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Home My WebLink About11/15/2011 00 Action Minutes ACTION ON YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 15, 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 Maureen Adkison, Dave Edler, Rick Ensey, Dave EttI and Bill Lover 2. Executive Session • Collective Bargaining Executive Session was held and adjourned at 5:30 p.m. 6:00 P.M. — BUSINESS MEETING 1. Roll Call Present: Council: Mayor Micah Cawley, presiding, Assistant Mayor Kathy Coffey, Council Members Maureen Adkison, Dave Edler, Rick Ensey, Dave EttI and Bill Lover Staff: City Manager Cooper, City Attorney Cutter and City Clerk Kloster 2. Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Cawley led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Open Discussion for the Good of the Order A. Proclamations - -none B. Presentations /recognitions /introductions ➢ Yakima Housing Authority Annual Report • Bob Wardell and Lowell Krueger presented the Council with the Yakima Housing Authority's 2010 Annual Report. Mr. Krueger outlined the Housing Authority's plans for rehabilitation of their housing units and requested a letter of support from the Mayor. Mayor Cawley received Council support for this appeal and agreed to the request. C. Status reports on prior meeting's citizen service requests - -none D. Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Council Committees - -none 4. Consent Agenda ACTION: A motion carried to approve the consent agenda as read. VOTE: Unanimous *A. Consideration of approval of City Council Meeting Minutes • Adjourned Meeting /Study Session — October 11, 2011 • Business Meetings — October 18 and November 1, 2011 • ACTION: Council meeting minutes were approved. *B. Consideration of approval of Council Committee Meeting Minutes • Gang Free Initiative Steering Committee — October 6, 2011 • Neighborhood Development Committee — November 2, 2011 ACTION: The Council committee minutes were approved. 5. Audience Participation Bob Haak and Lynn Harden (913 Pleasant Avenue) spoke against the City imposing a utility tax increase and car tab fee. Bill Duerr, 3206 W Yakima Avenue, asked about a response to his question at the last council meeting regarding Barge /Chestnut traffic issues. The City Manager will respond. Riley Livingston spoke in favor of keeping the City pools open. Greg Weedin, 5106 Madera Way, questioned why the Fire Department is dispatched to every car accident. Assistant Mayor Coffey responded there are many reasons and will request a written answer to the question, which the City may publish. 7:00 P.M. — PUBLIC HEARINGS 6. Closed record public hearing and consideration of an Ordinance to adopt the City of Yakima Planning Commission's recommendation on amendments to the City of Yakima's Municipal Code Title 15 Urban Area Zoning Ordinance (please bring material previously distributed) Jeff Peters, Associate Planner briefed the Council on the City of Yakima Planning Commission's recommendation on amendments to the Urban Area Zoning Ordinance. Mayor Cawley opened the public hearing and with no one coming forward to speak, closed it. ACTION: The motion carried to pass the Ordinance. VOTE: Unanimous ORDINANCE NO. 2011 -52 7. Public hearing to consider the 2012 Proposed Budget City Manager Cooper summarized the proposed budget. Mayor Cawley opened the public hearing. Leanna Rodriguez, 710 S. 13 Avenue # 2, read a letter submitted by Doug Lemon stating he does not want the City to supplement a budget shortfall by imposing higher taxes. 2 Robert Owen (614 N 3rd Street) and Gene Paz spoke against raising taxes. Charles Noel believes the Council should not start any new projects given the status of the budget. Mayor Cawley closed the public hearing and reiterated Council will be taking testimony at the November 29, 2011 public hearing regarding budget revenue alternatives. 8. Public hearing to consider the 2012 Ad Valorem (property) tax Deputy Director of Accounting and Budgeting Epperson briefed Council on the Ad Valorem Tax.. Mayor Cawley opened the public hearing and with no one coming forward to speak, closed it. ACTION: Motion carried to pass the ordinance. VOTE: 5 -2, Edler and Ensey voting no. ORDINANCE NO. 2011 -53 ACTION: Motion carried to pass the ordinance. VOTE: 5 -2, Edler and Ensey voting no. ORDINANCE NO. 2011-54 CITY MANAGER REPORTS 9. Resolution expressing the intent to establish a Downtown Yakima Business Improvement District (DYBID); if adopted, Resolution setting date of public hearing to consider approval of an ordinance establishing a DYBID to allow for the collection of special assessments from downtown Yakima business owners and operators as set forth in the Resolution Mayor Cawley reported after holding a public meeting at the Seasons and discussing the issue with several involved parties, he has slightly revised the Resolution regarding the DYBID. He feels this new proposal takes the politics and personalities out of