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.
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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
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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 •
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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.
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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
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of Initiative 745.
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