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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/16/2007 Business Meeting 283 BUSINESS MEETING JANUARY 16, 2007 — 5:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS — CITY HALL 1. Roll CaII 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 and City Clerk Moore 2. Executive Session regarding Property Acquisition and Collective Bargaining McCLURE MOVED AND JOHNSON SECONDED TO MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote. 6:00 P.M. — PUBLIC. SESSION 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, City Attorney Paolella and City Clerk Moore 2. Invocation /Pledge of Allegiance Council Member Bonlender gave an invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance 3. Open Discussion for the Good of the Order /Special Presentation A. Proclamations B. Special Presentations C. Status report on prior meeting's citizen service request: D. Appointments to Council Boards and Commissions • Yakima Housing Authority Board LOVER MOVED AND McCLURE SECONDED TO NOMINATE ROBERT • WARDELL TO BE REAPPOINTED TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote. 4. Consent agenda - Mayor Edler referred to the items placed on the Consent Agenda, questioning whether there were any additions or deletions from either Council members or citizens present. Item No. 10 was added to the Consent Agenda. The City Clerk read the Consent Agenda items, including resolutions and ordinances by title. McCLURE MOVED AND CAWLEY SECONDED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ. The motion carried by unanimous roll call vote. (Subsequent paragraphs preceded by an asterisk ( *) indicate items on the Consent Agenda handled under one motion without further discussion.) 284 JANUARY 16, 2007 *A. Approval of the minutes of the November 14, 2006 Adjourned Meeting The minutes of the November 14,2006 Adjourned meeting were approved, having been duly certified accurate by two Council members and no one present wishing to have said minutes read publicly. *B. Council Committee Meeting Reports: 1. Transit Committee (12/13/06) 2. Economic Development Committee (1/3/07) 3. Neighborhood Development Committee (1/10/07) 5. Audience Participation - No one came forward to speak. PUBLIC MEETING 6. Public Meeting and Consideration of Resolution to adopt temporary emergency weather shelter program Bill Cook, Community and Economics Director, said they had adopted a temporary policy for this type of program in response to a need during the holiday and cold weather season. The temporary policy was only in effect until the Council could meet and determine whether to adopt or discontinue the program. The program would establish minimum requirements for emergency shelter only. The Neighborhood Development Committee has reviewed the proposal. It will be limited to January/February of 2007, and then the committee will review its usage and decide whether to continue the program in the future. The shelters will be limited to commercial areas within the city. • Mayor Edler opened the public meeting Steve Hill of the Homeless Network urged Council to adopt the program. There are two church locations in the downtown area that have stepped forward to supply the service. Pastor Dave Roberts of the Baptist church said they have been operating as a homeless shelter since December 18 and have sheltered a total of 46 individuals. Council Member McClure expressed concern about the program ending in February. • Mayor Edler closed the public meeting The City Clerk read the resolution by title only; BONLENDER MOVED AND JOHNSON SECONDED TO AMEND AND ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AND CHANGE IT FROM FEBRUARY TO MARCH. The motion carried by unanimous roll call vote. RESOLUTION NO. R -2007- 06, A RESOLUTION of the City of Yakima, Washington, authorizing and directing the City of Yakima Department of Community and Economic Development to identify and implement a policy regarding temporary emergency cold weather shelters in the City of Yakima, and providing that such policy shall be valid only during January, February, and March 2007. 2 285 JANUARY 16, 2007 CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS 7. Consideration of Resolution authorizing City Manager to accept a Transportation Improvement Board grant; and to amend the professional services contract with BERGER/ABAM Engineers, Inc. for next phase railroad design services for the Railroad Grade Separation Project Michael Morales, Community and Economic Development Deputy Director, gave a status report of the Railroad Grade Separation Project. They are proceeding with the final design elements. He reported they received an additional $1.5 million grant on the Martin Luther King phase of the project. He noted that the current contract with BERGER/ABAM is due to expire March 31, 2007. In order to extend it through final design, preparation of all documents, etc., they propose extending it to June 30, 2008. A timeline was submitted in the packet. Right -of -way . plans have been drawn up and need to be presented to the Department of Transportation for their review and approval before negotiations of any acquisitions. Council Member Lover commented that he feels the project has moved well beyond a feasibility study and that it has been driven by staff proposals and recommendations, moving forward by Council action one resolution at a time. He believes the Council has never taken a vote on the project. He asked about the final design. Mr. Morales said the final design is to be completed by the autumn of 2007 on the grade separation crossings. City Manager Zais explained that this project has progressed over the years and there is a chronology of events of staff and the City Council. Where we are today is the result of following an approved environmental process that focuses on the need for the two grade separations. Council Member Lover's suggestion of an alternative was reviewewd earlier, but was not accepted. To revisit that would require a complete reassessment of the environmental document that has been accepted by the federal agencies. There are still more decisions to be made as we move forward. We need to see the final design, and updated information from the railroad. Council Member Lover stated that he thinks what we're not telling the public is that the only way this is going to work is to have six grade separations. Council Member Bonlender responded