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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/29/2013 00 Information Packet :�00# 54 i"....1 f I SJ ii YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION PACKET January 29, 2013 1 Information Packet 2 The next meeting will be a Council Business meeting on February 5 2013 at 6 p m in the Council Chambers • BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No For Meeting of January 29. 2013 ITEM TITLE Information Packet SUBMITTED BY CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE SUMMARY EXPLANATION 1 Weekly Issues Report 2 Council Public Safety Committee Agenda for January 30 2013 3 1/24/13 Memo From City Manager O'Rourke regarding North 1st Street revitalization 4 Memo regarding Wastewater Division Using Recycled Christmas Trees in Restoration Project 5 City Meeting Schedule 6 Preliminary Future Activities Calendar 7 Preliminary Council Agenda 8 Study Session Schedule 9 Newspaper /Magazine /Internet Articles * Will pot join wine as a leading legal product in Yakima Valley? Seattle Times, January 20 2013 * Pierce Transit to cut service by 34 percent Seattle P I January 14 2013 Resolution Ordinance Other (specify) Contract Mail to Contract Term Amount Expiration Date Insurance Required No Funding Phone Source APPROVED FOR clews, & . City Manager SUBMITTAL CCCCOOOOw��.+w����� ---- STAFF RECOMMENDATION BOARD /COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION• ATTACHMENTS Click to download ❑ info packet MEMORANDUM January 23, 2013 TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Tony O'Rourke, City Manager SUBJECT: Weekly Issues Report • COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE: This Committee (Cawley, Adkison, Ettl) will be meeting on Wednesday, January 30 at 10:30 a.m. in the CED Conference Room. • LEGISLATIVE TRIP TO OLYMPIA: On Monday, January 28, Council members Cawley, Adkison and Ettl will be traveling to Olympia to meet with state representatives of the 13 14 and l5 districts. Jim Justin is coordinating the meetings. Council Public Safety Committee CED Conference Room City Hall January 30, 2013 10:30 a.m. Members: Staff: Others: Councilmember Adkison City Manager Tony O'Rourke Councilmember Cawley Police Chief Rizzi Councilmember Ettl Fire Chief Willson Agenda • Appoint Chairperson • Select meeting date and time • Appoint representative to sub - committees • Jail study update • Regional Fire Authority update • Status of Fire Inspections • Greenway safety issues and costs MEMORANDUM To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Yakima City Council From: Tony O'Rourke, City Manager Date: January 24, 2013 RE: North 1 Street revitalization North 1 Street has been an area of concern for several years. In 2011, the City Council formed a North 1 Street Ad Hoc Committee that consisted of Council members Adkison, Coffey, Ensey and Ettl (alt). The focus of the Committee was on improving the appearance and safety along North 1 Street. In addition to property owners and interested parties, Huibregtse, Louman and Associates was involved in the discussions on how make North 1 more appealing to residents and visitors. In September 2011, Huibregtse, Louman presented the City Council with the Committee's recommended plan of action. In March 2012, the City received $250,000 from Yakima Valley Conference of Governments to pay for the preliminary engineering and study of North 1 Street. Earlier this week the City received official notification from Yakima Valley Conference of Governments that it would be receiving $2,718,000 in STP funds for North 1 Street revitalization efforts (letter attached). The award and plan of action will be discussed in more detail during the Council Built Environment Committee meetings Y V C ° G YAKIMA VALLEY CONFERENCE OF GOVERNMENTS 311 North 4th Street, Suite 202 • Yakima, Washington 98901 509 -574 -1550 • FAX 574 -1551 I website: www.yvcog.org _ RECEIVED CITY OF YAKIMA I January 14, 2013 JAN 2 2 2013 Tony O'Rourke, City Manager OFFICE OF CITY MANAGER City of Yakima - 129 North 2nd Street Yakima, WA 98901 SUBJECT: STP Regional Funding — North 1 Street Revitalization Dear City Manager O'Rourke, The Yakima Valley MPO /RTPO Executive Committee has approved