HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/27/2004 Adjourned Meeting 2 93
CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 27, 2004 - 5:30 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.
1. Roll CaII
Present:
Council: Mayor Paul George, presiding, Council Members Ron Bonlender, Dave Edler, Neil
McClure, Mary Place, Bernie Sims, and Susan Whitman
Staff: Dick Zais, City Manager; Doug Mayo, Wastewater Manager; and Acting City Clerk
Watkins
2. Study Session regarding request from City of Moxee to provide wastewater service
• Introduction of subject
City Manager Zais referenced a December 2003 letter from the City of Moxee that requested
the City of Yakima review the feasibility of connecting the Moxee sewer system to the Yakima
Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility. Huibregtse, Louman Associates, Inc. has put together
a package on projects and on policy choices that City Council would need to consider. Once
this issue is considered and a decision is made by Council, there would likely be an amendment
to the urban area boundary. At this time we do not think the 4 -party agreement would have to
be amended.
Doug Mayo, Wastewater Manager, explained that there are two projects intertwined; the
City of Moxee's need for additional service and evaluation of different options, and the Yakima
County Development Association's work on developing the State Route 24 corridor between
Moxee and Yakima for future industrial development. The two projects meld together nicely.
• YCDA Overview
Dave McFadden, President of the Yakima County Development Association (YCDA), said they
agreed some time ago to lead a planning session focused on the SR 24 corridor. The corridor
has excellent development potential with over 500 acres of industrially zoned property. The area
has rail capacity and proximity to the interstate, but there are challenges to put it in a ready -to -go
.situation; namely the cost of water and sewer utilities. YCDA has several recommendations, one
being bringing the urban growth boundaries together for the coordination of utilities. They also
recommend, for coordination purposes, having one water provider for the entire corridor and one
sewer or wastewater provider. The other obvious area needing discussion and coordination is the
funding issue.
Gregg Dohrn with Jones and Stokes, advised they are in partnership with Huibregtse, Louman
to determine how to facilitate industrial development in the SR 24 corridor. He noted on the
map how each city has their own boundaries and corporate limits and in order to promote long
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range planning, urban growth areas have been established. The distinction between urban and
rural areas is the availability of sewers. It has become clear that what needs to be done to
facilitate industrial growth in this area is to determine who would best provide water and sewer
service. From a management standpoint, having a single provider would make it more
manageable.
Moxee is experiencing residential growth and a need has emerged for them to make significant
improvement to the storage capacity of their sewage treatment plant. They have a need for a
short-term interim solution; as well as a long term solution that can provide capacity for sewer
service in their urban growth area for the next twenty years. Is there a way for the $2 million the
City of Moxee might invest in an urban solution be used to benefit a larger number of people
over a longer period of time. He suggested it wouldn't be surprising if a recommendation
included extending the City of Yakima boundary out to Birchfield Road and extending the City of
Moxee's boundary out to meet it. That would fill in the gap and would identify who has
responsibility to supply services to that area. Then the question arises of who is in the best
position to be able to make system improvements to the trunk line and transmission to connect
to the regional system. During discussion it was noted that Terrace Heights is interested in
continuing to provide service to that area. Mr. Dohrn noted that what may come out of these
discussions is a series of recommendations to the jurisdictions such as amending the urban
growth boundaries so we have contiguous urban growth and clearly defined responsibility for
service delivery. Also, hopefully, identification of what resources are available to put together
the creative financing strategy necessary to develop a regional solution greater than any
individual jurisdiction could.afford. With regard to water, the issue is clearer. The County, which
is the Terrace Heights Water District, would be the logical water provider. It is our goal to come
up with a clear set of boundaries, a clear set of governance, and a clear set of water /sewer
responsibilities to allow us to go to work on funding for all jurisdictions to become a model that
would benefit the entire community.
With regard to timing, Mr. McFadden said some progress has been made but there is an
urgency. Moxee needs to make some investments in their wastewater system and they can't
wait forever for this regional idea to become a solid plan. He emphasized the need for the City
of Yakima to continue active involvement on the coordination of utilities.
