HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/27/2012 03 Council General Information •
BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. •
For Meeting of: November 27, 2012
ITEM TITLE: Council General Information
SUBMITTED BY:
CONTACT
PERSON /TELEPHONE:
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
1. Weekly Issues Report
2. 11/18/12 Letter from Walt Ranta, Barge- Chestnut Neighborhood Association President
regarding fire and emergency response times
3. 11/9/12 Letter from Lonnie Davis to Tony Sandoval regarding downtown Yakima
S 4. 11/26/12 Yakima Airport Board agenda
5. 11/28/12 City of Yakima Planning Commission agenda
5. City Meeting Schedule for week of November 26, 2012
6. Preliminary Future Activities Calendar as of November 26, 2012
7. Preliminary Council Agenda
8. Newspaper /Magazine /Internet Articles:
* "A Simple Technique for Improving Council Decision Making ," MRSC Insight, November
16, 2012
Resolution Ordinance Other
(specify)
Contract: Mail to:
Contract Term: Amount: Expiration Date:
Insurance Required? No
Funding
Source: Phone:
APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL: City Manager
4110
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
BOARD /COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Click to download
❑ info packet
MEMORANDUM
November 21, 2012
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Tony O'Rourke, City Manager
SUBJECT: Weekly Issues Report
• CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION: The City Council has a study session on
Tuesday, November 27 at 10:00 a.m. to review the Gang Free Initiative plan.
• INTERVIEW LOBBYING FIRMS: The Council's Legislative Committee met earlier
this week and reviewed proposals from lobbyists wanting to represent the City in
Olympia. The Committee narrowed its focus down to three individuals and will be
interviewing them next week.
• DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES & ENGINEERING: Interviews for the Director of Utilities
& Engineering are taking place next Wednesday and Thursday. Seven individuals
will be interviewed (two internal candidates).
• YVVCB HOLIDAY RECEPTION & SILENT AUCTION: The Yakima Valley Visitors
& Convention Bureau's annual holiday reception and silent auction will be on
November 29 from 5:00 -8.00 p.m. in the Convention Center Please let Cally know if
you are interested in attending.
HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD
r Barge- Chestnut Neighborhood Association
y„ rt:=` For a Safe, Viable and Historic Neighborhood
CJ -ARGE k "; CJHESTNUT
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
November 18, 2012
Tony O'Rourke, City Manager
City of Yakima
129 North 2nd Street
Yakima, WA 98901
Dear Mr. O'Rourke:
I am writing to you on behalf of the Barge- Chestnut Neighborhood Association (BCNA) to share
concerns our members have expressed regarding fire and emergency response times in the City of
Yakima. In the mid- 1990s, the closure of the Fire Station in the 3500 block of Summitview increased
the distance fire crews must travel to reach the homes in our neighborhood, resulting in longer response
times. This concern has increased as a result of reductions in staffing levels within the Fire Department.
We have been monitoring the number of "brown out" days the Fire Department has experienced since
the beginning of the year. Our Association is concerned over how these brown out days impact where
and how quickly Yakima's firefighters can respond to emergencies and fires. The number of brown outs
reported by the City of Yakima Firefighters Association differs from the number of days included in the
formal reports Fire Chief Dave Willson has provided to the City Council. We understand the
discrepancy is due to differing criteria for how long a brown out lasts before it is counted. Regardless of
which definition is used, we believe any brown outs potentially pose a significant risk to homeowners
and citizens experiencing a medical or other emergency situation.
As you may know, our neighborhood consists of many older homes making them potentially more
vulnerable to fire risks. No matter how well they are maintained, older homes may have unseen issues
that could cause a fire. With older homes, comes an older population. As we understand the current
safety rules, a minimum of four firefighters must be on site before any of them can enter a home to
attempt a rescue. If the first response crew does not have the minimum number of firefighters to enter
the home, this will delay any rescue attempts until the second crew arrives. This leaves our elderly and
disabled residents particularly at risk.
