HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/19/1994 Special Joint Meeting 363
CITY OF,YAKIMA,::WASHINGTON
JULY 19, 1994
SPECIAL JOINT CITY /COUNTY MEETING
The City Council met in session in a joint meeting with the Yakima
County Commissioners on this date at 7:30 a.m., in the Third Floor
Classroom at the Yakima County Jail, Yakima, Washington. Council
Members present were Mayor Pat Berndt, Henry Beauchamp, Ernie
Berger, Bill Brado, Lynn Buchanan, and Bernard Sims. Council
Member Clarence Barnett absent and excused. County Commissioners
present were Chuck Klarich, Bettie Ingham, and Jim Lewis. City
staff members present were City Manager Zais, Assistant City
Manager Rice, Police Chief Green, and City Clerk Roberts. Dema
Harris, Yakima County Director of Administrative Services, as well
as the County's consultant for the jail project, Dave Voorhis,
were present.
1. JAIL COSTS -- CITY /COUNTY CONTRACT
City Manager Zais distributed a chart giving information on jail
costs. Commissioner Klarich commented that there have been a
number of changes since the jail agreement was signed. The County
is now working on alternatives to incarceration. When the County
was interested in building the annex, the City gave $650,000 to
enable the County to build a facility with 300 beds instead of 200
beds, resulting in the current jail agreement. He reported that
recently, the County received $750,000 by selling the Ahtanum
Facility. He proposed paying the City back and presented a check
for $650,000. We would like Council to accept that as full
payment, along with an agreement to eliminate the letter of
agreement. He distributed a letter dated July 19, 1994, which
details what has happened and where we are. We know the City is
looking at building a facility also which will have some jail cells
and this money could be used for that project.
Dave Voorhis distributed a report, "Jail Cost and Alternatives to
Incarceration ", dated July 19, 1994. These alternatives,
described by Mr. Voorhis, would need the approval of the Courts
and the Law & Justice Council. The Law & Justice Council met
yesterday and the number one priority was alternatives to
incarceration. He reported that 38% of the misdemeanor bookings
I/ were for traffic related offenses and a substantial number of
inmates ar`e incarcerated for failure to pay fines or follow court
restrictions. He stated the City's daily jail rate has not
increased since 1985. The 1995 per diem rate for the City is
expected to increase to $52.00 Mayor Berndt commented that the
primary reason the City was so supportive of the annex was that we
were told it would be so much cheaper to operate than the maximum
security facility that it would bring down the jail costs.
Mr. Voorhis stated that never occurred since the operation of the
two facilities are so closely intertwined. • He stated they are
364
JULY 19 1994 - SPECIAL JOINT CITY /COUNTY MEETING
trying to create some less expensive alternatives to incarceration
for the courts to utilize to punish the offender. Alternatives
could be work release or shock incarceration with a split
sentence. An individual cannot be forced into work release;
however, there would be some consequences while incarcerated.
Other out of custody options would be: house arrest supervised;
house arrest - electronically monitored; intensive
supervision /probation or parole; day reporting, work crews, and
I/
out -of- custody community service. The intake screening would have
to be done very carefully to put someone into the correct program.
Discussion ensued, including questions about the percentage of
misdemeanants who would be eligible for the alternative programs,
clothing for the work crews, verification of prisoner
identification, proposals to reduce the cost per prisoner if the
jail is not full, the County's proposal to vacate one floor of the
jail to reduce costs, and the issue of health care costs for
inmates.
Mayor Berndt expressed the Council's appreciation for this offer
and stated Council would take this offer under advisement. She
Commented that no action can be taken until Council is in session
during a regularly scheduled Council meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 8:45 a.m.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: ►■ /..14A .. lU
C0.1 y I: in :ER � DATE
. /IA Nor 9
COI C M MBER DATE
ATTEST:
_ 40
t1 Z y
CITY CLERK MAYOR
An audio tape of this meeting is available in the City Clerk's Office
Ili -
2