the equation. It also creates a City- formed advisory committee or oversight board, which would maintain a link between the Council and the rate payers. In addition to the oversight board, the proposed Resolutions business license assessment would stay at $100 rather than the $125 proposed in the renewal campaign. The City would still take bids for the contracting service. The assessment would continue unless the Council decides to disband or review it, based upon the oversight board, which eliminates the renewal of the assessment every few years. Mark Peterson, 1191 Maple Way Road, stated this is a good first step as this will give the rate payers more of a voice. He also believes the "purple shirts" did not reduce crime in the area by 35 percent - -he attributes it to the lighting. Richard Parker, 415 W. Walnut, believes the boundaries should be cut in half. He recommended reducing the area to 38 blocks and cover Yakima Avenue from 7th Street to 7 Avenue, where he believes the most service was provided. He thinks property owners should take care of their own graffiti and trash removal, sweeping and weeding as he does with his property. ACTION: The resolution passed. VOTE: 5 -2, Ensey and Lover voting no. RESOLUTION NO. R- 2011 -162 ACTION: The resolution passed. VOTE: 5 -2, Ensey and Lover voting no. RESOLUTION NO. R- 2011 -163 3 10. Resolution authorizing execution of a contract amendment with the Committee for Downtown Yakima (CDY) to continue certain clean and safe services through December 31, 2011 Public Works Director Chris Waarvick briefed the Council on the proposed contract with the Committee for Downtown Yakima (CDY). ACTION: Motion carried to adopt Resolution. VOTE: 6 -1, Ettl voting no. RESOLUTION NO. R- 2011 -164 *11. Resolution to initiate the process to re -form a Parking and Business Improvement Area (PBIA) and setting a date of public hearing for December 6, 2011 on reformation of a PBIA for the North Front Street area of downtown Yakima ACTION: Resolution was adopted and public hearing date was set for December 6, 2011. RESOLUTION NO. R- 2011 -165 *12. Resolution authorizing annual renewal of the City Manager's authority to resolve and settle any claims against or by the City of Yakima in an amount of $100,000 or less ACTION: Resolution was adopted. RESOLUTION NO. R- 2011 -166 *13. Resolution authorizing execution of an extension of an existing operating contract and lease agreement extension with TC Transportation to provide another month of paratransit services ACTION: Resolution was adopted. RESOLUTION NO. R- 2011 -167 *14. Resolution declaring surplus and authorizing the sale /auction of a 2010 Ford F150 4x4 pickup truck ACTION: Resolution was adopted. RESOLUTION NO. R- 2011 -168 *15. Resolution authorizing execution of a professional services contract to secure a Hearing Examiner to preside over park exclusion appeals ACTION: Resolution was adopted. RESOLUTION NO. R -2011 -169 • *16. Resolution authorizing the Department of Community and Economic Development to implement a policy regarding temporary emergency cold weather shelters in the City of Yakima from November 15, 2011 through March 15, 2012 ACTION: Resolution was adopted. RESOLUTION NO. R - 2011 - 170 *17. Set date of public hearing for November 29, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss budget revenue options ACTION: Public hearing date was set for November 29, 2011. ORDINANCES *18. Ordinance amending the annual base rate of the stormwater fee and amending Sections 7.80.110 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code ACTION: Ordinance was passed. ORDINANCE NO. 2011 -55. *19. Ordinance revising various wastewater rates, fees and charges and amending Chapter 7.58 Wastewater Connection Charge of the Yakima Municipal Code ACTION: Ordinance was passed. ORDINANCE NO. 2011-56 4 • 20. Other Business • As the liaison to the Airport, Council Member Edler notified Council that he met with representatives from Yakima County and the Airport earlier in the day to discuss the Airport budget. They are having cash flow difficulties and Yakima County has determined they will guarantee a $25,000 loan if the City will agree to guarantee $12,500 of the loan should the Airport default. Additionally, the County's finance division will be working with the Airport to assist them in reorganizing their accounting and financial practices. The City Manager explained a formal document will need to be prepared. ACTION: A motion carried to begin discussion with the County on the paperwork required to be a guarantor on the $25,000 loan to the airport. VOTE: Unanimous. • Mayor Cawley requested the City Manager to encourage employees not to contribute to the perception that government employees do not work hard. 21. Adjournment -7:52 p.m. ACTION: Motion carried to adjourn to November 29, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. for a public hearing regarding budget revenue options. VOTE: Unanimous 5