• Huibregtse, Louman's overview
Bill Huibregtse, President of Huibregtse, Louman Associates, Inc., pointed out that Moxee is in a
position to have to upgrade their treatment plant; they need to make interim improvements
regardless of the outcome of these discussions. That is estimated to be about a $100,000
expense and should buy about four years of time. If Moxee were to decide to upgrade their own
treatment plant, that is a $2 million investment, a twenty year improvement, and would take that
money away from a regional fix. He campaigned that there is an opportunity to build on a need
Moxee has but not for just Moxee, but for all players involved to make the SR 24 area come to
life. In round numbers he expected it would be about a $6 million fix. This would include the cost
of conveyance for Moxee to a new lift station, the cost of the new lift station, and new conveyance
lines from that point across the river to the Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. Mr. Huibregtse
emphasized that there is a regional opportunity here if all parties want it to happen, but it will take
the collaborative efforts of everyone.
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JULY 27, 2004
• Discussion
Council Member Place pointed out that in order to provide urban growth service you have to be
in the urban growth area and that is going to require a Comprehensive Plan amendment. There
is time to coordinate an amendment. YCDA has been working with the County engineers and
planners. Discussion also covered potential boundary lines and residential sewer requirements.
Also discussed were connection charge concepts, and various funding sources.
Byron Adams, City of Moxee Supervisor, spoke about the residential growth in their area that is
driving the need to expand the existing facility and the need for economic development along
Highway 24.
Mr. McFadden shared comments about conversations they have had with the County. They
have the water rights and are building lines into the area. But, the land use issue is more
complicated. Their Comprehensive Plan speaks to preservation of agriculture lands and these
are agriculture areas being considered. They hope they have convinced them of the bigger
picture as they are now saying they would consider Comprehensive Plan amendments to
amend the urban growth boundary. There is still need for further communication.
• Conclusion
It was the consensus of Council that the City of Yakima would like to be a party in this project.
YCDA is currently serving as the lead and will coordinate further meetings. Project timing was
discussed.
3. Audience Participation
No one came forward to speak.
4. Other Business
• Study Sessions
City Manager Zais distributed a schedule of future study sessions. EDLER MOVED AND
McCLURE SECONDED TO CONTINUE HOLDING THE STUDY SESSIONS ON THE
ALTERNATE TUESDAYS FROM 5:30 P.M. TO 7:00 P.M. During discussion the following
points were considered:
- Marathon Tuesdays
- Future council members
-Staff impact
- Increased pace
- Impact on family life and regular businesses
The question was called for a vote on the motion. The motion carried by a 4 -3 roll call vote;
George, Place, and Sims voting nay.
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• Special Meetings - Bond Sales
City Manager Zais advised Council that two special meetings are necessary in Tight of bond
sales. Rita Anson, Director of Finance and Budget, explained that we are trying to move
forward with two bond sales in August. The major difficulty is that by tax law they cannot hold
the sales in back to back weeks but must separate them by at least two weeks to maintain tax
qualification. Because of that, we are looking at August 9 for refinancing the Convention
Center bond, and possibly another one, to obtain better rates. This could mean a potential
$240,000 savings over a 10 -year period. Council approval is required within a 24 hour period
necessitating a special meeting be held on August 10 The same is true for the irrigation bond
sale scheduled for August 23` requiring a special Council meeting be held on August 24
These special meetings will only require about fifteen minutes in the morning. The dates are
off-week Tuesdays but the study session time is too late in the day to accommodate getting
back to the brokers. The suggestion is to hold the meetings at 8:30 a.m. It was the
consensus of Council to adjourn the August 3' business meeting to 8:30 a.m. August
10 and to adjourn the August 17 business meeting to 8:30 a.m. August 24
4. Adjournment
SIMS MOVED AND McCLURE SECONDED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:10 P.M. The
motion carried by unanimous voice vote.
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READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY I_�, _� .� %L% A
_ •
COU ' I MEMBE '. D E
7 -2
Co UNCIL/ MBER DATE
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK PAUL P. GEORGE, MAYOR
Minutes prepared Linda Watkins. A video tape of this meeting is available in the City Clerk's Office
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