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Home My WebLink About01/15/2013 00 Action MinutesYAKIMA CITY COUNCIL January 15, 2013 Council Chambers -- City Hall 6 p.m. Business Meeting MINUTES + Back Lli Print BUSINESS MEETING 1. Roll Call Council Mayor Micah Cawley, presiding, Assistant Mayor Maureen Adkison, Council Members Sara Bristol, Kathy Coffey, Rick Ensey, Dave Ettl and Bill Lover Staff- City Manager O'Rourke, City Attorney Cutter and City Clerk Claar Tee 2. Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Cawley led the Pledge of Allegiance 3. Open Discussions for the Good of the Order A. Proclamations Martin Luther King, Jr Proclamation Mayor Cawley proclaimed January 20 -26, 2013 as Martin Luther King, Jr Week. Reverend Trimble and Steve Mitchell accepted the proclamation Reverend Trimble spoke on behalf of the Martin Luther King, Jr Planning Committee and stated how pleased they are that Council took this time to reflect back on Dr Martin Luther King, Jr and for being good citizens for our City He feels Yakima is one of the leading cities for teaching about Dr King Steve Mitchell thanked Council for the proclamation on behalf of OIC Lover moved and Ensey seconded to give $500 to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee from the Council budget. Motion Approve, Moved by Council Member Bill Lover, Seconded by Council Member Rick Ensey Adopted 7 -0 Council Members voting Aye Adkison, Bristol, Cawley, Coffey, Ensey, Ettl, Lover B. Presentations /recognitions /introductions Recognition of retiring police officers James Belton and James Wentz Police Chief Rizzi introduced Officers Belton and Wentz. Mayor Cawley thanked them for their years of service to the citizens of Yakima and presented each of them with a City of Yakima watch 4. Council Reports Pagel of 4 None 5. Consent Agenda Mayor Cawley referred to the items placed on the Consent Agenda, questioning whether there were any additions or deletions from Council members or citizens present There were no changes The City Clerk read the Consent Agenda items, including resolutions and ordinances by title (Items on the Consent Agenda are handled under one motion without further discussion —see motion directly below ) Motion Approve, Moved by Council Member Rick Ensey, Seconded by Assistant Mayor Maureen Adkison Carried 7 -0 Council Members voting Aye Adkison, Bristol, Cawley, Coffey, Ensey, Ettl, Lover A. Resolution authorizing an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Selah for public transportation services in the city of Selah RESOLUTION NO. R- 2013 -008, A RESOLUTION authorizing and directing the City Manager of the City of Yakima to execute an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Selah for public transportation services in the city of Selah B. Resolution authorizing a Professional Services Agreement with the Yakima Valley Basketball Officials Association (YVBOA) for Officiating Services during the 2013 Basketball Season RESOLUTION NO. R- 2013 -009, A RESOLUTION authorizing and directing the City Manager to execute the 2013 Agreement between the City of Yakima and the Yakima Valley Basketball Officials Association for the purpose of obtaining officiating services for the organized basketball program of the City of Yakima 6. Audience Participation None CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS 7. Resolution setting the time and place for a public hearing on February 5, 2013 at 7 00 PM in the City of Yakima Council Chambers to hear from the public on the Transportation Benefit District's Second Amended Project List Council adjourned from the regular business meeting and convened as the Transportation Benefit Board. Assistant City Attorney Faul briefed Council on the issue Council Member Coffey wondered if it would be appropriate to change this to the August election instead of April to better educate the citizens on the issue, which could also reduce costs of the election City Manager O'Rourke suggested this can be discussed at next Tuesday's study session Council Member Lover is troubled by moving this to the primary election as there could be as many as 15 candidates running for City Council and this will become a campaign issue The City Clerk read the resolution by title RESOLUTION NO. R- 2013- TBD -2, A RESOLUTION setting the time and place for a public hearing on February 5, 2013 at 7 00 PM in the City of Yakima Council Chambers to hear from the public on the Transportation Benefit District's Second Amended Project List. Council adjourned from the Transportation Benefit Board meeting and adjourned back to the regular business meeting. Motion Approve, Moved by Council Member Rick Ensey, Seconded by Council Member Sara Bristol Adopted 7 -0 Council Members voting Aye Adkison, Bristol, Cawley, Coffey, Ensey, Page 2 of 4 Ettl, Lover 8. Resolution approving Proposition to amend Article VII, Section 2 of the City of Yakima Charter requiring affirmative vote of at least five City Council members to approve any new councilmanic tax, and authorizing submission of Proposition for vote of the people on