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Home My WebLink About10/21/1996 Business Meeting 175 t CITY OFYAKIMA, 'OCTOBER 212; 19 1. ROLL CALL The City Council met in session on this date at 2:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers of City Hall, Yakima, Washington, Mayor Lynn Buchanan, presiding. Council Members Clarence Barnett, Ernie Berger, John Klingele, John Puccinelli, and Bernard Sims present on roll call. Council Member Henry Beauchamp absent and excused. City Manager Zais, City Attorney Paolella, and City Clerk Roberts also present. 2. INVOCATION /PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Council Member Sims. 3. PRESENTATION OF 1997 PRELIMINARY BUDGET FORECAST City Manager Zais announced that for the tenth consecutive year, the City has received an award from the Government Finance Officers Association for the 1996 budget. This is a great honor for the City since the award has to be won on its individual merit each year. John Hanson, Director of Finance and Budget, acknowledged the budget preparation efforts of the staff in the Finance Department and explained the criteria considered by the Association in order to receive this award. City Manager Zais then reviewed the highlights of the proposed 1997 preliminary budget. The budget is balanced without any new major tax resources, but that is subject to change if the Street Bond Issue is. passed. The total budget is less than the 1996 budget because of capital spending being reduced. The budget is driven by major fixed operating and State and Federally mandated costs, along with contractual agreements with labor unions. One State mandate which will have a serious impact on the budget is 2SSB 6211. The City, will pay more for court and jail costs whether it stays with the District Court or implements it own system. He reviewed information contained on charts relating to criminal justice costs, the average per capita criminal justice expenditure percentage, and 1997 Budget Forecast pie chart for expenditures. Mr. Zais concluded his presentation by stating there will be less policy issues primarily because there are limited resources to fund programs. Staff will be making recommendations for investments in the City's infrastructure system. A. SET DATE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR NOVEMBER 5, 1996 REGARDING AD VALOREM TAX ORDINANCE It was MOVED BY SIMS, SECONDED BY KLINGELE, TO SET A DATE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR NOVEMBER 5, 1996 TO CONSIDER THE AD VALOREM TAX ORDINANCE. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote; Beauchamp absent. • 17.6 OCTOBER 21, 1996 - SPECIAL MEETING B. SET DATE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR NOVEMBER 19, 1996 ON THE PROPOSED 1997 BUDGET It was MOVED BY PUCCINELLI, SECONDED BY SIMS, TO SET A DATE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR NOVEMBER 19, 1996 ON THE PROPOSED 1997 BUDGET. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote; Beauchamp absent. The hearing will be continued to November 26, 1996. 4. PRESENTATION REGARDING MUNICIPAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES STUDY AND CONSIDERATION OF IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION: City Manager Zais commented that since March staff has been analyzing the cost impact of 2SSB 6211 on the budget, as has Yakima County. Being presented to Council is the study and recommendation to pursue the establishment of a municipal court. For 25 years the City had a District Court and had a great relationship; however, staff believes that a municipal court will provide options to contain costs in the future; but there is no guarantee that will happen. Susan Woodard, Prosecuting Attorney, stated that 2SSB 6211 has been codified under State law as 39.34.180 RCW. This is a major shift of responsibilities to the counties and cities from the State for providing services for misdemeanor cases. To meet the requirements of the law, a city has three options: 1) create its own municipal court; 2) petition the County to create a municipal department of District Court; or 3) contract with District Court for all services. The staff recommendation is to reinstitute its municipal court and integrated criminal justice services. John Hanson, Director of Finance and Budget, stated that lower costs for criminal justice services would result if our own municipal court system is implemented. He offered a chart providing information on criminal justice costs in support of that analysis. More important than the cost savings, this change would be beneficial for better interdepartmental coordination