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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/13/2006 Adjourned Meeting / Study Session 76 ADJOURNED MEETING / STUDY SESSION OF THE YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL JUNE 13, 2006 - 8:30 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS - YAKIMA CITY HALL 1. RoII CaII Present: Council: Mayor Dave Edler, presiding, Council Members Ron Bonlender, Micah Cawley, Norm Johnson, Bill Lover, and Susan Whitman (present after 9:20) Staff: City Manager Zais, City Attorney Paolella and City Clerk in Training Moore Absent: Neil McClure (excused) Mayor Edler called the meeting to order at 8:36 a.m. Following discussion regarding some recent graffiti, JOHNSON MOVED AND CAWLEY SECONDED TO SEND A LETTER TO THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE RECOMMENDING PUNISHMENT TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote; McClure absent. 2. Study Session regarding the Yakima Safe Community Action Plan Chief Granato gave a short introduction to Sgt. Salinas' presentation on gangs in Yakima and the history of the Gang Unit that started January 6, 2004. Sgt. Salinas gave a presentation: • Approximately 400 gang members identified in Yakima, although the estimate is 500 -600 actual members. There are also 500 -600 juvenile "associates" riding the fence while trying to decide whether to join. • Approximately 15 active gangs in the city. Also several active tagger crews. Sgt. Salinas described the various gangs, their colors, numbers, and associations. The Gang Unit spends a tremendous amount of time talking to these kids, trying to understand the dynamics. To date, they have recovered 63 guns, have documented members, and continue to give presentations to local groups and students. They also have established relationships with other agencies, and investigate gang related crime. They have developed intelligence by working with informants. He claimed much of their success should be credited to the patrol units. Chief Granato described the Police Athletic League (PAL) and how it makes the kids' desire to belong a positive action rather than participating in criminal activity in gangs. PAL has two full -time police officers assigned and relies on volunteers and donations. 77 ADJOURNED MEETING — JUNE 13, 2006 SAFE COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN They apply for grants and partner with the school district. We are being asked by other agencies to help form PAL groups throughout the county. There is a big vacuum when school sports have been taken away. There are only a limited number of kids that can participate in organized sports, primarily those whose families can afford it. PAL tries to provide free programs in organized sports. We partner with the Boy Scouts of America, the school districts, and Century 21 on the soccer leagues. These agencies bring in other life- learning skills as well. The Gang Unit is proactive and dependent on patrol. They are hoping to intercept gang members and get intelligence on their activities; but, there are not enough officers to stay on top of it. The Emphasis Patrol demonstrated how getting the community involved works in cleaning up neighborhoods and increasing safety. We need at least two more proactive teams. Once we get the crime eliminated in an area, we can help people who live in those communities continue the process by organizing neighbors on watch. Chief Granato supplied statistics on violent crimes, homicides, and auto thefts. He noted they also are starting the GREAT program (Gang Reduction Education and Training) created by Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. This program addresses 4 and 7 grade students and aims at deterring them from joining a gang. Chief Granato noted the difficulty he has had in obtaining cost information from the insurance industry related to crime and gangs, but it is known to be significant. He said he would like those people who are anti -tax measures to think about what kind of a community they want to live in. It is a cooperative effort with police, the courts, prosecutors, and the community. We will pay for this problem one way or another. There are so many good things in Yakima that are overshadowed by the crime problem, but it won't change if we do nothing. City Manager Zais gave a summary prior to Council deliberations. All the affected departments have to work in unison to attack the problem. No one wants to pay more taxes. The newspaper headlines keep talking about a meeting to discuss taxes, but that is not what we are here to talk about. We are here to talk about the crime problem and what it is going to take to achieve results. We can't be successful without the resources to combat the problem. Our existing resources are obligated elsewhere; therefore, to do something of this magnitude would require a reduction in current spending and would cut to the heart of many core services. There is no longer any place to cut across the board; if we cut now, major services would be impacted. We