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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/02/1988 Study Session 234 FEBRUARY 2, 1988 STUDY SESSION /BUSINESS MEETING • 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 Pat Berndt, presiding, Council members Clarence Barnett, Henry Beauchamp, Lynn Carmichael, Jerry Foy and Bernard Sims present on roll call. Council member Buchanan present after 2:10 4 p.ni. City . Manager Zais, City Attorney Vanek, City'Clerk Roberts and Deputy City Clerk Toney also present.______ 2. INVOCATION • The was given by Council member Foy. • 3. OPEN DISCUSSION FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER Mayor Berndt read a proclamation designating February as "National Community College Month" and then presented the proclamation to Darlene Koch, representative of Yakima Valley Community College. Mrs. Koch thanked the City Council for the proclamation and .informed Council the College is also celebrating its 60th year in the City of Yakima. Mrs. Koch stated there •have been a number of special events planned during the next few months and encouraged Council to participate in these celebrations. Mayor Berndt stated she received a phone call yesterday from • Forrest Baugher regarding the letter Yakima City Council sent to him regarding the One Party Consent Bill. Mr. Baugher has introduced HB 1352 and would like Council members to urge Speaker Joe King, Seth Armstrong and Governor Gardner to support this bill. .Council member Carmichael urged Mayor Berndt to make telephone - calls regarding Counc'il's support of HB 1352 and then followup with a letter. She indicated she would be available to assist in making some of those phone calls if Mayor Berndt has a time constraint. Mayor Berndt stated she distributed a copy of the notification received from the Higher Education Coordinating Board of Olympia regarding a meeting at Heritage College•on the higher. educational --- needs of Yakima Mayor Berndt stated she will be attending the meeting and encouraged other Council members to attend. Mayor Berndt commented Council completed ,,City Manager Zais's eighth annual review - today giving him 'a "good" to "excellent" • rating for his job performance. She listed some of the noteworthy accomplishments of Mr. Zais this past year: 1) the 1987 Budget for the City of Yakima came in 3% under budget; 2) the passing of the 2.5 million dollar Parks Bond Issue passed by the voters last November; 3) the completion of the Nob Hill Boulevard construction project, along with other major arterials; 4) The affirmative action hiring program achieved significant gains with 44.8% of the permanent hires being minority, with 48.3% being women; 5) the police crime clearance rate in the City achieved a level of 35.9% as compared to a national average of approximately 21% (There were 318 arrests made for possession of cocaine or heroin, an increase of 224 or 238% over the 1986 total of 94); 6) The City of Yakima received seven professional achievement awards; 7) the City entered into a joint venture with Yakima County on the financing of the Agplex which will be known as the "Sundane "; 8) the City is working with the Central Business district on marketing and land use study, etc.; 9) the Community Development Block Grant Housing Rehabilitation Program improved a total of 56 housing units last year; 14 housing rental subsidies were issued; $741,000 in Federal CDBG funds were allocated by the City Council; and 10) the City continues to work closely with the Yakima County Development Association. B -4 FEBRUARY 2, 1988 235 Council., member Carmichael , stated, yesterday - -the•, City ■of - Yakima's bids for the .Summer and Winter, Washington •State. Centennial Games were placed. on record with the Centennial .Games Foundation in Seattle. She stated hopefully there will be some' very positive news .. to share with the Council in this regard. She expressed ,appreciation to all- who have been involved in this endeavor. Council; member- Beauchamp informed other Council members' of the death of Philip Tuller's father this past weekend. -:Mr. 'Tuller is the President of Yakima Valley Community College. -'. • - � _ - a, ;cry. r 4. .CONSENT AGENDA 5 Mayor Berndt-vreferred to the items placed • on the - :Consent •Agenda, questioning whether there were any additions- or deletions from either Council members or -;citizens-.present. -There being none, the City . Clerk then. 'read the .- Consent •; items, including .resolutions • and ordinances.