HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/29/2000 Adjourned Meeting 280
CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
FEBRUARY 29, 2000
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The City Council met in session on this date at 7 :30 a.m., in the
Second Floor Training Room at the Police Station /Legal Center, 200
South 3 Street, Yakima, Washington. Mayor Mary Place, presiding,
Council Members Clarence Barnett, Lynn Buchanan, Larry Mattson,
John Puccinelli, and Bernard Sims present on roll call. Council
Member Henry Beauchamp was absent and excused. Staff members
present were Dick Zais, City Manager; Glenn Rice, Assistant City
Manager; Chris Waarvick, Director of Public Works; Don Blesio,
Police Chief; Al Gillespie, Fire Chief; Shelley Willson, Streets
and Traffic Operations Manager; Joan Davenport, Supervising Traffic
Engineer; Richard Wormer, Fleet Manager; Kay Adams, City Engineer;
Bert Tabayoyon, Customer Services Manager; Jeff Schneider, Police
Captain; Doug Maples, Code Administration Manager; and City Clerk
Roberts.
Also in attendance were Tom Barrington, AFSCME representative, Joel
Pearson, Marsh Advantage America; Gary Bailey, Bailey Electric; Bob
Young, Central Washington Home Builders Association; John Klingele;
Ron Newbry, Pacific Power & Light; Debbie Maybee; Evergreen
Financial Services; Steve Picket, Farm Credit Services; Larry
Couette, Jack Horner Electric; and Christopher Swanson, architect
with Knipper Dunn at Lake Aspen.
1. CONSIDERATION OF REPORT ON 16 AVENUE TRAFFIC ISSUES -
RESTRICTION OF LEFT TURNS
Joan Davenport, Supervising Traffic Engineer, reviewed the staff
report on 16 Avenue turn restrictions. The staff report addresses
16 Avenue between SR -12 and Washington Avenue and provides
information regarding current conditions, the collision history
between 1998 and 1999, travel time and vehicle delay, and design
options. She stated there is no staff recommendation included in
the report since this is simply an informational report requested
by Council. Salient points found in the report include: (1)
traffic counts at a range from 12,300 to 22,750 vehicle trips per
day; (2) the most dangerous intersection is the unsignalized
intersection at Englewood /Cherry; (3) the actual travel speed
(includes time spent at traffic signals) is about 20 mph, down from
the 1992 rate of 25 mph; (4) left turn restriction enforcement
methods, including barriers or striping and signing; and (5)
creation of a fifth lane for left turns is a possibility but would
require additional right -of -way acquisition.
Council Member Barnett referenced an earlier report staff had
provided about traffic safety, indicating there are other
intersections in the city that have higher accident histories than
16t Avenue. He thought the report should have addressed the impact
FEBRUARY 29, 2000 - ADJOURNED MEETING
on residents and businesses on 16 Avenue. He also stated that
hearings and neighborhood meetings should be held to discuss this
with the 16 Avenue property and business owners before proceeding
any further. Council Member Buchanan stated he had wanted this
information to help determine what kind of planning needs to be
done to meet the future transportation needs to get across town in
a north /south direction. Mr. Waarvick stated that before doing a
'comprehensive report regarding restriction of left turns on 16
Avenue staff wanted to get direction from Council. Several of the
Council members and business owners spoke against the installation
of barriers. Chief Blesio and Chief Gillespie expressed their
concerns about the impact that restricting left turns on 16 Avenue
would have when they are responding to emergency calls. Discussion
occurred regarding the acquisition of purchasing additional right-
of -way to widen 16 Avenue to accommodate a left turn storage lane
(fifth lane). Larry Couette, Jack Horner Electric; Joel Pearson,
Marsh Advantage America (formerly Sedgwick James); Christopher
Swanson, Knipper Dunn located at Lake Aspen; Ron Newbry, Pacific
Power & Light; and Gary Bailey, Bailey Electric; spoke about the
negative impact on most of the businesses if left turns on 16
Avenue are restricted and no fifth lane is created.
Commenting that if 16 Avenue can't efficiently accommodate the
north /south traffic, Council Member Buchanan said that Council will
have to look for another north /south street between 16 and 40
Avenues to carry the traffic. Council Members Puccinelli and
Mattson agreed. Council was reminded about what happened during
the last discussion of improving 32 Avenue to handle additional
traffic.
Mr. Waarvick recapped the Council's directions and requests for
additional information: 1) review options /cost with the City
Engineer to improve the 16 Avenue /Englewood intersection; 2)
review options /cost with the City Engineer to improve the 16
Avenue /River Road intersection; 3) review the timing of the signal
light for left turns at the Yakima and 6 Avenues intersection,
causing citizens to proceed to Chestnut to avoid missing the light;
4) look at right -of -way map along 16 Avenue to consider a 5
lane; and (5) look at feasibility of a possible additional
north /south street between 16 and 40 Avenue that could be
improved to arterial standards. Council Member Barnett pointed out
that traffic safety issues for the entire city should be
considered, not just 16 Avenue. Joan Davenport stated that staff
will be updating the transportation element of the Comprehensive
Plan which will include a study of the north /south arterial streets
as requested by Council.
