HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/14/2008 Adjourned Meeting / Study Session 312
YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
ADJOURNED MEETING / STUDY SESSION
OCTOBER 14, 2008 - 8:00 - 9:30 A.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS - YAKIMA CITY HALL
1. Roll Call
Present:
Council: Mayor Dave Edler, presiding, Assistant Mayor Micah Cawley, Council
Members Kathy Coffey, Rick Ensey, Norm Johnson, Bill Lover and
Neil McClure
Staff: City Manager Zais, Acting City Attorney Cutter, and City Clerk Moore
Mayor Edler introduced Paige Delp from East Valley High School who is participating
in the Job Share Program.
2. Alternatives of Adjusting the Current Transit Fare Policy
City Manager Zais clarified that this was a 2008 budget policy issue approved by
Council. It recently went through the formal public hearing process. The proposed
increase is due to increasing costs, especially fuel. Transit is the single biggest
consumer of fuel in City of Yakima.
Ken Mehin, Transit Manager, spoke about the two public hearings and participation
in a two -day passenger survey. The public hearings were poorly attended; of the
six people attending, five supported the increase and one requested free bus
service. There were 125 responses to the survey with a clear indication that
people are supportive of the fare increase (82 %). Mr. Mehin reviewed the results
and pointed out that 75% said they were satisfied with the current bus service and
there were requests for additional services, e.g. expanded hours and Sunday
service.
Council Member Lover raised the subject of Dial -A -Ride expressing his concern
with handicap people using Yakima's Dial -A -Ride and having to change to a Union
Gap Dial -A -Ride service at the City limits to continue into Union Gap. He asked if
there were any arrangements that could be made to eliminate the need to change
vehicles. Karen Allen, Program Administrator, advised that it has been a long
standing City Council decision to use the city limits as the paratransit boundary.
While the City of Union Gap and Yakima have been under contract (as well as
Selah), the boundaries were expanded to those cities' limits.
There are a number of options that could be considered, e.g. Americans with
Disability Act allows a % mile boundary around all existing transit routes, or we
could extend it according to federal regulations, up to fifteen miles.
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Discussion covered whether medical and personal trips could be handled
separately. Mrs. Allen responded that is not allowed. It was noted that Dial -A -Ride
is-not a service based on ability to pay, but on physical assessment. Union Gap's
decision to sever the contractual relationship was discussed and it was noted that if
we decide to extend Dial -A -Ride service into Union Gap, we will also be extending
Yakima's citizens shopping in Union Gap and generating their sales tax revenues.
It was asked how many trips are related to medical versus shopping and Mrs. Allen
advised that, although they keep records of destinations, it is by address and not
by destination name making it difficult to make that distinction.
Council Member Coffey suggested that the Council is not prepared to discuss the
Dial -A -Ride issue yet as there are questions that need to be answered before
decisions can be made. Mayor Edler brought the discussion back to the subject of
the transit fare increase.
Council Member McClure, as chair of the Transit Committee, offered their
recommendations. He pointed out that the original request for a fare increase
began more than a year ago when fuel was still below $3 a gallon. Fares have not
increased since 1995, nor has the Dial -A -Ride fee. The committee recommends
Proposal 1 that would increase the cash fares and Dial -A -Ride as a result of it
being twice the current regular adult cash fare. McCLURE MOVED AND
JOHNSON SECONDED TO HAVE LEGISLATION PREPARED THAT WOULD
INCREASE TRANSIT WALK -ON FEES TO THOSE PROVIDED IN OPTION 1;
ADULT - $0.75, YOUTH - $0.50, REDUCED- $0.35, AND KEEP THE PASSES AT
THE CURRENT RATE WHILE MAINTAINING THE RELATIONSHIP WITH DIAL-
,
A-RIDE AT DOUBLE THE WALK -ON PRICE. Discussion covered the suggestion
of increasing fees for passes as well. Increasing the walk -on fare would cover
about 25% of the increased expenses while increasing fees across the board
would generate about 40 %. There is a concern that raising fees could cause
monthly pass use to go down. It was noted that transit funding is 70% sales tax,
25% federal money, and 5% bus fares. The motion carried by a 6 -1 roll call vote;
Edler voting nay.
The discussion went back to the Dial -A -Ride issue. Council Member Ensey
suggested that the issue be discussed by the Transit Committee to determine what
it would cost to extend the service and what other options there were. Mr. Mehin
reminded Council that the Union Gap contract terminates at the end of November.
Mayor Edler stated that, regarding Union Gap's decision to discontinue the
integrated service, one of the ways to bring political pressure is by allowing citizens
to experience the repercussions of political decisions, He feels that one of the
mistakes we have made concerning the initiative process is trying to hide many of
the impacts that cause problems later. Council Member Lover said he feels just
the opposite; the unintended consequences should be dealt with as best we can.
Council Member Coffey asked what Union Gap is doing with their Dial -A -Ride
when their citizens need to come into Yakima. Mr. Mehin advised that Union Gap
selected to use the fifteen mile radius boundary and their service is free.
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3. Audience comments
No one came forward to speak.
4. Adjournment
Mayor Edler adjourned the study session at 8:42 a.m.
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CITY CLERK / TIFAIAVID EDL MAYOR
Minutes prepared by Deputy City Clerk Watkins. A CD and DVD of this meeting are available in the City
Clerk's Office