fully funding projects selected during the 2012 STP call for projects. As a result, the City of Yakima's North 1st Street Revitalization project is awarded the additional STP funds identified on the application addendum (attached) to complete the project. Project: North 1st Street Revitalization March 19, 2012 (Preliminary Engineering) $250,000 January 14, 2013 2.715.000 TOTAL Regional STP $2,968,000 Project progress reports will be required for all regional STP funded projects as part of the monthly MPO /RTPO Technical Advisory Committee meetings. Any changes in federal funding amounts or anticipated obligation dates must be reported as soon as possible. STP Regional funding awards to jurisdiction projects have historically been considered when calculating YVCOG membership assessments. Please be aware that your jurisdiction's membership assessment may increase when STP funding is obligated. In addition, jurisdictions utilizing STP funds are required to secure a minimum of 13.5% eligible matching funds. Project sponsors are responsible for assuring project phases are fully funded at the time of obligating federal funds. Yakima's local 6 -Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and the State Transportation Improvement Programs (STIP) must be amended to reflect the additional funding amounts and schedule before these federal funds can be obligated. If you have any questions concerning TIP /STIP amendments, please contact Deb LaCombe, Sr. Transportation Planner at (509) 574 -1550 or lacombed @yvcog.org. MEMBER JURISDICTIONS Grandview • Granger • Harrah • Mabton • Moxee • Naches • Selah f Sunnyside • Tieton • Toppenish • Union Gap • Wapato • Yakima • Yakima County • Zillah City of Yakima STP Funding — North 1st Street Revitalization 1/14/2013 Page 2 of 2 As always, the YVCOG is pleased to assist our members in securing the funding necessary to meet their program goals. Sincerely, art 4 3.- - N J. Page Scott Executive Director Enc: 1/2/13 Addendum 3/19/12 STP award letter cc: Douglas Mayo, City Engineer, City of Yakima Roger Arms, Local Programs Engineer, WSDOT South Central Region City of Yakima North 1 Street Revitalization December 19, 2012 YAKIMA VALLEY MPO /RTPO STP Regional Competitive Application ADDENDUM ©EfVE Project Name: North 1 Street Revitalization Agency: City of Yakima 1 JAN - 2 2c13 Contact: Original Total Project Cost Estimate: 53,470,0001 (from Question 5 , Page 2 of application) STP Funds awarded for PE: $250,000 Phase STP Funding Local/Non- federal ! Source(s) of Obligation Target Requested Matching Funds ! Matching Funds (month /year) (max 86.5 %) (min 13.5 %) RW $ $ CN $2,718,000 $425,000 Local September, 2014 Total $2,718,000 $425,000 Additional information: I - Signature: f --±k U ' Date: 1- - t 3 ti Aal )s %/ C o G YAKIMA VALLEY A3rik CONFERENCE OF GOVERNMENTS 311 North 4th Street, Suite 202 • Yakima, Washington 98901 509 -574 -1550 • FAX 574 -1551 — — website. www.yvcog.org March 19, 2012 Michael Morales, Interim City Manager 129 North 2nd Street Yakima, WA 98901 . SUBJECT: FFY 2010 - 2011 STP Regional Funds — North 1 Street Revitalization Dear Interim City Manager Morales, Congratulations! On March 19, 2012 the Yakima Valley MPO/RTPO Executive Committee approved: • $250,000 in STP funds for the City of Yakima's North 1 Street Revitalization project submitted for the FFY 2010 -2011 Y STP Regional call for projects. Projects must be included in the current STIP before federal funds can be obligated. By accepting this award you are agreeing to obligate the STP funds identified by April 23, 2013 for this project. STP Regional funding awards contribute to YVCOG membership assessments in the YVCOG budget. Please be aware that your jurisdiction's membership assessment may increase when STP funding is awarded to a project. If you have any questions concerning STIP amendments, please contact Deb LaCombe at the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments (YVCOG). As always, the YVCOG is pleased to assist our member jurisdictions in securing the funding necessary to meet their program goals. Sincerely, I 41/ I J. Page Scott Executive Director cc: Douglas Mayo, City Engineer, City of Yakima Roger Arms, Local Programs Engineer, WSDOT South Central