-by title. , It. was . -MOVED -by •Carmichael, seconded by ;Buchanan, that the Consent -Agenda,-• as read., be passed. Unanimously carried by roll call vote.. (Subsequent paragraphs • . . preceded by an , asterisk indicate items on , the , Consent: Agenda handled ,under one motion without. further "discussion: )", *5. CONSIDERATION. OF RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING•EXECUTION.'OF CONTRACT WITH ,WASHINGTON TRANSIT ADVERTISING -COMPANY FOR TRANSIT ADVERTISING SERVICES . (SEE REPORT FROM PUBLICS WORKS DEPARTMENT) "RESOLUTION- ,NO. -D- 5432, •" A. RESOLUTION authorizing. the, City ,Manager , and City Clerk to execute -a lease agreement with: washington' .Transit ;Advertising Company for, bus advertising. . *6. CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR CITY LEGAL ADVERTISING -FOR 1988 RESOLUTION- NO. D- 5433, A RESOLUTIONS prescribing a. form of - contract for printing and publishing city legal advertising; and publication ; of a- call- for_ proposals therefor. • . , *7. CONSIDERATION OF A- - AUTHORIZING THE. ASSUMPTION OF THE REAL ESTATE CONTRACT WITH GMAA WATERSLIDE, INC. RESOLUTION NO. D- 543'4, -A RESOLUTION authorizing the assignment of a vendees: :interest • in•F:a -real-estate contract from GMAA Water Slide, Inc., to, Gary D: Lukehart- -arid Mary M. Lukehart, *8. CONSIDERATION OF A ,RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE -: EXECUTION, OF AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL .COOPERATIVE :PURCHASING AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF OREGON „. RESOLUTION ,,NO. D -5435, A RESOLUTION authorizing and`-directing the City Manager,. and. City Clerk of the City of Yakima- to execute an "Intergovernmental Cooperative Purchasing Agreement with the State of Oregon; and authorizing the purchase ,of services and commodities without: calling for bids.._ 9. REVIEW OF RATTLESNAKE CREEK WATER 'STORAGE DAM MILE " 11 • "FEAS STUDY PREPARED BY CH2M HILL :- - Assistant City Manager Stouder stated the Rattlesnake: Creek- Study is one . of several alternatives being •investigated .to insure water supply, for the .City -for the next 25-50 years. He stated staff is -also, in the.- final- stages , of -- completing additional research required for -the Comprehensive Water Plan., Mr. Stouder stated the City has also been participating in; the Yakima River Basin Enhancement Project Off Reservation ,Storage .Site -Work "Group, along with a dozen ,other water -. interest groups, irrigation districts and federal and ! state • • agencies: •- He stated . this group has • - .submitted. to the Congressional Policy Group, (consisting of Congressman Morrison, Senator- Adams .and Senator Evans, the Bureau of .Reclamation- and the Department: oft" Ecology) a, :recommendation -that _basicallyrreinforces eariier ..proposals- --for ,future water storage- to be built for the entire basin,- - by-' ;enlarging Bumping Lake. The City -has indicated B -4 - 236 FEBRUARY '2, 1988 it would participate this project if its water needs were met and assistance was forthcoming on water conservation measures, i.e. ..the irrigation system, sewage treatment plant and water treatment plant. He'stated the issue of enlarging Bumping 'Lake has been one • that been addressed for at least 30 years and perhaps as many as- 40 to 50 years. He stated because of the magnitude of that project, the cost and some of the environmental issues involved, - there is always a doubt whether that project will proceed any further' than it - has. Mr. Stouder indicated it is for that reason the City.has indicated to the Off Reservation Storage Site Work Group and to the Congressmen, that the City will continue to pursue the potential of the Rattlesnake Creek project, so the options for the City and Urban Area for new water storage are open until a determination has been made regarding construction of a dam. He stated it is our intent, for the next 6 months to a year, to do an additional geological subsurface investigation on the Mile 11 Site and proceed with the Department of Ecology in addressing the .environmental assessment work program.. Mr. Stouder explained each • year that is spent in these complex issues reduces the time it may take ultimately if the "City has to rely on that water source 5, 10, 15 or ' 20. years from now. He added it will be two to three years, or more, before a construct or no construct' decision can be made. Mr. Stouder indicated John Mayo is present to respond to Council's questions regarding this report. Council member Barnett referred to the executive summary which mentions the 200 foot dam and a moderately'high dam, and asked if there would be sufficient storage in a 200 