Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/08/1993 Adjourned Meeting 2'9 �3 CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON JUNE 8, 1993 ADJOURNED MEETING The City Council met in session on this date at 7:00 a.m. in the Board Room at the Yakima Center, Yakima, Washington. Mayor Pat Berndt, •presiding, Council Members Clarence Barnett, Henry Beauchamp, Bill Brado, and Bernard Sims present on roll call. Council Members Lynn Buchanan and Skip Semon absent and excused. City Manager Zais, Assistant City Manager Rice, Fire Chief Beeson, Police Chief Green, Bruce Benson, Associate Planner, and City Clerk Roberts also present. INFORMAL DISCUSSION AMONG COUNCIL MEMBERS Mayor Berndt informed Council about the initial meeting of the Citizen CIP Committee. Mayor Berndt reported she was approached to run for a position on the AWC Board. She inquired if Council thought she should pursue a position on the Board or if Council's desire was to drop its membership. It was the general consensus of the Council that membership in AWC has its benefits, although Council was disappointed in AWC's lack of support in the City's recent Supreme Court case. The City Manager was directed to draft a letter to AWC to question why AWC did not participate in that lawsuit. Chief Green and Chief Beeson were present to discuss 911, Enhanced 911, and consolidated dispatch. Chief Beeson reported that approximately one month ago a report was provided to the Council's Public Safety Committee and staff is in the process of revising that report. A meeting is scheduled next week with the Public Safety Committee. He commented on the history of 911, which went into operation two years ago, this coming December. All the 911 calls go to one point and the call taker then obtains sufficient information to ascertain where the call should be directed. The intent is to move towards Enhanced 911. The cost for Enhanced 911 was discussed as well as the resultant confusion in trying to include consolidated dispatch costs. Chief Green enphasized that consolidated dispatch costs have to be kept separate from 911 costs. Chief Beeson commented the City could move towards Enhanced 911 without additional taxes. A study indicated that consolidated dispatch would involve about a $1.5 million start -up cost and $2 million annual budget. After that study, the County came back with a new proposal, without any details, that took $1 million out of the estimate, which is a concern to City staff members. Chief Green stated that the Police dispatchers perform other clerical functions within the Department which would have to still be done and would be an added cost for the City. There has 1 294 JUNE 8, 1993 been discussion to consolidate dispatching for the City police and fire. If that happens, Union Gap would like to contract for services. The City consolidated dispatch center could be located in the new law and justice facility. The withdrawal of the City from the county -wide consolidated dispatching services should not impact their operations, since they can downsize their operation. The County may be upset because the City would not participate in the remodeling of a facility to house the operation, which was going to be combined with two other County departments providing emergency type services. Council members were concerned about the public's perception if the City does not join the consolidated dispatch because it may appear the City is not being very cooperative. Mayor Berndt stated that in order to go to county- wide consolidated dispatch, it would cost the City $500,000 which is the equivalent of six police officers. The public would have to be educated on the fact that consolidated dispatch services would be not be equal with what is currently in place, and the cost would be higher. Chief Beeson suggested the public be advised that the City agrees with the concept of consolidated dispatch in this county, but is not ready to enter into that. Chief Beeson addressed Council Member Sims' concerns about withdrawing from the consolidated dispatch planning efforts. He suggested providing Council members with a copy of the report staff is preparing and then Council can advise staff if they are going in the right direction with this issue. Council Member Barnett commented on the draft EMS report, expressing concern about the bureaucracy of the EMS Department and the ambulance issue becoming too political. He was concerned that EMS would build a big staff base and there would be less EMS funds. If they do that, the people should be made aware of it and we should rescind the EMS program. Mayor Berndt stated the City has been withholding some of its EMS funds for a fire station and when you look at the buracracy and the building, citizens won't get anything out of it. Chief Beeson stated this is a six year EMS levy that has three years left. If the City refuses to approve that being a county -wide plan, it is over in three years. The City can do its own EMS levy. He commented that the County Commissioners were asked to form a budget committee from the cities to review this budget. Council Member Barnett asked if anything has been heard from the County on jail costs. The answer was "no." Glenn Rice and Bruce Benson explained the situation with the Broadway Fire District which is due to dissolve by the end of this year. The District's service area was outlined on a map, including areas by the Fairgrounds, south of Washington Avenue, 2 295 JUNE 8, and a larger area south of Ahtanum Road. The area by the Fairgrounds includes several signed outside utility agreements. The area south of Washington Avenue was to be served by Union Gap, according to the utility service boundary, but that has not yet happened. A lot of the area south of Ahtanum Road is in the Indian Nation Reservation. When the district is dissolved, the area has the option of forming another fire district, annex to Union Gap, or annex to the City of Yakima, or let the courts decide. Union Gap is proposing that the people have an annexation election. In the fairgrounds area with the OUA, if they decide to annex to Union Gap, Union Gap would have to buy those services from us. Mayor Berndt suggested an agreement with Union Gap that property north of Washington would be annexed to Yakima and property south of Washington would go to Union Gap. Mr. Rice stated the district would be divided into four areas and staff will conduct a series of neighborhood meetings and explain the attributes of the City of Yakima and Union Gap. Mayor Berndt commented if the City ends up with the Broadway Fire District station and provide fire protection service, then the district's current equipment should be used within that district service boundary. Mr. Rice commented that most of the area north of Pioneer Lane would cost the City money at first, south of Pioneer would not cost so much because it is not as heavily populated. Council Member Beauchamp commented that the City should pursue annexation of the fairgrounds area because he believes that area will be industrialized. It was the consensus of the Council to conduct the neighborhood meetings and pursue annexation, concentrating on areas 4 and 1 and then 2 and 3 outlined on the map. Council Member Brado requested a plan be formulated. The meeting adjourned at 8:46 a.m. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: C - Y�/f7_vL_ os.r�c CO CIL 4i BER / DA' aath h. I AEMIA/ blif CO ' 11 '1 R DATE ATTEST: r / 2,54 - e c, e-- � r� ) s CITY CLERK MAYOR 3