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Home My WebLink About11/14/1995 Adjourned Meeting 345 CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON NOVEMBER 14, 1995 BUDGET REVIEW The City Council met in session on this date at 9:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers at Yakima City Hall, Yakima, Washington. Council Members present were Mayor Pat Berndt, presiding, Clarence Barnett, Ernie Berger, Lynn Buchanan, and Bernard Sims. Council Member Henry Beauchamp was absent and excused. City staff members present were Acting City Manager Rice, John Hanson, Director of Budget & Finance, Robert Wheeler, Accounting Manager, Tim Jensen, Accountant, Cindy Epperson, Accountant, Edna Pettyjohn, Accountant, and Deputy City Clerk Skovald. Mayor Berndt opened the meeting and welcomed John Puccinelli and John Klingele, Council Members - Elect. POLICE DEPARTMENT Don Blesio, Chief of Police, introduced Doug Bronson, Captain in charge of Operations, and Marsha Devine, Administrative Assistant. Chief Blesio presented a brief overview of where the department is headed and what challenges lie ahead. There will be a .strong emphasis placed on youth oriented problems in the community. To balance enforcement and workin. the area of prevention and intervention, the current community oriented policing philosophy will continue to address abandoned vehicles, dangerous buildings, drug issues, and gang related issues. There were comments, questions, and discussion among Council members and staff concerning the increase in traffic accidents and people who are driving too fast. Council Member Sims referenced the Supplemental Report which details where the manpower is spent, and requested Chief Blesio provide an explanation. Chief Blesio reviewed the activities that the Police Department provides to the community. He presented an overview of the currently assigned areas and the percentage of time spent there, including the emphasis to accomplish community 1/ policing and community involvement using law enforcement as a partner. There was continued discussion about the number of police officers within the City and the increased calls for service. Chief Blesio explained how the volunteer reserve police officer program works and how those officers are trained and utilized. The COPS AHEAD funding and the number of vehicles within the Police Department as well as the new Police Station were other issues discussed by the Council. 346 Budget Review -- November 14, 1995 FIRE Al Chronister, Fire Chief, introduced Gene Martin, Deputy Chief in charge of the.Operations Division; Mike Meyer, Battalion Chief in charge of the Training Division and the Reserve Operation; and Wayne Wantland, Communications Supervisor in charge of the Electronics Division, the Dispatch Facility, and temporarily in charge of 911 Administration for Yakima County. Chief Chronister provided a brief overview of the Fire Department's plans for 1996 to enhance service delivery and to implement more programs involving the community. Their goal is to implement an individual CPR training program, a disaster training program, and a smoke detector inspection program. To provide better coverage within the community, the Fire Department would like to hire four firefighters and institute additional certification training programs within the department. Wayne Wantland provided a brief status report on the enhanced 911 program. The administrative services contract with SUNCOM will probably be extended on a month -to -month basis in order to finish revising the state plan for an equipment grant request to develop the enhanced system. An interlocal agreement is being processed relating to program implementation. There were questions and comments among Council members, staff and others concerning increased fire protection costs at the Airport. Chief Chronister responded to several questions concerning the duties of the fire investigator position, renewal of the EMS Levy, and the status of current projects resulting from the 1996 Bond Issue. COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Glenn Valenzuela, Director of Community & Economic Development, presented an overview of programs nearing completion in 1995 and what new to expect in 1996. Mr. Valenzuela foresees the completion of the Downtown Plan; the formation of business improvement areas; economic development projects; total Growth Management completion and the inclusion of the defining of development regulations with the help of a contractor /realtor committee; streamlining the permit process; and neighborhood planning with an increased emphasis on Code enforcement. Also expected in 1996 is the cable monitoring I/ and engineering review to upgrade the cable system as far as benchmark agreement on standards. There was discussion about the three -year TCI Cable contract review process included in the Franchise Agreement, and Mr. Valenzuela also described the Convention Center expansion and mentioned the possible capital facilities plan for the Capitol Theatre. 