HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/23/2010 04B Minutes 02-23-2010 Council Intergovernmental Committee 0
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Intergovernmental Comm
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Yakima City Council present: Chairman Rick Ensey, Kathy Coffey, Dave Ettl
Yakima County Commissioner present: Mike Leita
City staff: Dick Zais, Joan Davenport
County staff: Vern'Redifer
Washington Heights Annexation
Chairman Ensey stated that the city would like to get the annexation resolved with a
minimum of hassle. Mike Leita recapped that the county sent a letter to the city 'asking for
a larger annexation area to avoid an island. He characterized the commissioners as
' flexible on the issue. He stressed that the county is looking more to the future than at this
one annexation.
Vern Rediferbrought up the potential transfer of a special purpose district, which in this
case is a drainage improvement district (DID). He said that DIDs are located throughout
the city and in some cases are interconnected with stormwater and affect discharge
permits. He went on to say that the county is responsible for the discharges but has no
control over what is goes into the system. Mike Leita said that stormwater regulations
® have accentuated the issue. The county reported $1.1 million in DID reserves, and said
the issue should be part of the annexation policy discussions; Dick Zais suggested staffs ,
could be directed to,research transferability, including cash reserves, authority to impose
assessments and risk assessment.
2010 Intergovernmental Agenda Items
Mike Leita asked if everyone was in agreement on the agenda iterrms and said he would
like to completely accomplish one or two of the items this year:
1. Annexation strategies and obligations (including DIDs)
2. Join urban growth area'policies to guide staffs
3. Transition of four -party sewer agreement
4. Coordination on east -west Terrace Heights corridor
5. Airport ASO /ILA
6. Periodic city county gang updates with Kevin Bouchey
7. other agenda items
Annexation strategies: invite city, county, homebuilders, developers to discussions.
Urban growth areas: requests for changes in urban growth areas were previously
considered annually. That.schedule is changing. The next review will probably be held in.
2012 and most likely every five years after that. Exceptions can be made for large
developments or other important matters.
• Mike Leita stressed that it is important that when growth occurs, infrastructure must be
prepared to follow. Dick Zais said the city and county are in agreement that these issues
are important. The Washington Heights annexation is "out of the gate." The choice is
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whether to continue the appeal. Mike Leita said the commissioners will consider that.
Kathy Coffey offered that another option is to take the concerns to the legislature, either
tacked on for 2010 or to be considered next year. She suggested that the parties move
forward on the Washington Heights annexation and then work to make the changes
legislatively. Mike Leita asked if the annexation should be withdrawn. Kathy Coffey said
that would be asking the developer to wait a year. Vern Redifer reminded that everyone
shares the goal of better north /south connectors. Dick Zais drew the committee's attention
to the city's Evaluation of Requests for Sewer Extensions Outside City Limits list of talking
points. He said that at the staff level, we're close to recommending a compromise that
would be common and consistent development standards. Mike Leita said that list will
become part of the committee's 2010 agenda. Joan Davenport reported on the intent to
attend the February 25 meeting Central Washington Home Builders Association
(CWHBA) to talk about sewer extensions.
Airport ASO /ILA
There is agreement at the staff level for the ASO /ILA and it will go to council March 23.
Vern Redifer said the county is working with Union Gap. The commissioners will consider
the ILA at approximately the same time the council does. The county will advise the city,
on Union Gap's intentions.
Coordination of east -west Terrace Heights Corridor
There was agreement that this matter is coming to the forefront and there is a need to
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partner creatively at the state and federal level. Commissioner Elliott will travel to
Washington DC with the council in March.
Periodic city /county gang updates with Commissioner Bouchey
This item will be transferred to the Council Public Safety Committee..
Transition of four -party sewer agreement
Mike Leita questioned the need to consider this since the parties are continuing to abide by
it. Dick Zais said there are legal opinions that question if it has expired. Mike Leita said
the first step is to see if all the parties agree that it needs to be examined and if they are
interested in having staff level discussions. Then it could proceed in a manner similar to
the stormwater process; form a policy group with a representative from each agency and
have the staffs work together. Dick Zais said a tolling agreement was suggested because
an expiration date may be looming. He suggested he and Vern could call on Terrace
Heights and Union Gap, or Deputy Mayor Coffey could call Union Gap. Mike Leita said the
county would approach both parties within the next couple of weeks.
Kathy Coffey asked about the action on the Washington Heights annexation. Mike Leita
said the commissioners will consider it Friday morning and the city will have an answer by
noon (February 26).
Item number 2 (join urban growth area policies to guide staffs) was stricken from the 2010
agenda items. Mike Leita suggested that staffs bring back subtopics for items 1- 3 -4 -5.
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Those items should be forwarded for review a week or two ahead of the next meeting.
® Also a report from the meeting with the CWHBA should be forwarded before the next
meeting.
Mike Leita suggested a once -a -month meeting for the committee. The next meeting of the
Intergovernmental Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, March 23, at 3:00 p.m.
App •ved by:
,,11 Z % D
ick Ensey, Chair Dat
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