HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/28/1985 Study Session 81
MAY 28, 1985
SPECIAL COUNCIL STUDY SESSION/WORKSHOP
The City Council met in a special meeting on this date at 8:30 a.m. at the
Yakima Indian Nation Cultural Center in Toppenish, Washington. Council
members present were Henry Beauchamp, Pat Berndt, Lynn Buchanan., .Lynn
Carmichael, and Jerry Foy. Mayor Clarence Barnett and Council member Jack
Sparling absent.
Nancy McKay, Association of Washington Cities, met with the,Council members
for the purpose of facilitating a special Council workshop to discuss and
establish priorities for the City of Yakima. Each Council and staff member
shared their vision of the City of Yakima in the year 2000.
Council members considered current and future projects and ranked them
according to their priority. They also ranked several low priority items.
Council members next listed potential issues /needs that may face the City
and voted on whether to rank these issues as high or low priority.
Council members established a sample action plan to implement top
priorities for the City.. Other actions that were agreed upon were to
change the format for the business meetings /study sessions and
to hold a special meeting to bring staff and the Council together to review
priorities.
Ms McKay indicated a summary of the priorities and future goals, as
discussed during the workshop, will be provided to Council members.
The meeting adjourned at the hour of 1 4:30 p.m., with Council member
Buchanan previously absenting himself at toe ►.ur of 3:30 p.m.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: r ' DATE /� ' I 68 _
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Council Member
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City Clerk Assistant Ma .r V
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PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY OF YAKIMA
The highest priorities for the City are:
* Development of a capital improvements program including
planning for domestic water needs and a rate structure for
utilities
* Determine a course. of action for the sewage treatment
plant (add on ?, start over ?)
* Contain the costs of providing police and fire services
* Establish a 9 -1 -1 emergency communications system
* Establish clear objectives during budget development
The next highest priority is:
* Survey the priorities of citizens, staff and Council
The next highest priorities are:
* Joint law enforcement center
* Pursue the claim for Rattlesnake. Creek watershed •
* Develop a strategy for replacing federal funding programs
for which funding is being eliminated
The next highest priorities are:
* Work cooperatively with the Chamber of Commerce on business
development project
* Determine an annexation.policy
* Encourage training for Council members
* Define the roles of the Mayor and the_ Council
The next highest priority is:
* Combine clocununications (police/fire/Sheriff)
The lowest priorities for the City are:
* Deal with Hanford nuclear waste disposal site
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YAKIMA IN THE YEAR 2000
Following is a summary of each council and staff member's vision on
the. City of Yakima in the year 2000:
Henry - The population will be 75,000. There will be a balancing of
the work force, so it will be truly representative of the citizens. A
new sewage treatment facility will be needed. There will be a lot of
industrial development. A pervasive fear of nuclear war. Challenges
for the community will include: the creation ofjobs; maintenance of
parks; attracting clean, high -tech industries; housing; and
opportunities for children.
JerLy - The greater metropolitan area of Yakima and areas adjacent to
Yakima will grow to 125,000 people. Challenges to the city will
include: viewing Yakima and surrounding communities as a whole;
expanding the retail base; handling sewage; protection of water /water
rights; disposing of waste in a manner that does not utilize
landfills; responding to the growing diversity in the cultural mix of
citizens; reworking the grid pattern of streets in a way that will •
reduce the costs of infrastructure; and our perception of ourselves.
Lynn B. - The population may be 60,000. Challenges for the city will
include: paying for what we have; the maintenance of the city's
infrastructure; controlling police and fire costs while maintaining
the quality of police and fire services; sewage treatment; and staff
turf battles.
Lynn C. - The population will be 75,000. Challenges will include:
stabilizing the boundaries of the city; less ability to leverage
federal and state funds, thereby placing a greater burden upon the
city to raise its own revenues; provision of water and sewer services;
employment; balancing the current excellent quality of life in Yakima
with economic development and change; a growing Hispanic population;
and a need for the City Council to spend increasing amounts of time on
city business.
Pat - The population will be 60,000 in Yakima and 115,000 in the •
metropolitan area. Challenges will include: the revitalization of the .
business district; a growing population of elderly people; water and
sewer services; achieving a diverse economic base; and development of
parks, recreation opportunities and services /facilities which make the
community special.
Dick - The population will be '65,000. Challenges will include: a
housing shortage; achievement of economic diversity; lack of utility
services; limited financial resources; the future of the . CBD;
location of businesses; an increasing impact of the military services;
and a growing Hispanic population.
Fred - The population will be 85,000. Challenges will include: -
control of sewer and water services; the function of the CBD; the
S impact of a growing Hispanic middle class; and sprawling growth
patterns.