foot dam to interest other agencies • as. then Bureau of Reclamation. Mr. Mayo .stated the quantity of water stored in a 200 foot dam would be required for the Yakima urban area for the next 20 -25 years, but that is not sufficient water storage to warrant interest by the Bureau of Reclamation for drought relief purposes. He added in the watershed as we now know it, added storage benefits all potential users because it releases water that would be useable for either fishery enhancement or •'rdrought. He stated this is a approach and not'something that is going to , solve 50 or 80% of the basin's needs. Council member Barnett stated he recalls from earlier the Bureau of Reclamation is interested in approximately a 60,000 acre foot dam and he . assumes if the City constructs a dam to meet the urban area requirements, the Bureau of Reclamation would not have too much interest or be assisting us financially, therefore, the City would need to seek additional financial assistance. Mr. Stouder stated in the past the Bureau has indicated potential interest in any amount storage above and beyond what the urban area needs might be. If the City's needs were in the 20,000 acre foot range in the future, and we could build a dam for a 60,000 acre foot range,' then the Bureau intimated' they might be interested, and would then participate in the additional construction cost. He stated the simple answer to the question is if we are only Considering building a dam for the City's heeds, 'we would be looking. for` other financial assistance. Council member Foy asked at what point will staff be able to advise about the feasibility of constructing the dam. Mr. Stouder stated the geotechnical study must be .performed on the Mile 11 Site in order to. determine if that location is going to be feasible for dam construction purposes. He indicated the drilling will'be done during the mid -summer months. He also indicated that each step of the'way the City or Council might determine that the process is no longer feasible. Mr. Mayo referred to the report which indicates the upper portion of the dam encroaches into the wilderness area and therefore, permission must be obtained from the federal government and the U. , S. Forest Service prior to the geotechnical study being conducted. Council member Barnett expressed concern about the Rattlesnake Creek' being placed under the wild and scenic river classification, resulting in the loss of • the Executive Order. Mr. Stouder stated he has attended several meetings regarding this issue and the Rattlesnake • . Creek has never been proposed for this type of designation. Council member Buchanan commented this particular river is practically dry every' August. Council member Beauchamp inquired about the construction process of a rollcrete dam versus a concrete dam. Mr. Mayo explained. the roller compacted concrete is a relatively new concept which was developed because it is considerably less B -4 FEBRUARY ‘2, 1988 237 expensive to build • than concrete dams: There are no forms , involved in it;. it is put together with a very stiff mixture of crushed rock and aggregate in a controlled screen process with the proper amount of cement added to the rock, sand water. It is a , very dry slump mixture that can be moved around 'with •bulldozers and rolled with • the same type of • equipment used for - : highway construction. He stated that ;by keeping the process going, slowly but steadily, you • build a structure without forms, therefore, •cutting - down on the construction cost. He stated the rollcrete dam, due to its• structural •• integrity, can be steeper so the volume of cubic yards of material in a rolicrete °dam less than - a' rock filled dam, but it would be more - than an arched dam. - Council mmember Beauchampi asked; how it, would be - anchored. Mr. Mayo stated it would be necessary ,to dig down to find a good foundation of s, native solid, bed rock to create some -type of keyway and then begin to put the roller compacted concrete+ in place•linf-isuch a process . that would parallel ;putting In , ready mix'. 'concrete. Regarding .additional for- this project, Mr: Mayo stated there-is a Bureau Loan program- which makes. money available from the Bureau-. of-, Reclamation for •projects such ,.asp: this. .'