HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/22/1972 Special Meeting 388
JUNE 22, 1972 •
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING •
YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
JUNE 22, 1972
Pursuant to a call by "the Mayor, a special meeting of the Yakima City Council was held at
4:00 P:M. in the Council Chambers at Yakima City Hall.
Councilmen present on roll call were: Mayor Bert Broad, Wray Brown, Lenore Lambert, Jim
Lust, Walter Robinson and Bill Whitaker. Councilman Schussler absent on roll call. It
. was MOVED by Lust,.seconded by Robinson that Councilman Schussler be'excused from this
meeting: carried, Broad, Brown, Lambert, Lust, Robinson, and Whitaker voting aye by voice
vote. Also in attendance were City Attorney Fred Andrews, Administrative Assistant Jim
Williams, Planning Director Jay Otto, Public Works Director Dave Vargas, Public Utilities
.Director Frank Stein; County Health Officer Leland Harris and Director of Environmental
Health Denny Knight. .
Mayor Broad explained that'this meeting has been called for the purpose of considering
outside utility services within the Fairview -Sumac area. City Attorney Andrews' reported
that members of the Staff have prepared information for the concerning this mat-
ter, and that Planning Jay Otto, Public Works Director Dave Vargas, Public Utili-
ties Director`Frank Stein, County Health Officer Leland Harris and Director of Environ-
mental Health Denny Knight will give presentations on this information.
Planning Director Jay Otto reviewed the formal adoption and application of the City Coun-
cil's policy regarding the extension of 'City water and sewer services outside the corporate
limits of the - City of Yakima as such.extensions affect annexation of unincorporated ter-
ritory to the City of Yakima. ('Resolution No. D -1250, adopted by the Yakima City Council
on September 9, 1968.') Mr. Otto reported 'that there are 235 ownerships in the Fairview -
Sumac area, and that the majority of the land use is single - family. He further reported
that the only commercial use is home occupation; and the rest of the area is public or
undeveloped, with no multi- family.
Public Works Director Dave Vargas referred to a drawing of the Fairview -Sumac area. He
explained that 'recently there has been six cases of typhoid in this area, and that the
carrier is. located on 17th Street.. Mr. Vargas reported that behind the location of the
six cases of typhoid, there is a community well that serves 23 homes in this area. He
further reported that although the carrier does not use the well, it has been proven that
bacteria from the septic tahks flow into.the shallow wells in this area. He stated that
two other sources of water could possibly serve this area; the City main water line, which
ends at Mead Avenue and 10th Street, and a line in Viola, which goes to 18th Street. Mr.
Vargas reported that an extension of the line in Viola coming down 18th Street is the sole
property of School District No. 7. He explained that' this line could be used to serve
these people, but it would have to "be'approved'by the School District. He further explained
that the School District is worried about serving others from their 6 -inch line, because
it would reduce their pressure. Mr. Vargas pointed out that to alleviate this problem,
we could tie the School District's line with the City main line at 10th Street and Mead. .
Avenue and use an alternate source of water to help maintain pressure. Mr. Vargas reported
that a water line that would serve all of the homes in the Fairview -Sumac area would cost
$240,000 complete or $180,000 not including the cost of service from the meter into the
houses. He indicated that the problem of a sewer system has also been discussed, and it
has been estimated that it would cost approximately $30,000 to build a line to the car-
rier's house. Mr. Vargas explained that the cost for the entire sewer system hasn't been
evaluated, but it would be in excess of $30,000.
Public Utilities Director Frank Stein reported that in talking to Jim Pluntze, Water and
Sewer Division - State Department of Health, on.this date, Mr. Pluntze explained that
$30,000 would be the highest they could go as far as funding a water line. Mr. Stein re-
ported that Mr. Pluntze suggested that the City make a tie from the School District's
line to the community well which would in effect service this area without any additional
services being offered off the main water line. Mr. Stein further reported that this would
only be temporary,. and that hopefully a Housing and Urban Development grant for this area
that has been applied for would come through. Mr. Stein reported that Mr. Pluntze had
told him that it would cost approximately $10,000 to provide such service not only to those
on the community well, but also to houses immediately adjacent to the carrier. He stated
that Mr. Pluntze had also informed him that the Governor had indicated that this amount
could be found in several different emergency funds. Mr. Stein indicated that he has
talked to Rolla Goold, Department Superintendent of School District No. 7, and Mr. Goold
feels that the School Board, who has to grant this permission, will permit a connection
to be made on this 6 -inch line on a temporary basis, for 11/2 years. Mr. Stein stated that
if the School District should approve this, there would be a ready source of water without
a great deal of expense to the State, who is going to be funding this project.
