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Home My WebLink About05/11/2021 00 Misc. Distributed at Meeting Distributed at the Meetings 1 Claar Tee, Sonya From: Harrison, Bob Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2021 10:39 AM To: All City Council Cc: Claar Tee, Sonya; Beehler, Randy Subject: Letters of Support Request Attachments: YVC Letter of Support.docx; Letter of Support Yakima Superior Court.docx Dear Council Members, We have subsequently received two additional requests for Letters of Support(see attached). These have all come in at the last minute as Senator Murray's request deadline is fast approaching. { The three projects received so far requesting letters of support: 1. YVCOG for a housing plan—(Already included in your packets) 2. YVC for support for their LPN program 3. Yakima County Superior Court for remodeling their courtrooms in order to accommodate socially distant requirements and upgrade the basics(like electrical wiring in order to support better software systems and the computers to run them). Jessica Humphreys, YC Superior Court Administrator will be available to answer questions on their project. Chris Wickenhagen will be available for the COG letter. Waiting to finalize the YVC representative. By your leave, if Council could consider amending the agenda in order to deal with this issue first, it will free up the outside individuals to leave, and then we can proceed with the Nelson Dam presentation. Thanks, Bob Bob Harrison City Manager City of Yakima 129 North 2nd Street Yakima, WA 98901 www.yakimawa.gov 1 May 11, 2021 Senator Patty Murray United States Senator for Washington 154 Russell Senate Office Building United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Murray: On behalf of the Yakima City Council, I am writing to express Yakima City Council support for the Yakima County Superior Court and its application for federal funding under the Congressionally Directed Spending- General Government Appropriations Bill. Superior Court's goal to renovate courtrooms, updating technology (e.g. enhancing the electrical system that can support modern technology) while providing more space for in-person attendees is vital to our continued efforts to process county court cases efficiently,transparently while allowing better access to justice for the community. These funds will make it possible for the court to effectively address the numerous cases postponed during the pandemic by improving the use of space so the courts can open fully and operate in a safe and healthy environment. The Yakima County Court prosecutes all felonies that occur in the County, including within the City of Yakima. Yakima County's revenue is severely limited with large portions of Yakima County that are tax exempt, including federal lands and the Yakama Nation Reservation. Without these directly appropriated funds, it is unlikely that the Yakima County Superior Court could raise the necessary funding within their existing budget to make these essential changes to the courtrooms. The courthouse is antiquated; capital projects-especially in the courtrooms, have not been made since the 1960s. The ramifications resulting from COVID-19 made it clear that it is time to bring the courtroom environment into the 215i century. Bringing modern technology into Superior Court will significantly enhance efficiency and be able to effectively manage the backlog of cases that resulted from Covid-19 and be prepared for any potential future pandemics that may occur. Sincerely, Patricia Byers Mayor May 11, 2021 Senator Patty Murray United States Senator for Washington 154 Russell Senate Office Building United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Murray: On behalf of the Yakima City Council, I am writing in strong support of the Yakima Valley College (YVC) and the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC) partnership for long term care (LTC) career pathway. o YVC is the perfect place to launch this new state and national model. YVC has the only Licensed Nurse Practitioner program on the eastside and its nursing program has a history of excellence. YVC is also home to the Washington State Allied Health Center of Excellence, which has been an active participant in the workgroup that conceived the program. o This program will create a critically needed career pathway for people and the most entry-level positions in health care, which are home care aides.These workers earn the least, are typically least skilled, and currently lack a defined path for education and skill attainment that will allow them to increase their earnings and meet the need for skilled LTC workers. o These one-time funds will allow this project to launch at YVC and provide a centrally located model that can be scaled to other parts of the State,without the need for additional Congressional Committee Project funding.This project will make YVC a state and national model for developing a career pathway for home care aides and meeting current and upcoming shortfalls in LTC workers for our growing senior populations. o The Yakima area has many long-term care facilities for partnering; these facilities were hit hard during COVID-19, making LTC staffing challenges more visible as an issue to address. o In 2018 the Washington State legislature directed NCQAC to establish a steering committee to address the growing shortfall of LPNs available for long term care patients, a looming crisis as the boomer generation ages. In looking specifically at this LPN shortfall, this work led to the identification of an apprenticeship career pathway for home care aides to progress to nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses.This mechanism not only creates a workforce for the nursing profession, but also creates upward career mobility opportunity for home care aids, an entry-level position in today's health care system. o This program stems from a bill passed by the Washington State legislature in 2018 to address certain critical workforce needs in the state.After a diligent and thorough analysis which considered ways to address the current longterm care (LTC) workforce shortage needs in the state as well as to meet the looming worker-shortage crisis, the working group in charge of this problem arrived at this program guided by the NCQAC and launched and piloted at YVC. The City of Yakima believes this program will meet needs in our community as well as continuing to enhance the skills and employment opportunities of our workforce. We hope that you will strongly consider the Yakima Valley funding request. Sincerely, Patricia Byers Mayor Claar Tee, Sonya From: Harrison, Bob Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2021 2:03 PM To: All City Council Cc: Claar Tee, Sonya; Beehler, Randy Subject: justice housing letter of support request for Sen. Murray Attachments: justice housing.docx This request for a letter of support arrived this afternoon. We have modified and put it into a draft letter for Council consideration this evening. 1 May 11, 2021 Senator Patty Murray United States Senator for Washington 154 Russell Senate Office Building United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Murray: The City of Yakima has an affordable housing shortage. The vacancy rate in the city is less than 1%. The City's housing action plan calls for construction of at least 276 new housing units per year. The residents most affected by this shortage often live with physical and/or mental disabilities, a history of trauma or abuse, and addictions. Many end up in shelters such as Camp Hope, where volunteers work with them to help them heal from their afflictions and become ready for permanent housing. The objective of Justice Housing Yakima is to provide a housing solution for people experiencing homelessness. The goal is to build a tiny house village (Cottage Hill Village) of 25 units; each will include a kitchenette, bathroom and bedroom along with HVAC. This permanent supportive housing development will also include a larger common building with laundry facilities and space for larger gatherings. Cottage Hill Village will complement Yakima's existing network of shelters,transitional housing and voucher-based housing programs by offering a stable and affordable home situated in a community-based support network. On behalf of the City Council, I am submitting this letter of support for the Justice Housing Yakima directed appropriation request for land acquisition and pre-development of Cottage Hill Village. Having a diversity of housing to meet all of our community needs are critically important and the Justice Housing Yakima project will meet an identified need in our community. Sincerely, Patricia Byers Mayor