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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/19/2000 Adjourned Meeting 2 453 CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON SEPTEMBER 19, 2000 ADJOURNED MEETING WITH DARC The City Council met in session on this date at 11:30 a.m. in the 2 Floor Training Room, at the Police Station /Legal Center, 200 South 3 Street, Yakima, Washington. Mayor Mary Place, presiding, Council Members Henry Beauchamp, Lynn Buchanan, Larry Mattson, John Puccinelli, and Bernard Sims were present. Council Member Clarence Barnett was absent and excused. Staff members present were Glenn Rice, Assistant City Manager; Marketa George Oliver, Administrative Assistant to the City Manager; and Bill Cook, Director of Community & Economic Development. DARC members Steve Caffery, Capitol Theatre; Joe Mann, Ron's Coin and Book Centers; Jar Arcand, Santiago's Restauant; Pat Gilmore, Dunbar Jewelers; Don Moen, Gilbert H. Moen Construction; and Joe Morrier, Jr., Yakima Mall, were also in attendance. MEETING WITH THE DOWNTOWN AREA REDEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (DARC) Mayor Place welcomed everyone and each DARC member provided background information regarding his involvement in the committee. Jar Arcand, Co -Chair of DARC, provided an overview of DARC activities over the past two years. He advised they had invested $35,000 in the Farmers' Market noting that it had been highlighted in Sunset Magazine this month. Mr. Arcand said DARC has also been involved with the Allied Arts Council and,the Millennium project. He spoke about the controversy of taking part of the parking lot but emphasized how this project will enhance the downtown area. He said he had heard that construction funds have been secured and they are working on the trust fund for maintenance. Mr. Arcand spoke about DARC's relationship with Parks and Recreation. He said that all the revenue from the downtown parking lots goes towards Parks and Recreation. He also noted that DARC was responsible for the flower beds around the street corners and parking lots and described how DARC partners with Parks, and Recreation to pay students to work in the summer. In response to Mayor Place's question as to whether this program pays for itself, Mr. Arcand responded that DARC was willing to fund the project entirely. He complimented Denise Nichols, Parks and Recreation Manager, on an outstanding job of stretching available dollars. 454 SEPTEMBER 19, 2000 ADJOURNED MEETING Mr. Arcand spoke about the Washington State University student architectural project, which will begin in March 2001. He explained that architectural students will look at the downtown area and give DARC ideas about how to improve it to make it more appealing. Council Member Mattson mentioned some upcoming planning conferences to be held in Yakima and suggested putting out suggestion forms at those events. Mr. Arcand pointed out how profitable the AA basketball tournament had been noting that they filled the hotels, restaurants, and the retail outlets. DARC plans to put up welcome signs for them. Mr. Arcand described the holiday parking program started at Christmas last year and their plans to do it again this year. The DARC lots were available on the weekends for people to park free of charge and shop in the downtown area. Mr. Arcand said the future will be a continuation of these projects plus taking on more projects that can make a difference to enhance the quality of the downtown area. Glenn Rice, Assistant City Manager, suggested they contact ClientLogic and have them become involved in downtown activities. Mayor Place advised that Council will be considering a proposal for a new parking lot in two weeks. The parking lot will take County employees off the street and open up parking for shoppers. Council Member Puccinelli said the upcoming park- and -ride should also assist in making parking spots available downtown. There was additional discussion about parking, transportation, and transit issues in the downtown area. Mayor Place said that people are coming downtown for the Farmers' Market and that is improving the perception of safety in the area. Joe Mann said they are happy with how things are progressing with the Farmers' Market. He noted that Labor Day sales increased over last year. Mr. Arcand said that Officer Phil Posada being on foot patrol in downtown has really improved the perception of safety and addressed pan handlers and loitering. Mayor Place asked if the Farmers' Market is making money or if DARC was going to need to give the project more money. Mr. Mann said it would likely be self - supporting. He advised that ,DARC gave the Farmers' Market a $5,000 grant for some capital equipment and there are currently two paid staff people. Mayor Place asked Mr. Cook to keep the Council informed about the I/ schedule for the Millennium Project. Mr. Arcand said they were looking into better - looking trash receptacles and Mr. Morrier added they were also looking at pedestrian- friendly and more decorative street lamps with hanging plants. Mayor place cautioned that Yakima has a problem with wind and the Committee should be careful about using hanging plants. Council Member Mattson asked about benches saying the library has no • 2 455 SEPTEMBER 19, 2000 ADJOURNED MEETING