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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/20/2021 06.H. Resolution authorizing settlement of a damage claim filed by Central Washington Railroad ("CWRR") and the associated suit for declaratory judgment filed by Yakima County, including all cross claims and counter claims between the parties 14-4111\l'A 1—coi• i rr 11 i�O enc u nrry 1 BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 6.H. For Meeting of: July 20, 2021 ITEM TITLE: Resolution authorizing settlement of a damage claim filed by Central Washington Railroad ("CWRR") and the associated suit for declaratory judgment filed by Yakima County, including all cross claims and counter claims between the parties SUBMITTED BY: Ryan Bleek, Senior Assistant City Attorney SUMMARY EXPLANATION: This matter is on for consideration of a resolution authorizing settlement of a damage claim filed by Central Washington Railroad ("CWRR") and the associated suit for declaratory judgment filed by Yakima County, including all cross claims and counter claims between the parties. The damage claim relates to fire damage to a signal bungalow belonging to CWWR, which was the result of an arson fire that occurred on August 11, 2018. A copy of the Mutual Release and Settlement Agreement is included. The amount to be paid by the City of Yakima to settle this claim is $55,131 .02. ITEM BUDGETED: Yes STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Public Trust and Accountability APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION: Adopt resolution ATTACHMENTS: Description Upload Date Type ID Resolution-CWRR, Yakima County settlement Resolution ❑ agreement 7/14/2021 Corer Memo 2 RESOLUTION NO. R-2021- A RESOLUTION authorizing settlement of a damage claim filed by Central Washington Railroad ("CWRR") and the associated suit for declaratory judgment filed by Yakima County, including all cross claims and counter claims between the parties WHEREAS, on February 10, 2020, CWRR filed a Standard Tort Claim Form with the City of Yakima and shortly thereafter also filed such a claim with Yakima County, each of which alleged that CWRR sustained damages as a result of an arson fire that occurred on or about August 11, 2018, and which destroyed a signal bungalow identified by USDOT as 103890Y located at the N. 16'h Ave railroad crossing near W. Madison Ave in Yakima, Washington (hereafter called the "Fire"); WHEREAS, in 1977 Yakima County entered into a railway agreement with CWRR's predecessor in interest, Burlington Northern Inc. for the installation of grade crossing warning devices ("signals"), and the agreement specified a cost sharing ratio of 75% to be borne by the County and 25% to be borne by the railroad in the event that the signals were damaged and the cost of repair or replacement cannot be recovered from the person responsible for such damage. The terms of the railway agreement specify that it is binding on the parties' successors; WHEREAS, the individual or individuals responsible for the Fire have not been identified; WHEREAS, the City of Yakima annexed the location of the Fire in 1988 by Ordinance 3133; WHEREAS, on August 13, 2020, Yakima County filed a Complaint for Declaratory Judgment in Yakima County Superior Court cause number 20-2-01620-39, seeking a determination that, due to the annexation, the City was its successor under the 1977 railway agreement; WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Yakima deems it to be in the interest of the City to authorize settlement of this damage claim and related lawsuit, now, therefore BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA: The City of Yakima approves the Mutual Release and Settlement Agreement negotiated by the City of Yakima, CWRR, and Yakima County to resolve and settle the claims brought by the above-named parties. The City Manager and/or the City's legal counsel are hereby authorized to execute all documents necessary to conclude settlement as consistent with this Resolution. ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 20'h day of July, 2021. Patricia Byers, Mayor ATTEST: Sonya Clear Tee, City Clerk DocuSign Envelope ID:BE3FC112-39A6-4DDC-A81D-4D6D9715C59C 3 MUTUAL RELEASE AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT This Mutual Release and Settlement Agreement (hereafter referred to as the "Agreement") is entered into between Central Washington Railroad Company, a Washington profit corporation (hereafter referred to as "CWRR"); Yakima County, a county in the State of Washington; and the City of Yakima, a Washington municipal corporation (hereafter referred to as the "City" or the"City of Yakima"). Each and all of the parties listed above are referred to herein as a "Signatory" and/or the "Signatories," respectively. WHEREAS,on February 10, 2020, CWRR filed a Standard Tort Claim Form with the City of Yakima and shortly thereafter also filed such a claim with Yakima County,each of which alleged that CWRR sustained damages as a result of an arson fire that occurred on or about August 11,2018,and which destroyed a signal bungalow identified by USDOT as 103890Y located at the N. 16t Ave railroad crossing near W. Madison Ave in Yakima, Washington(hereafter called the"Fire"); WHEREAS, in 1977 Yakima County entered into a railway agreement with CWRR's predecessor in interest, Burlington Northern Inc. for the installation of grade crossing warning devices ("signals"), and the agreement specified a cost sharing ratio of 75% to be borne by the County and 25% to be borne by the railroad in the event that the signals were damaged and the cost of repair or replacement cannot be recovered from the person responsible for such damage. The terms of the railway agreement specify that it is binding on the parties' successors; WHEREAS, the individual or individuals responsible for the Fire have not been identified; WHEREAS, CWRR and Yakima County each allege that under the railway agreement the City of Yakima is the successor to Yakima County as the result of the City having annexed the location of the Fire in 1988 by Ordinance 3133; WHEREAS,on August 13,2020,Yakima County filed a Complaint for Declaratory Judgment in Yakima County Superior Court cause number 20-2-01620-39, seeking a determination that the City was its successor under the 1977 railway agreement; WHEREAS, in cause number 20-2-01620-39, the City filed a crossclaim for declaratory judgment against CWRR, and CWRR filed a counter claim for declaratory judgment against Yakima County as well as a counter-crossclaim for declaratory judgment against the City, with each claim seeking a judicial determination regarding which Signatory is,and was at the