HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/04/2009 04B Minutes 07-22-2009 Council Downtown Yakima Futures Initiative Meeting Minutes
For Downtown Yakima Futures Initiative (DYFI)
410
Committee of the City Council
Wednesday, July 22, 2009 Meeting
Council Committee Members present: Kathy Coffey, Chair
Rick Ensey
Maureen Adkison
Sonia Rodriguez (Alternate)
City Staff Members present: Dick Zais, City Manager
Chris Waarvick, Director of Public Works
Doug Mayo, City Engineer
Michael Morales, Deputy Director CED
Bill Cook, Director CED
Randy Tabert, Design Engineer
Invited Guests: Dan Kelleher, CDY
John Cooper, Convention Center
Joe Morrier, JEM
Committee Chair Kathy Coffey opened the meeting with the first topic being the allocation of the
state Phase 4 $1.0 million grant. Chris Waarvick provided a brief overview of the DYFI
improvement project recognizing that the convention center has long been an element on the
funding list. While it was recognized that other pedestrian connections had not yet been
completed, staff proposes that the convention center element, specifically the North 8 Street
realignment and streetscape amenities be considered by the committee for 2009 design and
2010 construction. The remaining recommendations were as follows:
• South 8 Street "amenities only" adjacent to the new Holiday Inn at $250,000.
• An additional $100,000 for Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Campus
improvements and amenities, and
• $50,000 for survey, design and pre- construction costs for the remaining DYFI pedestrian
connector improvements.
John Cooper, Executive Director of the Convention Center, spoke to the improvements related
t� the Convention Center and provided more detail to that discussion. Visitors to the meeting
expressed some concern over this allocation and proposed that the remaining pedestrian
connectors be funded first. Joe Morrier was prominent among those with that view. Chair
Kathy Coffey further described the nature of the funding limitation. All these projects are worthy
and it is unfortunate that insufficient funds are available to perform all of the work described in
the request letter this last Legislative session. The DYFI Committee ultimately voted 3 -0 to
accept the staff proposal and forward to the full Council for general deliberation and action.
Dick Zais mentioned the possibility of grant dollars through our Federal Legislative contingent
and that the City's capital funds would be examined for any further assistance that may be
found.
Chris Waarvick briefly discussed downtown public parking lot management and where the
contract process was for the public lots.
Dan Kelleher, CDY, provided an activities report. These items included landscaping, irrigation,
planters, and other maintenance activities. Dan report that CDY will be party to the agreement
0 with the County for the downtown performance park at 2 and "A." This county vacant lot was
•
created with the recent demolition of the older buildings. Dan commented that the next CDY
breakfast business meeting would be July 29 at 8 a.m. at the 2" Street Grill.
Finally, under other business, Dick Zais provided a short summary of relevant history
surrounding the separate sidewalk element of the 2 street performance park. Doug Mayo
provided a technical discussion of what options were available for sidewalk improvements and
streetscape amenities around the park and up to Martin Luther King Boulevard. The DYFI
committee voted to endorse to the full Council Option 3 for final deliberation and action. This
option provides new sidewalks and streetscape amenities around the 2 " street park and up to
Martin Luther King Boulevard in front of the Courthouse on 2 " Street. The County will construct
the base sidewalk elements, including disabled and handicapped parking for the east entrance.
The City will provide streetscape amenities along that County Courthouse frontage and full
improvements to the two sidewalk frontages to the park. This option is estimated to cost
$242,000. The City Manager has secured a three -year payback of construction costs from the
County for some City elements of this project.
Approved:
44 A ,-..-0
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Meeting Minutes DYFI July 22 2009.ttf