Brown outs also limit the City's ability to assist nearby communities with which we have mutual aid
agreements. We are concerned that if the City is not able to respond to the needs. of neighboring
communities, they may also stop reciprocating when we have a need for additional fire crews in an
emergency. We understand that there is a plan to call in firefighters on overtime during a brown out
when a response is needed from one of our partner communities. Although this may work as a
temporary solution, it still leaves the City in a brown out status. If additional fire crews can be called in
BCNA • do 211 S. 24 Avenue • Yakima, WA 98902
to help neighboring communities, why can't they be called in to help the community that they are paid
to protect?
Finally, we are writing to express our concern over how the Fire Department's staffing levels and brown
out days potentially impact the City of Yakima's fire rating because this rating is used by most insurance
companies to determine the cost of fire insurance. We understand that the City's fire rating was recently
re- assessed and the rating remained unchanged. However, we remain concerned about future re-
assessments and whether the City will be able to retain its current rating.
We understand that the City has experienced a number of tight budget years, however, the BCNA
believes that solutions must be found to make our city safe for the public at large and to keep the City's
fire rating at a level that, at a minimum, maintains the current rating. We believe that fire protection,
like police protection, should be given significant attention in discussions and budget decisions as the
City establishes priorities for public safety.
The main purpose of this letter is for the BCNA to convey a message to you, the Fire Chief, and the City
Council, that staffing the Fire Department at a level that prevents brown outs, ensures that the City's fire
rating does not fall, enables the City to live up to its mutual aid agreements, and allows our dedicated
firefighters to respond to emergencies and fires rapidly, efficiently, and safely, is a top public safety
concern for the City's citizens.
As you know, in the Citizens' Survey recently completed by the City of Yakima, 84% of the survey
respondents rated the City's Fire Services as either Good or Excellent. The BCNA wants to ensure that
the Yakima Fire Department continues to enjoy this level of support and respect from the citizens of
Yakima. Please let us know how we can support you and your staff in addressing this issue.
Sincerely,
Walt Ranta,
BCNA President
cc: Dave Willson, Fire Chief
City Council Representatives
BCNA • do 211 S 24 Avenue • Yakima, WA 98902
7„--As . I., BB 0 ®
K /z' ° ;
THE REVOLUTIONARY CONCEPT IN BOAT LIFTS
(ALSO A SUPPLIER FOR RECYCLED PLASTIC LUMBER)
L Jo, a
November 9,2012
Mr. Tony Sandoval
P.O.Box 10301
Yakima , Wa. 98909
Mr. Tony Sandoval
Following is my feelings about the growth of downtown Yakima. By the way I
personally will not be able to attend the council meeting on Nov. 20 which I had
counted on And I wanted to be there by all means.
When we were young; Front Street was out of bounds. It was no place to be seen or
heard from, if we were caught in the area we were grounded for some time by our folks.
It was where the bad things happened.
Now as times have changed it is one of the most charming areas in the city. Where else
does people from out of town go when they come to Yakima. As the owner of Russillos
Pizza and Gelato, if you only knew the comments that we receive from the out of town
guests about the way they have cleaned the area up. The amount of visitors that come to
the board walk on "Track 29" looking for shops to see are outrages. The Downtown
committee should go to work on saving the District. Where else does out of town quests
have to walk and see anything. If that area were in Seattle you would not be able to get
onto it. Every city has a district that visitors go to . Yakima has the chance to develop that
area not do away with it. If you had a row of wine tasting shops it would be ideal for the
out of towners. I am sure every council member knows how many visitors come to the
valley to see the Wine Country. If at any time if there is anyway that I can assist with this
project let me know. Myself and family have come home to invest in developing the area
with no real need , but being raised in the city and representing it on the Baseball Field In
1953 I would like to see the development go further. Downtown Yakima has the chance
to be one of the exciting spots to come to in the State. But we have to have something
other than just the Wine industry.
Look at Leavenworth they have nothing but outside shows and a little shopping area that
has nothing on Yakima and their Historical District. Lets look to the future and kick
ourselves in the butts and get something going to create a Downtown Yakima District it
would make us all look good.
