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Home My WebLink About07/24/2012 03 Council General Information ' ." 1 , ..:;%'; BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. For Meeting of July 24, 2012 t: 1. ITEM TITLE: Council General Information SUBMITTED BY: • CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE: SUMMARY EXPLANATION: 1 7/19/12 Weekly Issues Report 2. 7/16/12 Letter from the City Manager to WA State Office of Public Defense 3. Notification of 2012 Air Quality Excellence Recognition Award to the Wastewater Treatment Plant 4. 7/15/12 Letter from Isaac and Dorothy Burton regarding Senior Home Repair Program 5. 7/18/12 Letter from Helen Calahan regarding Senior Home Repair Program 6. Notice of Cancellation of 8/8/12 Planning Commission meeting 7. City Meeting Schedule for week of July 23 through 30, 2012 8. Preliminary Future Activities Calendar as of July 23, 2012 9. Preliminary Council Agenda 10. 2012 Study Session Schedule 11 Newspaper /Magazine /Internet Articles. * "Room tax would help fund city projects," The Spokesman Review, June 26, 2012 Resolution Ordinance Other (specify) Contract: Mail to: Contract Term: Amount: Expiration Date: Insurance Required? No Funding Phone: Source: APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL: City Manager STAFF RECOMMENDATION: BOARD /COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: ATTACHMENTS: Click to download E info packet MEMORANDUM July 19, 2012 • TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Tony O'Rourke, City Manager SUBJECT: Weekly Issues Report • CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION: There is a City Council Study Session on Tuesday, July 24 at'10:00 a.m. to discuss Metropolitan Parks Districts. • IRRIGATION PROBLEM: We have about 2,000 people without irrigation. Water /Irrigation is working with the canal company; they hope to have it back on soon. We are going to adjust off the extra sewer charges for any customer that requests it but in the past, we have not adjusted the water charges but we are examining this option. • KIWANIS PARK UPDATE: In a relatively small corner of the NW portion of the new ball fields the contractor brought in approximately 200 yards of needed soil from Eisenhower High School. Unfortunately, the soil is contaminated with lead and arsenic and will need to resolve this issue. Our Parks Manager was not aware of the origins of the soil until earlier this week. The Department of Ecology went out and inspected the site. The general contractor will be required to clean -up the problem. • JUNE SALES TAX DISTRIBUTION: The sales tax numbers for June were posted. We received $1,198,235, which is $186,534 or 18% more than June 2011. Year to date we are $335,118 or 4.6% ahead of 2011. • STREET PROJECTS: Memorial Hospital is finally beginning their campus closure work. Walnut and 28 Ave will be closed beginning Monday, July 23 and will be closed for approximately one month. City crews will begin work grinding out and repaving the intersection of 16 Avenue and Tieton Drive on Monday, July 30 and will last for approximately two weeks. The work is to repair failed asphalt surface and remove the severe ruts on the approaches. • CITY MANAGER LEAVE: I will be out of the office the afternoon of Friday, July 27. If you need to contact me, please call my cell phone. :�.� OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER 0 s 7, 129 North Second Street P a '% 7 akk ( � ? City Hall, Yakima, Washington 98901 N , '`''t 4 "'" '�? Phone (509) 575 -6040 July 16, 2012 Ms. Sophia Byrd McSherry, Deputy Director WA State Office of Public Defense 711 South Capitol Way, Suite 106 PO Box 40957 Olympia, WA 98504 -0957 Dear Ms. McSherry: It is my pleasure to report how the City of Yakima has utilized the 2012 Public Defense Grant funds. As you are aware, the City was awarded $150,000 to fund a portion of Yakima's indigent defense expenses and assist with providing adequate representation for indigent defendants. As background, in 2007, the City initiated a major effort to improve indigent defense services for qualified municipal court defendants. Through these efforts, and with the invaluable financial and technical assistance offered by OPD, our service to this segment of our population has increased dramatically. The number of FTE's, process improvements, and capacity dedicated to public defense in the City's municipal court have all improved, much to the benefit of the defendants and the community overall. The $150,000 grant from OPD, along with funds from a very tight City budget, was used to provide indigent defense services as follows. 1. Maintain four (4) FTEs employed by the primary firm contracted by the City to provide public defender services. 