HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/08/1992 Adjourned Meeting 3 61
CITY , OF,: ,YAKIMA, .,WASHINGTON
DECEMBER 8, 1992
ADJOURNED MEETING
The City Council met in session on this date at 12:00 Noon at the
Holiday Inn, Yakima, Washington. Mayor Pat Berndt, presiding,
Council Members Lynn Buchanan (present after 12:45 p.m.),and
Bernard Sims present on roll call. Council Members Clarence
Barnett, Henry Beauchamp, Bill Brado, and Skip Semon absent and
excused. City Manager Zais, Marketa Oliver, Administrative
Assistant to the City Manager, and City Clerk Roberts also
present. Representatives from other agencies present were:
Dr. Atwood and Linda Topel, Yakima Health District; Yakima County
Commissioners Alex Deccio, Chuck Klarich, and Bettie Ingham; Phil
Tullar, Yakima Valley Community College; John Vornbrock, Yakima
Memorial Hospital; Kathy Coffey, Yakima Valley Visitors. and
Convention Bureau; Doug McFadden, Yakima County Development
Association; Kathy O'Meara- Wyman, St. Elizabeth Medical Center;
and Chamber of Commerce representatives Gary Webster, Allen Schmid
and Ward Tappero.
1. REVIEW OF LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES WITH OTHER AGENCIES
Mayor Berndt commented that the purpose of this meeting is to
become familiar with the other agencies' legislative priorities in
order to be able to further other agencies' causes if the
opportunity arises.
County Commissioner Chuck Klarich reviewed the County's three
legislative priorities: 1) Authorization of the Local Criminal
Justice Fiscal Assistance Act; 2) Funding for Regional Services;
and 3) Growth Management Act deadline extensions. The County is
also seeking funding for mental health programs.
Phil Tullar commented that the problem with the enrollment lid
persists, even though they convinced the State Board they need
enrollment growth. They would need $2.7 million for YVCC growth.
Another legislative priority is the preservation of their level of
funding. The College is also asking for local support of the
community college system request. Linda Topel, Yakima Health
District, reported they have been working towards getting a
physicians' assistants training program; however, the enrollment
lid at YVCC is affecting that program.
Dr. Atwood reviewed the legislative priorities for the Yakima
County Health District: 1) Support health care reform; 2)
Support funding for State mandated programs; and 3) Support State
funding for cooperative local efforts. (Council Member Buchanan
present after 12 :45 p.m.) Dr. Atwood stated the Health District
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DECEMBER 8, 1992 - ADJOURNED MEETING
only has money to respond to crises situations. They provide only
services that are fully funded, with no capacity for anticipating
what may be needed next year or the year after. They did not have
funding to do preventive work during the measles outbreak.
John Vornbrock, Senior Vice - President of Yakima Valley Memorial
Hospital, distributed copies of their legislative priorities,
which are: 1) Support a $2.887 million capital request to
construct a permanent Yakima facility for the Intercollegiate
Center for Nursing Education and a $500,000 minor capital request
to establish a Washington Higher Education Telecommunication
System link in Yakima; 2) Support consolidation of the four
regional poison centers into a single consolidated center to serve
Washington citizenry, requiring a biennial increase from $1.8
million to $4.7 million; 3) Protect Medicaid disproportionate
share payments; and 4) Health care reform.
Kathy O'Meara -Wyman reviewed the legislative priorities for St.
Elizabeth Medical Center. The Center supports higher education
and the telecommunications systems link; supports the $2,887
million major capital request for Intercollegiate Center for
Nursing Education; funding for a physicians' assistants training
program; Federal designation of Yakima County as a geographic
health provider area; and support health care reform. She
distributed a copy of St. Elizabeth's position on health care
reform.
Kathy Coffey, Yakima Visitors & Convention Bureau, reviewed their
legislative priorities: 1) Three percent local option hotel /motel
increase; 2) Public Facilities District legislation amendments;
and 3) Monitor State funding for the State Tourism Development
Division.
Mayor Berndt reviewed the City of Yakima's priorities: 1)
Criminal justice funding; 2) Industrial Park funding; 3) Budget
issues /reductions impacting local government; and 4)
Environmental regulations. The City's request is that if the
State mandates a course of action, they should fund that
requirement. The City also will request DOE's review of
environmental regulations and to give the cities time to adjust to
them before they add new rules. The Clean Water Act, outdoor
burning, and trip demand reduction requirements were developed for
the west side of the state, however, Yakima is required to comply
with those regulations although it is not a problem here.
Lynn Buchanan, presented the Airport's legislative priorities.
The Airport is going forward with the Free Trade Zone and Customs
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DECEMBER 8.,` - ADJOURNED MEETING
Office to develop the airport. He spoke about the need for radar
in Yakima in order for larger planes to use the airport.
Dave McFadden reviewed the priorities of the Yakima County
Development Association: 1) Infrastructure funding for an
Industrial Park; 2) Local economic development capacity
enhancement; and 3) Workforce training and education. He stated
Yakima needs a site developed for businesses wanting to locate in
Yakima. The CERB application is up for review. Yakima gets
$250,000 for improvements to Yakima industrial sites. We need to
make sure that program is funded. All non -salt water ports were •
removed from the Bill; we would like to get that changed. They
support the raising of the enrollment lid at YVCC.
Allen Schmid, Chamber of Commerce, reported they have a document
on their legislative priorities that contains 21 positions
statements, which was distributed. Ward Tappero reviewed six of
their priorities: 1) Government freezes on all automatic cost
increases; 2) regulatory oversight; 3) legislative mandates -
don't pass rules unless willing to fund the cost; 4) Health care
reform - do not support the creation of another State agency; 5)
Growth. strategy - don't add more until we understand what we have;
and 6) Law and Justice funding. Mr. Schmid reported the. Chamber
has funded a computer link service to the Bill system. They will
have up -to -date information on any Bill, and have the legislative
hotline available again. He stated the Chamber is meeting with
the legislators from the 13th, 14th and 15th Districts on
December 30th at the Holiday Inn.
Mayor Berndt suggested the agencies advise Marketa Oliver of any
Bill numbers they would like the City to support.
The meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m.
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CITY CLERK MAYOR
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