PO BOX 937 • PUYALLUP, WASHINGTON 98371 • (253) 845 -4010 • CELL. (253) 988 -4688 • FAX. (253) 848 -9038
www aqualiftinc.com • Email: lonnie.davis @prodigy. net
Yakima has weather , location, outstanding Hotel systems , good eatery locations but
nothing for the visitors to go see in the Down Town Area. Quests will ask us at the
Restaurant where is there something to see in Yakima. The Board Walk on'Track 29'
should be full on weekends, and something for the People of Yakima to go to at all times.
I am going to add this to my letter and see if this will add a little light onto the subject. In
1953, 14 young men and myself and the coach and business manager boarded a Train and
the way we went out across the United Stated of America to play American Legion
Baseball representing the City of Yakima. Upon returning home we won the World
Series in Miami Florida. When arriving to thousands of people in our Home City we were
the darlings of the State. By the way the welcoming home ceremony was on Front Street
where "Track 29" stands today. On November 3rd of 2012 Mr. David Edler ex -mayor and
our team of 1953 were inducted into The State American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame.
The only people that were there from Yakima were Mr. David Edler and the members of
our Team. Not one city father or council member or representative of the City attended.
There happened to be 350 people at the ceremony. I do not know how many times I heard
about the legion baseball program in Yakima. There are three World Championship
Legion Teams in the State of Washington and all three are from Yakima. What I am
trying to say the best way that I can is that the City Fathers and Council members do not
work on old things and try to preserve them and it is a shame. I say once again and I
mean it I have tried to help the Downtown Historical District and the Downtown
Committee and I will continue to do so.
The City of Yakima has had some outstanding guests, if you were to go look at the bricks
that lay just off of the sidewalk with names of people who purchased them and explain
the" Track 29" Area and the gentleman that developed it. I was going through them the
other day and spotted a name that some of you will remember and the Name is Willie
Nelson. Like him or not he is a world re -known artist. I hope that I have explained my
feelings and would be available to assist anyway that me and my family can.
Lonnie
5
s 4 ,
5c
2406 W. Washington Ave, Suite B Yakima, Washington 98903 (509) 575 -6149 (509) 575 -6185 FAX
November 26, 2012
BOARD MEETING AGENDA
YAKIMA AIR TERMINAL — McALLISTER FIELD
AIRPORT BOARD ROOM - 2 floor, terminal building
5:30 PM Study Session
Public Meeting to Follow
Roll Call
Study Session - 2300 W Washington Ave - terminal conference room
• Seaport announced they are leaving Yakima Airport December 15.
• Relocate security server — discussion.
Business Meeting
1) Audience Participation. Audience participants are invited to address
items that are not listed on the regular business meeting agenda.
2) Consent Agenda
All items noted with an asterisk ( *) are considered routine by the Board and
will be enacted by one motion without discussion A citizen or board
member may request that the Board remove an item from the Consent
Agenda; if such a request is approved, the item will be considered in its
normal sequence on the Agenda.
3) Pg. 1 * Approval of Board Minutes from October 22; November 5 and
November 14 special call study session
4) Pg. 5 *Boarding Reports
5) Pg.15 *Funds Disbursed
6) Finance Reports (distributed at meeting)
7) Board Members Report
8) Airport Staff Report
Agenda Nov 26, 2012.doc
1
9) Old Business
a) Noland Decoto
b) RFP for Management and Operations of the Airport and Air Service
Development
10) New Business
11) Pg 29. Reso — YAT -R- 2012 -034 — Declare Surplus Property
12) Pg 30. Reso — YAT -R- 2012 -036 — Accept Intergovernmental Agreement
for Financial Services with Yakima County.
13) Executive Session as allowed under RCW 42.30.110, Section G -
Personnel. Expected to last approximately 30 minutes.
14) Good of the Order
15) Adjournment
The next Board Public Meeting will be held at 5:30PM on Monday, December 17,
2012.
