Washington City /County Management Association; Municipal Excellence in Economic Development Award — Association of Washington Cities; Distinguished Service Award — International City /County Management Association; Distinguished Service Award — Washington City /County Management Association; Yakima County Fair Board Directors Award; Multiple Awards for Distinguished Budget Presentations and Excellence in Financial Reporting — Government Finance Officers; Award for Skill in Intergovernmental Cooperation on Federal Environmental Mandates Legislation and Regional Services — Washington City /County Management Association; • All America City Award — National Civic League; and WHEREAS, Dick Zais achieved an outstanding record of accomplishment and success in managing, implementing, and attaining the City Council's mission, vision, goals, and strategic priorities during his 32 years as Yakima City Manager; and WHEREAS, Dick Zais leaves an enduring legacy of professionalism and major contributions to significantly improving and strengthening the Yakima community for all of its citizens and has demonstrated the highest ideals, ethics, honesty, dignity, and wisdom in upholding the public's trust over the 38 years of his career spent in Yakima, NOW THEREFORE, the Yakima City Council does hereby express its sincere appreciation and heartfelt thanks to DICK ZAIS on the occasion of his retirement and extend best wishes to him in his future endeavors. Dated this 5 day of July, 2011 Micah Cawley, Mayor Kathy Coffey, Assistant Mayor Dave Edler, Council Member Bill Lover, Council Member Rick Ensey, Council Member Maureen Adkison, Council Member Dave Ettl, Council Member • BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON III AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 8 B 3 For Meeting Of July 5, 2011 ITEM TITLE: Consideration of a Resolution of the City of Yakima, Washington, designating the name of the "Richard A. Zais, Jr. Center for Law and Justice" as the name of the City of Yakima building at 200 South Third _ Street in Yakima, Washington, in honor and recognition of the outstanding service of City Manager Dick Zais to the City of Yakima. SUBMITTED BY: City Council CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE: Mayor Micah Cawley, 575 -6050 Assistant Mayor Kathy Coffey, 575 -6050 SUMMARY EXPLANATION: • . Dick Zais has served the City of Yakima with honor and distinction for 38 years since 1973, serving as the City Manager for the City of Yakima for 32 years. The City Council has recognized some of the many accomplishments Dick Zais has contributed to the City of Yakima in the City Council's "Proclamation of Commendation and Appreciation for City Manager Dick Zais ", which is being read by the City Council at the City Council business meeting on July 5, 2011. Dick Zais has fostered the .highest standards of ethics and • professionalism in City government, and promoted integrity in the civil and criminal justice system. Dick Zais has left a legacy of professionalism and demonstrated the highest ethics, honesty, dignity, tolerance, wisdom and ideals in upholding the public trust over the 38 years of his service to the City of Yakima, and he has advocated through his words and by his example how others should be treated with respect. As a .testament to the leadership and accomplishments of City Manager Dick Zais, the City Council would like to recognize him in a manner that acknowledges into the future all that City Manager Dick Zais has contributed to the City of Yakima over his 38 years of service. The Yakima Municipal Court, the Yakima Police Department and the City Legal Department are currently located in the City building at 200 South Third Street in Yakima. The proposed Resolution formally designates the name of the "Richard A. Zais, Jr. Center for Law and Justice" as the official name of the City of Yakima building located at 200 South Third Street in Yakima, Washington, in honor and recognition of the years of outstanding service of City Manager Dick Zais to the City of Yakima. Resolution X • Ordinance Other (Specify) Contract Mail to (name and address): Phone: Funding Source APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL: Mayor Micah Cawley 40 RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Resolution. COUNCIL ACTION: 1-L' ` OFFICE- OF THE MAYOR ';L4 129 North Second Street • 7,''') City Hall, Yakima, Washington 98901 t 0 . Phone (509) 575 -6050 • Fax (509) 576 -6335 On July 5, 2011 this facility was named the RICHARD A. ZAIS, JR. CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE i Ali by the Yakima City Council. IF "Dick" Zais provided 38 years of outstanding public service to the community, including 32 years as city manager from 1979 to 2011. This facility now bears his name as a tribute to the dedication and commitment he demonstrated to the , citizens of Yakima. 0 Yakima Al AminiGt 11 1YH4 .. 6 ''