HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/20/2011 05B Minutes 08-18-2011 Council Transportation-Utilities Planning Committee Yakima City Council
Transportation- Utilities Planning Committee
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, August 18, 2011
3:30 — 5:00 p.m.
City Council Members Staff Other
Mayor Micah Cawley Michael Morales, Interim City Manager Paul Overby
Dave Ettl Chris Waarvick, Public Works Director Glenn Rice
Rick Ensey Ken Mehin; Transit Manager Chuck Klarich
Maureen Adkison, Altn. Joe Rosenlund, Street & Traffic Operations Mgr Charles deLa Chapelle
Dave Brown, Water and Irrigation Manager Mel Wagner
Doug Mayo, City Engineer Bob Tuck
Karen Allen, Marketing Program Administrator
Kevin Futrell, Transit Planner
Engineering Projects Update •
Doug Mayo, City Engineer, provided an update about some significant engineering projects, all of which are
funded by outside grant resources with city match contributions being minimal. Interim City Manager
Michael Morales provided an update on the Mill Redevelopment project that is still in the negotiation
process with Yakima County, and also reported that the "A" Street Irrigation canal project will soon begin.
Transit Items
Ken Mehin, Transit Manager, brought the Committee up to date about how the West Valley property
proposal is progressing, reporting they are still waiting on an appraisal.
Transit Manager Mehin also brought the Committee up to date about paratransit services options, explaining
that the current Dial -A -Ride contract has been extended until mid - November; discussion followed about
bringing Dial -A -Ride contract services in -house versus contracting out, with further analysis being requested.
More time to review the contract proposals is needed by the Committee before a recommendation to the full
City Council is made. Medstar would be the staff recommended provider if the contract is not brought in-
house.
Also included in the Transit items update is that there has been no progress on the Ellensburg Commuter.
Introducing a new request for a misting system for the Transit Center, Transit Manager Mehin explained that
the system would spray a fine mist to help cool things down during the hot summer months. In addition, a
large canopy needs to be installed for the safety and comfort of the passengers. Both of these proposals
have been requested to be included in next year's budget.
Kevin Futrell, Transit Planner, reported that he has submitted an FTA application for a $320,000 grant for bus
shelters, a $318,000 grant for six paratransit vans, and a $540,000 grant to purchase electronic fare boxes.
This grant combination would require a 20% match ($236,000).
Karen Allen, Marketing Program Administrator, reported that the entire fleet of vanpool vehicles is in
operation. Even with upcoming layoffs at Hanford there is confidence that the whole fleet will remain in
• operation since there are four groups on a vanpool waiting list. Concluding Transit's portion of the agenda
Ken Mehin announced that bus ridership is 7% higher than it was the previous year.
1
•
Utilities
Water /Irrigation. Yakima Basin Storage Alliance requested $25,000 donation to study Columbia River
Energy Storage Project which includes Black Rock Reservoir.
Transportation
Street and Traffic Operations. Staff presented the committee with a draft response to a citizen's concern
regarding the quality of paving work for the 5 Avenue roadway repair. The discussion focused on
comparison between city force's capabilities and costs versus contractors' capabilities and costs.
i
Staff also gave the committee the following table that shows the cost per mile of street maintenance in the
city. The table was created from data requested by a citizen.
Yakima Street Maintenance Budgets Comparison
2000 2010 2011
Miles of Roadway 290 357 368
Employees
Full -Time 20.5 25.5 23.5
Temp 1.184 0 0
Budget
Roadway $1,488,799 $2,090,094 $2,166,131
Snow & Ice $195,843 $525,938 $393,323
Ped & Bikeway $84,136 $64,411 $0
Sweeping $245,158 $320,446 $334,877
Other $548,140 $326,527 $287,967
$2,562,076 $3,327,416 $3,182,298
Cost /Mile $8,835 $9,320 $8,648
%Change vs 2000 5.5% -2.1%
Approved by: C 6 '
r c Y tj
2