Agenda Nov 26, 2012.doc
2
" COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
a \ Planning Division
l 129 North 2 Street, 2 floor Yakima, Washington 98901
(509) 575 -6183 • Fax (509) 575 -6105
www.buildingyakima.cont • www.yakimawa.govlservices /planning
City of Yakima Planning Commission
PUBLIC HEARING
City Hall Council Chambers
Wednesday November 28, 2012
3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
YPC Members:
Chairman Ben Shoval, Co -Chair Bill Cook, Ron Anderson, Al Rose,
Scott Clark, Dave Fonfara, Paul Stelzer
City Planning Staff:
Steve Osguthorpe, Community Development Director/Planning Manager; Bruce Benson, Supervising Planner;
Jeff Peters and Joseph Calhoun, Associate Planners; Chris Wilson, Assistant Planner; and Rosalinda Ibarra,
Planning Technician
Agenda
I. Call to Order
II. Audience Participation
III. Introductions:
A. Paul Stelzer - Yakima Planning Commission Member
IV. Public Hearing: Amendments to the Adult Entertainment Business Ordinance
V. Shoreline Master Plan Stakeholder's Meeting - Review of the Goals and Policies
VI. Other Business
VII. Adjourn to December 12, 2012
CITY MEETING SCHEDULE
For November 26, 2012 — December 3, 2012
Please note: Meetings are subject to change
Monday, November 26
12:00 p.m. Capitol Theatre Board Meeting — Capitol Theatre
12:00 p.m. Greenway Board Meeting — Greenway Visitors Center
Tuesday, November 27
10:00 a.m. City Council Study Session — Council Chambers
1:30 p.m. County Commissioners Meeting — Council Chambers
3:00 p.m. Bid Opening — Council Chambers
Wednesday, November 28
5:30 p.m. Historic Preservation Commission — Council Chambers
Thursday, November 29
9:00 a.m. Hearing Examiner — Council Chambers
1:30 p.m. EMS Board Meeting — Yakima Regional
5:00 p.m. YVVCB Holiday Reception & Silent Auction — Convention Center
Monday, December 3
10:00 a.m. City Council Media Briefing — Council Chambers
3:00 p.m. Bid Opening — Council Chambers
3:30 p.m. Civil Service Commission — Council Chambers
Office Of Mayor /City Council
Preliminary Future Activities Calendar
Please Note Meetings are subject to change
leeting Organization ' Purpose 'Participants.,ry Meeting; Location
ate/Time ss
Mon. Nov. 26
1200 p.m. Capitol Theatre Board Board Meeting Bristol Capitol Theatre
Meeting
... 1 . 2 . 2022 .= _GreenwayllozdfVlesaLBoard Meetin Ettl Greenwa Visitors Center
Tue. Nov. 27
10 00 a m City Council Study Session Scheduled Meeting Council Council Chambers
Wed. Nov. 28
5.30 p m. Historic Preservation Scheduled Meeting Bristol Council Chambers
Commission
Thur. Nov. 29
1.30 p.m. EMS Board Meeting Board Meeting Lover (alt) Yakima Regional
5 00 p m. Yakima Valley Visitors & Scheduled Event Open Convention Center
Convention Bureau Annual
Rece•tion
Mon. Dec. 3 •
_w.m.
10:00 a.m. City Council Media Briefing Scheduled Meeting Ensey Council Chambers
Tue. Dec. 4
00 p.m. Miscellaneous Issues Scheduled Meeting Cawley TBD
12:00 p.m. YVVCB Executive Scheduled Meeting Adkison Zesta Cucina
Committee Meeting
5 00 p.m. City Council Executive Scheduled Meeting Council Council Chambers
Session
6 00 • m Cit Council Meetin Scheduled Meetin• Council Council Chambers
Wed Dec. 5 a.,,. ,.a�.�........�, .�..�...Y,mm �..�.. .��_.•.
