HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/18/2009 04B Minutes 08-05-2009 Council Economic Development Committee Coal Economic Dew r , :t Co , ittee
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
4:00 p.m.
Members present: Micah Cawley, Maureen Adkison, Rick Ensey
Staff: Dave Zabel!, Bill Cook, Bruce Benson, Jeff Peters
Presenters: John Hodkinson, Terry Keenhan, Karen Wood McGuiness
John Hodkinson from Almon Commercial Realty reported about the commercial and
industrial real estate markets in Yakima. There have been reductions in sale prices, some
deals to keep tenants in buildings and there are some vacancies. But all in all, the Yakima
area is faring much better than other areas.
Terry Keenhan from Yakima County talked about flood plain mapping and flood plain
management. He discussed the FEMA map modernization program. Two areas were
identified for the City of Yakima; the Naches River and the Ahtanum Wide Hollow area. The
County is coming to the end of the process and the Naches River maps will be produced
soon. Communities have until November 19, 2009, to officially adopt the new maps. Failing
to adopt the maps will mean that the community is not in compliance which has a variety of
eanings, including being sanctioned from the national flood insurance program. The work
for Ahtanum and Wide Hollow have been delayed due to funding issues and will be
available in mid - September. The deadline for the Ahtanum and Wide Hollow areas will be
pushed back about eighteen months because of the delay in producing the maps. Issues
regarding the condition and maintenance of Wide Hollow Creek were discussed. Terry said
that discussion continues on that matter among the various regulators. He also pointed out
that the City of Yakima benefits from an extensive levy system.
Jeff Peters reviewed an audit findings letter the City received in June 2009 from Charles
Steele, Floodplain Management Specialist for the Department of Ecology. Jeff also gave
details of a couple of audit follow up documents and talked about some minor changes that
are suggested for Chapter 15.27 of the Municipal Code.
Karen Wood McGuiness is the FEMA Floodplain Administrator for Eastern Washington and
Southwest Washington. She talked about National Flood Insurance Program regulations.
She explained that if local communities adopt an approved flood hazard prevention
ordinance, federally backed flood insurance is made available for property owners
throughout the community. The approved flood hazard prevention ordinance includes
specific building elevation requirements in regard to building in the flood plain.
The City has until October 5 to decide if it is appropriate to adopt the minor changes to
Chapter 15.27. More information will be available when the maps are produced in mid -
September. A decision must also be made on the more substantial change of adopting a
s pecific foot level for building elevations. The effective date of the new floodplain maps will
e November 18, 2009. Since the City's ordinances do not take effect until thirty days after
passage, the City Council would have to act more than thirty days prior to November 18 to
avoid being out of compliance. Rick Ensey said he would like the Home Builders
Association's opinion of the issue. Micah suggested it could be discussed further at the
September 2 Economic Development Committee meeting.
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The last item was a request to annex from a single property owner at the intersection of
Peck's Canyon and Scenic Drive. The homeowner would like to connect to the City sewer
system. The request was forwarded to the full Council with a recommendation to approve.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Council Economic Development Committee will
be Wednesday, September 2, 2009, at 4:00 p.m.
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Micah Cawley, Chair / Date
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