Region MEMBER JURISDICTIONS Grandview • Granger • Hanah • Mabton • Moxee • Naches • Se]ah Sunnyside • Tieton • Toppenish • Union Gap • Wapato • Yakima • Yakima County • Zillah =` ► .f- Wastewater /Stormwater Division `. • 2220 E. Viola s.;;: � ; ; ' rf Yakima, WA 98901 ' •, Phone: (509) 575 -6077 Fax: (509) 575 -6116 City Council Informational Item January 22, 2013 To: Honorable Mayor, Members of City Council, City Manager From: Scott Schafer, Wastewater Division Manager Ryan Anderson, Wastewater Utility Engineer Cc: Debbie Cook, Director of Utilities & Engineering Subject: Wastewater Division Using Recycled Christmas Trees in Restoration Project The City of Yakima Wastewater Division, with the help of North Yakima Conservation District and the Washington Conservation Corps, picked up over 100 re- purposed Christmas trees for use in the City's Outfall Relocation and Floodplain Restoration Project. The project recycles the trees; keeping them out of landfills while helping fish habitat and Camp Prime Time. Due to a proposed project by Yakima County and the Army Corps of Engineers, the City will move its wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) outfall to a series of restored side channels along the Yakima River. Part of this Restoration Project involves re- introducing woody material to the side channels and to the areas on the floodplain between them. Camp Prime Time chips up Christmas trees as mulch to recycle and help fund activities for the kids. City staff requested that some of the trees be left whole to be used as fish habitat enhancement material. With the help of Camp Prime Time, the City purchased over 100 trees for this purpose. This technique is becoming more popular as a restoration tool, as described by the attached articles showing it used in Lake Havasu and the Oregon coast. In addition, the City Christmas tree from Millennium Plaza and other tree based debris cleared from City projects, have been brought to the restoration site and will be used as large woody debris to be placed between channels to create habitat for birds and other wildlife as part of enhancements to the 100 acre project. i. A i tl oot. . f . 0*., °' a' (Christmas trees stockpiled at the WWTP ready for use nextsummer during Restoration Project) Yakima Herald Republic I Christmas tree project: Reduce, reuse — or just dump it into th... Page 1 of 3 Home News LatestNews Christmas tree project: Reduce, reuse or just dump it into the lake POSTED ON JANUARY 7, 2013 By Mike Anton LOS ANGELES — The ghosts of Christmas past Los Angeles can be found in some unusual places. The bottom Times of Lake Havasu, for instance. There, thousands of Christmas trees sunk by wildlife biologists have found a second life as fish habitat in an ecosystem damaged by the damming of the Colorado River decades ago. What nature once provided — a steady source of organic material such as brush and uprooted trees — disappeared when the once wild and muddy river was tamed. The lake is a reservoir behind Parker Dam on the California border with Arizona. By the late 1980s, Lake Havasu's now crystal clear waters harbored few places where newly spawned fish could find shelter from predators. Fish populations were a fraction of what they had been a generation before. "There was no place for the young fish to hide until they matured," said Kirk Koch, a fisheries program manager for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. "Instead, they would be consumed by bigger fish." The solution was a gift that keeps on giving: Christmas trees. More than 30 million farm - harvested trees are sold nationwide each year. No matter how pretty they're decorated, they all meet the same ignoble fate: ground up as mulch or buried in landfills. http: / /www.yakimaherald. com /news /latestnews /701865 -8 /christmas- tree -proj ect- reduce -re... 1/24/2013 Yakima Herald Republic 1 Christmas tree project: Reduce, reuse — or just dump it into th... Page 2 of 3 When it began in 1992, the effort at Lake Havasu was the largest fresh -water habitat recovery program in the nation, Koch said. Over the next decade, $16 million and countless hours of work by volunteers created 875 acres of artificial reefs. Structures were formed by sinking