4.00 p m. Regional Fire Authority Scheduled Meeting Adkison, Cawley, Station 95
Coffe
Thur. Dec. 6
4:00 p m. Gang Free Initiative Steering Scheduled Meeting Ettl, Adkison, TBD
Committee Meeting Coffey
4.00 p m Casey Family Open House Scheduled Event Open 404 N 3rd Street
Fri. Dec. 7
8 a.m. SistereLlteetin • Scheduled Meetin• Adkison CED Conference Room
Mon. Dec. 10
8:30 a.m. Pension Board Meetings Board Meeting Coffey HR Conference Room
10.00 a.m. City Council Media Briefing Scheduled Meeting Coffey Council Chambers
Tue. Dec. 11
1 :00 p m Miscellaneous Issues Scheduled Meeting Cawley, Adkison TBD
2.00 • m. Cit Council meetin• Scheduled Meeting Council Council Chambers
Wed. Dec. 12
9.30 a.m. Yakima River Basin Water Scheduled Meeting Lover Arboretum
Integrated Plan
3.30 p m. Planning Commission Scheduled Meeting Ensey Council Chambers
Meeting
5.30 p.m. Parks & Recreation Scheduled Meeting Adkison Council Chambers
Commission
Thur. Dec. 13 ,
1 00 p.m. Harman Center Board Board Meeting Adkison Harman Center
Meeting
1 30 p.m. Yakima Regional C lean Air Scheduled Meeting Lover Council Chambers
Meeting
5 p.m YCDA Board Meetin• Board Meetin• Adkison New Vision Office
Mon. Dec. 17
1 30 p.m. YVCOG Executive Scheduled Meeting Ensey YVCOG Office
Committee Meeting
Tue. Dec. 18 ._ .._�,.�._,..
12 00 •:m. Miscellaneous Issues Scheduled Meetin• Cawle , Adkison TBD
Wed. Dec. 19
1200 p.m. PAL Board Meeting Board Meeting Coffey PAL Center
320E2_ Arts Commission Scheduled Meetin• Adkison CED Conference Room
PRELIMINARY FUTURE COUNCIL AGENDA
December 4
5:00 p m. Executive Session — Council Chambers
• Consideration of Matters Concerning Real Estate
6:00 p.m. Business Meeting — Council Chambers
• Resolution authorizing Interlocal agreement with Selah to provide building
inspection services
• Resolution authorizing Certain Uncollectible Central Accounts Receivables to be
written off
• Resolution authorizing Certain Uncollectible Utility Bills to be Written Off
• Resolution authorizing Certain Uncollectible Parking Citations to be Written Off
• Resolution declaring Cougar or Husky Day in conjunction with Yakima Downtown
Rotary Auction
• Resolution withdrawing Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Rezone from further
Council consideration and rescinding the Council's direction to remand this matter
back to the City of Yakima's Planning Commission
• Resolution authorizing amendment to the existing Professional Services
Agreement with Pharmer Engineering for the Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket
(UASB) Bioreactor and Electrical Improvements project
• Resolution authorizing Memorandum of Understanding with the Washington State
Liquor Control Board for office space for a liquor agent in YPDs building
• Resolution accepting and authorizing the City of Yakima's 2013 assessment from
the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments
• Legislation regarding the financing and purchase of one Fire Apparatus.
A. An ordinance authorizing the acquisition of one Fire Apparatus and the
execution of a related financing contract with the Office of the State
Treasurer and other related documentation.
B. A reimbursement resolution declaring that the City reasonably expects to
reimburse expenditures for the purchase of the Fire Apparatus with the
proceeds of the financing contract.
7:00 p.m. Public Hearing — Council Chambers
11/21/2012
1 52 PM
A Simple Technique for Improving Council Decision Making I MRSC Insight Page 1 of 2
A Simple Technique for improving Council Decision Making
Posted on November 5, 2012by Byron Matsuyama
One of the things that has always fascinated me as a student and observer of local government has been the
process that local legislative bodies use to discuss, debate, and formulate policy decisions. To my mind, much of
what constitutes "good government" is a direct consequence of an open, fair, and effective legislative decision -
making process. The open and fair parts are regulated by state laws relating to issues such as campaign finance
reporting, public records disclosure, and open public meetings. Effectiveness, on the other hand, is left to the local
legislative body.
