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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/05/1987 Study Session • 54 • • • • • MAY 5, 1987 • STUDY SESSION • 1. ROLL CALL The City Council met in session on this date at 2:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, Yakima, Washington. Mayor Henry Beauchamp, presiding, Council members Clarence Barnett, Pat Berndt, Lynn Buchanan, Lynn Carmichael, Jerry Foy and Bernard Sims present on roll call. City Manager Zais, City Attorney Vanek,: City Clerk Roberts and Deputy City Clerk Toney also present. 2. INVOCATION The Invocation was given by Council member Jerry Foy. 3. OPEN DISCUSSION FOR THE,OOOD OF THE ORDER Council member Foy referred to an information. item provided in the " " packet indicating a number of City.employees will. be :taking a "Clear Writing Workshop" on May 27th at the Thunderbird Inn at a cost of $113 per participant. Mr. Foy questioned if such a class is available at Yakima Valley Community College and if the City Personnel Office contacted the college about conducting such a workshop for city employees. City Manager Zais responded he could not state that every alternative source, such as YVCC had been researched, however, staff has spent a considerable amount of time searching for a suitable course for City employees. He stated most of those courses have been some distances away from Yakima, usually in Seattle or Portland, and it was felt that it would be more beneficial to bring this instructor to Yakima to conduct this particular workshop. Council member Foy stated he would like for the Personnel Office to check with Yakima Valley Community College .regarding the cost of such a workshop so he will have a dollar figure for comparison. Council member Buchanan recalled that a few years ago Council requested that City employees attend training seminars and workshops held within the City of Yakima rather than encumber expenses for out -of -town travel for such activities. Mr. Foy questioned if the class could be audited and Mr. Zais responded, he did not know; staff would inquire and advise him. Dale Carpenter, representing Yakima Radio Broadcasting Association, and Harry Crawford of Robinson Etc., Etc., were present to give a pitch for the arrival of "pool aid" to Yakima. Mr. Carpenter stated on May 9th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. a car wash will be held at the corner of 38th Avenue and Tieton Drive with the proceeds going toward further usage of the pools for swimming instructions for children who could not otherwise afford swim lessons, instructions for kids who would like to learn lifeguarding, and sponsoring free swim nights in the.Yakima area. Radio stations involved in this effort are KMWX & KFFM, KBBO & KRSE, KRKN in Naches, KUTI and KXDD. He presented the City Council with one "pool aid" T- shirt, adding that the T- shirts may be purchased for $6.50 and encouraged Council's support of the car wash and sale of the T- shirts in the Yakima area. Council member Carmichael stated she was distressed to see workers digging up part of the newly paved street on Summitview Avenue this morning, and questioned why this is being done. She stated she also observed two large holes on South 32nd Avenue, south of Nob Hill Boulevard, and asked staff to comment on this. Council member Berndt also coiniuented that when the contractor brought in the backhoe to dig the hole west of 40th Avenue, on the south side of the street, they drove the equipment onton the sidewalk, cracking and breaking the sidewalk. Responding to these comments, Director of Engineering and Utilities Denny Covell, stated there • was an irrigation line with side services to area residents that was disturbed by the contractor in the process of construction. This irrigation line was not depicted on any of the irrigation maps B -1 /1 MAY 5 ;, 1987. 