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Home My WebLink About05/15/2001 Adjourned Meeting / Study Session 2 06 CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON ADJOURNED MEETING /STUDY SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MAY 15, 2001 -- 7:30 A.M. 129 NORTH 2 STREET - COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1. ROLL CALL Present: Council: Mayor Mary Place, presiding, Council Members Clarence Barnett, Henry Beauchamp, Lynn Buchanan, Larry Mattson, and Bernard Sims Staff: Dick Zais, City Manager; Ray Paolella, City Attorney; Glenn Rice, Assistant City Manager; Chris Waarvick, Public Works Director; Doug Mayo, Wastewater Manager; and City Clerk Roberts Absent: Council Member John Puccinelli (excused) County: Doug Cochran, County Administrator; Vern Redifer, Public Works Director; Don Gatchalin, Assistant Public Works Director and Environmental Services; and John Knudsen, Surface Water Manager COG: Don Skone, Executive Director 2. REPORT RE: COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL /STATE STORMWATER MANDATES Chris Waarvick commented that representatives from Union Gap, the County and the Conference of Governments were invited to attend because this impacts them too. • County Concerns Expressed Doug Cochran commented that the County is faced with following these same regulations and suggested working together to do this cheaper and more efficiently. Their biggest concern is how to go to the public and tell them about a new federal regulation and how the public will have to pay for it. Council Member Barnett interjected and stated his concern is that the state will develop more stringent regulations than the federal government at an even greater expense. • Six Minimum Control Measures Chris Waarvick stated that Phase II requires six minimum control measures: 1) Public education on stormwater impact 2) Public Involvement and participation 3) Illicit discharge detection and elimination 4) Construction site stormwater runoff control. (After 2003, one acre developments will be required to follow these rules) 5) Post construction stormwater management in new development and redevelopment 207 MAY 15, 2001 — ADJOURNED MEETING 6) Pollution prevention / good housekeeping for municipal operations (i.e. street sweeping sewer line cleanout) There are established Best Management practices associated with those six minimum control measures and the federal government has its own guidelines. • Eastern Washington Manual Mr. Waarvick spoke about the manual being proposed for eastern Washington. On June 5, he will attend a chartering meeting that will help eastern Washington communities chart their course for DOT and DOE to scope out what should be in that Eastern Washington manual, with a focus on dry wells and injection wells. Are we required under Phase II or State of Washington program to rehabilitate everything that may not meet those standards? It seems the answer is "no ", but there are two conditions that modify that statement in the redevelopment portion. If a certain level of re- building is done during development, then compliance with the new regulations would have to be followed. He further commented that he doesn't believe that existing conditions causing a violation of our permit would be grandfathered in. • County Preparations Vern Redifer spoke about the County's efforts in preparing themselves to understand and meet these regulations. He broke this into three components: 1) planning effort, 2) regulatory; and 3) capital improvements. How do we work together? The first thing needed is to develop a common plan for the Yakima area and he recommended updating the Stormwater Plan that was done in the mid -90's. . • • • Option 4 from the Storm Drainage Study is Reviewed Chris Waarvick and Tony Krutsch, HDR Engineering, responded to questions posed by Council Member Barnett concerning the estimated cost of Option 4, including installation of a new stormwater piping system in the downtown area; the Eastern Washington manual, development of a Best Management Practice proposal by the construction industry, and possible COG participation. Staff discussed with Council the establishment of a stormwater utility as a possible funding mechanism, which led into a discussion about grant opportunities. • Recommendation Discussed Mr. Waarvick recommended that Council direct staff to create a stormwater utility ordinance for the City and take a leadership role, and that COG and the County work with him to ascertain how this would impact their planning efforts. Staff is studying a similar ordinance passed by the city of Pasco. This method would allow us to utilize our existing utility billing system. Mr. Redifer suggested that we plan together if we collectively administer this plan and whether or not we do capital improvements together can be held in abeyance until a decision is made 2 20,8 MAY 15, 2001 — ADJOURNED MEETING on the other issues. (Council Member Mattson absent after 8:50 a.m.) Council discussed how collection of the stormwater utility could be done jointly with the County, either through a separate County stormwater utility or billed with the property tax assessment. Mr. Redifer agreed that is a possibility; however; typically, charges on a property tax statement are related to the value of the property. We would need some legal advice. Mr. Waarvick commented that this proposal favors a fee based on square footage rather than the Pasco model based on a use fee. (Council Member Beauchamp absent after 8:55 a.m.) City Manager Zais asked if there is a consensus to implement the recommendation by Chris Waarvick and include the County. Mr. Waarvick stated staff will explore the suggestion to bill users via the property tax procedure, including the legal research. City Manager Zais stated that the County has the ability to contract with the City to bill their citizens. Mayor Place suggested that she, Council Member Barnett and Council Member Sims meet with the County Commissioners to discuss these issues. • 3. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: ' romp* D OUNCIL MEMBER e ATE COUNCIL Me" = R 'ATE ATTEST: CITY CLERK RY PLACE, MAYOR 3