HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/27/1993 Adjourned Meeting 345
CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
JULY 27, 1993
ADJOURNED MEETING
The City Council met on this date at 7:30 a.m. at the Library in
the Yakima School District Administration Building, 104 North 4th
Avenue, Yakima, Washington for priority setting discussion and
review of the I -82 /Gateway project design. Council Members present
were Mayor Pat Berndt, presiding, Clarence Barnett,
Henry Beauchamp, William Brado, Lynn Buchanan, Skip Semon, and
Bernard Sims. Staff Members .present were City Manager Zais,
Assistant City Manager Rice, Dennis Director of Engineering
& Utilities (present after 8:45 a.m.), Jerry Copeland, Director of
Public Works (present after 8:45 a.m.), and Deputy City
Clerk Skovald. County Commissioners present were Chuck Klarich,
Bettie Ingham, and Jim Lewis. County staff members present were
Dick Anderwald, Dema Harris, and Dan Hesse. Also present were John
Klingele, Joseph Morrier, Yakima Mall (present after 8:45 a.m.),
Jerry Foy, CWSF (present after 8:45 a.m.), Greg Stewart, CWSF
(present after 8:45 a.m.), Gary Lukehart (present after 8:45 a.m.),
Tim Christie, Yakima Herald (present after 8:45 a.m.), and
Collie Martin, CH2M Hill (present after 8:45 a.m.)
1. STRATEGY PLANNING SESSION
The City Council and County Commissioners continued this session
from June 15th to review the issues list, make any desired changes .
and establish joint City and County priorities for future action.
During this priority setting discussion, City Manager Zais and
County Planner Anderwald were co- facilitators of this process.
Referring to a list of discussion issues which were listed on a
flipchart as well as in a handout, Council members and
Commissioners prioritized issues. Council Member Sims requested
that Railroad DOE Property Contamination Policy be added for future
resolution or action. Council Member Barnett suggested that those
items that are mandates automatically be "A" priorities because
there's not much choice in the matter. Under Criminal Justice
Program issues, the issues were prioritized in the following order:
(1) Jail Cost Agreement for New Facility, (2) Obtain Additional
Ongoing Funds, (3) Study Senate Proposal, and (4) Criminal Justice
sales tax. Under Metro Comprehensive Plan Study issues, all items
were given an ."A Mandated" designation. Under 1994 Joint
Legislative Priorities (Mayor Berndt and Commissioner Ingham to
serve on a Legislative Priorities subcommittee), all issues were
given an "A" designation. Under Fire Protection for Fairgrounds
and County Shops,'all issues were given an "A" designation. Under
911 -- Consolidated Communications, all issues were given an "A"
designation. Under Annexation Program, all issues were given a "B"
designation and ,there was consensus to revisit the issue in 1994.
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JULY 27, 1993 ADJOURNED MEETING
Under Joint Airport Operations, Radar Installation was given an "A"
designation and Customs Office funding was given a "B +"
designation. The of the following . categories were
postponed until the next priority setting discussion: State
Mandatory Recycling Law, Yakima Center and Yakima Sun Dome,
Emergency Services Planning & Delivery, Yakima River Basin
Enhancement Project, and Major Construction Projects. This portion
of the meeting concluded at 8:45 a.m.
2. REVIEW OF I -82 PROJECT DESIGN
Using colored illustrations, Collie Martin, with CH2M Hill,
reviewed Stage 1 first and then outlined the ultimate project. He
reported that Ramp B has been approved for TIB funding. The
widening of Yakima Avenue will include a 10' wide Bike /Pedestrian
Facility with barriers installed where the path is next to the
traffic and a railing will be installed on the outboard side. This
facility will be adjacent to the south side of Yakima Avenue. In
order to answer a question from Council Member Buchanan, Mr. Martin
explained that the type of westbound crossing signalization will be
determined at a later date along with the signal at 9th Street.
Mr. Martin listed ,the objectives of the project which include
another access to the Fairgrounds area from the interchange via
Ramp J, improved east /west commuting by decreasing traffic
congestion by widening Yakima Avenue, access to the retail areas,
and to decrease truck traffic. Mr. Martin emphasized that the
ultimate project will meet all the objectives.