55 in the Engineering Division,' therefore, went unnoticed until the -Yakima - Tieton Lrrigation District ' turned ; on • their irrigation water to' service. .their users.. It• was -necessary to disturb the newly .surfaced street to make 'repairs to the irrigation line. Mr. Covell., emphasized the -fact that staff spent'. five . to- six ;months designing-this project and locating irrigation lines in the area, however, this particular line was not shown on•any -of the. drawings orr'maps y=in the.Engineering: Division.; Responding to the about Nob. Hill, -Mr. Covell indicated city crews). are making adjustments to . the - ,various irrigation systems in that area now rather-,,than after-the resurfacing of„. Nob Hill, occurs. Council member Carmichael 'pointed out that the holes on.South 32nd Avenue -, are very large and..there are many small children area. She • >'suggested•staff take precautionscto seal•.off the holes,;or barricade • the area. Covell stated he• will check into the -- situation and see that.proper action is taken. • Mayor Beauchamp -read designating :the week,of May 3rd :through the 9th, 1987 as. "Be.Kind to mals Mayor Beauchamp read a proclamation designating May.5th, 1987 as "National Teacher's Day" 'in the City of Yakima. The proclamation was. accepted by Karen Nelson. .. • Mayor Beauchamp read•a proclamation designating the month of May as "Older,American's Month." The proclamation ,accepted by Emma Marks, a 90 year.. young volunteer worker at the Senior Citizens Center. _ ' ' . , • . 4.. ,REPORT 'FROM CITY MANAGEMENT REGARDING UPDATE. OF 1987 (CAPITAL ; IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM • City.Manager Zais stated-today's Council packet includes an-update on.- portions of. the 1987 Capital Improvement Program andithe overall • Capital Improvement Program to,be presented by Assistant City .manager. Stouder. _ Mr. . Stouder stated ,this : .report - is actually a review of .the ,1987 : Capital Improvement - .Program.. (CIP) - -for the City of, Yakima. Mr.. Stouder .indicated - Council has. seen these - reports either in draft form, ..or as informational items prior to today's - - meeting. He stated. the Parks, & - Recreation issue is . . currently. under review .by..the Parks &.. Recreation Commission and will be:presented when a' final analysis is made. Mr.- Stouder • stated the purpose of today's report is to.-give Council an idea of . magnitude of the capital facilities the. City faces to maintain or replace,:what some of the prioritiesyshould be, and-how the City should prepare for those-- priorities., He • stated these Capital Facilities Plans be coming - . back in more. detail with'. further revisions " and a more canplete CIP,- document later on this calendar - •year. Council Barnett stated this - report. means very - little • -to hint-as does not - show a , funding source: \.He indicated the Comprehensive Water Plan is almost a verbatim copy,o• the:report presented. to Council -in December of 1986, without, any of the ,correction' ?having been -made: Mr.-Stoude reiterated the .purpose of today's report :is to. bring into focus the magnitude,of,cost facing ..the City in the - coming years. He-stated with the_unavai- lability of -state - federal funds, he believes it. is important ,for.Council to know-what future expenditures lie- ahead.., He added the source of funding.•would: alter the anticipated expenditures. ,Council - .member: Barnett contented. that ,the fire station relocation is included =in; this report with. an expenditure, of _ 1 ,million dollars, however .Council . has,- not yet received ar 'report,,,: or approved such an expenditure; He .questioned if it-,should have been included in the report, -'at.,-this-• time. Mr. (Stouderi'explained:.that- the Wastewater - • Capital Facilities" plan, has not yet ,,,been approved by Council, .- -,however;,• it is. also. included inr- today's•-. report as staff felt • Council should be- advised of -the financial- ,impact-this will have on the budget. He-stated-these ,not, -meant to be final documents, but rather 'a planning tool. A discussion ensued, about the interpretation of Council voting to accept this report. City. • Manager Zais stated staff does not expect Council to accept the report by means of any action that would be pursued at this point. He stated the report is for informational purposes. Council member • B -1/2 - - 56 MAY 5, 1987 '`Foy suggested this report` be made an informational item as too often "acceptance of such reports" is interpreted - by staff to be "approval of the 'report." Council member Berndt recalled that at the Council retreat approximately a year and a half ago, one of .the things Council asked from staff was, some planning -for the • future as opposed to tb situations. She stated she feels ' this report pretty much complies with that - request. Council member Buchanan commented the report is well done and he finds it very helpful to have -all of these figures complied in one report. Referring to the - joint facility for police and fire, he stated this study was' completed several years ago, however, no action has been 'taken on it. 