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Home My WebLink About12/02/1986 Business Meeting Li '15 DECEMBER 2, 1986 ' BUSINESS MEETING AND 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. Council members present were Assistant Mayor Clarence Barnett, presiding, Pat Berndt, Lynn Buchanan, and Bernard Sims. Mayor Henry Beauchamp and Council members Lynn Carmichael and Jerry Foy absent and excused. City Manager Zais, City Attorney Andrews, City Clerk Roberts and Deputy City Clerk Toney also present on roll call. 2. INVOCATION The Pledge of Allegiance was given by Assistant Mayor Barnett. Assistant Mayor Barnett explained that due to a death in the Mayor's family, Mayor Beauchamp was suddenly called out of town and he will preside over today's Council meeting. 3. OPEN DISCUSSION FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER None 4. REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT REGARDING BID AWARD TO PURCHASE 'REFUSE EQUIPMENT There being no inquiries or discussion by Council on this item, it was MOVED by Buchanan, seconded by Berndt, to accept staff's recommendation. Unanimously carried by voice vote. Beauchamp, Carmichael and Foy absent. (Staff recommendation was to authorize the purchase of two (2) side loaders and one (1) automated backup refuse truck. 5. CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR 1987 Assistant Mayor Barnett stated Larry Mathews requested the opportunity to address the Council regarding the legislative priorities as presented in today's Council packet. Mr. Mathews, 805 South 17th Avenue, referred to Item 2 on Page 2, the requirement for newspaper publication of ordinances passed by. City Council, stating the intent is to reduce the cost of printing by ' reducing the amount' of information to the public. Mr. Mathews stated he "recognizes this is not the most popular news item in the paper and the assumption is made that people do not bother to read those legal notices. However, if the general public has to depend on the news reports for action taken in City Council meetings, they will be pretty much in the dark most of the time because the news is always looking for things that are news worthy, and some of those things might be considered not terribly interesting to the public." Mr. Mathews stated the position of Common Cause (an organization of which he is a member) has always been "as much information as you can get to the public is in the best interest of the public." He stated cutting back on information is not the action citizens want to see Council take. Referring to Item No. 7, Public Works Bid Limits, he stated this has always been a hot issue as private contractors want the business while the City wants to use employees already on the payroll. He stated this was also a problem when he was involved with the City Public Works Department, even though qualified personnel were available to do the work. He stated one of the problems that arises when City employees are used is that this type of arrangement is only economical if the work is scheduled properly. He stated one solution that has worked in other cities is that the City work force is required to bid for the work in competition with the private contractor, and if the City costs are too high, the private contractor does the work. Mr. Mathews referred to page 3 of the Legislative Bulletin regarding proposed legislative priorities for the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) which deals with the nuclear waste repository site which the citizens approved. He voiced concern that AWC has listed this as a "B" priority rather B -4/1 �1 6 DECEMBER 2, 1986 than an "A" priority and this is an issue that will be addressed by the Legislature, the Attorney General and other agencies of state government. He requested Council encourage. ANC to make this an "A" priority as the voters of Yakima voted nearly eight out of ten requesting the site selection process be more thorough. Council member Barnett questioned the need to accept this report ,today_ as Council has a dinner meeting with the legislative edi tepresentativ'es later in the week for the purpose of discussing this list of priorities. City Manager Zais explained past procedure has been to indicate acceptance of the recommendations as they stand currently, subject to amendment in the legislative process. It was MOVED by Berndt, seconded by Sims, to accept the report. Unanimously carried by voice dote. Beauchamp, Carmichael and Foy absent. 6. REPORT FROM DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING AND UTILITIES REGARDING CITY STORM DRAINAGE PROBLEMS City Engineer Dennis Whitcher displayed a map pinpointing the storm drainage problem areas and responded to Council's questions concerning this item. Council member Buchanan asked why the 6th Street & Walnut location is not identified on the map. Mr. Whitcher explained this location was called to his attention during a recent budget review session and he has not had an opportunity to add it to the map. Council member Buchanan stated the intersection at 6th Street and Lincoln also fills with water routinely during a rain storm. Assistant Mayor Barnett requested clarification regarding the source of funding for these projects. Director of Engineering & Utilities', Denny Covell, responded the funds will be taken from the 473 -Sewer Operating Fund and the 141 - Street Fund. Mr. Covell explained the expenses will be split on a 50/50 basis between these two funds. City Manager Zais further explained these funds will be appropriated this year, thus , reducing ti the + 1986 .year -end . balance, reduce the 1987 beginning • balance, and thereafter affect the 1987 year -end balance. Council member Buchanan inquired about the chronic problem in the vicinity south of Eisenhower High School. Denny Covell stated this storm drainage problem is a result of an apartment ccamplex being built in a low swale. He explained - the drain has a throttling suction that is too small and needs, to be replaced. He stated the City uses that drain, but the County is responsible for cleaning and maintaining it. This particular drain is also subject to frequent vandalism, resulting in plugged lines and backups in that area. Mr. Covell added there is an additional problem in the vicinity of the Country Drive -In which is caused by tree root intrusion resulting in blockages every year. Council member Berndt asked if that area is situated in the County. Mr. Covell responded affirmatively. Council member Buchanan asked, "if the County drain is where the problem is, why can't those damage claims be forwarded to the County ?" City Attorney Andrews stated this particular area has been a problem for a number of years and the issue of responsibility has never really been resolved. Following further discussion and comments, it was MOVED by Sims, seconded by Berndt, to authorize the appropriation of $41,000 fran sewer and street cash reserves to construct improvements to alleviate immediate flooding problems (selecting the least cost solution in each case.) Unanimously carried by voice vote. Beauchamp, Carmichael, and Foy absent. 7. OTHER BUSINESS :t r i r .:1t : - f . 1 ro bO'3_[c t City c.:.+ Manager Zai i ndicated John Hanson, Director of Budget & Finance, has a handout to distribute for budget information purposes. He stated this handout provides Council with a different view of the capital outlay and capital improvement expenditures which appear in the 1987 budget. Mr. Zais indicated this document is for informational purposes only, there is no action to be taken at this time. B -4/2 DECEMBER:. 2,;J986 4 4 7 Council member Barnett - stated ,; . weeks ago he provided information to fellow Council members regarding refuse rates of Yakima Valley Disposal and the City of Yakima. He stated in his zeal to demonstrate the difference between rates of the two entities, he forgot to include the tax for Yakima. Valley Disposal. And secondly, he did not indicate there is a cubic yard difference between the containers and the old metal City bins. He distributed a handout containing the additional information. Mr. Zais stated staff will also have similar information in a report from Refuse Superintendent Del Kary at the time of his budget review session. Mr. Zais reminded Council of the Saturday, December 6th Budget Review Session scheduled for 9:00 A.M. Council will be reviewing the various departments of Public Works. Mr. Zais stated supplemental information will be forthcoming from Public Works Director Jerry Copeland relating to clarification on Refuse, Parks and Transit Divisions. 8. ADJOURNMENT TO DECEMBER 6, 1986 There being no further business to come before the Council, it was MOVED by Berndt, seconded by Buchanan, that this meeting be adjourned at the hour of 2:34 p.m., to then meet December 6th at 9:30 a.m. for a budget review session. Unanimously carried by voice vote. Beauchamp, Carmichael, and Foy absent. to . READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY.: •1;;,sEg ;y, -17-17 COUNCIL MEMBER DATE ATTEST: COUNCIL MEMBER DATE de CITY CLERK ! MAYOR MINUTES PREPARED BY 4 tliuX ' DEPUTY c CLERK B -4/3