HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/23/2004 Adjourned Meeting 1 426
ADJOURNED MEETING
NOVEMBER 23, 2004 - 8:30 A.M. - NOON
COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL
1. RoII CaII
Present:
Council: Mayor Paul George, presiding, Council Members Ron Bonlender,
Dave Edler (after 8:45 a.m.), Neil McClure, Mary Place, Bernard Sims,
and Susan Whitman (after 8:40 a.m.)
Staff: City Manager Zais, Finance and Budget Director Anson, and City
Clerk Roberts
2. Community and Economic Development
Bill Cook, Director of Community and Economic Development, gave an
overview of the department. He displayed a new aerial photo depicting the
development occurring within the city. Yakima is now exceeding 80,000 in
population and is over 24 square miles. He summarized activities for the year
highlighting increases in capital construction projects, proposed residential
development, four local improvement districts, and five annexations. They have
also implemented new Council initiatives such as the boarded up buildings
proposal and graffiti as well as economic development initiatives such as the
renewal community and commercial revitalization deduction projects.
To support schedules, the agenda was rearranged to review Tourist Promotion
through the Capitol Theatre first.
• Tourist Promotion (Budget Page E -58, Policy Issue Page 31, 33 -35)
• Tourist Promotion Area (Budget Page E -63)
• Convention Center Capital (Budget Pge E -70, Policy Issue Page 36)
Kathy Coffey, General Manager of the Convention Center and President of the
Visitor and Convention Bureau, commented that there is a lot of competition but
Yakima is ahead with regard to future days booked, revenues, and in delegate
counts and conventions. The policy issue for an increase in management fees
to support staff salaries elicited a discussion on the Streamlined Sales Tax
(SST) issue and the potential impact on the Public Facilities District (PFD)
funds. Also discussed were the funds for the Sports Commission. The Sports
Commission has had a positive economic impact. Sports are second only to
conventions in bringing visitors to Yakima. City Manager Zais explained that
Council could make a determination that this no longer needs to be a policy
issue but put in the budget, provided there are resources for it. Council Member
Place suggested the budget narrative contain information on how the Sports
Commission is funded.
Visitor Information Center — originally the funding source was to be from selling
items but they found that was not adequate. They have gotten sponsorships to
fund the operation of the center and members are having to pay for the
distribution of their brochures. This has caused anguish for the bureau and the
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ADJOURNED MEETING — BUDGET REVIEW
city as most people feel they should be able to display their brochures for free
as they have something to offer the visitors. There is a policy issue for $40,000
to assist in offsetting the operation of the center and eliminate the requirement
of this expense to members.
Convention Center parking lot improvements are necessary as a part of the
campus plan and as a safety issue. Connie Upton, Assistant Manager of the
Convention Center, gave a summary of the general operating budget. It was
Kathy Coffey's recommendation to eliminate the request for $60,000 to upgrade
the sign at this time.
• Capitol Theatre (Budget Page E -72)
• Capitol Theatre Performing Arts (Budget Page E -72, Policy Issue Page 27, 29)
Steve Caffery, General Manager, spoke in support of the policy issue to
increase the utility tax and dedicate the revenue to the Capitol Theatre. They
are developing strategies to find ways of bringing people back downtown by
using arts as a tool for economic development. The proposal to increase the
cable franchise fee is a step in advancing the downtown of Yakima. City
Manager Zais said the proposal is primarily due to the erosion of the capital
depreciation account, which is falling short of needs. The principal has fallen
considerably and in the absence of having some other resource will continue to
be depleted. There is a need for a dedicated revenue source with potential
growth.
• Capitol Theatre Construction (Budget Page E -78)
Mr. Caffery gave a brief overview; they have received two state grants and
• have added women's restrooms and a new chiller. They will receive an
additional federal appropriation and will complete infrastructure needed by the
theatre to bring it up to date technologically.
• Urban Area Hearings Examiner (Budget Page E -1)
It was noted that although costs have been reduced over the last couple years,
any time we bring a matter before the Hearing Examiner it costs between $800
to $1,000.
• Environmental Planning (Budget Page E -2)
A planner has been made available full time at the counter to provide
professional answers to zoning and other related questions. The
communications portion of the budget increased in part because of the
notification requirements by the Washington Hearings Board. As an example,
the postage alone for the Wal -Mart EIS was about $1,000 plus a $1,500 cost to
put the information on computer discs. City Manager Zais noted there had
been a request for an additional planning position to support the annexation; it
is not in the budget yet. We will come back with that request when revenue
starts coming in.