that this information updates a project that has already been approved by the Council. There will be more decisions to be made along the way, but the basic project has been approved. This led to a discussion among Council members as to their thoughts on the project. The City Clerk read the resolution by title only; McCLURE MOVED AND BONLENDER SECONDED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION. Following further discussion, the motion carried by a 6 -1 roll call vote; Lover voting nay. RESOLUTION NO. R- 2007 -07, A RESOLUTION authorizing the City Manager to: A) Execute an agreement to accept a $1,500,000 grant from the Transportation Improvement Board for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard Railroad Grade Separation Project; and B) Execute an additional supplemental agreement with BERGER/ABAM Engineers, Inc., for additional engineering and consulting services to proceed with the next phase of the Railroad Grade Separation Project, and to extend the completion date and term of the contract with BERGER /ABAM Engineers, Inc. (City Contract No. 2003- 53) through June 30, 2008. 3 • 286 JANUARY 16, 2007 8. Consideration of Appointments to Council Budget Committee City Manager Zais described the policy issue establishing the Council Budget Committee. It will be an ongoing standing committee and will be used to assist in reviewing expenses and prioritizing services within existing revenues. LOVER MOVED AND CAWLEY SECONDED, TO CHANGE THE WORDING STARTING FROM THE WORD BUDGET ( 2 ND paragraph of Agenda Statement) TO "ESTABLISH PRIORITIES AND IDENTIFY $2 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES /SERVICES THAT MAY BE REDUCED, ELIMINATED, COMBINED OR TRANSFERRED TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR. The motion carried by unanimous roll call vote. BONLENDER MOVED AND McCLURE SECONDED TO DEFER APPOINTING MEMBERS UNTIL WE LOOK AT THE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS AT THE RETREAT. The motion carried by unanimous roll call vote. 9. Consideration of Resolution authorizing agreement with Financial Consulting Solutions Group, Inc., regarding 2007 Domestic Water Cost of Service and Rate Study • update Dave Brown, Water and Irrigation Manager, explained that we have a duty to ensure our rates are charged properly for the actual cost of service. This rate study was originally scheduled for 2008, but revenues have dropped due to selling less water than predicted putting our capital projects at risk. The City Clerk read the resolution by title only; McCLURE MOVED AND LOVER SECONDED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION. The motion carried by unanimous roll call vote. RESOLUTION NO. R- 2007 -08, A RESOLUTION authorizing the City Manager to execute a consulting services agreement with Financial Consulting Solutions Group, Inc., for financial consulting services related to the development and completion of a domestic water cost of service and rate study update. *10. 2006 Fourth Quarter Capital Improvement Projects Report , The report was accepted. *11. Consideration of Resolution authorizing execution of a professional services agreement with Rosemary Bonsen to provide geriatric foot care services at the Harman Center RESOLUTION NO. R- 2007 -09, A RESOLUTION authorizing the City Manager of the City of Yakima to execute a "Geriatric Footcare Services Agreement" with Rosemary Bonsen to provide footcare services at the Harman Center. *12. Consideration of a Resolution authorizing execution of a performance agreement with Yakima County and People for People, Inc. for upper county transportation services for 2007 RESOLUTION NO. R- 2007 -10, A RESOLUTION authorizing and directing the City Manager and the City Clerk of the City of Yakima to execute agreement documents with Yakima County Office of Aging and Long Term Care (ALTC) and People For People, Inc. for transportation services for the elderly and handicapped city residents for 2007. 4 287 JANUARY 16, 2007 *13. Consideration of Resolution setting February 8, 2007 for an open record public hearing before the Hearing Examiner to consider a right -of -way vacation request by Hordan Planning Services on behalf of Robert Bader to vacate a platted driveway and utility easement in the vicinity of 320 Englewood Crest Court RESOLUTION NO. R- 2007 -11, A RESOLUTION fixing March 8, 2007 as the date for a public hearing before the Hearing Examiner concerning a petition to vacate a portion of North 35 Avenue in the vicinity of River Road. *14. Consideration of Resolution setting March 8, 2007 as the date for a public hearing before the Hearing Examiner to consider a petition submitted by Chesterley Meadows Cottages, LLC to vacate a portion of North 35 Avenue in the vicinity of River Road RESOLUTION NO. R- 2007 -12, A RESOLUTION fixing March 8, 2007 as the date for a public hearing before the Hearing. Examiner concerning a petition to vacate a portion of North 35 Avenue in the vicinity of River Road. 15. Other Business • It was the consensus of Council to postpone the study session on zoning to January 30, 2007. • Council Member McClure pointed out that the November 2006 Police Department crime report indicates there is a 6% year -to -date reduction in crime, and thanked the police force for all of their efforts. • City Manager Zais advised that he had recently met with a number of legislators in Olympia concerning the City's legislative priorities. He stated they appear to be very supportive of our efforts and want to work on our behalf, especially concerning the downtown future initiative. • Mayor Edler requested staff to draft a letter to send to our area legislators in support of an upcoming bill to repeal the current super majority vote requirement for special school election issues. Council Member Lover disagreed. 16. Adjournment to January 23, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. for a Study Session on zoning code update vision; then to 9:30 a.m. for a public hearing on the Occidental Annexation CAWLEY MOVED AND McCLURE SECONDED TO ADJOURN. The motion carried by unanimous roll call vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:32 p.m. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY % I' ,e-eg it CO ' IL E BER DATE V )/(41;/) ahtAca/d-, . COUNCIL MEMBER • DATE ATTEST: CITY CLERK / DAVID EDLER, MAYOR Minutes prepared by Linda Watkins. An audio and DVD of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office 5