PVC pipe, concrete sewer pipe and cinder blocks in 42 coves. Then, discarded Christmas trees were lashed together, weighted down and dumped around the structures. Piles of brush were added. As the trees and brush decomposed, the pipe and concrete structure grew a biological skin of mosses and algae that was then colonized by insects. In addition to providing shelter, the Christmas tree structures also became a source of fish food. Scuba divers check sites annually and have found that fish are drawn to Christmas trees as much as Santa is. "When they started, they could count all of the fish at any spot on their fingers," Koch said. "Progressively, they found more fish — way, way more fish — than they can count." The project turned Lake Havasu into a popular sport fishing destination. "Before this, the lake was basically dead," said Arnold Vignoni, president of the local chapter of Anglers United, whose members help maintain the reefs. "The bass tournament guys — and we have lots of bass tournaments here now — say the fishing is just outstanding." It takes a Christmas tree five to six years to decompose under water. So each year, volunteers toss in as many as Soo additional trees and a thousand brush piles to replenish the reefs. Part of the benefit of creating habitat with Christmas trees is that it's cheap — trash haulers are happy to unload onto others what they pick up at the curb. http: / /www.yakimaherald. com/ news /latestnews /701865 -8 /christmas- tree -proj ect- reduce -re... 1/24/2013 Yakima Herald Republic I Christmas tree project: Reduce, reuse — or just dump it into th... Page 3 of 3 This year, Riverside County supervisors approved a plan to transfer 2 tons of trees collected at county landfills to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which will dump them into two lakes that badly need them. The load will make Quinn Granfors' job much easier. Granfors, a state fisheries biologist, has been tossing trees into Lake Elsinore and Lake Perris since 2006. Working under budget constraints, he was left to scrounge around on his own after Christmas in search of trees. Now they'll be coming to him. In the coming weeks, he and volunteers will send hundreds of weighted trees to the bottom of the lakes. "I kind of joke with the guys that they're now qualified to get a job with the mob," Granfors said. "Because they know how to make organic material disappear." F Add a comment... Posting as Sonya Claar Tee (Not you ?) I Comment Ez Post to Facebook F acebook social 'Agin http: / /www.yakimaherald. com/ news /latestnews /701865 -8 /christmas- tree -proj ect- reduce -re... 1/24/2013 Turning Christmas Trees Into Salmon Habitat I ecotrope.opb.org Page 1 of 3 ecotrope.opb.ora Turning Christmas Trees Into Salmon Habitat e i . ii. + ; • li t y • Byron Thompson, left, Michael Ellis and Mike Gentry lace used Christmas trees into an off - channel area of the Necanicum River near Seaside. The Tualatin Valley Gentry of Trout Unlimited is launching its second year of collecting Christmas trees for salmon habitat. Why are a bunch of sport fishermen collecting used Christmas trees this year? They're planning to give them to coho salmon by placing them in coastal streams, where the trees provide protection from predators and a food source. Conservation volunteers with the Tualatin Valley chapter of Trout Unlimited are the focus of the next story in a series about people thinking outside the box about environmental issues. The group collected 400 Christmas trees last year and proceeded to sink them into a slow - moving section of the Necanicum River on Oregon's North Coast. Within hours, underwater photos and video showed clusters of baby coho swimming around their branches. "It was pretty apparent the fish were just waiting for that stuff to get in the water," said Michael Ellis, the group's conservation director. "There were little fish flying through the Christmas trees." Restoring depleted salmon runs is a big, complicated job. But the Trout Unlimited group has found an innovative, hands -on approach to supporting the cause: One donated Christmas tree at a time. http: / / ecotrope.opb.org / 2012/12/ giving - christmas- trees -to- salmon/ 1/10/2013 Turning Christmas Trees Into Salmon