.He stated interest would have to be paid for that portion of the money that is used for municipal operations water, but .the ,City could also apply_ for a grant on the portion of the money used for fishery enhancement.: He noted, any water released from: the :Mile: .11 Site runs down theriversto- the'City's - Water Treatment Plant 'near Gleed, and inso doing enhances the flow 'in the , Rattlesnake and the upper Naches River. -Mr. Mayo stated he has been lead to believe, without any written commitment, that the Bureau is enthusiastic -- about: the City doing sanething the Rattlesnake,; even if it does not have storage for them, •, and stated he suspects there would be sane participation on • the! fishery- .enhancement aspect: - _ , Council member : Barnett ; asked' what Mr. Mayo considers a • reasonable if igure per acre foot , to build :.a dam. Mr. Mayo -stated that is - a nebulous thing but to bring it into perspective, the Bureau''st anticipated costs for the project rat Cabin Creek 'care in the ' $1,200 to • $1,500 per acre, . foot - range: The anticipated cost ,for -the high.. dam at Bumping Lake , is in. the • $800 per acre : foot range, but they are contemplating: that cost on the . largest maximum size: possible and • on the total ' amount of , water that could. .be stored, and• on the annual. production. He stated there is somewhat - of an ambiguity there, because you 'cannot store more water behind the dam, than can •_ come out of the' water shed He explained -+ that may have one or two years: -when . it -is rfull and +then , .•six or eight years when it is not full- and -this is an equation that has not really been - faced•by the general public on that particular aspect. Regarding firm. yield, which is the amount • of water, you. can accumulate • every year behind the dam,' , this is slightly higher than Bumping Lake lower than Cabin,; Creek, and unfortunately higher -than the Mile - 4 Site previously considered,: - because you have to put; in a bigger, dam to store: less water..: Mr.. Stouder - emphasized there are, lots of 'points of view and opposition on the Bumping Lake_ expansion which are the reasonsf there has been so little progress :made' within the last thirty to forty. ,years: He stated one of the major • reasons-* is the facts that :it wi11 take' eight to twelve years to reach 400,000 acre f oot - of storage; and that may never happen - because the - snow and water • may not be there:+ those ...per acre foot icosts are invalid and this is a +serious +point of debate; Council .member Barnett : stated he .would like to have that ; - aspect :of the issue developed, ins•. a , paragraph or two for his own = knowledge. - :Mr. Mayo said two years ago he prepared a letter for the City to send to one of the fishery agencies regarding this comparison, and he will provide Mr. Barnett with a copy of that letter. Council member Foy stated he felt this was one of the reasons the Bureau of Reclamation became more communicative and supportive of: the study of the Rattlesnakes Basin because the Bumping - Lake'project would be around r$850, to , $900 per acre - :foot- and the 'source to fi1i the,-dam is - not there;;-wherein the storage and , the capacity of snowpack and rainfall .is 'there to feed the Rattlesnake Basin;. thus giving the Rattlesnake Project strong .support.. Mr. Stouder- confirmed this and further - commented this- was a - rconcern _ and . 'realization by the . Bureau -of. Reclamation that.; a project • as. large- as , Bumping Lake may never be built, and it -may -be better to look at two - or three B -4 238 FEBRUARY '2, 1988 • smaller dam projects, such as the Rattlesnake, Cabin Creek, and other alternatives rather than putting all of the effort into one large storage that is plagued with questions. Council member Beauchamp asked about the difficulty of building roads to site. Mr. Mayo stated the Forest Service has marked timber this area .for logging purposes which will result in logging roads being established prior to the logging operations. He commented on the letter written•by.Grant Huey on February 7, 1956, in which Mr. • Huey requested. permission from the Department of Interior to investigate three sites in'the Basin for the purpose of constructing a dam. Mr. Mayo commented it takes action and probing to move forward and secure the water rights'so they are not taken • .away by the wild and scenic river classification. He • also commented the City does not have water rights on the Rattlesnake now; what it has is the reservation that the Forest Service will not release that land to any other purpose. He stated the City is correct in moving forward with this if the geotechnical study is favorable. Mr. Stouder indicated staff will present further information to Council in one to two.more months in which they will be asking for authorization to proceed with this project. • • Larry Mathews, 805 South 17th Avenue, Yakima, addressed