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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/29/1994 Special Meeting 20 CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON • NOVEMBER 29, 1994 SPECIAL MEETING WITH YAKIMA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS The City Council met in special session on this date at 7:30 a.m. in the Board Room at the Yakima Convention Center to discuss legislative priorities. Council Members present were Mayor Pat Berndt, presiding, Clarence Barnett, Henry Beauchamp, Ernie Berger, Bill Brado, Lynn Buchanan, and Bernard Sims. City staff members present were City Manager Zais, Assistant City Manager Rice, Administrative Assistant to the City Manager Oliver and Deputy City Clerk Skovald. Yakima County Commissioners present were Chuck Klarich, Chairman; Bettie Ingham and Jim Lewis. County staff members present were Dick Anderwald, Dema Harris and Dan Hesse. Before discussion began concerning legislative priorities, Council Member Barnett requested clarification regarding the format to follow during the continued public hearing on the UAZO Amendments. The public hearing will be reopened for testimony and the decision making process part of the hearing will be scheduled for a later date. 1. LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES Mayor Berndt referenced the draft Legislative Priorities outline which identifies and summarizes City and County concerns. City Manager Zais acknowledged there a few areas where differing opinions exist between the two entities; however, there are many common concerns and areas where there is unanimous support, such as in the area of unfunded mandates. Health Care The City of Yakima and Yakima County would like to be exempted from the Health Services Act due to their demonstrated ability to successfully self insure, and, at a cost lower than average. City Manager Zais called attention to the possibility that existing self insured plans being pre - empted I/ from continuing if the Health Care Act remains. There was some discussion about what impact there would be if government plans opt -out of the state program. More information will be available and questions will be answered - concerning self insured features after the Health Care Commission meets. 21 SPECIAL MEETING - NOVEMBER 29, 1994 Growth Manacement Dick Anderwald noted that the City of Yakima and Yakima County I/ unanimously support continued state funding for adoption and implementation of growth management comprehensive plans and regulations. The two jurisdictions oppose the withholding of discretionary tax proceeds to cities, towns or counties that have not fully complied with GMA. The City and County support the idea that legislation needs to be developed to strengthen the presumption of validity during GMA appeals and clarify that the burden of proof rests with someone challenging GMA actions. Since many areas have exceeded public growth projections, the City and the County support the idea of population range provisions instead of a static figure from the Office of Financial Management. Legislation needs to be developed clarifying that urban growth areas need not be drawn at existing city limits. Mr. Anderwald further explained since some counties have experienced extraordinary costs in defending appeals of urban growth boundaries, the` "City and County also support the idea of state funding assistance in defending appeals. It should also include the consideration of the possibility to require the losing party to pay attorney fees beyond Superior Court. Language should also be added to include mandatory state agency participation. Regulatory Reform The City and County support modifications to coordinate the GMA, SEPA, and the Shoreline Management Act. Mr. Anderwald reported the Governor's Task Force on Regulatory Reform is seeking direct input in order to reduce the number of pages of the regulations. The City and the County oppose substantive regional standards such as wetland buffers, and they oppose timelines for county and city action on development applications. The City and the County would like to see an alternative proposed which would establish a timeline for application review after it is deemed complete. The City and County oppose enhanced front -end environmental review I/ requirements for the local level without providing new funding. Commissioner Ingham commented about County Association meetings where opt -out legislation language was suggested. Council Member Brado stated that Realtors and Home Builders have requested opt -out legislation be included in Eastside legislative priorities. The proposal would include counties with less than 100,000 population. There was continued 2 22: SPECIAL MEETING - NOVEMBER 29, 1994 discussion about this issue including compliance guidelines that will remain. Dick Anderwald briefly reported the status of the Critical Area Ordinance which is currently under appeal. There was also discussion concerning the one - person appeal option process. Commissioner Ingham reported the original Comprehensive Plan has been used as a basis for recent GMA planning for the state. A process is evolving as to how to deal with increased population in the next 20 years. It is important to develop new service delivery and ways to deal with growth development in general. Commissioner Klarich