Habitat I ecotrope.opb.org Page 2 of 3 Ellis organizes work parties for Trout Unlimited members who want to help improve fish habitat, part of the group's mission. A few dozen of the group's 40o members regularly volunteer to do conservation work such as removing invasive plants near streams, planting native species, and helping replace culverts to improve stream flows for fish. Their new conservation project — collecting Christmas trees and placing them in salmon habitat — is new and pretty unique, but it has the potential to change the way people dispose of their Christmas trees across the Northwest. "We know historically there was an awful lot of woody debris that ended up in the streams," said Ellis. "It wasn't just logs. It was branches of trees. When one of those big, old Sitka spruces lost a branch, it put a lot of material into the water and a pretty complex biological process started taking place. It was colonized by bacteria utilizing the needles for food. Those in turn started feeding other organisms. Essentially, they were making fish food right there." P 7 ': ` *:; . - ;.L ' With less woody debris in the water today, oun T' ' 1 4 salmon have less protection from predators and ,, �. '0:4 fewer sources of food. That makes it harder for them i'',._...; � '' � to survive the swim downstream to the ocean and ' • r. it r back to spawn. "With Christmas trees, we can recreate historical conditions and give young coho a better chance to get _ ' w to the ocean and come back and make more fish," Ellis said. Young salmon are particularly vulnerable to Within days ofputting Christmas trees under water, a brown al ae starts growing on the needles. Other predators in the summer, said Trout Unlimited critters ack to the branches to feed, and a new food member and wetlands consultant Doug who web is orn. g Y� helped find salmon habitat for the donated Christmas trees near his house along the Necanicum. "We see juveniles in summer pools and some pretty heavy predation because there's no cover," said Ray. "The river otters, too, have really easy access to them," Ray's been documenting the value of Christmas trees on one of his company's wetlands restoration projects since 2008, when the recession left a local home and garden store with 150 unsold noble fir trees. The trees were donated to the restoration project, and the following winter Ray's nighttime surveys revealed baby coho concentrated around the trees. He's convinced the process can be replicated in similar sites throughout the region. "If everyone in Oregon took all their Christmas trees and put them into a stream instead of chipping them into mulch, it would be a really valuable gift to http: / /ecotrope.opb.org /2012/12/ giving - christmas- trees -to- salmon/ 1/10/2013 Turning Christmas Trees Into Salmon Habitat I ecotrope.opb.org Page 3 of 3 salmon," he said. "There's no input of that material in ;1 the system anymore. You have to put it there." The Tualatin Valley Trout Unlimited group will be it =- — ' mswri collecting Christmas trees again this year from 9 am - . t ' to 4 pm on Jan. 5, 12 and 19 at two Portland area t - locations: The Royal Treatment Fly Fishing, 21570 Willamette Dr. in West Linn, and Northwest Fly / 4 • illip, ~ Fishing Outfitters, 10910 NE Halsey St. in Portland. eau' tcsy of Michael Eris The Tualatin Valley chapter of Trout Unlimited will be collecting Christmas trees for salmon habitat on three Saturdays next month: Jan. 5, 12 and 19. MORE POSTS ABOUT Fishermen Collect 2.rio Christmas Trees For Salmon Habitat Fish & Wildlife A quick update on a story I covered recently: The Tualatin Valley chapter of Green Christmas trees i Trout Unlimited collected around 250 donated Christmas trees for a salmon Outside The Box Stars habitat project Saturday. In one day, the fishermen surpassed the 200 donated trees they collected ... Read More Salmon • A Portrait Of Wildlife In Forest Park • Knowing Your Farmer — And Your Fisherman view all Fish & Wildlife hosts http: / / ecotrope.opb.org / 2012 /12/giving- christmas- trees -to- salmon/ 1/10/2013 CITY MEETING SCHEDULE For January 28, 2013 — February 4, 2013 Please note: Meetings are subject to change Monday, January 28 12:00 p.m. Capitol Theatre Board Meeting — Capitol