HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/24/1993 Adjourned Meeting 3 1
CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AUGUST 24, 1993
ADJOURNED MEETING WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
The City Council met in session on this date at 7:30 a.m., in the
Board Room of the Yakima Center, Yakima, Washington, for the
purpose of continuing the discussion regarding priority of joint
issues. Council Members present were Mayor Pat Berndt, Clarence
Barnett, Bill Brado (present after 7:52 a.m.), Lynn Buchanan,
Bernard Sims, and Skip Semon. Council Member Henry Beauchamp
absent and excused. City staff members present were City. Manager
Zais, Assistant City Manager Rice, and City Clerk Roberts. County
Commissioners present were Chuck Klarich, Chairman, Bettie Ingham
and Jim Lewis. County staff members present were Dick Anderwald
and Dema Harris.
City Manager Zais stated the purpose of this meeting is to
complete the ranking of the joint priorities, which was begun at
the last joint meeting. He referred to Item 7 on the list of
priorities, which was the next issue to be discussed from the
previous meeting.
Item 7 - Joint Airport Operations [includes Funding Future
Terminal Improvements; Sharing fire protection costs; Meeting with
Air Terminal Board; Future land acquisition /protecting urban
encroachment; Extension of utilities for industrial development;
radar installation (A); and Customs office - funding (B +)] -- City
Manager Zais stated there was some previous discussion regarding
the radar installation issue. Council Members Barnett and
Buchanan and County Commissioner Klarich met with Congressman Jay
Inslee and representatives from Senator Gorton's office and
Senator Murray's office. Council Member Buchanan stated he
received a letter from Senator Gorton's office indicating the
Senator is looking at the report from his staff and would be
gathering additional information. He commented it might be
beneficial if we could get more letters to Senator Gorton from
other sources saying this needs to be done. We were informed it
was a Congressional mandate that the radar installation be put in
the Tri- Cities and not Yakima. Commissioner Klarich stated that
access to the airport should be added to the list of priorities.
It was the general consensus to label the joint airport operations
item as an "A" priority. (Council member Brado present after
7:52 a.m.)
Item No. 8 - State Mandatory Recycling Law [includes City
Coordination with Yakima County Solid Waste Management Plan
(Mandatory)] -- City Manager Zais reported that Phil Pleasant
expressed his interest in contracting for a recycling program in
this area. He has asked for a meeting with City staff. Mayor
Berndt suggested a meeting with Union Gap to consider a joint
curb -side recycling contract. The County only has to provide
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AUGUST24 1993
ADJOURNED MEETING WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
recycling to areas within the urban.._area.. It was the consensus to
assign a "B" rating to this issue.
Item No. 9 - Yakima Center and SunDome [includes Coordination of
Marketing /Promotion with V & C Bureau; Future development of
I/ facilities; Future funding for operations; Room tax; Convention
Center expansion /bond issue] -- Commissioner Klarich stated he
would like to push for the coordination of the marketing /promotion
with the Visitors and Convention Center. Each of the
organizations have an entity that promotes their organization and
it would be better if it were coordinated between them. Council
Member Semon cautioned that government cannot force that type of
coordination effort. Commissioner Klarich suggested a
clearinghouse that can provide information on events throughout
the County. Mayor Berndt suggested this information could be put
on closed circuit TV. The future development of the Yakima Center
and funding options, including the change in the room tax, were
discussed. City Manager Zais stated the Council was recently
provided a briefing packet on Center expansion issues and funding
options. He further commented that Council tends to view this as
an "A" priority. He stated this building was a joint partnership,
as was the SunDome. This is a high priority to enhance economic
development in the City. The City will seek County assistance and
support for this project, which is estimated to cost between eight
and twelve million dollars. Council Member Buchanan reported that
people have made comments to him that they think the planes flying
into Yakima are too small. He commented.that when the tower is
downgraded, the schedules will decrease and the planes coming here
will be smaller. Commissioner Klarich reported the County is
using funds, other than room tax, for SunDome bond redemption.
Mayor Berndt suggested the County might consider implementing a
business license fee, since the City placed a surcharge on its
business license fee to fund its share of the SunDome. Discussion
ensued regarding the new 1% room tax; Commissioner Klarich
clarifying that the room tax is assessed for anyone who frequents
a place less than 30 days, including trailer spaces. City Manager
Zais deleted the future development of facilities from the list
because the Center has the other legislative priority, and deleted
the future funding for operations. He stated he would provide the
County with a copy of the data provided Council on the Yakima
Center expansion project. Following discussion regarding other
taxing issues going before the vote of the people, it was the
consensus to assign an "A" priority to these two items under
I/ Yakima Center and SunDome.
