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Counci (Int erg overnmentaC& Cations Committee
Monday, June 1, 2009
2:00 p.m.
CED Large Conference Room
Council present: Dave Edler, Rick Ensey, Bill Lover
Commissioner: Mike Leita
City staff present: Dick Zais, Dave Zabell, Bill Cook, Joan Davenport
County staff present: Vern Redifer
Commissioner Leita and Councilmember Lover are scheduled to meet with Mayor
Lemon of Union Gap on June 2. They will discuss reestablishment of the joint board
and the airport overlay.
Joint Board: In regard to the reestablishment of the joint board, Bill Lover asked for
clarification on the membership of the Yakima Urban Area Planning Commission as it is
shown on the County's draft flowchart. Mike Leita said the flowchart represents how
many members both the City and County would appoint, but it does not determine
where the members would live or what position they would advocate. Bill Cook asked
for clarification about the process for the Joint City Council and Board of Commissioners
Hearing to reach a final decision. Mike Leita used adult business as an example. He
4110 said that in this format, there must be consensus or there is no decision. He stated that
is the only way both parties can be protected. If there is a difference of opinion
process would have to start over. If differences of opinion are accepted,then there will
continue to be disparity of ordinances between the City and the County. He said that
current practice is missing the proposed process that occurs prior to the joint hearing.
Mayor Edler said that he wants to be able to split from the County at the end of the
decision should it not be what is best for the City. Bill Lover said that he thought he had
heard at the last meeting that there could be two decisions. Vern Redifer asserted that
he thought the reason to talk was to reach common standards and now the City seems
to be asking if it can be different. Dave Edler said that from his perspective, a piece of
the discussion was to build common standards for roads, sidewalks, street lights and so
on. Now the discussion encompasses broader issues such as the adult business
ordinance. He stated that he would like urban area development standards that are as
close to similar as possible so he wants to firm up the joint board issues and get back
on track to look at development standards. Mike Leita confirmed that the City and
County are in agreement; the County also desires to have common standards. In order
to achieve common standards, the County is suggesting the joint board process be
reinstituted and modified to exclude Union Gap.
Airport Overlay: Dave Zabell said that the proposed interlocal agreement would set up
a framework for Yakima County, the City of Union Gap and the City of Yakima to work
together on the airport overlay. He recently received an email from Mike Redmond in
regard to forming a staff level group to work through the final overlay issues and
III prepare for public review. Vern Redifer said that the County is prepared to take lead
SEPA status. Mike Leita asked if the City is okay with the County's overlay process
steps and issues. He suggested that determining the process for the County to become
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the lead SEPA agency could occur within the Intergovernmental Committee. He said
that due to downsizing in the County's Planning Department, he is concerned with how
they will handle this process. Perhaps after the meeting with Union Gap the entities
would jointly hire a lead official or similar. He asked how the staffs would dialog with
that person. Dick Zais suggested the process could be worked out at the staff level. Bill
Cook said that the City is working on comments for the airport. Dave Edler charged the
City staff to be ready to respond and to be forward thinking but we will wait until we
know the status of Union Gap to finalize the interlocal agreement. Mike Leita said that
all points have to be clarified before the County will sign.
Hearing Examiner: Mike Leita talked with the other County Commissioners about the
procedural change in the Hearing Examiner process that the City Council is
considering. The Commissioners affirm that they want to continue to be part of the
review and appeal process. Rick Ensey said that he is concerned that the small
projects will be shut out of the process. Dave Edler said that the Council wanted the
-- Commissioners to be aware of the issue. Bill Lover stated that any decision the Council
makes can be appealed to Superior Court. He went on to say that while some issues
can be complex, he thinks the Council has done well. He also thinks that someone
needs to listen to the public and that Council is not as imposing as Superior Court. A
study session with all interested parties was recommended.
Barrel House parking lot: Dick Zais asked if the County was interested in an extension;
Mike Leita said no. He did say however, that the County is in the process of creating an
agreement with the Committee for Downtown Yakima (CDY) to develop a landscaped
activity area for the lot on the corner of Second Street and "A" Street. The area should
be landscaped and in use by the end of the year.
For the next meeting: Mike Leita said that by the next meeting discussion will have
occurred with Union Gap. The Committee should then be able to finalize the
Memorandum of Understanding or the Interlocal Agreement for the airport and also the
joint board issue. He said that item number six on the agenda (discussion and
recommendations on how to proceed with the County's consideration of an Adult
Business Ordinance for the Terrace Heights and West Valley Urban Growth Area) could
be the first issue processed under the new joint board. Dave Edler said that would be
up to the full Council.
The next meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee is scheduled for Monday, July 6,
at 2:00 p.m.
Approved b •
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David Edler, Chair Dar-
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