Planning Director Jay Otto explained the grant application to HUD authorized by the City
Council on May 30, 1972, which proposed a furnishing.of City utilities to the Fairview -
Sumac area. He reported that his department has not heard from HUD as of yet, He further
reported that the typhoid problem should have an impact on their decision.
Councilman Lambert indicated that the typhoid situation is potentially a real emergency,
and it should be dealt with as quickly as possible. She further indicated that the action
taken by the City Council on this matter should not be a precedent setting situation as
far as the City's Outside Hookup policy or annexation is concerned.
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Dr. Harris stated that this temporary water tie would help a great deal, although it would
not alleviate the problem of the whole area. He further stated that although We haven't
had typhoid in the, past, every year we have had contamination of the water caused by the
high water level. He explained that the well is contaminated with bacteria, and although
the family who have the typhoid do not use the well, they have a connection to it.
Councilman Lust read the following statement for the records:
"In September of 1968, this council passed Resolution No. D -1250, which stated in es-
sence that property owners outside the city limits, but contiguous to those limits
must annex to receive city water and sewer services. The policy also states that
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property. owners.not contiguous to the.city limits must agree.to possible annexation.
at some future date as a` condition tp receipt pf..city,- .water -and sewer services.. ,=These
conditions are not unusual ones. About half of the-cities in this state .will not
extend their services at - all unless the property has already annexed. Examples of -
cities with .stricter-requirements are Selah, Wenatchee & Walla Walla.
The outside utility policy is a good one and is._based.,on,sound reasoning., which
brings me- to, my,main point -.the reason for this policy. Traditionally, Yakima and
other cities-in this - county have received annexations,,of land that has been allowed
to develop -in accordance with county policy, which up until.recently amounted to no
policy at all. We inherit narrow streets,:arterial roads.clogged.with a nonsensical
mixture of. residential homes, large and small business with inadequate parking,
poorly designed areas; and homes :served with inadequate tanks and
shallow wells. The newly adopted county, zoning plan, although.partially.effective,..
in my judgment amounts to little more than tokenism. The County•Commissioners have
not yet - dealt - constructively with the problems cities in..this county now have and
will continue to have in the :future. We have no county building code in existence.
We have no procedure or - policy ; in existence,, which ,will,allow.- cities and the. county
•to jointly control land use in-unincorporated areas on the city fringes. Recent.. .
statements by'the Commissioners indicate -a solution:to:this,..problem is years away.
This amounts to an admission that they remain unwilling to do anything about the
• problem presently .at all. _ • _ - ._
Water and sewer services•to unincorporated areas isn't the real.problem between,,the
cities and the county. It is only a symptom of _ the real problem. - land use planning
on the corporate fringe. The problem of how this land is to be used isn't an in-
significant item. It is vitally,.important. It affects the cost of future roads
and sidewalks and future police . and fire protection. In essence, it-affects
cost of all future city services and just as important, it affects the manner and
quality of living of all urban residents. .
We have explored various alternatives with the Commissioners and have received no
positive response to any approach we have "suggested. .
This isn't a matter of territorial jealousy'between cities .and the county, at least
from.the standpoint of this city. I, for one, respect the right of the county:.resi-
dents to live in unincorporated areas if they wish to do so, although I do believe
that when_ these areas become densely populated and urbanized, they can best,be
served by cities, since cities are more capable of handling their problems. I might
add here parenthetically, that when areas adjacent to city:liMits become.highly
populized, it is patently unfair to the city taxpayer for the non - resident to take
advantage of our pools, parks, playgrounds, busses and other city services without
absorbing any of the cost of those services.