2. Continue a separate contract for conflict counsel to satisfy an RPC requirement that the City pay for and retain conflict counsel, and added additional professional resources thereby reducing caseloads. 3. Offer defendants attorneys at in- custody arraignments eliminating situations where defendants had previously remained in custody due only to a lack of representation at arraignment. This arrangement made the process of arranging for conflict counsel much more efficient for the Court, and less complicated for defendants. Yakima T an 1994 - r 4. Compensate additional attorneys in the event that the primary and conflict public defender firms were conflicted out of a case. This resource has been of great benefit to the Court and to the defendants. 5. Provide interpreter and investigative services as needed. Yakima is an economically challenged community with the lowest per capita income ($15,606) of all metropolitan areas in the state and unfortunately is subject to a crime rate that is among the highest in the state (61.3 %). The increasing poverty level during the recession has caused a dramatic decline in state and local revenues. There are more people living in poverty in Yakima County than ever before which has increased the amount of criminal cases referred to the public defender firms. The most recent US Census data indicates that Yakima County has the second highest population of persons living below the poverty level in the state of Washington (21.8 %). Without the financial and technical assistance received from OPD, the City would be unable to sustain the public defender services at these current levels. The improvements the City has made in this regard have been favorably viewed by the Yakima Municipal Court Judges and City Prosecutors, and most assuredly, the clients benefitted by this program. Even with the significant improvements we have made, caseloads remain high for defense counsel. I cannot overstate the City's appreciation for the grant funds received over the years. These funds are critical to the City's indigent defense program and our ability to serve those members of the public least economically capable of obtaining adequate legal representation. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about our indigent defense program. Sincerely, 6 y O''•urke City Manager cc: The Honorable Mayor Micah Cawley Yakima City Council Members „„ YAKIMA REGIONAL ® N AIR 329 North First Street, Yakima WA 98901 AGENCY Phone: (509) 834 -2050 Fax: (509) 834 -2060 Website: http://www.yakimackanair.org July 16, 2012 Mr. Scott Schafer City of Yakima Wastewater Treatment Plant 2220 E Viola Yakima WA 98901 Dear Mr. Schafer: Congratulations, the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency Board of Directors has selected your company to receive one of the 2012 Air Quality Excellence Recognition Awards. Your efforts have effectively resulted, either directly or indirectly, in improving the air quality in your community. The Board of Directors would like to present you with this award at their meeting on August 9, 2012 at 2:00 PM. The meeting will be held at Yakima City Hall, City Council Chambers, 129 N 2 °a Street in Yakima. Thank you for your efforts in partnering with this agency and the community as a whole to make the Yakima area a better place to live and breathe. If you have any questions regarding the award or the presentation, please contact Patty Walker at 834 -2050, ext 102, or patty @yrcaa,org. Best Regards, �-- Gary Pruitt Executive Director RECEIVED CITY OF YAKIMA JUL 1 7 2012 July.15,2012 OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL Isaac Burton 413 So.16th Ave. Yakima,Wash -98902 To:Mr.Archie.M.Matthews,ONDS Manager Office of Neighborhood Development Services 112 So.8th Street Yakima,Wash. -98901 Mr.Matthews,l am writing this letter to thank you,John,and the wonderful crew that you sent out,to paint our house.Thanks,also,for all the people responsible for the grant that made this possible. During 2008- 2009,we as well as many other senior citizens,lost all of our retirement.As a result,we are on a limited income.We were aware that the exterior of our home was in dire need of paint.We had no idea how we were going to accomplish this.Then we received your phone call informing us that we had been approved to get our house painted!We really rejoiced! No words can express our thanks.Your crew did such a beautiful job!We were impressed how friendly they were,and how much pride they put into their work for us. Thanks again, Isaac and Dorothy Burton # 4 / c k c C r G ii,e, 0! 