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FEBRUARY 29, 2000 - ADJOURNED MEETING
2. STAFF REPORT ON FLEET MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS AND RECOMMENDATION
RELATING TO SNOW REMOVAL CAPABILITIES (4x4 PICKUPS)
Chris Waarvick, Public Works Director, referenced the report
relating to the City's snow removal capabilities, commenting that
staff reviewed the issue of whether the trucks budgeted for 2000
should be upgraded to 4x4s with snow blades. The report also
contains observations of the Fleet Maintenance Division's
operations made by the new manager.
Richard Wonner, Fleet Maintenance Manager, stated that the 2000
budget included the purchase of 11 4x4s with snow plows. Council
had deferred approval of those purchase proposals until he could
make a recommendation. In order to make a recommendation he
studied the City's existing equipment and snow removal program. On
page two of the report, there is a description of the fleet
complement for snow removal. So far, the 4x4s have not been used
much in the street snow removal program, but have been used for
clearing snow from sidewalks and City -owned parking lots.
Reviewing the 1996 -1997 effort to remove snow, he believed that the
Fleet Maintenance Division was not prepared. His idea of
preparedness is to have the equipment in such a condition that it
won't break down when it is being used. He stated that beginning
in August, the crews would start inspecting the equipment so that
the equipment is ready for the first snowfall. He believes the
snow plan is well thought out and outlines when outside contractors
will be called and when other City Division's resources would be
called upon for snow removal assistance. He stated he would rather
have the professional drivers do snow removal. He reported he
spoke with a colleague in Wyoming to ask about their snow removal
program and what equipment they use. They use an articulating
tractor with a variety of implements that can be used for multiple
functions. It is small enough, and maneuverable enough, to do
sidewalks and driveway entrances. The City's snow removal
equipment sits unused for most of the year. He recommended
purchasing 4x4s for the Parks & Recreation, Streets, and Wastewater
Divisions. If a 4x4 were purchased for each of these divisions,
the 4x4 /snow blade fleet would be increased from seven to ten.
Mr. Waarvick clarified that out of the eleven budgeted requests for
pick -ups, staff is recommending the purchase of three 4x4s. The
other divisions will purchase whatever they really need in a pick-
up; some might be the compact pick -ups, others might be full -sized
two -wheel drives. No formal Council action was requested after
staff heard a consensus of agreement from the Council about their
recommendation. Mr. Wonner was asked to prepare a report on the
current snow removal fleet providing additional details beyond what
was listed in his staff report and to include which division owns
the equipment and what kind of equipment it actually is. (Council
Member Mattson absent after 8:50 a.m.)
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FEBRUARY 29, 2000 - ADJOURNED MEETING
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There was a brief discussion regarding the feasibility of shift
work for the Fleet Maintenance crew. Mr. Wonner stated he is
working on continuity and communication between the operating
divisions and his staff, between himself and staff, and between his
staff and other staff. He reported that last week he changed the
hours of the two supervisors to staggered eight -hour shifts, Monday
through Friday. He stated he is not prepared to change the shifts
at this time. They are trying different things and have increased
efficiency in the operations, which will make a difference. Council
Member Sims requested a quarterly report on the Division goals
being met relating to equipment maintenance. Mr. Waarvick stated
that he would prepare a response to Council Member Sim's comment
about the City having too many vehicles and no room to store them.
Council also touched on the subject of contracting out some repair
services. Mr. Wonner reported that some services are contracted
out now, such as front -end wheel alignments, muffler work and body
work. He stated that oil changes are not currently contracted out,
which is good, because it gives the mechanics an opportunity to
inspect the vehicle for problems that might be developing.
3. ADJOURNMENT TO MARCH 7, 2000 AT 7:30 A.M. AT THE POLICE
STATION /LEGAL CENTER - 2ND FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM FOR STUDY
SESSION ON DEFERRED REFUSE DIVISION BUDGET POLICY ISSUES
It was MOVED BY BUCHANAN, SECONDED BY SIMS, TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING
AT 9:00 A.M. TO MARCH 7, 2000 AT 7:30 A.M. FOR A STUDY SESSION ON
DEFERRED REFUSE DIVISION BUDGET POLICY ISSUES AT THE POLICE
STATION /LEGAL CENTER. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote;
Beauchamp and Mattson absent.
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READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: !r/ g fE V610 C64 CIL HBER
CIL MEMBER ATE
ATTEST: ./
CITY CLERK MARY PLACE, MAYOR
Minutes prepared by City Clerk Roberts. An audio and video tape of this meeting
are available in the City Clerk's Office
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