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* Trolleys
The next lowest. priority is:
* Develop housing for elderly citizens
The next lowest priority is:
* Begin work now on summer swimming program
The next lowest priorities are:
* Street people; loitering; East Yakima Avenue
* Increase transit hours
* Develop programs to handle change in mix of population
* Amend ordinance on housemovers to enhance enforcement
Other low priorities include:
* Examine Cable TV ordinance and its use of fees for city
• budget
* City financing for summer youth employment program
* Enhance Council /media relationships
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* Determine city staff size and levels of compensation
* Future uses of jail facility
Following is a list of potential issues /needs that may face
the City ' which were developed by the councilmembers who
attended the workshop. The numbers after each issue /need
indicate the voting that was done on that item, in many cases
through several rounds of voting. HP indicates votes for
making the item a high priority for the Council and the city;
LP indicates votes for making the item a low priority for the
. Council. If there is no number, no one voted for it as
either a high or a low priority. Five members of the Council
participated in the voting.
--Complete/adopt urban plan and zoning
-- Firm-up boundary concepts
-- Develop a capital improvements program, including planning
for water services and a rate structure for utilities (HP -3)
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- -Work cooperatively with the Chamber of Canmerce on business
development (HP - 1; HP - 1; HP - 1; HP - 1; HP - 1; HP - 3)
--Combine communications (police /fire /sheriff) (HP -1; HP -
1; HP - 2; HP -3)
-- Develop a joint law enforcement facility (HP - 1; HP - 2;
LP - 1; HP - 2; HP - 3)
-- Develop a response to the I/I study
- - Intracouncil comunications (LP - 1; LP' -1)
- - Recruitment of women and minorities for responsible city
management positions (HP - 1; HP - 1; HP - 1; HP - 2; HP - 2;
HP -2)
- - Decide about the hearing examiner
- - Pursue the claim for the Rattlesnake Creek (HP -
1; HP - l; HP - 2; HP - 3)
• -- Determine city staff size and compensation (LP - 1; LP - 2;
. LP -3)
- - Determine a course of action on the sewage treatment plant
(HP - 1; HP - 1; HP - 1; HP.- 3)
- - Target resources in Washington Park for the summer (HP - 1;
HP - 1; HP -1; HP -1; LP - 2; LP - 1)
- -Time expectations of Council (HP - 1; HP - 1; HP -1)
- - Future'uses of the jail facility (LP - 1; LP -1; LP -1; LP
- 1; LP - 3).
- -Develop' charter changes
- - Attract and.keep quality staff
-- Improve the mix of people hired for police and fire
positions (HP - 1; HP - 1: HP - 1; HP - 1; HP - 1; HP - 1)
. -- Street repair and maintenance (HP -1; HP - 1; HP - 1)
- - Complete Nob Hill redevelopment (HP.- 1)
-- Survey priorities of the citizens, council and the staff
(HP - l; HP - 2; HP -3) •
-- Recruit citizens for involvement (LP -1; LP - 1)
- -City financing for summer youth employment program (HP -1;
LP - 1; HP - 1; LP -1; LP - l; LP - 4) •
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• -- Systematize the emergency medical services program (HP - 1;
HP - 1; HP.- 1)
- - Enhance council -media relations (LP -2; HP - 1; LP - 1; LP -
- 2; LP -2; LP - 1; LP - 3)
- - Further consolidation of city(ies) /county purchasing
--Staff and Council work toward city goals, not just
department goals
-- Increase salaries for members of the Council (HP - 1; HP - .
1; HP -2)
-- Transit programs for the elderly and handicapped (LP -1.; LP
- 1)
-- Transit transfer station (HP -1; LP - 1; HP - 1; LP - 1; LP
- 2)
- - Resolve PTBA question
- - Decide on automated garbage
- - Increase transit hours (LP - 2; LP - 2; LP -2; LP - 3)
-- Increase city revenues
- - Review number and types of boards and commissions
-- Develop increased support for the airport
- - Enhance Council /staff communications
- - Ensure public is aware of building permits that have been
issued
. - -Look at cost of extending sewers into county areas (LP - 1;
LP - 1)
- - Address future location of fire stations (LP - 1)
-- Develop programs to handle the change in the mix of the
population in the community (LP -1; LP - 2; LP -2; LP - 4)
- - Analyze consolidation of irrigation districts
- -Amend ordinance on house movers to enhance enforcement (LP
- 1; LP - 2; LP -2; LP -3)
- - Rebuild sewers in the north and northeast section of the
city (HP -1)
- - Analyze use of the space on the first floor of City Hall
(LP - 1; LP - 3)
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- - Develop housing for the elderly (LP - 3)
-- Maintain and acquire attractive parks and recreation areas
(HP - 2)
- -Ensure representation on city commissions from all segments
of the community (HP - 1)
• - -Storm drains
-- Analyze the format for the Council agenda (LP - 1; LP - 1)