Theatre 12:00 p.m. Greenway Board Meeting — Greenway Visitors Center Tuesday, January 29 10:00 a.m. County Commissioners Meeting — Council Chambers 3:00 p.m. Bid Opening — Council Chambers Wednesday, January 30 10:30 a.m. Council Public Safety Committee Meeting — CED Conference Room Thursday, January 31 9:30 a.m. Hearing Examiner — Council Chambers 10:0 a.m. Public Facilities District Meeting — Convention Center Friday, February 1 8:00 a.m. Sister City Meeting — CED Conference Room Monday, February 4 10:00 a.m. City Council Media Briefing — Council Chambers 2:00 p.m. Civil Service Commission — Council Chambers Office Of Mayor /City Council Preliminary Future Activities Calendar Please Note Meetings are subject to change Meeting Organization Meeting Purpose Participants f Meeting Location Date /Time Mon. Jan. 28 1200 p m Capitol Theatre Board Board Meeting Bristol Capitol Theatre Meeting Wed. Jan. 30 10.30 a m City Council Public Safety Scheduled Meeting Cawley, Adkison, CED Conference Room Committee Meeting Ettl Thur. Jan. 31 10.00 a.m. Public Facilities District Scheduled Meeting Bristol Convention Center CR 1 Meeting Fri. Feb. 1 8:00 a.m. Sister City Meeting Scheduled Meeting Adkison CED Conference Room Mon. Feb. 4 10.00 am City Council Media Briefing Scheduled Meeting Bristol Council Chambers Tue. Feb. 5 12 00 p m. Miscellaneous Issues Scheduled Meeting Cawley, Adkison, TBD Ensey 6 }.m City Council Meetiiny Scheduled Meeting Council Council Chambers Wed. Feb. 6 10:00 a.m. Council Partnership Scheduled Meeting Cawley, Adkison, CED Conference Room Committee Ettl Thur. Feb. 7 4.00 p.m. GFI Executive Committee Scheduled Meeting Ettl, Cawley, CWCMH Adkison Mon. Feb. 11 8.30 a m Pension Boards Board Meeting HR Conference Room Tue. Feb. 12 12:00 p.m. Miscellaneous Issues Scheduled Meeting , Cawley. Ettl TBD Wed. Feb. 13 3.30 p.m Regional Planning Scheduled Meeting Council Chambers Commission 5.30 p.m. Parks & Recreation Scheduled Meeting Council Chambers Commission Thur. Feb. 14 1030 a m Council Built Environment Scheduled Meeting Coffey, Ensey, Council Chambers Committee Meeting Lover 1.00 p.m Harman Center Board Board Meeting Harman Center 5:30 p m New Vision Board Meeting , Board Meeting New Vision Office PRELIMINARY FUTURE COUNCIL AGENDA February 5, 2013 (T) 5:00 p.m. Executive Session — Council Chambers 6:00 p m Business Meeting — Council Chambers • Citizen response to Helen Ahern re street light requests • Cancellation of Yakima Air Terminal Joint Operating Agreement with Yakima County • Resolution authorizing renewal of contracts for Fire Communications Services (Dispatching) with the City of Selah, City of Union Gap and the Fire Districts of the Upper Yakima Valley • 4th Quarter 2012 Claim Report and Resolution authorizing and approving 4th Quarter 2012 claims activity • Resolution authorizing a contract with HDR Engineering for an assessment of screening options for Nelson Dam diversions • Resolution authorizing an agreement with the Yakima Southwest Rotary Club for the development of two picnic shelters at Franklin Park • Resolution naming a ballfield at Kiwanis Park in memory of an honored Lions Club Member • Resolution naming a ballfield at Kiwanis Park in memory of an honored Kiwanis Club Member • Resolution naming a ballfield at Kiwanis Park in memory of an honored Rotary Club Member • Resolution authorizing a "Geriatric Foot Care Services Agreement" with Melanie Marvel, R N , to provide foot care services at the Harman Center • Resolution authorizing a Geriatric Foot Care Services Agreement with Rosemary Bonsen, R. N., to provide foot care services at the Harman Center • Resolution authorizing Personal Services Agreements with Instructors, Officials and Referees needed for various Parks and Recreation Division Programs 1/24/2013 826 AM • Resolution authorizing the 2013 Agreement with the Yakima Valley Umpires Association (YVUA) for officiating services for the Parks and Recreation Softball Program • Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with , in an amount not to exceed $ for construction management and inspection services required on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard Underpass • Resolution of the Transportation Benefit District Board