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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/11/2000 Business Meeting 399 CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON JULY 11, 2000 BUSINESS MEETING 1. ROLL CALL The City Council met in session on this date at 2:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers of City Hall, Yakima, Washington, Mayor Mary Place, presiding. Council Members Clarence Barnett, Henry Beauchamp, Lynn Buchanan, Larry Mattson, John Puccinelli, and Bernard Sims present on roll call. City Manager Zais, City Attorney Paolella, and City Clerk Roberts were also present. 2. INVOCATION /PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE An Invocation was given by Council Member Puccinelli, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Council Member Sims. 3. OPEN DISCUSSION FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER A. PROCLAMATIONS (IF APPLICABLE) • Referencing the City Manager's evaluation conducted earlier today, Mayor Place discussed his performance rating which was considered excellent. She said they discussed things that could be improved and they hoped to make the city more user friendly. City Manager Zais said he appreciates the discussion and review and said he owes the success to the City employees and management staff. He said the employees have been outstanding especially in light of budget pressures. Mayor Place then said the City had taken some criticism for its position on the issue of the Valley Mall expansion project. She asked the City Attorney to make a few comments. City Attorney Paolella said that, in the public interest, the City has submitted comments to the City of Union Gap and requested an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Mayor Place said this isn't unique and that several buildings and projects within the City of Yakima were required to undertake Environmental Impact Statements. She also noted that Yakima has contributed $500,000 toward the Valley Mall Boulevard road project. She said that they are concerned about what could happen to the City's streets and what the impact would be to traffic. City Manager Zais said Yakima met the deadline for response and the City Council for Union Gap will need to hear this matter. He said the City of Yakima is not objecting to the expansion of the Valley Mall, but is concerned about transportation issues, noting this project will impact the streets and properties in the City of Yakima and traffic mitigation may be needed. Yakima supports Union Gap's • 400 JULY 11, 2000 efforts to achieve a diversified economy, but it must be done responsibly and within the law. Council Member Beauchamp said that the request for an EIS is not unique to this project and is usual for a project of this magnitude. Council Member Sims said that Yakima supported the Valley Mall Boulevard with a $500,000 investment and the City is obligated to make sure things are done correctly. 4. CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Place referred to the items placed on the Consent Agenda, questioning whether there were any additions or deletions from either Council members or citizens present. It was the general consensus of the Council to add Item No. 8 to the Consent Agenda and remove Item No. 12 from the Consent Agenda. The City Clerk then read the Consent Agenda items, including resolutions and ordinances by title. It was MOVED BY SIMS, SECONDED BY BUCHANAN, THAT THE CONSENT AGENDA, AS READ, BE ADOPTED. The motion carried by unanimous roll call vote. (Subsequent paragraphs preceded by an asterisk ( *) indicate items on the Consent Agenda handled under one motion without further discussion.) *5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE JUNE 13, 2000 ADJOURNED MEETING AND JUNE 27, 2000 ADJOURNED AND BUSINESS MEETINGS The minutes of the June 13, 2000 Adjourned meeting and June 27, 2000 Adjourned and Business meetings were approved, having been duly certified accurate by two Council members and no one present wishing to have said minutes read publicly. 6. YARD OF THE MONTH RECOGNITION Lynn Quesenbury, Parks and Recreation Administrative Specialist, announced the Yard -of- the -Month recipients: Zone 1 Northwest Lou & Evelyn Sheeley, 119 No. 55th Avenue Zone 4 Southeast Rose Marie Ulmer, 1106 So. Pleasant Avenue Following a video showing the yards of the month, certificates were presented to Lou & Evelyn Sheeley and Rose Marie Ulmer. 7. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION David Hawkins, 1705 Gordan Road, congratulated the Council on their perspective of the Union Gap project. He commented that what Yakima needs is people coming here to shop. He would like to see the Trolleys back in operation because they are a great tourist attraction and he thinks the City should enter into a one -year contract with a new contractor to do that. 2 4.01 JULY'11, 2000 Hubert "Whitey" Washburn, P.O. Box 892, Naches, Washington spoke regarding his employment with Providence Medical Center and the current labor negotiations. He said this group of employees was coming before community leaders asking for help to bring these negotiations to a resolution that would be beneficial to the community. Council Member Puccinelli took exception to the request for City Council support saying it would be