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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/16/1970 Business Meeting 12'7 NOVEMBER 16, 1970.' • The City Council met in regular session, Mayor Larson presiding, Councilmen Brown, Lambert, Lust, McNeice and Robinson, City Manager McMicken and City Attorney Andrews present on roll call. Councilman Keith absent •on roll call, having been excused at the previous meeting. • The Invocation was given'by City Manager McMicken. . The minutes of the regular meeting of November 9, 1970, having been certified accurate by two Councilmen, and no one present wishing to have said minutes read publicly,' Mayor • Larson declared said - minutes approved as recorded. . This being the time fixed for the Hearing on•Resolution Of Intention No. D-1541, to improve property located,on the southwest corner of Lincoln and 16th Avenues, by the construction of curbs, gutters, sidewalk and surfacing of streets, in accordance with Petition No. 661, r and- Mr..Eler VanDiest, Attorney, y, explaining that he had been contacted by the Shopping Center Corporation to request that this matter be continued -a few days further to finish some legal work regarding the proposed L..I.D., it was MOVED by Robinson, seconded by Brown that this Hearing be continued'for two weeks or until November 30, 1970: carried, Brown, Lambert, Larson, Lust, McNeice and Robinson voting aye by voice vote. Keith absent. • This being the time fixed for the Hearing on Petition No. 675, filed by Wood Construction. Co., Inc., requesting annexation of property situated southeast of the intersection of King Street and S. 13th Avenue, it was MOVED by Brown, seconded by Lambert that Ordinance No. 1256 annexing said property, be passed as read: carried, Brown, Lambert, Larson, Lust, • McNeice and Robinson voting aye on roll call. Keith absent. (See Minutes of October 26. and November 2; 1970 meetings for information and discussion on this annexation.) ORDINANCE NO. 1256, AN ORDINANCE annexing property to the City of Yakima, and zoning said property. This being the time fixed for the Hearing on the:Yakima Avenue Underpass, Mr. Jay Otto, Director of Planning and Community Development, .gave a report of the Special Planning Commission Meeting on this matter on September 15, 1970. He reported that the recommenda- . tion was made to the City Council by a majority vote of the Planning Commission that the Yakima Avenue Undercrossings not be approved°based mainly on the following six points, each of which he discussed briefly: 1. That construction of the Yakima Avenue Undercros would be detrimental to the appearance : of Yakima Avenue and have an adverse effect on there - development Front Street. . 2. That the railroad traffic crossing Yakima Avenue has diminished and will likely be further reduced, thereby- lessening the= impor- tarice -of the� -. pass: 3. That the resulting traffic circulation pattern will conflict with the • ' Central Business District Plan east of First Street. . 4. That access and.egress.to abutting properties will be adversely affected. 5. - That -a need for the Yakima.Avenue Undercrossing in Addition.to the Walnut . Street Underpass and B Street and Lincoln Avenue Overcrossings .has not been shown. - 6. That General Fund monies might be better on projects of a higher priority. • • • City Manager McMicken in.presenting the City Staff report-to_ the City Council, referred to City Engineer's report of,two-years ago on.the Preliminary study of the YakimaAvenue. • Undercrossing.'. He reported that the Planning Commission; at that time,.-as well as the . City' Council,`approved -the Yakima Avenue Underpass,.,but in view•of the Planning Commission's decision :.to back off at this .time, it. is necessary .to •review the factors in that decision, so for the information of the City Council and the people present, various Staff members will report on the matter Police Chief Madden stated that he is in favor of the Under- pass-because the trains block the Police Department in enforcing the law, as a clear track is needed to the hospitals on emergency runs. He explained that they try to get to a call within a three- minute period. .Chief-Madden-reported that there have•been 58 train -car accidents at.the•Yakima Avenue crossing -and he -feels they.have been very•lucky that there have not been any fatalities at this crossing.' Fire Chief Jules Shockley, speaking - also from a'safety point for the-Underpass, stated -that -all additional crossings of the rail- road tracks =by underpasses and overpasses are an aid-to the Fire Department in responding to fire calls and emergencies, as sometimes it has been necessary to take a long route • when a•train.is crossing. Yakima Avenue. Public.,Works.Director John Mayo speaking for the construction of the Yakima Avenue Underpass,- both from,a•safety..standpoint and for the convenience of-the 'traveling motorist and the public, explained that the - number -of train - and car crossings, determine a,warrant for an underpass and the Traffic and Engineering Staff feel that an undercrossing is a- necessity at Yakima Avenue: He reported that a,num- ber of studies were made two -years ago and again this-year and it was - fo.und_:that in an average daily 24 -hour period,- .approximately :21,.000 vehicles cross the-tracks at Yakima Avenue and in determining how many trains crossed in a 24 -hour period a check was made on two 12 -hour days in which 45 trains crossed one day and 27 on another, making an average of 35 crossings per.day, most of which are switching traffic. Mr. Mayo reviewed briefly the previous actions of the Planning and City staffs.in adopting and amending the CBD Plan which amendment called for an . overpassat Lincoln and B and an underpass at Yakima Avenue. He - expla ned 0that following the. :adoption of the revised plan made in 1967, the City