special election on April 23, 2013 Senior Assistant City Attorney Kunkler briefed Council on the issue and noted several other items Council votes on that already require a super majority vote per state law Bill Duerr, 3206 W Yakima, reported the cost of a special election is more than the general or primary election and recommended this be conducted at the primary or general election Council Member Lover feels it is too easy to raise taxes and spoke in favor of passing this resolution as he feels it mirrors the state process He believes the property tax that was passed is a good example, and stated there is no extra cost to add this to an election where we already have a measure going to the voters Council Member Ettl feels this issue comes back to the people and thanked Council Member Lover for the information he presented He understands the mood of the public and spoke in favor of the resolution Council Member Coffey appreciates both points of view She feels very strongly they were elected to speak for the people and there are already safe - guards in place that require a super majority vote She believes if this resolution is approved, it will tie the hands of future councils and spoke in opposition of the resolution Assistant Mayor Adkison agreed with Council Member Coffey and noted they, as a Council, have been slow to react to real issues and this could slow the process down even more She spoke in opposition of the resolution Council Member Bristol stated she will be voting for the resolution and voiced her surprise at the amount of politics that go on with this Council She feels this is a campaign tactic directly related to this year's election She believes we need to change our tactics not taxes Council Member Coffey agreed with Council Member Bristol's comments and feels campaigning has begun She pointed out on behalf of public safety, they have had to raise taxes in order to put more officers on the street and she has not heard any negativity related to this, but has been thanked by members of the community Mayor Cawley spoke in opposition of this issue He pointed out this was not a petition brought to Council from the citizens It is from Council, and he might feel differently if this was a petition of the people Council Member Bristol questioned when this item should be on the ballot. Council Member Lover believes if Council doesn't place this on the ballot, he expects this to be brought back from the people He stated this Council has raised more taxes in the last 3 months than any Council ever before and they are a "tax and spend" Council He noted if this is put on the August ballot he will campaign and demonize this council as the highest taxing Council in recent history The City Clerk read the resolution by title A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City of Yakima, Washington, providing for the submission to the voters of the City of Yakima a Proposition on whether Article VII, Section 2 of the Charter of the City of Yakima should be amended to require the affirmative vote of at least five members of the City Council to approve all new councilmanic tax measures and increases thereto, and requesting the Yakima County Auditor to submit the Proposition to the voters on the regular municipal election to be held April 23, 2013 Motion Approve, Moved by Council Member Rick Ensey, Seconded by Council Member Bill Lover Failed 3 -4 Council Members voting Aye Ensey, Ettl, Lover Council Members voting Page 3 of 4 Nay- Adkison, Bristol, Cawley, Coffey 9. Resolution approving Agreement for Air Service Development and Consulting Services with Airplanners, LLC City Manager O'Rourke briefed Council on the issue and reviewed the provisions of the contract. He stated a market research study should also be conducted so we are driven by facts and data He reminded Council that the Delta flight was successful, unfortunately, they consolidated with NW Airlines and decided to move their flights Council Member Lover noted airlines have major criteria to meet. Council Member Coffey spoke in favor of this issue and noted Yakima is a drive market and we need to get into a regional service and expand The City Clerk read the resolution by title RESOLUTION NO. R- 2013 -010, A RESOLUTION authorizing the City manager to execute an agreement between Airplanners, LLC and City of Yakima for air service development and consulting services for Yakima Air Terminal Motion Approve, Moved by Council Member Dave Ettl, Seconded by Council Member Kathy Coffey Adopted 7 -0 Council Members voting Aye Adkison, Bristol, Cawley, Coffey, Ensey, Ettl, Lover 10. Other Business 11. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 7 06 p m to a Council Study Session on January 22, 2013 at 10 a m in the Council Chambers Motion Adjourn, Moved by Council Member Rick Ensey, Seconded by Council Member Kathy Coffey Carried 7 -0 Council Members voting Aye Adkison, Bristol, Cawley, Coffey, Ensey, Ettl, Lover CERTIFICATION READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY ATTEST CITY CLERK COUNCIL MEMBER DATE COUNCIL MEMBER DATE MAYOR Page 4 of 4