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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/13/1992 Adjourned Meeting 472' CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON OCTOBER 13, 1992 ADJOURNED MEETING The City Council met in session on this date at 7:OO a.m. at the I/ Yakima Center Board Room for informal discussion. Mayor Pat Berndt presiding, Council Members Clarence Barnett, Bill Brado, Lynn Buchanan, Skip Semon, and Bernard Sims present. Council Member Henry Beauchamp absent and excused. Yakima Air Terminal Board Chairman Bill Almon and Air Terminal Manager Bruce Loy were present, along with Scott Jackson, from Tradec, and Glenn Phipps, from Ki -Yak. City Manager Zais, Marketa Oliver, Administrative Assistant to the City Manager, Ty Wick, Water and Irrigation Superintendent, and Deputy City Clerk Skovald were also present. Bill Almon reported that the Foreign Trade Zone designation in Yakima, which will be the first in Central Washington, is expected within the next three to four weeks. He introduced Bruce Loy, Scott Jackson, and Glenn Phipps who presented information to Council members. Bruce Loy described the activity taking place with respect to the Port of Entry and the Foreign Trade Zone, including the status of the contribution amounts. The most recent capital campaign has been ongoing for almost a year and will continue. The process is continuing in order to get the operations manual written. Even though the Ag Showcase has been extremely successful, a Freight Forwarder /Custom's Broker is needed in Yakima and is currently being negotiated. This is one reason, among others, that the Yakima Port of Entry is currently looking to the Port of Seattle to establish a profitable marketing relationship. Scott Jackson presented information on the activities that have been experienced with respect to Customs. He referred to a handout that included User Fee - Customs Review representing a 63% increase from the previous year and is benefiting local companies in the region. The handout also included Air Cargo Charter companies that have made commitments to the Yakima International Port of Entry. Mr. Jackson also discussed activities to promote the Port of Entry including a capital fund raising effort. The Airport Facilities are being viewed at this time with the Master Plan and includes the overall economic impact of the International Port of Entry. No Master Plan in this region has ever used the Trade Zone and the Port of Entry as part of its manned forcasting. That has been incorporated and approved by the FAA as part of the demand forcasting for the Master Plan and will serve as a basis for demand forcasting for facilities expansion. The Port of Entry serves as a hub to provide the long term capacity for investment as a result of the ongoing Showcase activity. Without it, a lot of potential kinds of activity is , 473 OctoberL3, 1992 Adjourned Meeting limited. Mr. Jackson further explained the Action Plan is a document listing what is occurring now to promote the Port of Entry. The first activity is the capital campaign, which is starting to make a significant budget. It is important to note that this is simply no longer contributions from people who are trying to be supportive. These are contributions that came because people made the decision, whether they were communities or companies, to participate in the Port of Entry. It is very much a regional effort. Another area discussed by Mr. Johnson is the need to develop a Freight Forwarder Consortium since there are none in Central Washington and many companies use them in other areas. The goal is to try to create a Forwarder Consortium that would include the operations of the Foreign Trade Zone, at least in its initial stages. With the help and guidance of the Port of Seattle, that process begins tomorrow. Mr. Johnson also reported that Washington State University is reviewing of all the industries throughout Central Washington as well as their needs for the future in terms of a Port of Entry. The research project represents a $15,000 contribution by WSU. The last item Mr. Johnon reviewed included a program evaluation from the Ag Showcase and some of the new materials being used as the promotion of the Port of Entry, particularly a small brochure. Glenn Phipps explained that the international exposure and the new strategies for economic development are strong examples of three years of progress since the effort was begun to create Yakima as a hub for international trade. He presented an article about the Ag Showcase in the Japan Provision News, which mentioned the Yakima Airport in the world economy, with a special section about the Yakima Airport. The signs of maturity are starting to show in our international based economy. New investment is being stimulated, jobs created, and there is a growing taxbase. To reach full potential, however, Yakima's centered economy must now add value to the U.S. Custom Service. This value includes Foreign Trade Zone Operations, international distribution facilities, air cargo charters, etc. As the project now turns three years old, Mr. Phipps asked for ongoing support to see this economic development tool reach the highest grade in the world marketplace. Mr. Almon emphasized the fact that these projects benefit the entire region. There was discussion among Council members and others concerning the Port of Entry, the Ag Showcase, and the Foreign Trade Zone designation. Council members and staff discussed other issues, including the proposed one -tenth of one percent sales tax increase; a request to endorse a City arts commission (which was rejected); proposed property development in the city; the Terrace Heights Water issue; a request by the County concerning its geothermal well; and discussion about the difference between temporary and political signs. 2