sub- mitted an application to•the •U.A.B. and was granted funding for_ projects. He stated that the only funding that the City of Yakima is going to get from U.A.B. is for the Lincoln Avenue and B Street Overpasses and for an Underpass at Yakima Avenue. Mr.Mayo spoke further for the construction.of this underpass stating that Yakima Avenue traffic is now at capacity and the separation of trains from cars is good any time from the safety standpoint and from the traffic engineering standpoint: City Manager McMicken spoke . briefly- for.the Underpass, stating that the State Highway Department has recommended a Yakima Avenue..Underpass twice in.the last 25 years and that this Underpass will join the ' businesses on the East side of town .with the.West. - .He also stated that'the Burlington - Northern Railroad will have .a stake in this project: Mr Roger Shearer, a Local train master for Burlington- Northern spoke in favor of this Underpass, and answered questions regarding the phasing out of some trains. He stated that they do not expect any recession and reported on the number of trains being handled at the present time and explained their switching operations. Mr. Don Casad, ABAM Engineers, Inc., being'present, reviewed Phase II of the proposed Yakima Avenue Underpass, and referred to the Planning Commission's review which pointed to. the fact that the underpass may be unsightly.• He explained that 128 NOVEMBER 16, 1970 there are many things that can be done to make it look better in the way of various types of concrete work, railings, paint, etc., which would also make the project cost more. He then explained what will be involved in Phase III, which has to do with the preliminary design and consists of going back through the report of Phase II, making a more precise report and a new estimate that will have to be approved before going into the final design and actually coming out with drawings and specifications which can be.used along with the final plans. Mr. Casad stated that the proposed total construction time will be approxi- mately 12 months and that the estimated cost of Phase III, is approximately $12,000. He presented drawings and an explanation of what will be involved in the construction and in maintaining traffic flow while the work is being done. City Manager McMicken, stating that questions have been raised about damages'to abutting properties, explained that the cost of damages cannot be estimated at the present time, but that the damages on B and Lincoln overpasses will be determined in the next three or four months, which will give some idea as to what might be expected in the way of damage costs on the Yakima Avenue Underpass construction. He stated that it is the Staff's recommendation to the City Council that they give authorization to proceed with Phase III, with the understanding that they will receive more information of damages to the properties, and will get a full report upon the completion of Phase III, and an estimate of the total project cost. Mayor Larson asked those present in favor of the proposed Yakima Avenue Underpass and of proceeding to Phase III, to speak first. Mr. Jack Sparling, representing the Greater Yakima Chamber of Com- merce and its 700 business memberships; stated that they had a Board meeting and took action on this matter. He read a Motion passed by the Board, which stated that the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce is in favor the City, going ahead with the Underpass project on Yakima Avenue. He further stated that he personally feels that it is for the good of the City to go ahead on this project, and speaking as a car dealer, explained that much damage is done to cars going over the bumpy railroad tracks. Others present and speaking in favor of the proposed underpass and of proceeding to Phase III, were: Mr. Howard Hettinger, who feels that there is a need to separate trains and cars, and move . people around; Mr. Tom Hargis, Mr. Bob Talcott, and Mr. John Noel, Jr., Property owners in the vicinity,, and others present speaking against the construction of the Yakima Avenue Underpass, because they believe it will cost too much over what the U.A.B. funds will pay, that it will not benefit the City, and that the Overpasses on Band Lincoln will solve the traffic problems, were: Mr. Gordon Wonder, Wonder Car Wash; Mr. Lee Semon, Jr.; Mr. Bill Buckley, Pacific Fruit and Produce C Mr. Ted Mellotte; Marguerite Hackett; Mr. Shell - enberger, Jed's; Mr. Elwood Miller, akima Transfer; Eleanor Driscoll,Holtzinger Fruit Co.,; Mr. Bowlby, Bowiby Bail Bond Co.,; Mr. Elery VanDiest, Mr. Roy Tufts; Mr. Bob Schult. Schultz Furniture; Mr. Bob Dawley, Architect; and Marilyn Lane. Councilman Lambert assurred those present, some of whom had indicated that they believed that the City Counci members might already have made their decision regarding the Underpass before coming to the Hearing, that this is not true. She stated that there has been a split feeling of the members of the City Council, and this Hearing has been-called to hear those for and against the project so that the Council members may then decide whether to give authoriza- tion to go ahead with Phase III of the proposed project. Councilman Robinson stated that he feels an underpass is needed, that he believes the traffic will always be on Yakima Avenue, that he is personally thinking,of the many years in the future and looking to see what reflects the best interests of this community on a Civic project. He further stated - that the tracks are bumpy and cannot be fixed so that they will not be and that we should look at the number of people who use this street, and proceed to Phase III of the project. After due discussion, it was MOVED by Robinson, seconded by Lambert to go ahead with Phase III of this Yakima Avenue Underpass. Councilman Lust stated that he came to this meeting