HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/27/2005 Adjourned Meeting 266
CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 27, 2005 - 7:30 A.M. - 9:00 A.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS - YAKIMA CITY HALL
1. RoII Cali
Present:
Council: Mayor Paul George, presiding, Council Members Ron Bonlender, Dave
Edler, Neil McClure, Mary Place, Bernard Sims, and Susan Whitman
(present after 7:39 a.m.)
Staff: Dick Zais, City Manager; and City Clerk Roberts
It was the general consensus that Council Member Place should represent the City
at an AWC Wellness Conference next Tuesday to receive the Golden Apple Award
being presenting to the City of Yakima.
2. Study Session to review cruising events, police patrol enforcement, and
current legislation
Present from the Police Department were Chief Sam Granato and Captain Greg
Copeland, and from the Legal Department, Cynthia Martinez, Senior Assistant
Attorney.
Council Member Place said the Council Public Safety Committee had asked the
Police Department for information on the cruising events so we can determine if the
ordinance would need to be amended.
Council Member Bonlender reported he attended every cruise event, and the
feedback he got was very positive. The community pulled together and it was a
family affair. Although there is cost involved for the City, he feels the benefit is worth
it. One unfortunate incident occurred during the Low Rider event and maybe we
need to reconsider that event. We should close the event at 11 p.m. He spoke about
the participation of the downtown merchants, which primarily involved the businesses
on Yakima Avenue.
Council Member Place observed that the Low Rider night would happen anyway, but
we don't have to officially recognize it. The August cruise had a low turn out, since
the Vintiques did not actually participate. Council Member Bonlender agreed that the
Vintiques as a group did not join because their high -end engines don't handle the
stop- and -go traffic very well; however, it was still a community event.
Chief Granato commented that the Low Rider event is not officially sanctioned by
anyone. The Department has traditionally geared up for the event knowing there
could be problems. Lower Valley gang members come to the event and when you
have different gang members in the same area, there are going to be problems. The
event (shooting) that happened this year was bound to happen at some time and we
are not sure what we could have done to prevent it. We proposed a plan that people
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SEPTEMBER 27, 2005 — ADJOURNED MEETING
would be greeted at a checkpoint by a police officer who would explain the cruising
event rules and when it would be over. Council Member Place suggested that a
message sign be placed on Yakima Avenue that says cruising is over at 11 p.m.
Captain Copeland described the first event; they were surprised at how many people
were there for the right reason. As the time went on, the crowd changed to a different
element. Some gang members started fights, however, there were enough officers to
squelch them. When the Speedway started having the Low Rider shows, the
participants spent the night in Yakima and they started cruising the Ave the night
before. If we shut down the Ave, they went to First Street and then Nob Hill. We
found the best way to handle them was to try to arrange for the officers and them to
be in the same place at the same time. This was the first incident when someone
was violently injured. We could declare it a non -event and block the Ave, but they
would go elsewhere in the City.
Mayor George commented on the costs associated with the events: the overtime
cost for June 24 -25 was $7,000; $11,200 for July 8 -9, and $11,200 for August 5 -6,
for a total overtime cost of $34,400. He acknowledged that we would have incurred
overtime costs for the August Low Rider weekend anyway.
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Council Member Place said she would favor a one -night cruising event in June, and
eliminate the others.
Asked her opinion, Cynthia Martinez stated she would write the ordinance to reflect
Council's wishes; however, she cautioned Council against setting up checkpoints
because of existing case law. She said that setting up advisory signs about the event
closing time is OK.
Council Member Edler commented that he appreciated the study session and agreed
with other Council members wishing to obtain feedback from the various downtown
groups and the West Side Merchants. We should also ask the hotel association how
they would want us to approach the Low Rider event. If he had to decide today, he
would choose to do a one -time event.
Council debated the issue and suggestions offered and decided to place this on the
agenda or hold another Study Session and invite the various downtown and
business groups to attend and offer their input.
3. Audience Comments (8:45 a.m. — 9:00 a.m.)
Lynne Kittelson, spoke in favor of the cruising events due to the potential business
this could bring to downtown if marketed correctly.
4. Other business
Council Member Place advised Council that the City Clerk has provided her with
information on other cities' boards and committees' attendance requirements. City
Manager Zais said that he has given that information to the Legal Department.
Council Member Whitman reported on the Union Gap City Council meeting that she
and Council Member Place attended to discuss a common animal control ordinance
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that could be passed by all entities since dogs don't know boundaries. The joint
Animal Control Committee will meet to consider the input provided by the two elected
bodies and then go back to each entity.
5. Adjournment to Friday, September 30, 2005 at 7:30 a.m. for Study Session to
receive the Budget Strategy Team's recommendations
McCLURE MOVED AND EDLER SECONDED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING TO
SEPTEMBER 30, 2005 AT 7:30 A.M. FOR A STUDY SESSION TO RECEIVE THE
BUDGET STRATEGY TEAM'S RECOMMENDATIONS. The motion carried by
unanimous voice and the meeting adjourned at 8:36 a.m.
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READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY
•U IL r ' 4 I - DATE
COUNCIL MEMBER DATE
ATTEST:
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CITY CLERK PAUL P. GEORGE, MAYOR
Minutes prepared by Karen Roberts. An audio and video tape of this meeting are available in the City
Clerk's Office
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