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
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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,
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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.
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