comfortable seating. He commented that the whole package needs to be there: benches, attractive receptacles, flowers, etc. Mr. Morrier suggested a banner program would be nice. Council Member Mattson asked if City code prohibited sidewalk cafes. There was a discussion about those cafes and their attraction. Mr. Arcand said that DARC had approved $30,000 at their last meeting to invest in Christmas decorations. Mr. Cook advised that item was on the Council agenda later today. The decorating scheme was 'explained. It was noted that the City has put them up for a small fee. Mr. Arcand said DARC will be doing more of the tree lighting and there is the possibility of a light parade. It is their intent to create a more festive, holiday atmosphere in the downtown area. Mr. Arcand talked about the Public Benefit Improvement Area (PBIA) advising there is a sunset clause coming in April of 2002. He said they need to go to all of the businesses in the area and talk about renewal. It was noted there is also an idea to enlarge the area, he doesn't have all the details, but some people on Front Street have expressed interest. He also discussed some continuity issues with the Westside Merchants Association, such as themes in banners and streetlights. Mayor Place asked, if the area is expanded, can there be the requirement that the assessment be paid? Mr. Cook said recently a person was here from the State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, doing some research on PBIA's and he was amazed to find that there is less than a 1% late payment in Yakima. If the assessment is not paid, the City sends it to collection. Council Member Mattson asked if there is a need to continue the three separate business groups. Council Member Puccinelli explained the groups have formed themselves and he does not think the City should be involved. The City is simply the pass- through to collect the money after the businesses have voted to create a PBIA. Mayor Place asked if the Convention Center could be part of this. Mr. Arcand discussed the pedestrian traffic,flow in the downtown area and how people can access downtown from the hotels and the Convention Center. Mr. Rice said there was a pedestrian walkway in the Gateway Project, but there was no money to complete Phase Two. Council Member Puccinelli suggested that the City's grant writer could possibly find some money for sidewalk repair. • Mr. Moen, Gilbert H. Moen Construction, suggested using pavers (a type of sidewalk foundation) for redoing the sidewalks because they last longer and are much more durable. Mr. Arcand said that the Westside Merchants Association does a good job putting up banners and the City of Selah does a nice job with the American flags. He said that they put the decorations up at Christmas but do not do anything else throughout the year. He has talked to the Westside Merchants to try to coordinate a theme. He said displaying the American flag was a good idea and they have the flags. 3 456 SEPTEMBER 19, 2000 ADJOURNED MEETING Mr. Rice provided an update on the Armory project. Except for approximately $550,000, the money is in place. Congress will appropriate its money this session and groundbreaking could be next spring. He noted this as an opportunity to improve infrastructure in the airport area, possibly including fiber optics. Mayor Place said there is no money for an elevated train, but an application is being developed for over /underpasses. Mr. Cook said it would be helpful if DARC participates. There was a discussion on the value of sending DARC representatives, along with City Council and staff members, to Washington, D.C. to visit with Federal legislators. • Mr. Cook said there is interest in creating housing downtown. He advised there is a program in Olympia using tax abatement to promote marketing housing in the downtown area and his staff is collecting information. Council Member Sims asked what impact the Commercial Hotel, which is being renovated eventually, will have on the payments /assessments of the PBIA. Mr. Cook said he did not know, but that all of the assessments needed to be reevaluated and reapportioned to reflect changes in the downtown area. Mr. Cook discussed some of the adjustments to the PBIA assessments. Council Member Sims suggested DARC be briefed on the Public Facilities District at one of their future meetings. Council Member Mattson asked if DARC was interested in_ joining with the Westside Merchants Association. Mr. Mann said the larger the group, the stronger it is and he would like to see some continuity. Council Member Puccinelli said he had served on both boards and the Westside Merchants were concerned about investing money in downtown parking lots. He said when he sat on the Westside Merchants Board, they were trying to duplicate what DARC was doing, but they wanted their Westside money to remain in their area. Mayor place said they do not have the same problems but that does not mean they couldn't come together. Mayor Place advised that Schultz sold its building to Providence • Medical Center, so Providence was going to become part of the downtown. Schultz was going to move, but remain in Yakima. Mr. Rice discussed the Transit Transfer facility at the southeast edge of the DARC area. He said it could be impacted by the outcome I/ of Initiative 745. 4