HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/22/2007 Adjourned Meeting / Study Session 387
YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
ADJOURNED MEETING /STUDY SESSION
MAY 22, 2007
8:00 A.M. — 10:00 A.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS — YAKIMA 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. Continuation of Presentation of Council Public Safety Committee proposals
re: alternative Safe Community Action Plan
Council Member McClure had spent time with Council Member Cawley and
created another proposal they feel is more complete. It includes a proactive unit,
a crime analyst, and a crime prevention housing clerk to at least start the
program by notifying landlords of the Crime Free Housing program. They would
use the money available from the library annexation that has been accruing since
January. Council Member McClure reviewed the financial aspects of the
combined plan. He said the plan starts to run short of money 18 -24 months out.
With the potential of needing additional revenues at some point, they may need
the lid lift in the future. Their thought is to invest in the police force and the law
and justice system with banked money, and then use library money, over time, to
establish a proactive unit. He said there would be approximately $300,000
invested in technology to raise efficiency in both the Police and Court systems.
Discussion compared the various proposals in detail. With regard to the Crime -
Free Housing portion, the clerk would be a clearing house that would track
complaints and the Landlord Association would track the owners. The police
officers hired would not be identified as patrol but as a proactive unit, combining
the two concepts from the previous plan. Also, the new plan doesn't spend every
penny every year but keeps some in reserve. Council Member Johnson
expressed his concern about the .3% sales tax money coming up for vote again
and if it fails would cause problems with future funding. Council Member
McClure explained the effect timing would have on the financing portion. The
municipal court clerk would be hired in year two as three have just been hired
and are currently being trained. He pointed out that the $50,000 a month, for
every month it takes to implement this beyond August, as well as any unspent
portion, could be used on other needed tools.
The proposed lid lift was discussed. Council Member McClure noted that it
recommends only changing it from a lid of $4,000 to $5,000. The proposal
shows we will require some revenue source and the lid lift is just one option.
Council Member Cawley said that is the figure the employers gave when they
attended the Public Safety Committee meetings. Council Member Johnson
expressed his desire to wait on the lid lift decision until we see how the plan is
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working. Council Member Lover also expressed concern about the lid lift as
well as any potential future fee for the Crime -Free Housing program.
Mayor Edler referred to the original Safe Community Action Plan (SCAP) and
how it was predicted that adding 22 new police officers, and the other aspects of
the plan, would decrease crime in Yakima by 20 %. He asked how much of a
crime reduction will we see from this proposal. Captain Greg Copeland
responded that they are changing the equation from guarantee to goal and 10%
should be our goal.
There was a philosophical discussion on just spending the money we have rather
than working toward raising Yakima to the western states level. Council Member
McClure claimed the proposal is nothing more than doing something with what we
have before going to the citizens to increase taxes and fees. Mayor Edler
expressed doubt about this being the right method. Council Member Lover said he
felt it was a good start, e.g. the first three years of a five -year plan and we now
need the Public Safety Committee to determine years four and five. Council ,
Member Bonlender said he fears complacency. Council Member Whitman pointed
out that spending the money now is a start and will show the citizens we are using
• it responsibly and will provide results in more than one area. We can then go back
to the citizens later, if we need to, to bring Yakima up to the western state average.
Council Member Johnson pondered putting $350,000 into the emphasis patrol and
the Crime Free Housing program and then waiting until we get the results of the
WASPIC study to determine the 4th and 5th year plan.
Linda Morris, Court Services Manager, spoke about the impact of the proposal
on Municipal Court. She claimed that with an additional clerk they would still be
50% below the state average. She went on to explain the intensive training
requirements prior to clerks being totally effective. Judge Woodard emphasized
that it is important to get that clerk earlier rather than later. She also shared that
she had been questioning the projected reduction in crime and is pleased with
the idea of a goal of 10% rather than a guarantee. She also has spoken with a
crime analyst from Spokane who has a Repeat Offender Patrol Emphasis
program, and he verified that initially it did increase the citations filed in municipal
and district courts. She supported the idea of beginning now and acknowledged
the need to get resources to finish the job. Council Member Lover made a
suggestion that they check into state supplied pre - employment training to help
stop their constant turnover. Mrs. Morris said she is on the state education board _
and would pursue the idea. Prosecuting Attorney, Cynthia Martinez, said the
proposal would not correct their current case overload, however, it would allow
them to deal with the additional load that would be generated by the new officers
and at least continue to operate in the same manner they are now rather than
sliding further behind. She is pleased that it does include the case management
technology. The Washington State and American Bar Association recommend
each attorney handle 400 cases per year. Right now they are handling 800 to
1000 per attorney. The current working conditions are almost intolerable.
JOHNSON MOVED AND LOVER SECONDED TO APPROVE THIS PROGRAM
AS PRESENTED WITH THE FOLLOWING CHANGES: 1) ADD A COURT
CLERK IN YEAR ONE, 2) REMOVE THE LID LIFT AS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR
THE TIME BEING UNTIL WE HEAR FROM THOSE AFFECTED COMPANIES,
AND 3) INSTRUCT THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE TO EXPAND THE
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ADJOURNED MEETING — MAY 22, 2007
PROGRAM FOR AT LEAST TWO ADDITIONAL YEARS TAKING INTO
CONSIDERATION WHAT WE NEED TO ARRIVE AT THE WESTERN STATE
AVERAGE. Mayor Edler pointed out we need to open the floor for audience
comments prior to acting on the motion.
3. Audience comments
Joe Adams from the Landlords Association, said they haven't had time to study
the Crime -Free Housing portion and have a lot of questions. We would need to
know how this would be set up within the police department. Who would be in
charge of this program and how could we help develop it? They want to
cooperate and provide help but need a plan.
City Manager Zais advised that this does not require an appropriation nor
separate legislation because the resources are in the adopted budget and have
been earmarked for this purpose. He pointed out that the jail costs will continue
to rise and are not included in the plan. He has heard from business community
representatives that they will continue their support, but want to see something
move forward to address the needs of the city with resources that could be
parceled together. It is not easy when this is only part of the answer for the
bigger need, but if we are able to achieve the 10% goal, it will help make the
case for a larger "ask" before the voters later.
LOVER MOVED AND CAWLEY SECONDED TO DELAY THE DECISION TO
THE NEXT BUSINESS MEETING The motion failed by a 4 -3 vote, Bonlender,
Edler, Johnson and Whitman voting nay. The question was called for a vote
on the original motion. The motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.
4. Adjournment
McCLURE MOVED AND CAWLEY SECONDED TO ADJOURN. The motion
carried by unanimous voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 9:45 a.m.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY
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COUNCIL M ►r 2 r DATE
ATTEST: /
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CITY CLERK / r
DAD DLER, MAYOR
Minutes prepared by Linda Watkins. A CD and DVD of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office
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