0 ' - v #,-I 1 b() 9? q o 0 u(/C. J r" rkiY G _-- jam} -6L42 c- -6- L-ce---- --Lba., , (Al (0 122 P-, te -L" "tir — t" 671 4ut, (L 4--- t A:r- -&" __- t _.me--- 0 ��c'.,t-� � 4 ,, r - GY' .- C12)^- s'ette- e ' # i , (A) a.o __ /. 1 v_ier ,,, (:) _e/v-e-vcr!A i / e ■ ; _ 6 , ,,--yyttc..e..k.i --ea- -- ‘. A/ 01-C% -71) RECEIVED CITY OF YAKIMA JUL 1 8 2012 OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL * ** :8*. Mr. Calahan * ®* 2502 Lila Ave. ? g Yakima WA 98902 -5034 r DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT y, if � � - ,, Planning Division 0 ; 4 'I ! 129 North 2"`' Street, 2n Floor Yakima, Washington 98901 ` ' '''' (.509) 575 -6183 • Fax (509) 575 -6105 �` ra sae.. www.liuildingyakinea.com • www.yakirnawa.gov /,services /planning CITY OF YAKIMA PLANNING COMMISSION Notice of Cancellation The regular meeting of the Yakima Planning Commission scheduled for July 25, 2012 has been cancelled. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday August 8, 2012 beginning at 3:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. An agenda will be distributed prior to that meeting. CITY MEETING SCHEDULE For July 23, 2012 — July 30, 2012 Please note: Meetings are' subject to change Monday, July 23 12:00 p.m. Greenway Board Meeting — Greenway Visitors Center Tuesday, July 24 10:00 a.m. City Council Study Session — Council Chambers 1:30 p.m. County Commissioners Agenda Meeting — Council Chambers Wednesday, July 25 12:00 p.m. YVVCB Board Meeting — Red Lion 2:00 p.m. TRANS- Action Committee Meeting — WSDOT Union Gap 5:30 p.m. Historic Preservation Commission — Council Chambers Thursday, July 26 7:30 a.m. Airport Board Meeting — Airport Conference Room 9:00 a.m. County Hearing Examiner — Council Chambers 10:00 a.m. Yakima Regional PFD Meeting — Convention Center Sunday, July 29 1:00 p.m. Yakima Training Center Dedication — Yakima Training Center Office Of Mayor /City Council Preliminary Future Activities Calendar Please Note: Meetings are subject to change -ting Organization , . Meeting Purpose . Participants Meeting Location t: 4. rime ., Via .a Mon. July 23 12:00 p m. Greenway Board Meeting Board Meeting Ettl Greenway Visitors Center Tue. July 24 10:00 a m. Council Study Session - Scheduled Meeting Council Council Chambers Metropolitan Parks District 12.00 p.m. Miscellaneous Issues Scheduled Meeting Cawley, Adkison, TBD Bristol Wed. July 25 12:00 p m. Yakima Valley Visitors & Board Meeting Adkison Red Lion Convention Bureau Board Meeting 2.00 p.m TRANS - Action Committee Scheduled Meeting Ettl WSDOT Conference Room Meeting 5 30 p m Historic Preservation Scheduled Meeting Bristol Council Chambers Commission Thur. July 26 7:30 a.m Airport Board Meeting Board Meeting Adkison Airport Conference Room 10 00 a m Yakima Regional Public Scheduled Meeting Bristol Convention Center Facilities District 1:30 p.m. Yakima County EMS & Scheduled Meeting Lover Toppenish Community Trauma Meetin • H os ital Sun. July 29 1 00 p.m. Yakima Training Center Scheduled Event Cawley Yakima Training Center Dedication Ceremon Tue. July 31 10:00 a.m Council Study Session - Scheduled Meeting Council Council Chambers Reorg Plan and 5 -year budget 12.00 p m. Miscellaneous Issues Scheduled Meeting Cawley, Adkison, TBD Coffe Thur. Aug. 2 9.00 a m Joint Admin & 911 Scheduled Meeting . Lover Toppenish Fire Station 9 Operations Meeting 6 p m. Yakima Regional Fire Scheduled Meeting Cawley, Coffey, TBD Authorit Adkison Fri. Aug. 3 o�... 8 a m. Sister Cit Meetin• Scheduled Meetin• Adkison CED Conference Room Mon, Aug. 6 10:00 a.m City Council Media Briefing Scheduled Meeting Cawley Council Chambers Mar \ug. 7 12.00 p.m. Miscellaneous Issues Scheduled Meeting Cawley, Adkison, TBD Ensey 1:30 p.m City Council Executive Scheduled Meeting Council Council Chambers Session 2 •.m Ci Council Meetin• Scheduled Meetin• Council Council Chambers Wed. Aug. 8 .r. v.n.., .d,. �.� _._....�A� ...0. 11.30 a.m. Sports Commission Scheduled Meeting Ettl Clarion Hotel 3 30 p m Yakima Planning Scheduled Meeting Ensey Council Chambers - - Commission 5:30 p.m. Parks Commission Meeting Scheduled Meeting - Adkison Council Chambers Thur. Aug. 9 1 p.m. Harman Center Board Board Meeting Cawley, Adkison Harman Center Meeting 1 30 p.m. Yakima Regional Clean Air Scheduled Meeting Lover Council Chambers Meetin • PRELIMINARY FUTURE COUNCIL AGENDA July 24 10:00 a.m. City Council Study Session — Council Chambers • Metropolitan Park Districts August 7 1:30 p.m. Executive Session — Council Chambers 2:00 p.m. Business Meeting — Council Chambers • Presentation of the DYBID Quarterly report • Consideration of professional services engineering agreement for North First Street improvement project • Resolution authorizing the City manager to execute a contract