While there are a lot of moving parts in this process and, therefore, lots of opportunities to improve it, one critical
aspect, and the focus of this blog post, has to do with the way local legislative bodies deliberate on the policy issues
that come before them. When acting in their formal legislative capacity, local councils come together for a very
specialized purpose — to discuss, debate, and finally decide on important issues affecting their communities. It is
at this point during the give and take of their policy discussions, where arguments are put forth, opinions are
swayed, and votes are taken. It's not true that councilmembers always come to such meetings with their minds
already made up, as some citizens and members of the press seem to think. So, it is important not only that these
discussions take place, but that they be conducted in ways that promote the best possible exchange of information
and ideas.
To this end, one simple but effective technique designed to improve this process was suggested by Ann
Macfarlane, one of MRSC's long -time Council /Commission Advisors, in her 2009 column, "Using the Round
Robin Method for Efficient Council Meetings." Ann's column contains some sage advice for local legislative bodies
interested in improving both the efficiency and the quality of their meetings. In it she argues that the "round robin
method" for council deliberation contained in Roberts Rules of Order is one of the best ways to promote a "fair
and judicious discussion of issues in which each member has an equal opportunity to participate." Of course, local
government advisory boards and commissions can also benefit from this type of discussion format.
In a round robin format, each council or board member participating in key policy discussions is given the
opportunity to speak once, going around the table, before anyone can speak a second time. While this may seem
like a minor procedural issue, anyone who has spent any amount of time participating on a council, board, or
commission knows that who speaks, when, and for how long, can often have profound impacts on the outcomes of
many important policy discussions. The round robin format seeks to level the playing field a bit by ensuring that
all council'and board members have the opportunity and, in fact, are prompted to weigh in on particular issues.
Councils or boards that have no rules of procedure or that do not pay attention to the details of how their meetings
are conducted are more prone to falling into habits and routines that can reduce their effectiveness as decision -
making bodies. How many times have you been at a meeting where one or two members dominate the discussion,
either because they are always the ones who speak up first or because. they feel compelled to answer every
challenge to their point of view? Members don't have to be rude or inconsiderate to end up dominating the
discussion. They may just be enthusiastic, which, unfortunately, can have the same negative impact. In either
case, to the extent that other members who have valuable opinions to share become less inclined or able to add
their thoughts to the mix, the quality of the discussion and ultimately the decision itself can suffer. Then there are
situations where, for whatever reasons, some members may just be reluctant to jump in and offer their opinions.
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A Simple Technique for Improving Council Decision Making 1 MRSC Insight Page 2 of 2
Sometimes this is because they may feel that they are not as well- informed as they should be on an issue, or
perhaps because they are concerned that their opinion will be rejected by the rest of the group, or may be
unpopular with a wider audience. Ironically, when called upon, these same individuals often end up making key
contributions to the overall discussion.
In my experience as a member of the city of Kirkland's Planning Commission for the past eight years, including a
year as the chair, I know that we make our best decisions when all our members have taken the opportunity to
weigh in on whatever issue is before us. When, on the other hand, we have just one or two members who
dominate the discussion, or where, for whatever reasons, some members are reluctant to offer their own point of
view, then we become less effective. Particularly in our role as an advisory body to the city council, it is always
more helpful to have a thorough discussion of the issues that will, in turn, provide a stronger record of our
deliberations for the benefit of the city council as they go on to make their final policy decisions.
To be effective, councils and boards should conduct their meetings in ways that promote the fullest discussion of
the issues with the broadest possible participation by all of the council or board members. One of the simplest
ways to ensure that this takes place is to make use of the round robin discussion format. I'm not suggesting that
this approach is necessary for every single discussion. It is intended simply as a tool. Experienced mayors and
board chairs know when their council or board will benefit most from a more structured discussion format.
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About Byron Katsuyama
'' Byron has over 3o years of experience in local government policy and administration research including such areas as Corms of
II &
government, strategic planning, performance measurement, and general local government management. In his own community
of Kirkland, Byron is a member of the city's planning commission.
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