inappropriate for Council to take sides in a labor negotiation or dispute. He expressed his concern that the Council meeting was being used as a forum for television coverage. Tyler Bass, 1107 NW 56 Seattle, Washington, a union organizer, said he wanted the City Council to hear the employees' stories and asked Council to contact the hospital administration as community leaders to urge them to come to a resolution. Council Member Sims disagreed with Council Member Puccinelli and clarified that the Council had created the forum to hear any citizen's concerns within the guidelines. Although Council Member Puccinelli agreed, he reiterated his feeling that the Council should not take a position on the labor issue. Rosie Gonzales, 7808 Emma Lane, Yakima, said that while she worked for Providence for 16 years she helped organize the Nutrition Department and was let go in November due to her organizing activities. Tom Berg, 711 Meadowbrook Road, Yakima, asked Council to contact Providence administration and encourage them to settle a fair contract on July 13 Adalina Gonzales, 707 % South 3 Avenue, Yakima, said she thought the hospital was perpetuating poverty. In response to Council Member Beauchamp's question about whether the complaint was about wages, she responded that the workers have not seen a cost of living raise for many years. Nick Rasmussen, 10201 Zier Road, said he bought the Apple Bin convenience store on Nob Hill Blvd. At that time he did not realize there was a serious problem with teenagers cruising on Nob Hill Boulevard. They fill his parking lot to the point where paying customers cannot get into it. He said other business owners are having the same problem and they need help. He has spoken with Police Captain Schneider who said to call the police any time and they would come right over, however, 'right over' can mean between 5 and 25 minutes. He understands that it is not a top priority issue for the Police. The anti - cruising ordinance was suggested as a possible solution. Mayor Place said the Council would have a discussion with staff to identify some solutions. 3 402 JULY 11, 2000 • *8. CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST TO REVISE THE 30- MINUTE PARKING TO TWO HOURS ON "B" STREET IN THE VICINITY OF 3RD STREET The staff report to direct the Legal Department to prepare the appropriate legislation to implement the request by United Christian Church to change the current one -half hour parking to two -hour parking on the north side of "B" Street, west of 3rd Street, was accepted. 9. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION REGARDING HAZARDOUS VEGETATION AND DEBRIS ABATEMENT PROGRAM Doug Maples, Code Administration Manager, said the resolution dealt with four properties that have significant weeds, presenting a hazard with rodents and fire. Resolution No. R- 2000 -82 having been read by title, it was MOVED BY SIMS, SECONDED BY BUCHANAN, TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION. The motion carried by unanimous roll call vote. Council Member Beauchamp asked what the proper notice is for this kind of problem. Mr. Maples said they were notified by registered and regular mail and by phone. There is documentation that they have been notified. Mr. Beauchamp said he was concerned because this time of year many people were vacationing and perhaps they did not receive their notification. Mr. Maples explained that by the time the problem is abated, it is about a 45 -day process. Mr. Beauchamp said that he would like the City do more to notify the property owners. Council Member Buchanan said that it is a 45 -day process and if the abatement process is continued any • longer, there is an even greater fire risk for the property and the neighboring properties. Council Member Puccinelli said a lot of people used to burn off their lots and there is not a service to come out and clear weedy lots. Mr. Maples said Code Enforcement has two or three contractors that do this type of work. Council Member Beauchamp said he wants to make sure the notice is routed to the property owner. Mr. Maples said that the owner and the occupant are both mailed letters. Council Member Barnett said that this ordinance is more liberal than other City ordinances. RESOLUTION NO. R- 2000 -82, A RESOLUTION authorizing the Code Administration Manager to clear certain weedy lots. 4 4 3 JULY 11, 2000 *10. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT WITH DON WILTON FOR MONUMENTATION SERVICES FOR VARIOUS STREET IMPROVEMENT AND OVERLAY PROJECTS RESOLUTION NO. R- 2000 -83, A RESOLUTION authorizing and directing the City Manager of the City of Yakima to execute a Monumentation Services Agreement with Don Wilton for the purpose of providing land corner monumentation in connection with various street improvement and overlay projects. *11. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF CONTRACT WITH ARIS CORPORATION FOR COMPUTER TRAINING CONSULTING SERVICES RESOLUTION NO. R- 2000 -84, A RESOLUTION authorizing and directing the City Manager of the'City of Yakima to execute a professional services agreement with Aris Corporation for the purpose of obtaining computer integration consulting and training services. 12. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AMENDMENT #10 TO CITY CONTRACT NO. 94 -57 WITH HUIBREGTSE, LOUMAN ASSOCIATES FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES RELATING TO THE I- 82 /YAKIMA AVENUE PROJECT Mayor Place asked Kay Adams, City Engineer, what fund the money is coming from to pay for this service. Mr. Adams responded that the money would be taken from the TIB /grant fund. Mayor Place asked if it is coming from the landscaping fund. Bob Desgrosellier, Senior Engineer, said that wetland mitigation and landscaping dollars were all in one fund. The landscaping was the tail end of the dollars and the wetland mitigation was reduced by half, so there may be some additional funds for landscaping. Council Member Barnett asked if the wetlands issue was not known. Mr. Desgrosellier said that originally it was not 'known, but the diking project they did last year brought it to light. Mr. Adams said a landscaping section would come forward at a later date. Resolution No. R- 2000 -85 having been read by title, it was MOVED BY BUCHANAN, SECONDED BY SIMS, TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION. The motion passed by unanimous roll call vote. RESOLUTION NO. R- 2000 -85, A RESOLUTION authorizing and directing the City Manager and City Clerk of the City of Yakima to execute Contract Amendment No. 10, amending Supplemental Agreement to the Local Agency Agreement 94 -57 with Huibregtse, Louman Associates, Inc., Consulting Engineers for Professional Engineering services on the I -82 /Yakima Avenue project in the City of Yakima, City Project 1847. 5 4 0 4 JULY 11, 2000 *13. APPROVAL OF RIGHT -OF -WAY USE PERMIT REQUESTED BY CALVARY CEMETERY FOR A SIGN AT 1405 SOUTH 24TH AVENUE The Right -of -Way Use permit requested by Cemetery for a sign attached to a six -by -six planter located in the vicinity of 1405 South 24th Avenue, was approved. *14. APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT PAYMENT FOR THE UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK REMOVAL PROJECT NO. 1884 PERFORMED BY TRI- VALLEY CONSTRUCTION, INC. (STANDARD MOTION V -B - ACCEPT THE PROJECT AND APPROVE THE FINAL PAYMENT) The report from the City Engineer, dated June 28, 2000, with respect to the completion of the work on the Improvement: Underground Storage Tank Removal Project No. 1884, performed by Tri- Valley Construction, Inc., was approved, the work accepted and payment of the final estimates as therein set forth was authorized. • *15. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE AMENDING THE MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO SICK LEAVE UNDER THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT OF 1993 ORDINANCE NO. 2000 -29, AN ORDINANCE relating to personnel; permitting employees to use accrued sick leave for leave taken pursuant to and in accordance with the Family and Medical Leave • Act of 1993; and amending Subsection B of Section 2.40.030 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code. 16. OTHER BUSINESS Mayor Place said she had received a letter from the Housing Authority asking the Council to fill the expired term position on the Board. She asked for status on filling the position. Council Member Puccinelli noted the problem of too many talented applicants to choose from. Council Member Buchanan suggested the Council Committee meet and make a decision. Mayor Place asked if this issue could be resolved by next week. Council Member Puccinelli said the Committee would meet and have a recommendation at next week's Council meeting. Information Items: Items of information provided to Council were: Memorandum from the Planning Manager regarding West Valley Neighborhood Plan. 6/16/00; Memorandum from the Code Administration Manager and DA III regarding Code Administration Complaint Status Reports. 6/29/00; Agenda for the July 10, 2000 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting 6 405, JULY 11, 2000 and minutes of its June 12, 2000 meeting; Notice of the July 18, 2000 Tahoma Cemetery Study .Session; Planning Division Assignments Pending Report as of July 11, 2000; Article from the June 30, 2000 Seattle Post - Intelligencer, "Justices Grill Lawyers on Car -Tax Initiative "; and Article from the July 3, 2000 Yakima Herald - Republic, "Jobless Rate at 9.5 Percent, a 3 -year Low." 17. EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING PROPERTY DISPOSITION It was MOVED BY BUCHANAN, SECONDED BY SIMS, TO ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOLLOWED BY IMMEDIATE ADJOURNMENT TO JULY 18TH AT 7:30 A.M. AT THE POLICE STATION /LEGAL CENTER FOR A STUDY SESSION ON THE CEMETERY TASK FORCE REPORT AND DRAFT TREE ORDINANCES. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote. City Manager Zais estimated the duration of the Executive Session would be approximately 15 to 20 minutes. 18. ADJOURNMENT TO JULY 18, 2000 AT 7:30 A.M. AT POLICE STATION /LEGAL CENTER FOR A STUDY SESSION ON CEMETERY TASK FORCE REPORT AND DRAFT TREE ORDINANCE Following the conclusion of the Executive Session, the meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m. 1 READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY Z ..�, • „� %y d CO- CIL MEMBER ATE •� �r 4 OUNCIL MEMBER DATE ATTEST: C-444c- / CITY CLERK PLACE, <YOR The minutes were prepared by Marketa George Oliver. An audio and video tape of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office • 7