HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/10/2012 05Bi Minutes 11-17-2011 Council Transportation and Utilities Committee BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT - .
Item No.
For Meeting of January 10, 2012
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ITEM TITLE: November 17, 2011 Transportation and Utilities Committee report
SUBMITTED BY:
CONTACT
PERSON /TELEPHONE:
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Resolution Ordinance Other (specify)
Contract: Mail to:
Contract Term: Amount: Expiration Date:
Insurance Required? No
Funding
Source: Phone:
APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL: ,t„ �r City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
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❑ 111711 Transportation minutes
Minutes of
Yakima City Council Transportation and Utilities Committee
Thursday, November 17, 2011
City Council Members Staff Other
Micah Cawley (Mayor) Don Cooper, City Manager
Rick Ensey Michael Morales, Assistant City Manager
Dave Ettl Chris Waarvick, Public Works Director
Scott Shafer, Wastewater Manager
Chair Ensey called the meeting to order at 3:30 pm in the Council Chambers, 129 North 2 Street,
Yakima, Washington.
Transit Items
Dial -A -Ride Contract Progress Report. Public Works Director Chris Waarvick reported that the current
Dial -A -Ride provider has signed an agreement to extend their service on a month -to -month basis until
the end of the year. Meanwhile, Transit has performed some site visits to other vendors who
submitted their proposals. Transit is waiting to hear from Legal about whether Medstar's request to
withdraw from negotiations is binding. Discussion followed with Council Committee Member Ettl
asking about Medstar Cabulance's withdrawn proposal as it relates to some last minute state and
federal guidelines included in the Dial -A -Ride Contract. Mr. Waarvick explained that nothing in the
additional language applied to the type of service they perform, and Medstar Cabulance later realized
how insignificant it was for them to withdraw from the bidding process. If the formal request for
withdrawal is not binding, City Manager Don Cooper directed staff to request something in writing from
Medstar Cabulance that they (Medstar) will still honor their previous bid with these additional
conditions.
Ellensburg Service Start Up Progress Report. The Yakima /Ellensburg Commuter bus service will
begin service on Monday, November 28, 2011.
Utility Items
Gap -to -Gap. Scott Schafer, Wastewater Division Manager, and Ryan Anderson, Wastewater Utility
Engineer, presented information related to the emergency levy set -back proposed by Yakima County.
Currently, the Yakima County levy across from the City of Yakima Wastewater Treatment Plant has a
very large damaged section. The County and Army Corps of Engineers have decided that instead of
repairing the levy in place, they will declare an emergency and begin setting back levies in the Gap to
Gap reach without environmental review. The river will migrate away from the treatment plant outfall
and jeopardize the City's compliance with its wastewater treatment permit. If the county avoids
environmental review, the City will not be able to identify itself as an affected party by the levy
setback. (Memo with pictures were submitted to committee members.)
Buchanan Lake. Scott Schafer reported that the stormwater investigation regarding Buchanan Lake
has been completed to the satisfaction of the Department of Ecology. A couple of illicit connections
were discovered and had already been resolved or were in the process of being resolved. No further
action was required of the City. (List of activities conducted by stormwater staff was submitted to
committee members.)
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Wastewater Rate Increase. Scott Schafer informed committee members of the upcoming wastewater
rate increase. A proposed annual 5.1% rate increase for the next three years was being submitted for
Council approval for the Dec. 6th meeting. This increase was to fund approximately $71 million of
capital projects at the wastewater treatment plant and of the sanitary collection system over the next
ten years. This increase funds the regulatory obligations as well as re- invests back into the City's
largest asset to keep the current services everyone expects.
Mr. Schafer explained that they were proposing to use about 90% of FCS Group's recommendation to
properly fund the Wastewater Division. However, staffs was providing a "softer approach." FCS
Group identified the need to eliminate the 25% subsidy being provided by the ratepayers for the
Pretreatment Program. This has been a long standing Council's directive. FCS Group recommended
eliminating this within the first year including adding and increase to such charges. This would
increase every business considered a "minor industrial user (MIU)" such as a restaurant, car wash,
automotive repair, etc. on the Pretreatment Program by $100 per bi- monthly bill. This would be in
addition to the 5.1% increase for ready -to -use and usage charges. Staff is proposing to phase in this
elimination by reducing the subsidy by 5% for the next five years. Doing so would only increase their
bill by $20 per bi- monthly bill in addition to the rate increase of ready -to -use and usage charges.
Mr. Schafer indicated that this information was previously presented to Council during a Study
Session in June and had been submitted to the Central Washington Home Builders Association,
Greater Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Regional Library, and the
Wastewater Division's largest customers Del Monte, Seneca Foods, and Jewel Apple. No comments
had been received. The 5.1% rate increase was a major policy issue for the Wastewater Division and
had already been incorporated into the 2012 budget. (Memo was submitted to committee members.)
Ahtanum -Wide Hollow Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan.
The Transportation- Utilities Committee was presented information about the Ahtanum -Wide Hollow
Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan by Yakima County staff.
Approved by:
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