HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/06/2006 Adjourned Meeting 166
YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
ADJOURNED MEETING
SEPTEMBER 6, 2006 — 7:00 P.M.
HARMAN SENIOR CENTER
101 N. 65 AVENUE
1. Roll Call
Present:
Council: Mayor Dave Edler, presiding, Council Members Ron Bonlender,
Micah Cawley, Norm Johnson, Bill Lover, Neil McClure, and Susan
Whitman
Staff: City Manager Zais, Police Chief Granato, Finance and Budget
Director DeBord, and Deputy City Clerk Watkins
Mayor Edler called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
2. Informational public forum to introduce "Yakima's Safe Community Action
Plan" and proposed funding sources
A. Introduction
Mayor Edler gave opening statements and turned the meeting over to Police
Chief Granato.
B. Power Point presentation
Chief Granato began the Power Point presentation that highlighted the need for
the additional police officers. He explained how and why the plan was
developed.
Rita DeBord, Director of Budget and Finance, presented the financial aspects of
the plan.
C. Public comment — questions /opinions
Bob Mansfield, 1201 S. 41 Avenue, first spoke about the verified response
issue and his unhappiness with it and then spoke in support of YPAL. He said
we have to work with the younger generation to get a handle on the crime
problem.
Tony Sandoval, PO Box 10301, spoke in support of the additional officers. He
volunteered to help get information on the proposal to the Latino community. He
was also in support of community policing and emphasized the importance of
educating the community.
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Mel Tanasse, 5910 Lincoln Avenue, said he is inclined to support the proposal
but.with reservations. He talked about the problems with the court system. He
challenged the City to assure voters that if there isn't a 20% reduction in crime a
sunset clause will take the tax increase off. Chief Granato agreed that there
needs to be performance measurements and he is willing to be held accountable.
Mary McDaniels, 905 Walker St., said she is very much in favor of this proposal
and it is essential it be passed, but, it is also essential that the goals be met. She
supports the revitalization of downtown but fears we won't meet those goals
unless we do something about the crime. She suggested the downtown
business area be included in one of the emphasis patrols.
Barb BoIn, 418 S. 24`h Ave., having had the experience of a break in, is a
proponent of the action plan. Noting that our youth are both a big plus and minus
in our community, she asked if the plan had any money allocated to rehabilitating
the juveniles, the delinquents, and the addicts. Chief Granato responded with
information about the YPAL program and how it is one of the most rewarding and
important things we can do to get juveniles headed in the right direction. Some
of the new officers will work with the PAL program. He also said that,
unfortunately with the current juvenile code, we have no control and there needs
to be something done in the Legislature to have kids held accountable. Groups
are interested in going to Olympia to pressure for changes in the juvenile code.
The County is looking at implementing a rehabilitation program. Mayor Edler
advised that the meth issue is epidemic in our state, we are #5 in the nation on
meth- related crimes.
Ms. Boln asked if there would be a sliding scale on the utility tax increase for low
incomes. City Manager Zais advised that the utility tax is the only option we have
to generate this revenue and we do not have a legal basis to provide a sliding
scale on the ability to pay. He hopes there will be organizations who come
forward to assist and provide support. Ms. Boln said she is an advocate of the
plan and encouraged the rest of the community to spread the word as well as be
more proactive with things like block watches, knowing your neighbors, and
joining the Citizens Academy. Her final comment was, "don't just complain,
support them."
A woman who didn't identify herself said she supports the police and law
enforcement but feels we need to go after some money from the state and
federal governments to deal with illegal immigration.
Mayor Edler told the audience that many citizens are making our federal
government aware of that issue. He diffused the issue by advising that statistics
show 55% of the crimes in Yakima were committed by Anglo citizens. He had
also heard that 65 %.of women being battered are Anglo women. He
emphasized that not all the problems in Yakima are because of illegal aliens.
Chief Granato said he doesn't disagree that something needs to be done to
secure our borders as there is a real threat, but, it is not the illegal immigrant that
wants to do harm in our country. He clarified that Mayor Edler's figures are with
regard to the city jail. Those statistics may be different in the county, but every
ethnic group has criminals.
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• Mayor Edler gave the Council members an opportunity to speak
Susan Whitman explained the "typical household" and why we don't say
"average household ".
Micah Cawley spoke about the performance measures and the request for a
sunset clause, as well as the need to take back our town.
Ron Bonlender said he lives in a high -crime area and owns four businesses that
will have to pay this tax. But he is willing to pay as he considers it a small cost in
proportion to the total bill and what we'll get out of it.
Neil McClure and Norm Johnson thanked the people for coming and
emphasized that we all are going to have to continue to fight Olympia, but, in the
meantime, we can't sit back and do nothing.
Bill Lover spoke about the difficulty of developing the funding package. He
assured the audience that protecting our neighborhoods is Council's number one
priority.
Rick Fowler, of the Citizens Academy, said he was not asked to attend, but
came because he has also been a victim. Crime is everywhere and he is willing
to pay the tax increase.
Mayor Edler closed the meeting by saying that he truly loves this community and
wants it to be an incredible place to live, to work and to play.
3. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY %/f4/
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CITY CLERK , "V D EDL '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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