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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 3 8 9 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 2 390 AUGUST 24, 1993 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 I/ 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 I/ 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. 3 391 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. I/ 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 - i ., 0! - A, COUN' L uEMBR / DATE COUNC L MEMBER DATE ATTEST: I/ ie6-1•WI'tC1 CITY CLERK MAYOR 4 •