HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/17/1995 Special Joint Meeting 321
CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
OCTOBER 17,
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING WITH
YAKIMA COUNTY AND UNION GAP
I/
The City Council met on this date at 7:30 a.m. at the ESD #105
Administration Building Conference Center, 33 South 2nd Avenue,
Yakima, Washington. Council Members present were Mayor Pat Berndt,
Clarence Barnett, Henry Beauchamp, Ernie Berger, Lynn Buchanan and
Bernard Sims. Council Member Bill Brado was absent and excused.
City Manager Zais, Assistant City Manager Rice, Marketa Oliver,
Administrative Assistant to the City Manager, and Deputy City Clerk
Skovald were also present. Yakima County Commissioners present
were Bettie Ingham, Chairman, Bill Flower, and Jim Lewis. Jeff
Sullivan, Yakima County Prosecuting Attorney, Dan Hesse, Public
Works Director, and Dema Harris, Director of Administrative
Services were also present. Union Gap Council members present were
Bill Ackerman, Mayor Pro Tem, Betty Boyd, Bud Laidler, Donna Miller
and Phil Salzman. Union Gap staff members present were City
Manager Paul Burlingame, Assistant City Manager Kathleen Holscher,
and City Clerk /Treasurer Pauline Groth.
Review Of County Sales Tax Proposal
Commissioner Ingham welcomed the group and introduced Jeff
Sullivan, Yakima County Prosecutor. He provided a brief synopsis
of the one -tenth sales tax proposal for Criminal Justice which will
be on the General Election ballot in November. The State
Legislature authorized the County to seek the increase in sales
tax, and if passed, all of the money generated will go to Yakima
County. This will make available other revenues currently being
spent in the Juvenile area and help alleviate the burden of the
heavy case load within the Juvenile Court System, which is expected
to increase even more in the future. The money generated from the
one -tenth of one percent sales tax increase will be used for
maintenance and operation of the new Juvenile Justice facility,
including increased staffing and additional court rooms.
Mr. Sullivan explained the Juvenile Court Referral process and,
with the aid of graphs and charts, pointed out the dramatic
increase in the number of juvenile referrals and case filings
either coordinated through or maintained by the Juvenile Court
I/ staff. The population in Yakima County is expected to grow with a
huge increase expected in the number of people in the crime
committing ages of 10 to 25 -- crime is definitely expected to go
up.
There was discussion among the officials concerning the juvenile
offenders process, community policing, and increases in maintenance
and operation costs. There was also discussion about the
legislation enabling the county to seek the one -tenth tax increase,
but left the cities out. Also discussed was the significance of
322
Special Joint Meeting -- October 17, 1995
early intervention and exception sentencing of minor offenders.
Bill Ackerman, Mayor Pro Tem of Union Gap, requested a chart or
graph be prepared detailing where most of the criminals come from
and how they influence the per capita basis equability problem.
Council Member Beauchamp emphasized the importance of intervention
which might prevent more people from getting into the juvenile
justice system. It is also important to develop strategies similar
to those of the Substance Abuse Coalition which would be cost
effective and head off problems -- crime reduction due to community
programming. Jeff Sullivan feels that truancy should be directed
toward the grade school age children instead of those of high
school age -- the planned community approach to juvenile violence
to involve communities throughout the valley. Mayor Berndt expects
a report next month regarding a variety of intervention approaches
geared toward younger children. Council Member Beauchamp explained
there is a need to inform parents about the consequences of the
truancy law in an attempt to get parents to be more active. Jeff
Sullivan explained the amount of impact already has been seen and
is attributed to this law which has shown a positive effect. He
urged support and explained there is a real need in this area and a
direct benefit will be seen by the cities if this bill is passed.
Stormwater
Glenn Rice provided background information about the Stormwater
Management Plan which has included cooperative participation by
Yakima County, Union Gap and Washington State Department of
Ecology. Since the grant requires that a public hearing be held,
Council Member Barnett posed the question of whether there should
be a joint public hearing held and also whether Yakima County and
the City of Union Gap will cost share. There was discussion among
the officials about these issues and it was the consensus of the
group to hold a joint session. This joint public hearing will be
set for December 5, 1995 during the two o'clock Yakima City Council
Business Meeting held later on this day. Paul Burlingame indicated
Union Gap will pay their share and that the public hearing
December 5 date is acceptable.
Joint Priorities
Dick Zais referred to the revised update of joint priorities
included in the packet for this meeting. Each jurisdiction needs
to decide whether to change the list and provide direction to staff
as to what should be the focus of attention. He summarized the
current issues being revisited, specifically fire protection for
the airport; whether Union Gap wants to be included in the
agreement; Joint Communications Dispatching; and other ongoing
issues.
2
r , 3 2 3
Special Joint.Meeting -- October 17,1995
Mayor Berndt reported that'd Execut'ive's Board has recently been
established representing the community on the 911 Administrative
Board. This issue should be revisited by this group.
1/. Review Status Of Current Projects
Commissioner Flower requested the issue of municipal sewer services
planning be reexamined concerning regional service policy due to
recent legislation that will affect service delivery. Dan Hesse
referred to the Regional Services issue and pointed out that the
changes in the law have caused development of more community
services in the urban area. Council Member Barnett wanted the
water rights issue to be included. Commissioner Flower requested
tri -party discussion of this policy issue as soon as possible.
Mayor Berndt suggested another meeting on the airport be scheduled
to revisit the issue of shared fire protection costs.
•
The meeting adjourned at 8:45 a.m.
. o
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: ,ice / / __ - - Allot / 7
dUNCIL MEMB.R */ DATE ■
q7
COI CIL M aE- DATE
ATTEST:
14 ,,..<4 ie.,„-e,e,
) c kpi c_ (:
CITY CLERK MAYOR
Minutes prepared by Deputy City Clerk Skovald. An audio tape of this meeting is on file in
the City Clerk's office.
3
•