between Police, the Court and the Prosecution staff. Council Member Berger and Council Member Puccinelli, both Council Committee members, spoke in support of the staff recommendation. In response to two concerns voiced by Council, John Hanson reviewed the staffing and budget for the criminal justice services and assured them that this department would be operating by January 1, 1997; although staff is evaluating the possibility of contracting with the County for a couple of the functions in the beginning. Council Member Barnett advised the public that Council has been apprised all along about this process. He commended staff on preparing this study and their analysis. Council Member Klingele expressed concern about the wording in Section 1.60.060. Susan Woodard stated the referenced fee may be imposed when a jury trial is scheduled but is subsequently canceled by the defendant. It is up to the judge whether or not to impose the fine to the convicted person. City Manager Zais stated in a meeting with representatives from the County about this they indicated they would help with an orderly transition to a municipal court. A. ORDINANCE CREATING A CITY OF YAKIMA MUNICIPAL COURT Ordinance No. 96 -68, having been read by title, it was MOVED BY SIMS, SECONDED BY PUCCINELLI, TO PASS THE ORDINANCE. Deb Woodcock, Legal Assistant in the Criminal Division of the City Legal Department, urged the Council to be positively sure that everything can be in place prior to the targeted implementation date. She expressed concern that something might be overlooked, particularly as it may relate to -2- OCTOBER 21, 1996 SPECIAL MEETING domestic violence. We have to make sure there is space in the jail, have prosecutors aridW'staff to'l:;assist the prosecutors before this program is started. •Police Captain Doug Bronson assured Council that nothing in this plan effects the way the Police handle domestic violence. City Attorney Paolella stated that the Committee was very much aware of the time frame and has allowed for a transition period. The question was called for a vote on the motion. The motion carried by unanimous roll call vote; Beauchamp absent. ORDINANCE NO. 96 -68, AN ORDINANCE relating to City government administration; creating a municipal court to commence operation January 1, 1997, authorizing a violations bureau to operate under the supervision of the municipal court; providing for the appointment of a municipal court judge and judges pro tem; establishing fees for the provision of court services; and adding a new chapter, Chapter 1.60, "Municipal Court" and adding new sections, Sections 1.60.010, 1.60.020, 1.60.030, 1.60.040, 1.60.050, 1.60.060, 1.60.0 1.60.080, 1.60.090, 1.60.100, 1.60.110', 1.60.120, 1.60.130, 1:60.140, 1.60.150, 1.60.160, 1.60.170, 1.60.180, 1.60.190, 1.60.200, and 1.60.210, all of the City of Yakima Municipal Code. B. ORDINANCE AMENDING REFERENCES IN THE YAKIMA MUNICIPAL CODE FROM DISTRICT COURT TO MUNICIPAL COURT Ordinance No. 96 -69 having been read by title, it was MOVED BY KLINGELE, SECONDED BY SIMS, TO PASS THE ORDINANCE. The motion carried by unanimous roll call vote; Beauchamp absent. ORDINANCE NO. 96 -69, AN ORDINANCE relating to city administration; changing references to "District Court" so that they will read "Municipal Court "; and amending Sections 1.72.010, 1.72.020, and 1.72.030, all of the City of Yakima Municipal Code. C. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION PLAN FOR COURT RELATED EMPLOYEES Ordinance No. 96 -70 having been read by title, it was MOVED BY BERGER, SECONDED BY PUCCINELLI, TO PASS THE ORDINANCE. The motion carried by unanimous roll call vote; Beauchamp absent. ORDINANCE NO. 96 -70, AN ORDINANCE relating to City personnel; adopting a classification and compensation plan for • City employees to be effective November 24, 1996; amending Subsections 2.20.100 A, 2.20.100 B, 2.20.110 A, and 2.20.110 D; adding a new Subsection 2.20.110 F; and amending Subsections 2.20.110 F, 2.20.110 G, 2.20.110 H, 2.20.110 I, 2.20.110 J, 2.20.110 K, 2.20.110 L, and 2.20.110 M, all of the City of Yakima Municipal Code. -3- 178 OCTOBER 21, 1996 - SPECIAL MEETING 5. ADJOURNMENT It was MOVED BY PUCCINELLI, SECONDED BY SIMS, TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 2:55 PM. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote; Beauchamp absent. III READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: AV/5o J141.‘ /7 /.-- 7 COUNCIL MEMBER DATE O C6 UNCIL MEMBER DATE ATTEST: p A V:44 * . " ' ' , CITY CLERK 7 LYNN BUCHANAN, MAYOR An audio and video tape of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office • • • 1 -4--