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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/01/1986 Business Meeting 336 JULY .1, 1986 BUSINESS MEETING AND STUDY SESSION 1. ROLL CALL The City Council met in session on this date at 2:OO 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, and Jerry Foy present on roll call. Jack Sparling absent and excused. City Manager Zais, City Attorney Andrews, Deputy City Clerk Toney, and Department Assistant III Barber, also present. 2. INVOCATION The Invocation was given by Mayor Henry Beauchamp. 3. OPEN DISCUSSION FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER Council member Buchanan commented on the Association of Washington Cities Conference which was held last week, stating Council member Carmichael was elected President of this organization. Council member Foy added that Council member Lynn Buchanan was elected to the Board of Directors for ANC. Mayor Beauchamp stated he was recently in contact with a group of Vietnam Veterans and was surprised to learn that 24, residents of the City of Yakima, and 18 residents from Yakima County died in the Vietnam Conflict. He stated he was shocked to learn of these statistics and felt they were noteworthy. Council member Buchanan spoke briefly about this years Air Fair which was held over the weekend. He stated attendance was the best ever inspite of adverse weather conditions on Saturday. He expressed appreciation to all who volunteered their time and efforts to make this the most successful Air Fair held in Yakima to date. Appreciation was also expressed to volunteers involved in the swim meet and legion basketball games which took place this past weekend. 4. REPORT FROM DEPARTMENTS OF ENGINEERING & UTILITIES AND PUBLIC WORKS REGARDING.. SCHOOL DISTRICT #7 PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO 6TH AVENUE (DAVIS HIGH SCHOOL) - Council member Carmichael distributed an excerpt of the preliminary draft of the June 17th Council minutes indicating she feels there is a technicality which must be addressed prior to this item being discussed on today's agenda. She pointed out that her motion to bring this issue back for discussion on today's agenda had failed by a 3 -3 voice vote, thus making it inappropriate for the item to be placed on today's agenda for discussion and Council action. Council member Berndt interjected that after having lost a quorum last week, the remaining Council members informally discussed the issue and requested staff bring the item back on today's agenda. In order to resolve this technicality, it was MOVED by Foy, seconded by Barnett, this Item be acknowledged as an Item of business today. Unanimously carried by voice vote.. Carmichael abstaining. Sparling absent. Public Works Director Copeland addressed Council regarding this issue stating the Council packet contains the proposal as submitted by the Yakima School District, the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting recommending one change, and a drawing illustrating this change. Director of Engineering & Utilities, Dennis Covell distributed a handout showing the property distribution of the area under discussion. He explained that this handout denotes the ownership of property along the segment of 6th Avenue in question. It also illustrates the the property formerly vacated on Spruce and 6th Avenue a number of years ago, and lists pertinent ordinance numbers. He noted the School District owns the west side of the roadway, and the City owns the east side, with the exception of the Yakima City Creamery. The line of division is the east edge of the tracks, thus leaving the tracks on the vacated segment owned by the JULY ,1, 1986 337 School District. Council member Carmichael asked for an explanation of how the School District gained possession of the tracks as they were owned by Union Pacific at the time the street vacations occurred. City. Attorney Andrews recalled there was a reservation in the vacation ordinance for the continued existance of the railroad track along the vacated portion. The ordinance provides that the tracks continue sexist until such time as the franchise expires or the tracks are abandoned. Discussion ensued regarding the bicycle path which was designated by City Council several years ago. Council member Foy stated this is addressed on page two in the minutes of the June 16th Parks and Recreation Commission meeting and also in Phase II of the proposed plan. Council member Buchanan reiterated the fact that Council has an obligation to establish a bike path, and commented that it should meet state requirements for bicycle paths. Council member Carmichael voiced concern stating she has seen nothing in writing to indicate the School District is supportive of this plan. Rick Gagnier, representative of the School District, stated the project has received full endorsement of the School Board. Mr. Copeland responded to Council member Carmichael's inquiries regarding the cost of the project and proposed funding sources stating $60,000 is the cost estimate for the, School District, and $20,000 is the estimate by City staff for the change suggested by the Parks and Recreation Commission. He stated a large portion of the City's cost is fundable under the 1/2 cent.gas