Council regarding the Rattlesnake Creek Project. He read a statement which shad been distributed to City Council members prior to the Council meeting. Mr. Mathews stated the Rattlesnake Creek project is inappropriate because it would be less expensive'to participate in the Bumping Lake expansion. He'also stated it is'unlikely the dam 'will be ever be constructed on the Rattlesnake due to opposition • by the Indian Nation. He indicated the Indian Nation is supportive of the expansion of Bumping Lake however. Council member Foy ;responded to Mr. .Mathews by saying the issue ofrthe Rattlesnake Creek has been around since Mr. Mathews a Commissioner in 1956, indicating this must be a viable resource which needs - further study. Council member. Foy stated it should be'clarified that the Indian Nation is more interested in the development'of Cabin Creek than they are in the expansion of Bumping Lake. Mr. Foy stated it is important to conduct the geotechnical study to determine the feasibility of the Rattlesnake Creek project. Assistant City Manager Stouder stated the City has previously stated it would •support the Bumping Lake enlargement if the committee so recammends and if the •Ci.ty's needs and water conservation are protected. He • stated he thinks the real issue is whether the Bumping Lake expansion will even take place, just as those who :argue that the Rattlesnake Creek will ever be built. He stated the real issue • seems to :be who is going to spend over 150 billion dollars, or more, for the Bumping Lake ° expansion versus a cost one third of that, or less,. for the' Rattlesnake Creek,' particularly when the City has assumed in the feasibility studies that construction costs for the Rattlesnake Creek project would' be shared locally and regionally.: He added those individuals• pursuing the Bumping Lake expansion project, at a cost of over 150• billion dollars, have • been assuming the federal 'government will ice paying for that project and he doesn't think that is likely to happen. Council member Carmichael stated the City has indicated a willingness to work with any group necessary on the water •issues. She stated the City has dealt very successfully with the Indian Nation on water issues in the past and both entities have been very pleased with • the outcome. Following further comments, it was MOVED by Foy, seconded by Barnett,: to' accept the report. Unanimously carried by voice vote. 10. • OTHER BUSINESS Council member Foy stated he luould like to amend the decision made 19th to send two representatives from the City Council to attend the National League of Cities Conference. Therefore, it was MOVED by' Foy, seconded by Carmichael, that three Council members represent us at National League of Cities, specifically, the • Mayor, the Mayor. Pro -Tem and ;Lynn Carmichael. Under discussion, Council member Foy stated there is a great deal of money currently in the budget for water enhancement for the 'State of Washington and he believes it is extremely • B -4 FEBRUARY 2, 1988 239 important to have representation in Washington D.C. to speak with Senator Evans, Congressman Sid'Morrison and Congressman Tan Foley regarding this matter. Council member Foy stated the motion is made with the understanding that later this fall when the National League of Cities conference is held, the Council will reconsider delegates to that` conference. The' question was called' for ' a vote on the motion. Carried ' by`6 -1 voice vote: Sims voting-nay.' - Information Items = Information items supplied to Council were: Agenda for February 3, 1988 Hearing Examiner Meeting; Monthly Report from- 'Chief of`Police for December 1987; Memorandum from Chief of Police regarding Unclaimed. Property Converted Department Use, 1/25/88; Minutes of the December. 22 1987 Yakima Air Terminal Board lieeting and of the January 7, 1988 Civil Service CoMnissiorr Meeting:- 11. EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING It was MOVED by Foy, seconded by Buchanan - to , move into Executive Session for approximately. 40 minutes for -the purpose of ;discussing collective bargaining, and adjourn immediately thereafter. Unanimously carried by voice vote. 12. ADJOURNMENT Following the completion of the Executive Session, the meeting was adjourned at the .hour of 4:00 p.m. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE :.' if ejajtjautjtAii, g ' " •UN(i l L MEMBER - • DAT (aro-44- ,3hS ATTEST: COUNCIL MEMBER D r.. ±6-0Le,v,__ qtr - KAREN S. ROBERTS, CITY CLERK PATRICIA A. BERNET, MAYOR MINUTES PREPARED BY -40 - BA iARA J. TONE "- .- DEPUTY CITE CLERK B -4