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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/17/2004 Special Meeting 1 ,4 .1 CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 17, 2004 - 9:30 A.M. YAKIMA HERALD - REPUBLIC CONFERENCE ROOM 1. Roll Call Present: Council: Mayor Paul George, presiding, Council Members Ron Bonlender, Dave Edler, Neil McClure, Mary Place, and Susan Whitman Yakima Downtown Association Advisory Board: Chairman Jamie Stickel, Vice Chair Steve Caffery, Joe Morrier, Sr., Herb Hill, Joe Mann, Mariano Morales, Paul Napolitano, Denise Ray and Jar Arcand Staff: Dick Zais, Bill Cook, Michael Morales, Bruce Benson, Alvin Leung, Judy Arington, Sean Davido, and Randy Beehler Absent: Council Member Bernard Sims 2. DISCUSSION WITH YAKIMA DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION REGARDING FUTURE OF DOWNTOWN YAKIMA City Manager Zais commented that one of his first meetings as City Manager was to talk about the future of downtown. He noted there have been many studies involving many different groups and the formation the Yakima Downtown Association (YDA) resulted from those discussions with the community and leadership from the business community. • Background on downtown Bill Cook, Community and Economic Development Director, gave background information: -The Parking and Business Improvement Area (PBIA) process began in the mid -70's - The Capitol Theatre came back to life after a major fire - The Convention Center was developed - Parking became a major issue - In the mid 70's, an LID was formed with a plan to provide public parking - In 1978 the City's budget was $50 million, 60% from federal and state grants -In 2003 the City's budget is $124 million - Yakima Core Plan was developed in 1996 during the time of healthy retail in the downtown • Indicators of change The following charts were reviewed: Vacancy rate. Show ground floor businesses only - in the last two weeks reflects a 34% vacancy rate on street frontage in the 16 -block area with 80% or more being the Mall. 142 SPECIAL MEETING — FEBRUARY 17, 2004 YAKIMA DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION Businesses and employment. From the City's business licenses, the figures are general, not specific. First chart reflects the trend from 1993 through 2001 and the second chart shows the number of businesses closed within the 16 -block area for 2004. There was an all time high in 2001 of 1,359 employees. CBD Core Area Traffic Counts, 1998 -2003. The most significant increase has been "B" Street. There has been a drop on Walnut Avenue, but Yakima Avenue continues to grow annually at about 1 /4 %. Traffic on side streets has dropped. Public and private parking spaces in the downtown,. In 2002 there were approximately 1,000 public parking spaces and 1,600 private parking spaces. Both the private and public parking spaces are running about 43% filled or 57% vacant. Sales tax revenue in the 16 -block area. The figure reflected for 1999 does not include sales tax from Nordstrom, J.C. Penney, Mervyns and Bon Marche. In 1999 there was approximately $400,000 and in 2003 about $300,000 indicating about a 25% reduction of sales tax revenue for the 16 -block area. City Manager Zais pointed out that it is not inconsequential that there is in excess of a half million dollar loss, cumulatively, from sales tax from all major and other businesses in the downtown within the last two years. Public parking revenue. There are hourly fees /coin boxes and monthly parking /permit fee revenues from the public parking Tots. The hourly fees peaked in 2000 and have been dropping every since. There is a compensating factor through the monthly /permit fees. Just recently YDA made a recommendation to Council to increase the percentage of monthly spaces in each lot that will increase the revenue for permit parking. That increase is not reflected in the revenue dollars in the charts. Parking citations in the downtown 16 block area. Funds are down due to fewer people parking and there only one parking enforcement officer. Self- assessment (PBIA) funds. Generated based on the number of employees for the businesses located in the downtown. The chart shows a peak at $237,000, down at the end of 2003 to $157,000. Approximately 25% lost with ClientLogic closing. • Downtown Strategic Planning Process YDA Chairman, Jamie Stickel, reviewed Martin Howell's summary of the planning process meetings from Fall 2002. -Basic strategy was to find out where the people wanted downtown to go A gathering place for events and entertainment Culturally and ethnically integrated Provide opportunities for education Provide opportunities for commerce 2 143 SPECIAL MEETING FEBRUARY 17, 2004 YAKIMA DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION - Barriers to success: Concern for safety Lack of a unified vision Resistance to change Poor self -image Skepticism and fragmented leadership -Areas needing improvement: Art and beautification Education Public /private partnerships Social activities and events Common vision or brand Professional staff and organizational structure Public relations and image Downtown residents During that planning process the organizational structure was charged with looking at how to reorganize and create a structure to achieve the objectives set forth. This group became the Yakima Downtown Partnership; later incorporated with the State of Washington under the name "Committee for Downtown Yakima." This committee works closely with the Chamber, For a Better Tomorrow, Westside Merchants, Front Street and the Yakima Downtown Associations. It is still meeting and trying to resolve how to create structure in order to move forward. Mr. Stickel pointed out a lot of work was done but the question remains how to go to the next step. • Visions for the future Capitol Theatre. Steve Caffery, Executive Director for the Capitol Theatre, presented a PowerPoint presentation on issues facing the Capitol Theatre, which include a 25- year -old facility, audience comforts, and community capacity. Within the presentation were proposed drawings for expansion, a concept of how it could be done, and why it is worth doing. Campus Plan. Kathy Coffey, Executive Director for the Yakima Convention Center, pointed out that the Convention Center is dependent on the downtown and vice versa. The Center brings in 100,000 delegates over the year who need places to shop, to eat, and to enjoy. She pointed out a 1999 campus overview West Coast/Cavanaugh's put together. Although it is not current it can be used to generate discussion on the idea of developing the Yakima Convention Campus. Downtown Mall. Joe Morrier, President of JEM Development, reported on his vision for the use of the Mall property. The hotel is proposed to be located where the Mervyn's store was and feel it is the start of what can be done to bring retail back to Yakima Avenue. Yakima County. Doug Cochran, County Administrator, spoke about plans for the County Courthouse. A citizens group is looking at various options. He noted that the committee on the criminal justice building recommends it should be on the same acreage the County owns downtown, next to the Courthouse and the old Safeway site . with a preference for the site next to the Courthouse. It was noted that only 300` employees were proposed to utilize the J. C. Penney's building site. ,3 144 SPECIAL MEETING — FEBRUARY 17, 2004 YAKIMA DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION . Where do we go from here? Jamie Stickel said that YDA currently representsl6 square blocks but today's issues are bigger, than those 16 blocks. He discussed the original intent of the 1974 ordinance, to improve the downtown area of the City by the construction and installation of off- street parking facilities, improvements to pedestrian spaces, and general improvements to such area and provide for financing of parking. He noted that parking is no longer the problem. He also reviewed the revenue charts for YDA noting if the trend continues there will not be a fund in two years. He claimed that it is time for Council to intervene and contract with a non - profit organization to manage the affairs of downtown, and not just manage the affairs of the parking and business improvement area. Business can no longer do it alone; there needs to be a private /public partnership and it needs to start now because it will take about 10 years. He also suggested expanding the boundaries for YDA. There was discussion that included a recommendation to form a Public Development Authority (PDA) similar to how Pike's Street Market was done in Seattle. Council Member Edler pointed out that the Westside Merchants are very anxious to begin the process to change the image of Yakima. The news media should get the information out and get the community involved. He supported the concept but asked YDA to help guide and direct the process. George Pechtel suggested a need to look outside he box and treat downtown Yakima as a development. He committed to having a drawing of downtown Yakima within two weeks. Joe Mann pointed out that, about a year and a half ago, YDA approved spending money to hire a professional and that it is now time to do it. With the help of Front Street, Westside Merchants, the Convention Center project, and the Capitol Theatre project, the time is now. He recommended taking the YDA money that was approved and matching those dollars with other funds. Mayor George thanked everyone for attending and echoed Council Member Edler's comments about the Council's willingness to participate and move forward. 3. Adjournment EDLER MOVED AND BONLENDER SECONDED TO ADJOURN. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote; Sims absent. The me ng jour -. at 1 j /CE READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY COUNA EMBE DATE 1, _i L1. - A"; r COUNCIL MEM: ' DATE ATTEST: Kaho, CL,LJ i I/ CITY CLERK PAUL GEORGE, AYOR Minutes prepared by Judy Arington and Linda Watkins. 4