HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/06/1992 Special Meeting - i- ^ F • :y,, ,, , -,fit:
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CITY OF.•YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
OCTOBER 6, 1992
SPECIAL MEETING
The City Council met in session on this date at 11:30 a.m., with
the Yakima County Commissioners, CH2M Hill, and Huibregtse Louman
Associates at the Chamber of Commerce - -Board Room. City of Yakima
Council Members present were Mayor Pat Berndt, Henry Beauchamp,
Skip Semon, and Bernard Sims. Council Members Clarence Barnett,
Bill Brado, and Lynn Buchanan absent. City of Yakima staff members
present were City Manager Zais, Assistant City Manager Rice,
Dennis Covell, Director of Engineering and Utilities, and Deputy
City Clerk Skovald. Yakima County Commissioners present were
Chuck Klarich and Bettie Ingham. Also present were Collie Martin,
Bill Huibregste, Gary Lukehart, Don Tranum, Harlan Dunn, and
Dan Patton.
A brief background and chronological review of events, along with
a summary of the primary objectives of the Gateway project was
presented by Dennis Covell, Director of Engineering and Utilities
and the City of Yakima's Project Manager. The project has a number
of objectives, the primary consideration being to improve the
arterial circulation, which is access between East and West Terrace
Heights Way, the Fairgrounds, Sundome access with the downtown
area, and providing a secondary access out of the Sundome-
Fairgrounds area during high peak activities in order to help
relieve congestion. Another concept and objective is to tie the
Lincoln / "B" Couplet to a more effective usage with Fair Avenue.
Another objective is to avoid street damage by eliminating as many
of the heavy trucks exiting the interchange and to reroute them
from the downtown area. Another consideration is to develop a safe
pedestrian /bicycle access from the west side of the interstate to
the east side and tie into the Greenway.
Don Tranum, CH2M Hill's Project Manager, stated many alternatives
were developed. After review they were screened down to five, and
then down to two, and now there is only a Preferred Alternative
Two -- Modified, which was, Mr. Tranum explained, the concept
development phase of the study. They have proceeded into the
second phase, the pre- design and environmental assessment portion
of the project, and currently are doing detailed design mapping of
the entire interchange area and are beginning the environmental
studies.
Mr. Covell referred to the pedestrian /bicycle overpass concepts.
He explained an ISTEA application for an overcrossing of the
interchange area for pedestrian /bicycle traffic was submitted to
and considered by the RTPO Executive Committee. The application
did not rank because the construction date for the project is
mid -1994 and the ISTEA policy was to get the project underway as
soon as possible to show the greatest benefit and usage of ISTEA
funds. Mr. Covell stated they will continue to look for money to
make this happen. Council Member Semon stated the Yakima City
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OCTOBER 6, 1992 -- SPECIAL MEETING
Council is unhappy with COG's decision because there was no
representation from the City of Yakima at that COG meeting.
Dan Patton, a Yakima sculptor and artist and also a member of the
Pedestrian Access Sub - Committee, presented a teepee design for
consideration and stated other ideas and concepts are welcome.
There is no set location for this structure and a later
determination needs to be made whether to do this or not. This is
purely a conceptual idea tying into the downtown plan to make a
signature of the interchange area as the "Gateway to Yakima."
The meeting was adjourned at the hour 1:18 p.m.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY:
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COUNC L ME MBE DATE
C e ' DATE
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK MAYOR
Minutes prepared by Deputy City Clerk Skovald.
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