2 Budget Review -- November 14, 1995 347 .f .. i .l •`r.. ^yip Capitol Theatre Page 31 I/ Steve Caffery, Executive Director, introduced Dave Laughlin, Technical Director, and described the activities and accomplishments taken place since he has been hired. Mr. Caffrey provided a brief overview of their requests, including an $9,750 increase in funding for facility utilization, repair, and maintenance of the Capitol Theatre. He also described the fiscal impact and the proposed funding source for this request. He urged the Council to accept the budget request. There was discussion about the one million dollar cash flow reserve and the importance of maintaining that fund at a good level. Planning Page 20, Upgrade DA II Position to DA III Position There was discussion about the responsibility level of the Department Assistant positions within the Community and Economic Development Department and the changes experienced during the past two years. Page 263, Hearing Examiner There is a correction needed on the Examiner Pro Tem line; it isn't vacant. Don Skone, Planning Division Manager, provided a general outlook for the coming year. He expects the amount of applications to stabilize, but anticipates the workload to increase to meet the goals of the policies in zoning and development standards for GMA implementation. He also explained the procedures for planning applications and building codes applications processing. He pointed out that some planning applications don't go to the building permit stage. Rebound I/ Mayor Berndt and Acting City Manager Rice described the unique nature of the Rebound program, including its purpose and focus. Since its grant funding is gone, it is time to evaluate the program which will require a new generation of planning for these program activities. There were two memos presented to the Council concerning the Rebound alternative position. Staff was directed to bring an alternative policy to the Budget Wrap-Up session, including financing mechanisms. - 3 343 Budget Review -- November 14, 1995 Codes There was a brief mention that Codes need to make sure that contractors who do work for the City are licensed. UDAG Loan Glenn Valenzuela provided an update on the Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG). Housing Glenn Valenzuela introduced Dixie Kracht, Block Grant Manager. John Hanson explained HUD's budget adoption process for the Consolidated Plan. Ms. Kracht explained that comments received from the public will be included in the draft Consolidated Plan before it is submitted to HUD for final adoption. She predicts the Block Grant will be cut by ten percent. Ms. Kracht also described the funding makeup of these programs, and Mr. Valenzuela commented about performance statistics and CBDG money requests. Cable Page 286 Randy Beehler, Cable Communications Manager, outlined his request to relocate the division to the Old Fire Station No. 2 facility. He requested a six month lead time which is needed for renovation. A decision is expected during the First Quarter of 1996 and it was the consensus of the Council that this issue would not be discussed at this time. Metropolitan Plan Page 289 There was brief discussion about this issue; however, no overview was provided. Trolley Page 293 There was discussion about the request for funds and the outside agency request for additional funding. Council Member Buchanan felt this is a worthwhile cause and commented about the additional I/ money coming into the City as a result of the Trolleys (YILA). Mayor Berndt distributed a memo requesting the City to endorse the Greenway's plans for' renovation. There was brief discussion about this request. 4 349 Budget Review - 7,November 14, 1995 Convention Center Kathy Coffey, Executive Director of the Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau, explained the amount of allocation of hotel /motel tax for 1996, as well as responded to a renovation and I/ expansion depreciation costs, question asked by Council Member Barnett. CBD Business. and Capital Improvement Page 305 Glenn Valenzuela provided a very brief overview of this issue. There were no questions from the Council. Engineering Fred French, City Engineer, referred to a fairly substantial list of projects for 1996. Currently, the focus is on spending federal money, such as grant money, as well as assisting other divisions with capital improvements. Fund 392 - Cumulative Reserve Fund For Capital Improvements -- Page 319 Mr. Rice provided explanation about the irrigation engineering study, and Council Member Barnett expressed concern about whether the study is needed right now. It was MOVED BY BUCHANAN; SECONDED BY BERGER, TO MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING PROPERTY ACQUISITION FOR THE I -82 PROJECT, WITH IMMEDIATE ADJOURNMENT THEREAFTER. At the conclusion of the Executive Session, the meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m. % READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: Al ��— // - -._ - 1 �`1 osoi. 77 C• ► IL ►I MBE' , / DATE , °!, g - 6 - ,- q 7 COUN IL MEMB ' DATE I/ ATTEST: 1 C; 4111 CITY CLERK MAYOR MINUTES PREPARED BY DEPUTY CITY CLERK SKOVALD. An audio and video tape of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office. , 5