HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/02/2009 04B Minutes 05-04-2009 Council Intergovernmental Relations Committee 0 s° H ' ' $ ? . Yaki C Cou { C ommitte e Meet a. �4u. q„.,* `4
Council" Intergovernmental &Cations Committee
Monday, May 4, 2009
2:30 p.m.
CED Large Conference Room
Council present: Dave Edler, Rick Ensey, Bill Lover.
Commissioner: Mike Leita
City staff present: Dick Zais, Michael Morales, Joan Davenport
County staff present: Vern Redifer
Mayor Edler opened the meeting. He reported that the City .Intergovernmental Committee
representatives took the matter of the joint board to the full Council. He stated that the City
is committed to continuing the process of joining with the County Commissioners for the
realization of the joint board. It has been proposed that the intergovernmental sub -group
of the Council would transition into the joint board role. With regards to development
standards, the joint board provides a tool and a place to have a public process, and it
allows for long range planning. Yet to be discerned is how the Regional Planning
Commission (RPC) will function and if Union Gap will participate. Commissioner Leita said
that he spoke with the other County Commissioners about the matter, and they are also
* comfortable with the intergovernmental group as the joint board. He pointed out that one
difference between the original Urban Yakima Area Regional Planning Agreement
(UYARPA) and the current circumstance is that the intergovernmental group does not
include Union Gap. The Commissioners would prefer to have separate agreements with
the City of Yakima and the City of Union Gap because they do not think, for example, that
Union Gap should be a part of planning for West Valley, or that the City of Yakima would
be involved in planning for the Ahtanum area. In regard to the joint board and the
proposed interlocal agreement and master plan for the airport, Commissioner Leita stated
that the airport could operate under the current regional planning agreement because it
covers all three entities. He supposed that there may be other matters that would involve
all three also.
The Mayor observed that the City and the County appear to be in agreement and that it is
probably time to begin discussion at the staff level. He asked if discussions with Union
Gap have occurred. Vern Redifer said that it would be good to know if Union Gap is
interested in common development standards. Commissioner Leita suggested that the
next step should be dialog between the City and County staffs, followed by a conversation
between County staff and Union Gap.
Commissioner Leita pointed out that the intergovernmental group also reviews other
issues, such as consolidation. It will have to be made clear if the future meetings are joint
board meetings or Intergovernmental Committee meetings. Dick Zais agreed, saying that
the full Council will need to be told that an agreement has been reached and they would be
® asked to officially constitute the joint board. Commissioner Leita said the County would
like to amend the regional planning agreement to only have one commissioner. He stated
that no concrete agreements can be made until the two staffs have worked together and
the County staff has talked to Union Gap.
Commissioner Leita reported that he, Dick Zais and Dave Zabell attended the Yakima
Airport Board retreat. The airport is going through a process to adopt a new airport overlay
or to amend the existing overlay. A draft was presented to the County Commissioners in
the summer of 2008. The County hired an expert to review the draft and the expert's
report was given to various stakeholders, including the airport board. The airport board
plans to formalize the overlay zoning for submittal soon. It will then be presented to the
public for review. The Commission believes the City and County will need to be part of the
process at that point. There are questions to consider regarding the joint SEPA process
and the layout. The County would like the City's comments via either a staff to staff
process or through the Joint Board. The Mayor said that the City wants to be involved in
the process and -he appreciates the work done by the County. He said the City's staff will
review.
The next meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee is scheduled for Wednesday,
May 20, at 1:30 p.m. Discussion will include the results of joint staff discussions about
joint board processes and the airport overlay.
Approved :
/
David Edler, Chair Date
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