time of the Fire, subject to the 1977 railway agreement; MUTUAL RELEASE AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT- 1 of 4 DocuSign Envelope ID:BE3FC112-39A6-4DDC-A81D-4D6D9715C59C 4 WHEREAS,the Signatories desire to settle and compromise all claims arising from or otherwise relating to the Fire, including all claims asserted by all Signatories in cause number 20-2-01620-39; NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the matters set forth in the foregoing recitals,the City, Yakima County, and CWRR agree as follows: 1. Final Settlement Paj'ment to CWRR. In consideration for the execution and delivery of the Agreement and dismissal of its crossclaim against the City in cause number 20-2-01620-39, CWRR agrees to accept a final settlement amount of $55,131.02,to be paid by a check made payable to"Central Washington Railroad," subject to Yakima City Council approval of the settlement at a City Council business meeting. This settlement check shall be delivered to CWRR by no later than 10 business days after the Effective Date defined below. 2. Acknowle[igment of the 1977 Railway Agreement by_the City. In consideration for the execution and delivery of the Agreement and dismissal of the other Signatories' claims against it in cause number 20-2-01620-39, the City hereby agrees that the City of Yakima shall be considered Yakima County's successor for purposes of the 1977 railway agreement, and is therefore subject to all of Yakima County's obligations under the railway agreement. 3. Mutual Release and Dismissal of Claims. For the consideration recited above, each Signatory forever and irrevocably releases the other Signatories from all past, present and future claims, liabilities, actions, suits, crossclaims, counterclaims, penalties, expenses, interest, court costs, or attorney fees of any kind and nature whatsoever stemming from CWRR's alleged damages, costs, expenses, and losses resulting from, arising out of, or related to the Fire. As such,each Signatory agrees to,by no later than 14 days after the Effective Date defined below,jointly move for dismissal with prejudice of all claims in cause number 20-2-01620-39, with each Signatory to bear its own costs and attorney fees. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term "Signatory" shall include past,present and future elected and/or appointed officials, directors,officers, employees, agents, assigns, successors,attorneys, insurers, and related entities. As referred to in this Agreement, "past, present and future claims" mean those claims, rights and causes of action, whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected,vested or contingent which in any way arise out of or are related to the Fire, including but not limited to all of CWRR's damages, costs, expenses, and losses resulting from, arising out of,or related to the Fire. This includes all claims, MUTUAL RELEASE AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT- 2 of 4 DocuSign Envelope ID:BE3FC112-39A6-4DDC-A81D-4D6D9715C59C 5 rights and causes of action under federal, state, or local law, including but not limited to those based on contract, statute,regulation, code, ordinance, tort, equity or otherwise. 4. Indemnification for Subrogation and Lien Claianinid Hold Harmless. Each Signatory acknowledges and represents that no other person or entity has or has had any interest in the claims referred to in this Agreement. Each Signatory further represents that there are no lien claims or subrogation claims or interests related to the claims asserted in cause number 20-2-01620-39 and/or CWRR's claims arising out of the Fire. Should any lien claims, subrogation claims, or interests arise from a Signatory's claims in the future,that Signatory is obligated under this Agreement to resolve such claims. 5. Timely Consideration by the City Council. The City agrees that this Agreement shall be put before the Yakima City Council as a resolution,with consideration and voting on such resolution to take place no later than August 1,2021. 6. Governing Law and Venue. This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted according to the laws of the State of Washington. The venue of any action necessary under this Agreement shall be solely in Yakima County Superior Court, Yakima, Washington. 7. No Admission of Liability. This Agreement expresses the full and complete settlement of all claims referred to in this Agreement. It is expressly agreed that no Signatory admits liability for any such claim, and no Signatory admits any fault relating to the matters described herein. It is agreed and understood that this settlement is a compromise of disputed claims, and payment made by the City is accepted by CWRR in full accord and satisfaction of, and in compromise of, disputed claims and for the purpose of terminating disputed claims and litigation between the Signatories. 8. Warranty of Capacity to Execute Settlement and Agreement. The undersigned on behalf of each Signatory certifies and warrants that they are fully authorized to enter into this Agreement and bind themselves and the respective Signatories thereto. 9. Consultation with Counsel. Each Signatory warrants that it has had adequate time and opportunity to have its own attorneys review this Agreement and explain the legal effect and importance of every provision herein; each Signatory further warrants that it has in fact engaged in such consultation with its own counsel. 10. Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents and contains the entire understanding of the undersigned relating to the matters covered by this Agreement. MUTUAL RELEASE AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT- 3 of 4 DocuSign Envelope ID:BE3FC112-39A6-4DDC-A81D-4D6D9715C59C 6 There are no representations, covenants, or understandings other than those expressly set forth in this Agreement. 11. Scverability. If any provision of the Agreement is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction,such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Agreement. 12. Effective Date. This Agreement shall be effective upon the signature of the City Manager of the City of Yakima as authorized by resolution of the Yakima City Council. Should the Yakima City Council withhold such authorization, then this agreement shall be null and void. CITY OF YAKIMA CENTRAL WASHINGTON RAILROAD CO. By: By: --- Robert Harrison, City Manager Todd Leinbach,CFO Date: Date: J 1 y ) ?- o • ATTEST: YAKIMA COUNTY By: _ City Clerk By: �2n>n fik41,xov, City Resolution No. R-202 I- Ron Anderson, Chairman Yakima County Board of Commissioners Date: JUL 1 3 2021 MUTUAL RELEASE AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT- 4 of 4