Council Member Barnett requested a clarification of the free right
turn when one is going east now and wants to go south on I -82. He
asked what happens to that free access to go south on 1 -82 and how
will it change according to this plan. Mr. Martin explained it
will be a signalized intersection. Council Member Beauchamp
suggested, in order to eliminate the conflict, that a "blending
situation with turn lanes" be added. There was further discussion
concerning eliminating the free right turn.
Conunissioner Lewis asked with the projected Stage 2 development, is
he wrong in assuming that usage of the J Ramp will decrease.
Mr. Martin stated that was a clear assumption, primarily, because
traffic will move easier. Coitunissioner Lewis stated that obviously
the next question would be why have the J Ramp as a permanent
structure if the usage of the J Ramp is going to be sharply
decreased with the additional phases of the project. Why not use
the money targeted for the J Ramp toward design work or
construction. Mr. Martin stated he didn't know if it could be said
that the traffic would be sharply reduced, but a portion of that
ramp is for eastbound, Yakima Avenue's access to the arterial on
down to the fairgrounds. Council Member Buchanan asked when Fair
Avenue would become an arterial. If and when traffic increases on
that street, it won't be long before the people in that area are
going to request the street be improved to accommodate the
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JULY 27, 1993 ADJOURNED MEETING
increased traffic. A lot more street = ° money will be used just to
rebuild what will be an arterial. Mr. Martin stated there will be
quite an impact on Fair Avenue. Council Member Buchanan asked why
the cost to improve Fair Avenue is not being included in the
project. If we're going to spend that kind of money to increase
traffic on a totally unimproved street, then that street should be
improved all the way to the fairgrounds. Council Member Beauchamp
agreed with Council Member Buchanan. It ought to be done. There
was discussion regarding improving Fair Avenue and including it in
Stage 1 of the project. Commissioner Klarich commented about
synchronized signalization which will eliminate traffic congestion.
He commented about the proposed commercial park, the J Ramp, the
extension of Fair Avenue, and the B Street and Lincoln Avenue
connection. He also commented about eliminating truck traffic
coming from the north in the Convention Center area by utilizing
the new B Ramp. He also described three alternatives which would
eliminate truck traffic from the south. Yakima County also wants
good access from downtown to the fairgrounds. Coiluttissioner Klarich
further commented about options from other funding sources that
could be used to accomplish improvements and listed some examples
of those funding sources. There was further discussion regarding
synchronized signalization. Council Member Barnett requested that
the number of stoplights be reviewed to determine the impact.
Council Member Brado stated that none of the objectives have been
met with this latest proposal and then there was discussion
regarding what the objectives of the project are. Joe Morrier and
Chuck Klarich discussed the J Ramp and the Flyover ramps. There
was discussion concerning Fair Avenue improvements. Mayor Berndt
suggested that perhaps an „interlocal agreement be made concerning
Fair Avenue improvementsat an interim meeting. There was
continued discussion regarding project objectives. Gary Lukehart
and Jerry Foy urged the project go forward. In the interest of the
downtown area, Joe Morrier expressed his concern about losing the
free right turn onto I -82 from Yakima Avenue. There was a
considerable amount of discussion regarding his concern. Council
Member Barnett asked Dennis Covell if Nick Temple's proposal, which
included the elimination of three stoplights, was a viable
consideration. Mr. Covell explained Mr. Temple's proposal and read
the advantages and disadvantages of this alternative. Couuttissioner
Ingham listed the criteria needed to obtain TIB funding. There was
a considerable amount of discussion regarding the various
components of the project and whether the impacts of those
components would accomplish the objectives of the project. There
I/ was considerable discussion regarding Bicycle /Pedestrian pathway
considerations. Council Member Barnett wanted to know what the
costs will be to construct and to tear out the temporary structure
shown in orange on the map. City Manager Zais suggested that other
options be explored before a final direction is given, and that
costs be figured to accommodate the requests. Mayor Berndt stated
that the City and the County will have separate meetings today to
consider concepts with minor variations and she asked staff to work
with people who still have concerns on some of the specifics.
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