withdrawing ballot proposition TBD -R -1 from the Yakima County Auditor to allow for further consideration of the proposition and for possible re- submittal on a future Yakima election ballot • Ordinance Modifying Yakima Transit's Rates And Fares for Fixed -Route and Paratransit Services • Ordinance amending YMC 1.36.030 regarding membership, vacancies and attendance for Yakima Arts Commission 7 p.m. Public Hearing • Public Hearing and resolution to approve updating the Transportation Benefit District's project list to the Second Amended Project List 1/24/2013 8 AM 2013 STUDY SESSION SCHEDULE Council Chambers 10:00 a.m. 2/12 Jail issues /North 1 Street and signage issues 2/26 Regional Fire Authority 3/12 Jail Issues 3/26 Stormwater issues May Airport Master Plan 1/24/2013 8'26 AM Will pot join wine as a leading legal product in Yakima Valley? I Local News I The Seattl... Page 1 of 2 Ztje Seattle Mates Winner of Nine Pulitzer Prizes Local News Originally published January 20, 2013 at 12:56 PM I Page modified January 20, 2013 at 8:56 PM Will pot join wine as a leading legal product in Yakima Valley? Now that Washington voters have legalized marijuana, will an Eastern Washington region long recognized as one of the country's leading fruit bowls, best celebrated for Washington apples, become known as the vice belt? Not necessarily. By SHANNON DININNY The Associated Press YAKIMA — Irrigation canals line Washington's Yakima Valley east of the Cascade Range, transforming a desert landscape into one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world — including crops for some of America's biggest vices. Thousands of acres of wine grapes dot the landscape, contributing to Washington's No. 2 rank for premium -wine production behind California. Farmers grow more than two - thirds of U.S. hops for big beer companies and craft brewers alike, and a large tobacco field is flourishing on a valley Indian reservation. Now that Washington voters have legalized marijuana, will a region long recognized as one of the country's leading fruit bowls, best celebrated for Washington apples, become known as the vice belt? Not necessarily. Too many unanswered questions remain about the new law, from how the state will regulate it to whether entrepreneurs or large corporations should lead the way. And the biggest question: the federal government's role going forward. Marijuana remains illegal under federal law. Many states have approved it for medical use, but only Washington and Colorado have legalized recreational use. The Justice Department has not said whether it will try to block the two states from implementing their new laws, passed late last year. For that reason, key land -grant universities that typically aid the agriculture industry by researching such things as pest control and crop yields — but rely on federal funding to do so — are avoiding the marijuana industry altogether. In addition, marijuana is a crop that can't be insured, and federal drug law bars banks from knowingly serving the industry. Any combination of those factors makes farmers leery of planting marijuana in the near term, said Bob Young, chief economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation. "At this stage of the game, it poses tremendous problems for growers," he said. "Quite frankly, I'd tell one of our members to approach this with great caution." Both states are in the process of developing rules for a legal marijuana industry. In Washington state, a Liquor Control Board that privatized liquor sales statewide last year on orders of a http: // seattletimes. com /html/ localnews /2020176869 potfarmingxml.html 1/22/2013 Will pot join wine as a leading legal product in Yakima Valley? I Local News I The Seattl... Page 2 of 2 different voter - approved initiative now is tasked with developing rules governing pot cultivation, processing and sales. Of the three licenses the board will authorize — grower, processor, seller — the rules for producing marijuana raise the most complex issues, according to Randy Simmons, project manager for the Liquor Control Board. How many farmers should be allowed to produce marijuana to meet demand, and how big should their crops be? Where should they get their seeds? Should a crop