HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/11/2005 Adjourned Meeting 9
CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JANUARY 11, 2005 — 5:30 P.M. — 7:00 P.M.
YAKIMA CITY HALL — COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1. Roll Call
Present:
Council: Mayor Paul George, presiding, Council Members Ron Bonlender,
Dave Edler, Neil McClure, Mary Place, and Susan Whitman
Staff: Dick Zais, City Manager; Helen Harvey, Assistant City Attorney;
Dennis Mayo, Fire Chief; Sam Granato, Police Chief; and City
Clerk Roberts
Also: Jim Hall and Charles Erwin, Yakima Valley Office of Emergency
Management
Absent: Council Member Bernard Sims, absent and excused
2. National Incident Management System
Fire Chief Mayo reported that the federal government requires the use of the
National Incident Management System (NIMS) nationwide. Although NIMS won't
cost us anything today, there is a certification requirement. We don't have
information on that or on the training yet. Regional communication will come later,
and it will be at a huge cost. We cannot have different systems. Our City is
effective and well managed. He outlined the tasks of the Public Works, Community
and Economic Development, Police, Fire, and Finance Departments during an
incident. Utilizing charts, he spoke about the tasks for operations, planning,
logistics, finance administration and the new one of intelligence (weapons of
• massive destruction).
3. Comprehensive Emergency Management Program
Jim Hall introduced the updated Comprehensive Emergency Management
Program, an updated version of the Civil Emergency Management Plan. It outlines
what police, fire, health department and the city government offices do in a major
emergency, and establishes their roles. When an incident is beyond one
jurisdiction's capabilities to handle, his department will provide support to them.
Under the old Plan, each jurisdiction had its own plan. This Plan makes it
consistent for all jurisdictions. Each jurisdiction may have different operational
protocols, but this gives standardized operating procedures for responding to
incidents. There is a plan for each different type of emergency.
Council Member Place commented that she used to have a checklist on a card to
follow during an incident. Mr. Hall responded that the cards are still good and will
be available Thursday at the symposium. This plan is still under development and
they are requesting input on what those checklists should contain. We are also
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JANUARY 11, 2005 — ADJOURNED MEETING
talking about hospital and school administrators having a checklist. Council
Member Bonlender suggested that the checklist be formatted to reside on council
members' Blackberries.
City Manager Zais stated that these plans are scheduled for consideration at the
next council meeting. There are no plans to add staff, nor do these plans have a
budgetary impact; it is part of what we already do. However, in any emergency,
there are always financial impacts for which we are not prepared. Mayor George
asked if money spent for emergencies is only reimbursable if it is declared a
federal emergency. Chief Granato replied that is true, and suggested keeping good
records. He also cautioned that funding could be lost if we have not adopted NIMS.
Council entered into a brief discussion regarding the location of the emergency
operation center. Mr. Hall indicated it would be located in their offices, but they
would utilize outside resources as necessary. He advocates consolidating the
city /county emergency centers. He reported that he and the sheriff are initiating a
study to address issues related to a joint operation center; including determination
of who would operate dispatch, 911, and communications. They will review RFPs
next Friday and expect the study to be completed by July. Chief Granato clarified
that this includes all the cities in the valley. We should all be on the same
communication system and know where all the emergency equipment is located.
Mr. Hall said that there are six different dispatch centers in the valley.
Consolidation efforts may be hindered by the fact that in the smaller jurisdictions,
the dispatchers perform other functions.
4. 2004 Yakima County Multi- Jurisdictional Hazards Mitigation Plan
Charles Erwin reported the Mitigation Plan process started almost two years ago.
He explained that FEMA is trying to impress on jurisdictions the need to mitigate
disasters. They want a plan showing how we will address mitigating disasters and
have become tougher on approving reimbursements for disasters. FEMA has
previewed the document and indicated we meet all the guidelines. Council Member
Place pointed out that some of the data is very old, referencing the information
relating to employment that goes back to 1990, and the information relating to
ammonia release. In section 4 on page 4 it states that we have met the state goals
for critical areas and shoreline ordinances, yet we have not approved the new
shoreline or critical areas ordinances. When we refer to comprehensive plan, we
need to identify which comprehensive plan is being referenced. Mr. Erwin indicated
that change could be made and submitted to FEMA for approval. (Council Member
Edler absent after 6:35 p.m.) Council Member Place questioned the statement
under audience participation indicating that there were three meetings for shoreline
and critical areas ordinances, yet this Plan was not mentioned. Mr. Erwin agreed,
stating that was with the State. This is a total voluntary program the State put on;
the value of having this signed document is when there is hazardous grant money
available we would be eligible to compete in the grant writing process. Before the
city could go in for a grant, you have to be signatory with the Plan. He spoke about
the process to make changes and take it back to FEMA for approval. Mr. Hall
interjected that even with an approved mitigation plan, without the critical areas
ordinance, the City would not be eligible. Council Member Place stated that we are
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JANUARY 11, 2005 — ADJOURNED MEETING
in the process of reviewing our critical areas ordinance that is due in 2006;
however, we have one now. Mr. Hall commented that the e-mail listed Yakima
County and the city of Yakima as being out of compliance. Ms. Harvey stated that it
might be that this statement is bland enough that it would not impact the planning
document. She stated she would like an opportunity to review it with Ken Harper,
consultant attorney. Council concurred.
5. Audience Comments (6:45 p.m. — 7:00 p.m.)
No citizen came forward to address this issue.
6. Adjournment to January 15, 2005 at 8:30 a.m. for Council Strategic Planning
Workshop at the Harman Center
The meeting was adjourned at 6:43 p.m. to January 15, 2005 at 8:30 a.m. for
Council Strategic Planning Workshop at the H. d i man Center.
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READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY A _ _ ._ . � i _ _
• U M MBER DATE
C OUNCIL MEMBER DATE
ATTEST: I
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CITY CLERK PAUL P. GEORGE, MAYOR
An audio and video tape of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office
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