commented on the current appeal process that allows appeals to be filed at the end of the process without engaging in any discussion during the process. These costs impact entities. There was continued discussion about the opt -out provision legislation that is currently being written. Violence Reduction Issues The City and the County support the revision of the 1977 Juvenile Justice Act. The two entities urge the Legislature to provide sufficient funds to local governments for the purposes of initiating and expanding services such as teen centers and safe zones. Also needed are alternatives to incarcerations such as monitoring juvenile offenders electronically. The City and County also advocate on -going discussions regarding the local option for municipal or district court jurisdiction over juvenile offenses. There was explanation about weapon -free safe zones. There was discussion about dealing with minor issues at the local level, dealing with juvenile offenses and accountability issues. A suggestion was made to develop a community accountability board. Council Member Beauchamp recommended a prevention approach be taken along with emphasis on accountability. Council Member Buchanan suggested attention be paid to preventative language in regulations on buying spray paint. Marketa Oliver urged either the repeal of, or the addition of an amendment to, the Public Health and Safety Networks legislation so local governments could have more control over them. Commissioner Ingham explained the intent of the legislation is the need to set up the networks; more attention needs to be given to monitoring and establishing funding for it. The language should be clarified to say there is going to be an advisory group. Mayor Berndt called attention to the fact that the Substance Abuse Coalition has already been doing what the community networks are being set up to do. 3 PE MEETING - NOVEMBER 29, 2 SPECIAL CAL G OVE 199 4 Propertv Tax Law Commissioner Ingham reported the City and the County support the use of surplus revenues that will accrue as a result of Initiative 601 to reduce the State property tax levy within 10 I/ or 12 years. There was continued discussion concerning the impacts of this proposed change. Economic Development Issues City Manager Zais explained how important it is for the City and the County to jointly support the Convention Center expansion capital grant request and proposed amendments to the room tax laws. Water Resources and Water Quality Commissioner Ingham explained the City and the County support legislation that would encourage locally based watershed planning and interagency management coordination, including local funding authority. It establishes decision making at the local level, rather than with the Department of Ecology. It also would provide local authority to regulate, condition and restrict all wells, including those wells pumping 5000 gallons or less per day which need not apply for a water right and would require new public water systems within urban growth areas to be established consistent with a coordinated water system plan or to be part of a satellite management system. This will be the key issue and the current approach is to allow implementation of consensus recommendations of a regional watershed planning process, where those recommendations may conflict with state law or policy. Public Works Trust Fund Dan Hesse reported the City and the County will urge the Legislature to approve an annual list of projects from those recommended by the Public Works Board within the first five days of each legislative session or create an approval process which is complete by the end of January. They also support I/ any legislation which expedites the Public Works Trust Fund loan approval process. The City and the County also oppose any efforts to divert funds from the Public Works Trust Fund to any other purpose. Mr. Hesse also emphasized the importance of the need to add accessibility to funds derived from solid waste disposal fees. 4 24 SPECIAL MEETING - NOVEMBER 29, 1994 Railroad Area Cleanup New language is needed in order to address the issue of releasing the railroad area property for property development. This is being impeded due to the lack of a Department of Ecology determination about the hazardous waste /PLP issue. AIDSNET The City and the County support the effort to restore the AIDSNET funding that has been cut because it will impact the local budget. Because there are Urban Area issues such as storm drainage, planning, etc., Commissioner Klarich suggested Union Gap officials be invited to meetings and to be a participant in the Airport expansion process. He suggested Union Gap be invited to appoint a member to the Airport Board. There was discussion about this participation. Council Member Barnett suggested some preliminary discussion be held on this matter. After brief discussion, it was announced that the next joint meeting would be in January and would include an overview of accomplishments and consolidated legislative priorities. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 a.m. v READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: COUNCIL MEMBER DATE !t' 7-iJ CO CIL MEM's R DATE ATTEST: Q CITY CLERK - MAYOR Minutes prepared by Deputy City Clerk Skovald. An audio tape of this Council meeting is available in the City Clerk's office. 5