be grown indoors or in fields outside? Dozens of marijuana experts, who have been growing plants for medical use or in secret for illegal use, are educating state officials about the potential for the crop. Probably 95 percent of those people choose to grow their plants indoors, despite higher costs, to control light and temperature, improve quality and increase yields, Simmons said. Indoor crops generally allow for up to three harvests per season, compared with just one harvest for an outdoor crop, and allow for easier security measures. As Simmons put it, "Somebody out picking a handful of grapes isn't going to get stoned. So if we go through this process and determine outdoor grows are OK, we have to determine security standards." Security is a concern for Gail Besemer, who grows flowers and vegetables near Deming, Whatcom County, and has expressed interest in a producer license. Besemer has three hoop houses — essentially temporary greenhouses — but could see expanding slightly to grow marijuana for a local clientele. However, "I'm concerned about druggies invading my property -- ne'er -do -wells invading my property to steal, to get free dope," she said. "Security would be an issue." Besemer, in her 6os, said she has never grown marijuana or used it, but can see potential for the crop. "My family is not particularly excited about me being interested in this. But if someone has an integrated farm, growing a number of different crops, I would think it would be a high -profit plant," she said. "Taxation and security might get in the way of profits, and it might end not being so profitable. "I'll just have to wait and see about the regulations," she said. The Colorado Farm Bureau opposed the law there and says none of its members has expressed interest because they are unwilling to take the risk, according to Nicholas Colglazier, director of public policy. Few traditional farmers, like Besemer, have expressed interest in Washington. Simmons acknowledged that there are still many unanswered questions, but said answers will come with new state regulations this year. But he said he could envision an industry that allows for both boutique growers with higher - quality marijuana and large outdoor growers to get a cheaper product on the market. "You're always going to see people looking for specific strains and varieties," he said. "It's like drinking Budweiser or a microbrew." http: // seattletimes. com /html/ localnews /2020176869 potfarmingxml.html 1/22/2013 Pierce Transit to cut service by 34 percent - seattlepi.com Page 1 of 1 Pierce Transit to cut service by 34 percent KOMO STAFF Publishod 10 26 pm, Monday, January 14, 2218 Ads by Coogle Seattle Super Limo www,scattlesunerlirno corn Transport For All Occasions. Licensed Professional Drivers Thanks to the failure of controversial Proposition i, Pierce Transit will soon cut its service by a whopping 34 percent. The Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners passed a resolution Monday night directing staff to implement the service reductions at the end of September. The massive cuts come after voters narrowly defeated Prop i. Pierce Transit had asked voters to pitch in 3 cents for every $10 spent for a new tax that would keep buses rolling at night and on weekends. The proposition failed by only 704 votes "We understand these reductions will deeply impact thousands in our communities," Tacoma Mayor and Pierce Transit Board Chair Marilyn Strickland said in a Monday night news release. "This was a difficult decision. Reducing service in September allows our riders time to make plans in advance and the agency to provide stable service." Monday's vote means Pierce Transit will cut 142,000 of its current 417,000 annual service hours. Elements of the reduction plan include the elimination of weekend and holiday service, as well as cutting route 62 in northeast Tacoma Weekday service will also be reduced in the evenings and midday. The full plan will he released to the public soon, according to the hoard, Ads by Gongle Repeal Obamacare? neM uax,comisurvev Should Congress Repeal OW ma's Policies? Vote Here Now. http: / /www. seattlepi.com/local /komo /article/ Pierce - Transit -to- cut - service- by -34- percent -4... 1/15/2013