HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/23/2007 Adjourned Meeting 288
ADJOURNED MEETING
JANUARY 23, 2007
COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL
9:30 A.M. -- PUBLIC HEARING
1. RoII CaII
Present:
Council: Mayor Dave Edler, presiding, Council Members Ron Bonlender, Micah
Cawley, Norm Johnson, Bill Lover, and Susan Whitman
Staff: City Manager Zais, City Attorney Paolella and City Clerk Moore
Absent: Neil McClure (excused)
2. Public Hearing and consideration of an Ordinance annexing the Occidental
Annexation area to the City of Yakima
Bill Cook, Community and Economic Development Director, gave a general overview of
annexations. Annexations provide opportunities for new development and more fairly
distribute the cost of infrastructure when providing urban services. City Manager Zais
gave details regarding coordinating with the County on reimbursements and transfer of
funds for development as well as an agreement for sharing the maintenance of two
major arterials. Bruce Benson, Planning Supervisor, outlined the statistics of the
annexation area. It is an area of 1.6 square miles with an estimated population of 723.
• Mayor Edler opened the public hearing
Dave Hillwick, 7804 Occidental Avenue, commented about the boarders changing on the
annexation since the onset.
Heidi Anderson, 7602 Coolidge Road, asked if the City will be able to handle the
responsibilities of the annexation. She asked whether a 20 -year plan and an EIS was
done. She spoke about the City responding to pressure from developers versus what
the residents want and police and fire needs, suggesting that the City should take care
of what they have before annexing more area.
Lee Stream, 6914 Easy Street, expressed concern about whether he will be able to
continue raising and butchering cattle on his property. He had been told that there
would be a Safety Committee meeting held to discuss this issue. He commented that he
did not want to live in a city, but wanted to live in the country and hoped the City would
re- evaluate the annexation area and exclude his property.
Doug Jewett, 2201 S. 69 Avenue, said his main concern is that the annexation is based
on dollars. He pointed out that developers sign the outside utility agreements and then
vote for the entire development. He doesn't "think the annexation has the support of the
people.
289
ADJOURNED MEETING - OCCIDENTAL ANNEXATION
JANUARY 23, 2007
Ron Voris, 6409 Occidental, spoke against the petition method of annexation and
against the Growth Management Act. He took this opportunity to vent his dissatisfaction
with the City and County governments.
• Mayor Edler closed the public hearing
Council Member Lover reviewed his ideas to revise the proposed staffing for the
annexation; 1) reduce the proposed number of firefighters from 2 to 1; 2) remove the
planning position; 3) eliminate the building inspector until the workload warrants; 4)
eliminate money for parks; and 5) remove Safe Community Action Plan funds from this
proposal but earmark the money for public safety. Council Member Whitman spoke of
her concerns with the annexation and questioned whether police and fire are ready to
handle it. Council Member Cawley also felt that we are not ready for the annexation.
City Manager Zais spent time clarifying the projected costs in response to Council
Member Lover's observations.
CAWLEY MOVED AND WHITMAN SECONDED TO DENY THE ANNEXATION AT
THIS TIME. The City Clerk read the resolution by title only. Following each Council
Member's comments about their vote, the motion failed due to a 3 -3 tie vote; Bonlender,
Edler, and Johnson voting nay, McClure absent.
3. Adjournment
CAWLEY MOVED AND BONLENDER SECONDED TO ADJOURN TO JANUARY 17,
2007 AT 8 :30 A.M. FOR A STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP AT THE YAKIMA
CONVENTION CENTER, THEN TO JANUARY 30, 2007 AT 8 :00 A.M. FOR A STUDY
SESSION' ON ZONING CODE UPDATE VISION IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. The
motion carried by unanimous voice vote., McClure absent.
The meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY Oto-/Z -
CO CIL ME BER DATE
COUNCIL MEMBER / DATE
ATTEST: /fr/1
A ./1,4.1
CITY 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
2