tax, however, some monies may have to be taken from the contingency fund. Regarding proposed funding sources, Dennis Covell stated the City budgets $30,000 every year for new sidewalk .:construction and these funds are available for the project as well as approximately $30,000 in 1/2 cent gas tax monies which is supposed to be set aside for trailways and bike paths. !Council member Berndt stated there is another aspect of concern on the part of the Parks and Recreation Commission which is reflected in the minutes of their June 16th meeting; and that is the liability factor involved' asithe area currently •exists. She stated the bike path area is dangerous in its present condition, and the City and School District should be concerned about this as well..:.It. was MOVED by Foy, seconded by Barnett -, to approve the plan as amended by the Parks and Recreation Commisson. Council member Buchanan stated the plan as presented does not actually define the bicycle route through the area. He stated he would like to amend the motion to read that the plan will include a standard bicycle path to correspond with previous Council direction. Council member Barnett stated he interpreted the .motion_ as referring to Phase I. Council member Foy stated that is correct. Council member Carmichael asked, "where is the copy of • the revised proposal?" She stated, •"I don't know specifically what the motion is addressing because there is reference to some changes in the minutes, but all we have is the June 5th proposal." She added,' "the June 5th proposal talks about each side of the railroad tracks and several other things that were not definitely amended by the Parks Commission." Council members Barnett and Foy stated this is addressed in the June 16th minutes. Following further discussion regarding information provided to Council on this issue, the bicycle route previously established by Council, etc., the question was called for a vote on the motion. Carried by 4 -2 voice vote. Buchanan 'and Carmichael voting nay.. Sparling absent. Council member Carmichael stated she does not feel Council is ready to vote on this issue and does not feel this proposal received adequate process 'before the Parks. and Recreation Commission.' She stated. the minutes indicate the Parks and Recreation' Commission had only half a day to review the proposal prior to making a decision' on the matter. She stated, "I feel this • has been railroaded throughlthe Parks and Recreation Commission and the Council, and -the public has not been opportunity to Comment or give - .input on the project." She also stated, Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital and St. Elizabeth ,.Medical Center were required to submit a master plan to the City regarding long range plans for their facilities, and both agencies have complied with this request. However, the School District has never provided the City with such a plan, even though it has been requested. She encouraged the School District to submit their master plan to the City as soon as possible. • , • 338 JULY 1, 1986 • 5. REPORT FROM DEPARTMENTS OF ENGINEERING & UTILITIES REGARDING PROPOSED IRRIGATION TURN -OFF FOR FLOW MONITORING OF INFLOW AND INFILTRATION IMPACT ON CITY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT Chris Waarvick, Wastewater Superintendent, and Dennis Covell, Director of Engineering and Utilities, were present to respond to Council's inquiries regarding this report. Council member Barnett requested clarification as to the number of days the irrigation water will actually be shut off. Mr. Covell stated it will be 4 to 5 days maximum. Staff indicated notification will be made via radio, television, newspaper, with written notification to individual users as to when the system will be out of operation, when service will resume, and the length of time involved before have full use of the irrigation system is restored. It was MOVED by Foy, seconded by Carmichael, to approve the irrigation interruption as outlined in the staff report. Unanimously carried by voice vote. Sparling absent. 6. CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING SALE OF BONDS FOR NOB HILL BOULEVARD AND OTHER STREET IMPROVEMENTS John Hanson, Director of Finance and Budget, reported a correction on page 5, section 3 and page 9, next to the last paragraph, in the ordinance which should read December 1, 1997 and December 1, 1996. Mr. Hanson introduced John Rose of Seattle- Northwest Securities Corporation who briefly reviewed the bond purchase offer, the bond . ordinance and the bond marketing process. He distributed a handout, "Final Scale ", to the Council members stating this sheet compares the interest rates of the City of Yakima's bond with interest rates of two other bond issues -which were in the market at the same time. He further expanded by saying no two bond issues are ever identical, however, each of these three bond issues were voter approved. Mr. Rose stated it is absolutely clear that the bond market distinguishes Yakima as a very strong "A" rating. Following further discussion and the ordinance having been read by title, it was MOVED by Buchanan, seconded by Foy, to approve passage of the ordinance as corrected. The question was called for a vote on the motion. Unanimously carried by voice vote. Sparling absent. City Manager Zais thanked John Hanson and John Rose for their efforts in the attempt to increase the City's bond rating. ORDINANCE NO. 2967, AN ORDINANCE of the City Council of the City of Yakima, Washington, providing for the issuance and sale of unlimited tax general obligation bonds of the City in the principal sum of $5,000,000 for the purpose of providing funds to pay the cost of acquiring, constructing and installing improvements to certain City streets; providing the date, form, terms and maturities of said bonds; iproviding for .the disposition of the proceeds of sale of such bonds;; providing -for the annual levy of taxes to pay the principal of - and interest on said bonds; and providing for the sale thereof. 7. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION REGARDING INDUSTRIAL USERS AGREEMENT /CITY PARTICIPATION Chris Waarvick, Wastewater Superintendent, responded to Council member's questions concerning this item. Council member Barnett referred to page 3, the second paragraph, asking if staff intends to leave this paragraph in the draft as it may limit negotiations. He indicated this is 1979 data and may not apply today. He also questioned if the information on page 5, under capital repayments is still applicable. Mr. Waarvick acknowledged Council member Barnett's comments as being valid concerns and indicated staff will review the above mentioned data. It was MOVED by Foy, seconded by Buchanan, to accept staff's recommendation of Option 4 so they can begin to negotiate procedures of an agreement with the users. Unanimously carried by voice vote. Sparling absent. 8. OTHER BUSINESS It was MOVED by Berndt, seconded by Foy, to have the City take another look at the overall bicycle route program, with the possibility of making it a bonafide part of the C.I.P. Following further discussion the question was called for a vote on the motion. Unanimously carried by voice vote. Sparling absent. JULY 1, 1986 339 • Council member Buchanan stated the Federal Aviation Administration has spent a tremendous amount of money installing frangible light fixtures on, the runway at the Yakima Airport. The purpose of the light fixtures is to minimize any damage which would occur in the event of an aircraft were to land short .of the runway. Mr. Buchanan stated airport staff continues to have problems with parked vehicles and onlookers in the vicinity of . the • incoming and departure zones at the airport: He reported that airport staff has been unsuccessful in past attempts to have the arealsigned "no parking ". He stated' last year City Council proposed the installation of "no •parking' signs on 16th Avenue and Washington Avenue, and as a result four "no parking" signs were installed on . Washington Avenue, thus eliminating parking in. departure zone of the runway. However, people continue to park their vehicles on South 16th Avenue in the vicinity of the approach end of the runway on a daily basis to observe incoming aircraft. Mr. /: Buchanan stated if an aircraft were to land short of the runway, it would destroy any vehicle and /or bystanders the area: 'Following a brief discussion, it was the general consensus of the Council to refer this matter to the Traffic Engineer's office for review and recommendation for appropriate action. City Attorney Andrews reviewed the history of the City's Public Defender Program. He stated' the original program was for a three year term, 1984, 1985 and 1986. He reviewed the City's cost of the program over that time period and indicated City' has :been well represented by the current public defender.. He :requested authorization to dispense with calling for proposals from law firms within the City, and asked that he be authorized to renegotiate the contract for public defense with the firm currently providing this service. Following a brief discussion, it was-MOVED' by Foy, seconded by Buchanan, that the City Attorney be authorized to renegotiate the contract with the current public defender as requested. Unanimously carried by voice vote: Sparling absent. Mr. Walter Philipp, presented the Council members with'a copy of an article from the Seattle PI, "Nice New Laws on State's Books" for Council's consideration. John Hanson, Director of Budget and Finance, and'Bob•IWheeler, Accounting Manager, presented the 1985 Annual Report :to the Council. Mr. Hanson commended staff members for a job'weli done in compiling this report. He stated the City was awarded a Certificate of Achievement from the State Finance' Officers Association, and currently attempting to obtain certification from the Governmental Finance Officers Association. Mr. Wheeler called attention to the •old photographs of the City of Yakima, stating these were added,.:.by 'Accountant Marsha Graff, to enhance the centennial - i s sue of the ann report. 9. ADJOURNMENT • - , • , There being no further business to come before the - Council; it was MOVED by •Barnett, seconded by. Berndt, this meeting be at the hour- of 3:12 p.m. Unanimously . 'carried - ').131r, - voice vote. Sparling absent-: READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY:j ��� 4 ■ CO �► r' L MEMBE' D E ATTEST: •v`tivy %If COUNCI MEMBER ' / DATE ACTING CITY CLERK MAYOR ' I