don't think that is what the Council or the citizens want. We are hamstrung by the lack of state support. They are not being fair in providing resources for this problem. Other local options have been rejected by the Legislature. The issue cries out for persistence on our part to continue to fight in Olympia for resources, for grants and programs. We need more than a one -time fix, we need an on going resource to fight this problem. Mr. Zais went on to explain that the City of Yakima currently experiences the lowest tax rate per capita of cities over 30,000 in the state of Washington. This tax increase, singled out by itself for utilities, is a high rate. But, taken in perspective, it moves the city only one step higher and we are still in a very favored overall tax rate in the state. There are other modest options that don't generate the kind of revenues we need. There are reductions in the proposal that Council may want to consider, but he recommended they be proportional. Regardless of what the final outcome is, we need to carry this message to the community. • 2 .78 ADJOURNED MEETING — JUNE 13, 2006 SAFE COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN • Mayor Edler opened the discussion to the Council Council Member Bonlender agreed that the utility tax is the best revenue source available, but would like to see it adjusted. He recommends lifting the utility cap and raising the utility tax by 1.5 %. The original suggestion of 4% is a headline grabber and • he fears it would be defeated. Council Member Cawley said he would like further discussion and review of other ideas beyond those from staff. Council Member Lover suggested the discussion be broken up into different items; one being the anticipated results and another being funding. He countered the City Manager's statistic about Yakima citizens paying less tax per capita by noting that Yakima taxpayers receive 25% less income than the rest of the state. He pointed out that if we put a common sense initiative forward, our citizens will accept it Council Member Johnson said he does not favor a utility tax lid lift and wants to be sure to look in -house first to support the hiring of 22 more police. He commented that we should find out what the voters want before trying to present a plan and expecting it to pass. Council Member Whitman said we have looked internally. The Budget Strategy Team (BST) took 18 months and went through the budget. Although they suggested cuts and revisions, they didn't recommend any of them because it would be cutting essential services. Although this would bring our utility tax to the top, comparison across the state shows we would still be low in our revenue. She added that when she talks with citizens she hasn't had many negative comments because she has been able to advise them of the different cuts we have already made. They understand that the .3% tax did not bring the City of Yakima very much money. The citizens are interested in enhancing the police and fire department, but she doesn't feel we are ready to take this to the people yet. She recommended at least two more study sessions and some community forums to get citizen input. Mayor Edler said this is a unique challenge for us as a community as we're starting in a hole. We are being frank with the public and that is key. He believes the City Council has a responsibility to lead the community with the best plan possible and then have them make the decision. He said he has a personal commitment to get these police officers, but he is trying to figure out whether the plan, as presented by the staff, is a Cadillac or a Volkswagen. Although the BST has already reviewed the budget, he recommends that if the new Council Members want to dig into it more, they should do so. City Manager Zais clarified that the proposal has been a work -in- progress for many months and he believes it is not a Cadillac plan. It is not cast in concrete and there are many choices on how it can be done or phased differently. We looked at our deficiencies and the magnitude of the crime that we are trying to address. He agreed that the Council needs to be as united as possible on any package presented to the voters. 3 •79 ADJOURNED MEETING — JUNE 13, 2006 SAFE COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN After discussion on date, time, and attendees, it was decided the next study session on the subject would be held June 20 at 7:30 a.m. • 3. Audience comments (9:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.) No audience members came forward. 4. Adjournment BONLENDER MOVED AND CAWLEY SECONDED TO ADJOURN TO JUNE 20, 2006 AT 7:30 A.M. FORA CONTINUATION OF THIS STUDY SESSION. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote; McClure absent. The meeting adjourned at 10:02 a.m. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DATE . 1- 1 /1- 1/10k iattu-el f/ q COUNCIL MEMBER DATE ATTEST: A j...,4 "di C CLERK / DAVID EDLER, MAYOR Minutes prepared by Linda Watkins. An audio and video tape of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office 4