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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/29/2000 Adjourned Meeting 280 CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON FEBRUARY 29, 2000 • 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. 2 282 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.) 3 283 FEBRUARY 29, 2000 - ADJOURNED MEETING • 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. i/ 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 • 4