I believe that if-you take away the reason for our outside utility policy, the city
of Yakima should take positive steps to contract with the county for water and sewer
installation in the county, and allow the county to hook up to existing city facili-
ties2 We should agree to a region concept of water and sewer services, similar to
Seattle's Metro. But, this should not be permitted. until the county takes positive
action to alleviate city problems, present and future.
The recent announcements that the county would authorize a road franchise to the city
for the extension of a sewer pipeline to the people in the.West Chestnut area only
upon application of 75% of those residents is an arbitrary act: the part of the
Commissioners. The reason for such road franchises is a technical one at best and
shouldn't be used politically as. it has been here. ,If the County continues to require
75% of the owners to petition, I believe we should ask for court clarification of
their authority to do so.
These statements lead to the present immediate problem -- the typhoid outbreak in the
Fairview - Sumac area. This problem wouldn't exist if county officials in past years
had recognized and applied the concept we speak of now - land use planning and the
use of building permits and building codes. This problem is of such an immediate and
serious nature that I believe the city has no other alternative but to waive its out-
side utility policy and indicate to the county that if it wishes, it may develop LIDs
in this area to provide water and sewer service. The city should contract with the
county to accept the sewage for process and treatment through Yakima's treatment
plant, but in doing so I charge the Commissioners to indicate to us, as some showing
of good faith, that they will require. building permits in this area to ensure that
the problem won't continue to compound itself, and I charge the county health district
to use all its powers to help us correct the problem of disease that now exists.
If an exception to our policy is made, it should only be made for the 250 -odd families
in the Fairview -Sumac area and should in no way be interpreted as a general de- empha-
sis of our policy with respect to other areas surrounding the city. I grow weary of having
the City Council wear the black hat in this controversy. It is time for the Commis-
sioners to act in•a positive way to alleviate some very real . problems of city dwell-
ers in their county, and to be'•reminded that about 50% of their constituents live in-
side corporate boundaries'. "
s/ C. James Lust
Mr. Lust further stated that the City should take care of the problem. immediately, and
that they should request the County's help.
Councilman Robinson indicated that outside utility services should be extended to these
people only after they sign an outside .hookup agreement.
Councilmah Schussler present after 4:55 P.M.
Director of Environmental Health, Denny Knight, reported that of the 36 wells tested in
the area, 85% were found to be contaminated with .bacteria.
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Councilman Brown stated that he feels that we should get water to the people in this area
immediately and waive any annexation requirements in this situation. He further stated
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that many,of the people don't want to annex to the city for various reasons and many
cannot'afford an.L.I.D. for water and sewer. Mr. Brown indicated "that he°feels that we
should immediately offer our services to the County Commissioners to contract in any way
they want to bring the water to this area at once.
Mayor Broad indicated that he feels that we should get the water to this area immediately
and then proceed with.the
Councilman Robinson again indicated that he_does not see any reason that 25 or 30
people getting this water should not be requested to sigh the, utility agreements, that he
can see no reason to depart the City's policy. .
After due discussion, it was MOVED by Lust, seconded by Whitaker that the City staff be
authorized to take those steps that are necessary to apply for the Grant made from
State and to carry the water services from our lines into the area that it is needed in
accordance with the proposition recommended by Public Utilities Director Frank Stein:
carried, Broad, Brown, Lust, Schussler and Whitaker voting aye by voice vote. .Robinson
voting nay by voice vote. Lambert absent. Councilman Robinson explained his no vote,
stating that since this motion indicates that there be - no attempt •to get outside
hookup agreement, that he feels,that this is not the wise thing to do.
There being no other business to come before the Council, it was MOVED by Lust, seconded
by Whitaker that we do now adjourn,at the hour of 5:35 P.M.: carried, Broad, Brown, Lust,
Robinson, Schussler and Whitaker voting aye by voice, Lambert absent.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY L DATE el "
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OUNCILMAN
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COUNCILMAN
ATTEST:
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T Y' CLERK L E R K MAYOR O R
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