'He stated, "the longer we wait, the more that figure is going to increase." Council member Foy commented these documents do not address the force needs'of the infrastructure, or the City's unfunded liability, and questioned -when Council would receive such a report. City Manager Zais stated, "of all the reports and studies compiled by staff, the City Hall building is the only facility that does not have a capital facilities Plan in place." Council member Sims stated'the City Cbuncil needs to take a major role in setting policies for the City, and then begin to work on making these things happen. It was MOVED by Berndt, seconded by Foy, to accept the report as an information report only. Unanimously carried by voice vote. Carmichael asbsent. At 2:55 p.m. Council member Foy excused himself as he had an • out -of -town meeting scheduled at 4:00 p.m. 5. REPORT FROM DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REGARDING STATUS OF CBD PROJECT AND REVIEW OF DESIGN ALTERNATIVES Assistant City Manager Stouder introduced the team of consultants for the Central Business District Project, Ron Kasprisin of 'Kasprisin Design Group (Land Use and Design), Jim Maclssac, The TRANSPO Group (Traffic, Parking and Circulation), and Steve Lewis of Bucher, Willis, &-Ratliff. He stated Mr. Lewis 'will present the - . Market_Analysis'- Study tomorrow at a 7:00 a.m. breakfast meeting. Jim MacIssac narrated a slide presentation depicting ideas for the far eastern section of town to the westside'of the downtown area. 'He pointed" out this - is not a final recommendation. The three categories in the slide presentation and elaborated upon by Mr. Kasprisin were: 1)`Maintain' Market Share, 2) Establish the CBD as a Focal Point, and 3) Major Downtown Expansion. (Council Members Barnett and Berndt absent after 3:45 p.m.) Jim Maclssac, of TRANSPO, was present to review the traffic 'parking and *circulation recommendations as prepared for the' City of Yakima for it's CBD area. He briefly reviewed the parking surveys conducted on public parking' space on four different days in the CBD area which' indicate there are over 10,000 parking spaces (public and private) available. The survey also revealed the Mall Garage to • be very - underutilized, and suggested developing plan to make the Mall' Garage more acceptable for the Mall customers. The CBD traffic circulation pattern was reviewed, with Mr. Maclssac indicating the primary perception of congestion-is - that there are -too - many traffic signals located in the CBD. He stated the street capacity is sufficient, however, the delays at the traffic signals promote congestion.- At this time Mayor Beaudiamp interjected that ' he must leave for a 4:00' p.m: meeting, leaving Council without a quorum. .It was' MOVED by Buchanan, seconded by Sims, to adjourn this - 'meeting - to the 7:00 a.m. meeting at the Holiday Inn. Unanimously carried by voice vote. Barnett,' Carmichael,•and Foy absent. Assistant City Manager Stouder indicated those' Council members - remaining are welcome to stay for a question ".-and answer ' if they wish. Mr. Maclssac completed his presentation and responded to questions and comments from the remaining Council members. Assistant`City Manager Stouder reminded Council of the - breakfast - meeting scheduled for tomorrow morning- at 7:00 a.m. at the Holiday Inn." • • • • • B-1/3 MAY 5, 1987 57 6. OTHER BUSINESS ' None Information Items • - •Items :of n information supplied to Council were: Agenda for -May 6, 1987- ..,Yakima Hearing' Examiner meeting; Memorandum- from Employment and Training Specialist regarding Clear Writing Workshop. 4/27/87; Yakima Valley Visitors & Convention Bureau Newsletter .for May- July, 1987, and Minutes of the March 16 and 22, 1987 Yakima Air Terminal Board-Meeting. 7. - 1EXECUTIVE SESSIOU'REGARDING COLLECTIVE BARGA ) , Cancelled due to lack-of quorum. - f" () • • • , . . • 8. ADJOURNMENT TO MAY,6, 1987 AT. 7:00 A.M. - HOLIDAY INN The meeting adjourned at 3:57 p.m. to May.6, -1987,- at .7:00- p.m. at the Holiday Inn. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY COUDMBER /•LTE " • 7 .„, - . •- • , , COUNCIL MEMBE• • DATE p . ATTEST: — I _ AgL 44lbdi e . - - CITY , CLERK - 7 T , fisp.: - MINUTES - PREPARED BY - ..DEPUTY \ITY CLE - • - • • .. • „ A • _ . • B-1/4