- - Develop zoning policy on irridiation centers
- - Examine the city's role in tourism -- convention center
expansion and role in economy (HP - 1; HP - 1; HP - 1; HP -
1)
- -Allow jailed residents to perform city services
- - Contain police and fire department costs (HP -2; HP -2; HP
- 2; HP - 2: HP - 3)
- - Consider biennial budget
- - Examine Cable TV ordinance and the use of franchise fees in
the city budget (LP - 1; LP - 2; LP - 1; LP - 2; LP -3)
- - Explore solid waste disposal alternatives ._
-- Improve staff attitudes toward citizens
• -- Determine /review are annexation policy (HP - 1; HP - 1; HP -
2; HP - 4)
- - Redevelop CUB perceptions and makeup (LP - 1; LP -1; LP -
1; LP - 1)
- - Develop skills for negotiating with unions
- -9-1-1--Get it! (HP - 1_; HP - 1; HP - 2; HP - 2; HP - 3)
- -Work on wastewater allocations (HP - 1; HP - 1)
-- Evaluate Council committee structure
- - Develop /maintain. fixed assets program
-- Enhance canrnunications between the city and the county
- - Continue Council retreats/ goal- setting, etc.•
- =Nob Hill overpass to 16th
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• -- Council participate in and become more aware of legislative
issues
- - Develop Youth Day or Week with Council (LP - 1; LP - 1; LP
- 1; LP - 1; LP - 1)
- -Ensure that the Council receives adequate information to
make good decisions (HP - 1)
-- Explore streamlining of administrative structure and span
of control (HP - 1; HP - 1; HP - 1; HP - 1; HP - 1)
- -Begin work now on summer swimming program (LP - 2; LP -2;
LP - 4)
-- Address transit fare box amount and percentage
-- Provide city services as taxpayers are willing to fund them
-- Analyze revitalization of CBD
- - Airport noise planning (LP - 1)
- - Pursue alternatives to incarceration and ways to lower jail
and court costs
- - Reevaluation of UBC codes and interpretations
. -- Create brainstorming time for Council (evaluate study
sessions) (HP - 1; HP -1; HP - 1; HP -1; HP - 1: HP - 1)
-- Reassess Council districts (LP - 1; LP - 1; LP - 1; HP -.1:
• LP- 1;LP -1)
-- Encourage training for councilmembers (HP - 1; HP - 1; HP -
2; HP - 3)
- - Encourage support of agri - center fairgrounds (LP - 1; Lp -
i; LP- 1; -LP -1)
- -Work on city's and Council's image with citizens
- -Look at priorities: softball v. soccer (LP - 1; LP -1; LP -
1; LP - 1; LP - 2; LP - 2; HP - 1)
-- Rearrange Council office (LP - 1; LP -1; LP - 1; LP - 1: LP
-2; LP - 2)
-- Continue to support marketing asset laws
- -Deal with Hanford nuclear waste disposal site (LP - 3)
-- Trolleys (LP - 3)
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-- Elected officials get more involved in economic development
(LP -1)
- -Clear objectives during budget development (HP - 2; HP - 2;
HP - 2; HP - 3)
- - Street people; loitering; East Yakima Avenue ( HP - 1; LP -
1; LP - 1; LP - 1; LP - 4)
-- Assess recreation. programs
- -Civil service question
- - Training for cross - training of city staff
-- Future role of planning department
- - Impact of Fair Labor Standards Act on city
- - Complete data processing conversions /software development
(five -year plan) -
-- City's role as social service agency (HP - 1; HP - 1;.HP -
1; HP -2)
- - Define the roles of the Mayor and the Council (HP - 1; HP -
1; HP - 1; HP -3)
- -- City's role in maintaining housing stock, financing
redevelopment, and code enforcement
--Meet-with/support coalition of eastside cities (HP -1)
-- Develop strategy for replacing federal funding programs for
which funding is being eliminated (HP - 1; HP -'2; HP - 2; HP
- 3)
- -Full -time Council (HP 7 _1; LP - 1)
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SAMPLE ACTION PLAN TO IMPLEMENT TOP PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY
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PRIORITY: SURVEY PRIORITIES OF CITIZENS, OJUNCIL AND STAFF
Already Done:
Survey on budget issues done seven or eight years ago (110 responses
to newspaper survey (circulation of 45,000 subscribers)
Survey taken 15 years ago using utility billings. Twenty percent
response rate. Survey dealt with water, wastewater, and capital
improvements planning.
Still to Do
Staff should participate in a goal- setting process similar to the one
• that has just been done for the Council.
Staff should discuss whether the budget process is an adequate way to
assess priorities.
Who Will Do It?
-- The staff, primarily department heads,'possibly with a facilitator.
When Will It Be Done?
This question was not answered during the workshop - -but should be part
of developing an action plan.
NOTE: Other actions that were agreed upon were as follows:
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-- Change the format for business meetings /study sessions.
- -Hold a special meeting to bring staff and the Council together to
review priorities. ``
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