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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/03/1988 Special Meeting 0 2 -1 NOVEMBER 3, 1988 SPECIAL MEETING /JOINT LAW FACILITY The -City- Council and County Commissioners met in session on this date at 10 :30 a.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, Yakima,- Washington, for the purpose of discussing the feasibility of pursuing a Joint Law. Facility. Council members present were Mayor Pat Berndt, presiding, Clarence Barnett, Lynn Buchanan and Jerry Foy. Council members Henry Beauchamp, Lynn Carmichael and Bernard Sims absent and excused. City Manager Zais and Deputy City Clerk Toney also present. County Commissioners present were Charles Klarich, Graham Tollefson, Jim Whiteside, and Commissioner Elect Alex Deccio. Mayor Berndt welcomed the County Commissioners to the meeting and asked City Manager Zais to comment on the history of the Joint Law Facility. Mr. Zais stated the Joint Law Facility was the subject of a major cooperative study between the City and County in 1981 -1982 in which consideration was given to the possibility of consolidating the Police Department and Sheriff's Department. This consolidation was to include dispatching, communications, records, etc. The basic conclusion at that time was that it was deemed feasible to pursue such a facility, however, the issue was deferred until both jurisdictions could establish a better fiscal position, and to the County time to complete the new County Jail facility. Mr. Zais stated the City has continued to search for other alternatives, however, cannot continue to delay a joint facility consolidation. He stated the Police Department is severely pressed by manpower and space limitations, as is the County, and it is time to move forward with this concept. He II[ commented it is time to consider funding for such a facility` through additional revenues., Mr.' Zais stated the City has focused on an alternative proposal which seeks legislative authority to impose additional taxes to be dedicated for law enforcement and law and justice purposes. He stated the County is also seeking additional funding, possibly through the utility tax. Mr. Zais suggested jointly pursuing another local option 1/2 cent sales tax to support the needed improvements of both entities. He said the City feels it is imperative to move forward on this issue within the next year as it is in the best long term interest of both jurisdictions. Council member Foy commented briefly in favor of moving forward on a Joint Facility. Council member Barnett asked if the Commissioners have any short or long range plans for temporary or limited confinement that might impact this. Commissioner Klarich stated the first phase of.the jail has been completed, .however, the current maintenance and operation budget for the jail, in addition to other law enforcement needs, has curtailed any activity from current expense dollars for anything outside of law and justice. He said if the legislature provides some means of revenue enhancement, maybe the County can provide some of the services provided last year. He stated a low security holding facility will cost Yakima County •taxpayers because the County will still have to operate the current jail facility. Commissioner Klarich stated the legislative package put together by the Association of Counties will be adopted November 17th and 18th and contains some options for generating revenue, including the State accepting their responsibility for public defender services, Superior Court decisions and local option taxing for local government use. Mr. Klarich stated the County could use additional space for the Sheriff's Department, however, that is not a top priority at this time unless some additional funding source outside of the existing budget process becomes available NOVEMBER 3, 1988 SPECIAL MEETING /JOINT LAW FACILITY because every dollar generated over the past two years has gone for increased expenditures in the law and justice field. Commissioner Klarich stated the state and federal government are not doing their jobs to prevent the drug traffic from entering the County and State, and until that happens the County will continue to build additional structures to house prisoners. This cost will then have to be passed on, to the taxpayer, thus creating a cycle that must be stopped. He stated the County currently needs 1.5 million dollars to deal with law and justice requests, and they (the County Commissioners) were informed this morning that next year's costs will be approximately 1.1 or 1.2 million dollars, but the increase in revenues will be minimal. Commissioner Whiteside stated if the County opted to increase the utility tax, that revenue would have to be dedicated for law and justice purposes. City Manager Zais stated if. the City seeks a local option 1/2 cent sales tax, it also would be dedicated for law and justice purposes. Mr. Zais stated he believes a request for funds would have more impact if presented as a joint.City /County request. Commissioner Whiteside agreed, adding that the County has a much higher .rate of expense than the City because most of the law and justice responsibility falls under the jurisdiction of the County. Mayor Berndt asked what utility tax issue the County is looking at this year and Commissioner Klarich responded that the legislative package contains no tax issue this year because the Association of Counties feels that is a dead issue. Speaking in favor of exploring the possibility of combining the City and County law enforcement agencies, Council member Foy commented he believes the public will support the 1/2 cent sales tax. Council member Buchanan commented there should be a way to cut the cost to the taxpayer by working together. Commissioner Tollefson stated it is not a question of this being a desirable project; it is a question of affordability as the County does not have the 5 million dollars to proceed with the project. He