ready to vote in favor of a motion to go into Phase III, but feels that if he does vote in favor of this Motion, that he would be putting off the inevitable. He further stated that he feels that simply because the project may be a Civic project, it doesn't mean that it should be undertaken regardless of the cost and that he believes that the property - owners on the west side should be considered equally with the convenience of the motoring public. Mayor Larson stated that he feels the 100,000 people who live in the area should be'considered, and hopes that we can go ahead with Phase III and get a final estimate of what the cost will be so we can be a progressive town. He further stated that we are not voting for the future whenever transportation is stifled to and from the Metropolitan area and is in favor of the Underpass. Mayor Larson then called for a roll call vote on the Motion to go ahead with Phase III of the Yakima Avenue Underpass: Lambert, Larson and Robinson votingaye on roll call, Brown; Lust.and McNeice voting nay on roll call, Keith absent. Motion failed for want of a majority vote. Councilman Brown explained that he voted no on the motion because he feels that the City needs other things such as fire equipment and a new City Garage and equipment and that we should further develop the grid system around the downtown area and improve the Walnut Street underpass. He also stated that he believes that the B Street and Lincoln Avenue overpasses will show us new traffic patterns. Councilman Lambert stated that she•has had reservations on whether the under- pass is needed, but in order to be fair to the people in favor of this underpass being built, and to buy some time to study the merits of the plan, she voted yes to spend $12,000 at this time to go ahead on Phase III. Councilman McNeice explained that he voted no on the Motion because he is concerned about what the damages are going to be and feels that he has to listen to the people present and vote against proceeding with Phase III of the program. Petition No. 678, having been filed with the City Clerk on November 6, 1970, by St. Eliza- beth Hospital, requesting Vacation of a portion of S. 9th Avenue, between West Chestnut Street and West Walnut Street, it was MOVED by Robinson, seconded by McNeice that the petition of St..Elizabeth Hospital for the vacation of said Street, as set forth in Peti- tion No. 678, be referred to the City Manager and the Planning. Commission for study and recommendation: carried,. Brown, Lambert, Larson, Lust, McNeice and Robinson voting aye by voice vote. Keith absent. City Manager McMicken referred to the Traffic Engineer's Report of November 13, 1970, on Traffic congestion on North 3rd Street and North 2nd Street between "A" and "B" Streets, which is in direct answer to Bernie Homes request at the previous City Council meeting of November 9, 1970, to change the parking from angle to parallel on the west side of North 3rd Street. Public Works Director John Mayo reviewed this report and stated that counts are still being taken and that there is a very heavy increase in traffic volumes on 3rd Street from "B" to "A ", which seems to be a . round the block slow moving traffic and some- times the traffic gets backed up for several blocks. The Traffic Engineer recommended that angle parking be removed from the west side of N. 3rd Street between "A" Street and "B" Street, then two south bound lanes can be developed and the east side of the street can remain as is, and that angle parking should also be removed from the east side of North 2nd Street between "A" and "B" Streets, which will accommodate development of two North bound lanes and parallel parking. The curb lane would be "right turn only" to acco- modate the bottleneck at 2nd Street and "A" Street where two north bound lanes merge into 12 9 NOVEMBER 16, 1970 one. After due discussion, it was'MOVED by Robinson, seconded'by Lust that the angle parking be removed and replaced. with, parallel parking on the west side of N. 3rd Street between "A" and "B" Streets and on the east side on N. 2nd Street between "A" and "B" Streets as re= commended by. the Traffic Engineer: carried, Brown,.Lambert, Larson,•Lust, McNeice and Ro- binson voting,aye by voice vote. .Keith absent. . City'Manager McMicken reported that negotiations have been•completed for the purchase of some property for the Southeast Yakima Community Center and park.purposes, from Mrs. Elnora • Fox, and is requesting authorization for the purchase of this property. He explained that the negotiated price .is more. than was orginally planned to pay for the property, but in order'to avoid having to.go through'condemnation proceedings and to avoid having Mrs. Fox feel that she is being ill- treated in.the process of giving up her home for this pro- ject, the staff feels that'it'is in the best interests of t1 to purchase this property at the negotiated price. • After due discussion, it was MOVED . by. -Brown, seconded by Robinson that Resolution No. D- 1553 authorizing..the purchase. of said property for Southeast Yakima Community Center and park purposes, be passed as read: carried, Brown,-Lambert,- Larson, Lust, -McNeice and Robinson voting aye on:roll call. .Keith absent. RESOLUTION NO. D- 1553, -A RESOLUTION authorizing the purchase of real property for Southeast Yakima Community Center and park purposes. There being no:further business to come before the Council, it was MOVED by Lust, seconded by McNeice that we.do now adjourn at the hour of 11:15P.M.:•carried, Brown,•Lambert,- Larson, Lust, McNeice and Robinson voting aye by voice vote. Keith absent. , • READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY . /. r , a r c Q,Lt� DATE / �" 74 COUNCILMAN Q-� +t ° k DATE /7 /7 COUNCILMAN ATTEST: • ' �` C I T Y C L E R K M A Y O R • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . Ad