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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/17/2013 04A Minutes 08-16-2013 Council Partnerships CommitteeYakima City Councif (Partnerships Committee Friday, August 16th, 2013 Members in attendance: - Council Member Kathy Coffey - Chair - Mayor Micah Cawley - Asst. Mayor Adkison City of Yakima staff in attendance: - City Manager Tony O'Rourke - Comm. & Public Affairs Dir. Randy Beehler - City Lobbyist Jim Justin (via conference call) Guests in attendance: - Yakima County Director of Public Services Vern Redifer Chair Coffey called the meeting to order at 11:03 am. Discussion of preliminary 2014 state legislative & administrative priorities Justin talked about efforts currently underway by various state legislators to develop revenue packages to address statewide transportation needs. The issue was a focus of this year's legislative session, but was not resolved. Justin noted the potential for a special session of the legislature being called to deal with transportation revenue packages, possibly in November. However, Justin is skeptical any resolution of the transportation revenue issue will take place this year. Still, he recommended that the City and County jointly approach 14th District State Senator Curtis King, co -chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, soon with funding proposals related to the East -West Corridor Project. Justin also recommended that the City and County solicit additional support from local organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, New Vision, etc. should Senator King be receptive to such proposals. Coffey suggested a meeting between the committee, County commissioners, and Senator King be scheduled within the next few weeks. Justin recommended that the Council consider adopting a biennial state legislative and administrative priorities process similar to that followed by the Washington Association of Cities. Justin then reviewed with the committee a list of state legislative and administrative priorities originally adopted by the Council in December 2012 and slightly revised by staff since. Justin recommended leaving all items on the revised list with the exception of an item related to Local Infrastructure Financing Tool legislation. He also suggested rewording an item related to bid limits and moving an item related to a transportation revenue package from the "Support" portion of the priorities list to the "Actively Pursue" portion of the list. Coffey asked Justin to research legislation related to rules concerning housing of sex offenders. Coffey also asked City staff to research reviving the past practice of the Council meeting with Yakima -area legislators both before and following legislative sessions. - Discussion re: letters of support requests Coffey suggested that a policy be developed and presented to the full Council regarding how the Council will process requests for letters of support. Such a policy, along with two pending requests for letters of support, will be presented to the full Council in September. Other business Cawley asked for staff to research the status of the availability of funding for planned art installations on the Lincoln Avenue and MLK, Jr. Boulevard underpasses. Coffey also requested staff provide an update on the progress of construction of the MLK, Jr. Boulevard underpass. O'Rourke said an update on both the status of funding for the planned art installations and the construction of the MLK, Jr. Boulevard underpass would be provided to the Council soon. The meeting was adjourned at 12:05 pm.