stated he would support the 1/2 cent sales tax if there is a methodology of distributing the revenues regardless of the jurisdiction. City Manager Zais stated he believes the legislature will deal with this issue if it is brought to them in a coordinated manner, adding there must be new resources to meet the established needs of law and justice. Council member Buchanan stated the City has invested a lot of money on a record system and the County is proposing to do the same. He said the City is going to expend money for expansion of the Police Department and sooner or later the County will have to do the same. He suggested exploring a way to spend the money jointly rather than as two separate entities. Commissioner elect Alex Deccio stated the drug problem has been established as the number one priority by every candidate running for office this year and he believes this is the appropriate time to address such an issue. He said he received a call from the Ways and Means Committee of the Senate informing him that 1.5 billion dollars has been forecast and there will be a 250 million dollar carryover. from the. 1987 -89 budget. He suggested asking for some of NOVEMBER 3, 1988 _ma SPECIAL MEETING /JOINT': LAW FACILITY these funds while continuing to discuss the issue at the local level. Council member Barnett stated he believes formulas can be worked out, however., he appreciates the County pointing out their financial - responsibilities regarding the local law and justice expenses. Mayor Berndt 'stated this may not be the only option, but agreed that now is the time to act on this issue. Commissioner Whiteside said if the City and County decides to lobby the legislature, one of the key ingredients of this request must be that the money provided to the local entities be in the form of a grant because matching local funds are not available. Council member Foy stated the County Association will finalize a tax package on November 17th and 18th and suggested the City and County, work together on this tax package. Commissioner Whiteside reported that the County is reviewing . the costs to rehabilitate the juvenile facility and these costs are between 4 -6 million dollars. Commissioner Klarich added that the State is also considering setting standards for juvenile facilities. City Manager Zais commented that the money issues under discussion this morning are significant, reaching into the billions of dollars to deal with the issue. He agreed that federal and state grants can be sought, however, it must be presented as a City /County package to be successful. Commissioner Klarich asked when the City plans to move forward on additional space for the City? Council member Foy stated budget review begins Tuesday with the Police and Fire Departments and he will formulate his priorities on the overall budget at that time. He stated he has made it well known that he is not receptive to adding anything in any department until the Police Department needs are met. Council member Foy said the overtime call -back situations must be curtailed because this is causing burn -out of police officers. He stated the additional ,space for the Police Department is needed within 18 months of the first new hire. Council member Buchanan pointed out that two out of three incidents involving the Police Department's Emergency Response Team (ERT) were to respond to situations occurring in the County. He stated these are the individuals (members of the ERT) suffering from burn -out because they are being called in for extra duty. Commissioner Whiteside commented the City has 18 square miles to cover in contrast to the County's 4,600 square miles, and the County operates with one less officer than does the City. He expressed appreciation for assistance provided by the City when necessary. Council member Foy commented if the City can obtain a copy of the County's request, the City's request can be drafted similarly. Commissioner Klarich said he would like to work with the City Council to develop a workable package for presentation to the legislature. Alex Deccio encouraged requesting a portion of the 1.5 billion dollars in the form of a grant rather than asking the legislature to impose a tax increase. Commissioner Whiteside agreed with Mr. Deccio on the issue of the grant money, but felt an alternative position should be developed. 0 IA- NOVEMBER 3, 1988 SPECIAL MEETING /JOINT LAW FACILITY City Manager Zais stated grant money doa- not sustain operation and maintenance costs and will not pay for a long term bond issue or pay salaries for new officers or deputies. Alex Deccio stated local efforts should be a part of. the overall plan, however, felt the grant money should be requested. Council member Foy suggested that Mr. Deccio assist in the preparation of a document asking the Governor to consider some of the surplus funds as a direct grant, with no match, for dedicated „use in law and justice operations. He also suggested that the City and County consider local options that may have merit, even if they have been previously . rejected by the legislature. It was the consensus of the City Council and County Commissioners that a subcommittee be formulated to do some strategic planning on this issue. Commissioner Klarich distributed to Council members a copy of the AgPlex report and commented briefly on that project. He assured the Council members that he will not sign any change order unless it has.been fully explained to him by the project foreman. Council member Buchanan inquired about receiving a monthly report on the AgPlex project and Commissioner Klarich indicated a monthly status report will be provided to the City Council. Mayor Berndt thanked the Commissioners for attending the meeting to discuss this issue. The meeting adjourned at the hour of, 11:45 a.m. 111 READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: < �� , // CaUNCIL M BER ( TE • (;)u.t4myvidY 1 // //6 C NCIL MEMBER ATTEST: MAYOR . �= C PAC.,, DEPUTY ITY CLU K •