Item No. 10 - Emeraency Services Planning & Delivery -- Discussion
ensued regarding funding and operation of the 'Emergency Medical
Services Council. Concern was raised by Council members about the
efficiency and growth of the operation. Commissioner Klarich
explained that the allocation to the cities has not decreased;
however, due to property values not being reassessed, the revenue
is not keeping up with inflation. He stated part of the increased
cost is to hire an additional trainer. Mayor Berndt commented she
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ADJOURNED MEETING WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
would like to see some oversight of the operation of this Council.
Commissioner Klarich pointed out that each of these Councils is
responsible to a board comprised of city and district
representatives. The County collects the taxes and pays the bills
but has no authority over their daily operation. He suggested
assigning a couple of staff members from the City and County to
review the operations of these Councils, with their managers, to
see if these operations may be streamlined. Commissioner Ingham
suggested each entity provide staff a list of concerns about these
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operations. It was the consensus to assign a "B" priority to this
issue.
Item No. 11 - Yakima River Basin Enhancement Proiect -- This was
given a "C" priority due to the length of the project. This will
be retained as an information item at these meetings. Council
Member :Sims reported the Committee has hired a biologist to refute
some of the allegations of the Yakima Indian Nation.
Item No. 12 - Major Construction Projects -- (a) Gateway Project:
City Manager Zais reported an oral report has been received from
the Value Engineering Team. A written report will be received
next week and will be scheduled for a decision on the design at
the September 7th Council meeting. Commissioner Klarich reported
they found a source of funds that, with both the City and County
making an application, should be able to improve Fair Avenue.
Council Member Barnett requested clarification if the improvement
would be to three lanes or five lanes. This issue was assigned an
"A" rating. Council Member Barnett requested the priority be
changed to say "commitment for future funding." Commissioner
Klarich suggested a letter from the City and County to Sid
Morrison asking the State for additional funding for the
interchange, which was acceptable. (b) Selah Interchange: City
Manager Zais commented he was not sure how closely the City is
involved in this project. It was the consensus to delete this
project from the list. (c) Terrace Heights Water: City Manager
Zais stated this was an issue last year, but the developers have
taken a different approach. The general consensus was to keep
this as a "B" priority. (d) Valley Mall Boulevard: (Council
Member Barnett absent after 8:45 a.m.) This project was given a
"B" priority. (e) Railroad Area Water Proiect: It was the
consensus that since this is now an on -going project, that it only
requires periodic updates. City Manager Zais stated he would
provide Council monthly reports, which can also be made available
to the County. (f) Sewer Service to Apple Valley: Commissioner
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Klarich stated he is an advocate of doing a sewer system in that
general area similar to the system in Buena. The general
consensus is this could be a moot point depending on the vote to
incorporate West Valley and if this area falls outside the urban
area boundary. Mr. Anderwald stated the development is an "A"
rating; however, it is a "B" priority until after the West Valley
vote.
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AUGUST;24,, 1993 •
ADJOURNED MEETING WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Item No. 13 -.. Public. Transportation, Benefit Area (PTBA) -- Since
the PTBA Board is now responsible for this project, it was
downgraded from an "A" priority to a "C" rating and we will
monitor the progress.
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Item No. 14 - Railroad Area /DOE Property Contamination Ruling --
Following discussion, it was decided to add this to the
legislative priorities for 1994. and have the Committee prioritize
the issues within the legislative item.
City Manager Zais stated that. following these priority setting
discussions, the next step is to consider the "A" priorities and
focus in -depth on a particular issue during the next couple of
sessions. He suggested legislative priorities be the first topic
of discussion. Commissioner Lewis suggested the City and County
meet with our legislators, including some of the budget staff, to
show them the changes that had to be done as our revenues remained
stable or decreased. A shared issue to discuss is criminal
justice funding, which is critical to the City's and County's
budgets. (Council Member Buchanan absent after 9:05 a.m.)
Perhaps a legislative tour of the Juvenile Center and other
facilities would emphasize the impact of illegal aliens on our
criminal justice system. Commissioner Klarich stated he would
like to put together a task force of City /County representatives
to consider the operation of the criminal justice system. The
County is in a position of having to reduce staff. He stated one
way of reducing the workload of the criminal justice system is to
no longer prosecute misdemeanants. (Council Member Semon absent
after 9:15 a.m.) Council.,Member Brado volunteered to serve on
that task force. It was the general consensus to add this as an
"A" priority.
The meeting adjourned at 9:16 a.m.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: �� i� J -
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COUN' L uEMBR / DATE
COUNC L MEMBER DATE
ATTEST:
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CITY CLERK MAYOR
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