with Kennedy Jenks, Consultant Engineers, for design of a new grease receiving station at the City's Wastewater Treatment Plan (Schafter) • Resolution authorizing a sole source procurement between the City of Yakima and Enaqua for the purchase of ultraviolet (UV) replacement lamps designed for the Wastewater Division's Enaqua UV disinfection system (Schafer) • 2nd Quarter 2012 Claim Report and Resolution authorizing and approving 2nd Quarter 2012 claims activity 7/19/2012 9'42 AM 1 2012 STUDY SESSION SCHEDULE Council Chambers 10:00 a.m. July 24 Metropolitan Park Districts July 31 Reorg Plan and 5 -year budget forecast August 14 Gang Free Initiative August 28 City Council Strategic Planning Workshop (Convention Center 9:00 a.m. — 3:00 p.m.) — facilitator Michael Levinson September 11 Parking Commission Future September 25 Stormwater October 9 City /County Joint meeting — jail issues 7/19/2012 9'43 AM 6 Room tax would help fund city projects - Spokesman.com - June 26, 2012 Page 1 of 2 THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW June 26, 2012 Room tax would help fund city projects Upgrades for Arena, Convention Center Mike Prager The Spokesman- Review Tags: convention center room tax I . ;. .,,;, �� Financing expansion of the Spokane Convention Center ' I n and Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena may require an s, US as increase in the current room tax to raise bond funds for , R - ' iverrrant wastlir,gtar, State. the $65 million in projects approved by voters in April. park University- Riwerpailpt ' .. T ._� anep��r,r�+eir, t� $p�k Spokane city officials have said they'd prefer an increase in the hotel -motel tax from 10.7 percent to the .�. state -alto ed maximum of 12 percent, which would get City Hall off the hook for a loan guarantee. Such a -t Map-data x'0'12 Goggle: guarantee was being sought by the Spokane Public Facilities District to raise funds on the municipal bond market, officials said last week. In addition, Spokane County Commissioners are being asked to sell $15 million in general obligation bonds that would be repaid through revenues collected by the PFD, which operates the Convention Center and Arena. The county would get a $1 million reserve fund from the PFD to protect county revenues. The additional 1 3 percentage point room tax could also be used for expanded sports facilities throughout the county, facilities that would attract tournaments involving out -of- town competitors and stimulate the local tourist economy, officials said. Mick McDowell, chairman of the PFD board, said the room tax needs "the support of the Spokane Hotel Motel Association. Kevin Twohig, chief executive officer of the PFD, said that association members reacted favorably to the plan during a briefing last week. The association support comes in part because other urban areas of the state currently collect the full 12 percent room tax. http: / /www. spokesman. com /stories /2012/jun/26/ room - tax - would -help- fund - city - projects / ?... 7/17/2012 Room tax would help fund city projects - Spokesman.com - June 26, 2012 Page 2 of 2 Twohig also said the proposal has the support of Spokane Mayor David Condon and City Council members. The city is facing a budget shortfall of $10 million for 2013 and is reluctant to guarantee debt for the PFD projects, he said. Voters in April approved a 10 -year extension of two taxes currently being collected to pay for PFD facilities — a sales tax of 0.10 percent and a 2 percent room tax. The taxes will now be collected until 2043. Previously, they were to expire in 2033. The money would be used to add 750 seats to the upper bowl of the Arena, which would place the Arena above the minimum seat requirement for men's NCAA basketball tournament play. The money would also pay for the addition of 91,000 square feet of space at the Convention Center with related improvements to the Centennial Trail and riverbank. The Convention Center expansion has been called a completion of the original facility so that it can compete for national conventions. Voters approved the measure with a 56 percent yes vote. Twohig said the municipal bond market has sought additional guarantees in recent years, which has complicated the financing for the expansions. Even if the economy remains sluggish at zero growth, there will be enough tax money coming in to repay the proposed bond sales, Twohig said. He also said that Spokane Regional Sports Commission is undertaking a study of needs for new sports facilities in the Spokane region. Get more news and information at Spokesman.com http : / /www. spokesman. com /stories /2012/j un/26/ room - tax - would -help- fund - city -proj ects / ?... 7/17/2012