• Code Administration (Budget Page E -7, Policy Issue Page 21)
This budget includes an increase in permit fees and restores a three - quarter
code inspector position to full time. Doug Maples, Codes and Planning
Manager pointed out that there hasn't been a fee increase for two years. They
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ADJOURNED MEETING — BUDGET REVIEW
are using the County's fee schedule as a baseline and are including an annual
increase associated with the Seattle CPI effective every January. A letter was
distributed from Joe Walsh of the Central Washington Homebuilder's
Association that said we should keep the building permit fees where they are
and only do an annual increase for inflationary reasons. He wrote that he didn't
believe state law considers keeping up with neighbors a sufficient reason for fee
increase. His letter listed objectives from the Yakima Urban Area Action Plan
and said it seemed fitting that the City keep their permit costs lower than those
in the County in order to meet the intended goals of the plan. He offered
suggestions such as the concept of discounting fees on projects that require
little staff time or charge projects more for extra staff time consumed. The ideas
in the letter were discussed.
• Animal Control (Budget Page E -11)
There will be another officer added mid -year as a part of the .3% sales tax
increase. Current statistics are an average of 800 -1000 calls related to Animal
Control per month.
• City Hall Facility Maintenance (Budget Page E -15))
Ideas about remodeling City Hall have been deferred to another time.
• Economic Development (Budget Page E -18)
A discussion on regional services and the potential integration of services with
the County was held. This subject requires further discussion with the affected
entities.
• Office of Neighborhood Development Services (Budget Page E -20)
This budget was reviewed and approved at the last public hearing. Bill Cobabe,
Office of Neighborhood Development Manager, and Mary Grable, Accountant,
reviewed their processes and 2004 accomplishments.
• Telecommunications (Budget Page E -45)
Randy Beehler, Community Relations Manager, said they are funded
exclusively by franchise fees. Their mission is to provide, not only coverage of
city activities, but public affairs events that impact the entire community. The
existing hardware has been in operation for the last ten years but they are
transitioning to a digital platform for shooting, editing, and playback. They are
also extending fiber optics to the Harman Center and the West Valley fire
station.
• Parking & Bus. Imp. Area (PBIA) (Budget Page E -52)
This is a self- assessment.
• Central Business District (CBD) (Budget Page E -54)
Revenue comes from monthly parking income. Currently funds are being spent
on Front Street signage and plans for parking lot repairs.
• Trolley (Budget Page E -56)
There is about one year left of the federal funding. There is a need to look for
another revenue source to fund the existing operation.
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• No. Front St. Business Imp. Dist. (Budget Page E -57)
This also is a self- assessment.
• Engineering (Budget Page E -79)
Kay Adams, City Engineer, distributed a list of accomplishments and discussed
a few of them, e.g. the Washington Avenue project and the Fruitvale
roundabout. In the next five to six years approximately $65 million dollars will
be spent in city improvements. Most of this is done with federal and state grant
funds.
• Arterial Street Capital (Budget Page E -84)
• Transportation Improvement (Budget Page E -88)
• Public Works Trust Fund (Budget Page E -89)
• REET 2 Capital Fund (Budget Page E -96)
• LID Construction Control Fund (Budget Page E -98)
• Cumulative Reserve for Capital Improvements (Budget Page E -99)
• Stormwater Operation & Maintenance (Budget Pg E -100, Policy Issue Pg 37)
• Stormwater Capital (Budget Page E -105, Policy Issue Page 37)
• Commute Trip Reduction Fund (Budget Page E -106)
Mr. Cook referred to the presentation that was given to the Budget Strategy
Team. He said if you looked at all the services provided in 2003, subtracted
federal and state dollars and user fees, the general tax support was 8% in 2003,
about $17 per capita for everything.
3. Adjournment
McCLURE'MOVED AND SIMS SECONDED TO ADJOURN TO 2:00 P.M.
FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED JOINT STORMWATER
UTILITY ORDINANCE. The motion carried b unanimous voice vote.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY / %/ 3
OUNCIL MEMBER DATE
COUNCIL MEMBER DATE
ATTEST:
2(e
CITY CLERK PAUL P. GEORGE, MAYOR
Minutes prepared by Linda Watkins. An audio and video tape of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's
Office
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