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
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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
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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.
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