HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/21/2009 04B Minutes 06-06-2009 Council Intergovernmental Relations Committee 4. . 7sr r 11 4 v,,-- z �:°` r" ., ,, c h ms
` ,, Yak ima C it y ouncd Comm M
CounciCIntergovernmental 2� Committee
Monday, April 6, 2009
2:00 p.m.
CED Large Conference Room
Council present: Dave Edier, Rick Ensey
Commissioner: Mike Leita
City staff present: Dick Zais, Dave Zabell, Michael Morales, Joan Davenport
County staff present: Vern Redifer
The topic of discussion was the Urban Area Joint Board. Mayor Edier asked for
information on the County's position. Commissioner Leita reported that the County
Commissioner's had discussed the Urban Yakima Area Regional Planning Agreement
(UYARPA). He stated that the intent of the agreement was for the City and County to
interact cooperatively but recently the Commissioners were caught off guard by the City's
adult business issue that came through the Regional Planning Commission (RPC). The
Commissioners have determined that they want to have resolution regarding the standing
UYARPA before they continue with the Intergovernmental Relations Committee process.
The Commissioners suggest three options: reinstate the UYARPA as it was written,
• amend it or dissolve it. They would prefer to reinstate the agreement. Commissioner Leita
said that the Intergovernmental Relations Committee and the issues the Committee works
on such as the West Valley Neighborhood Plan (WVNP) and road standards would go
through the UYARPA process. He continued, saying that the City /County Joint Board was
formed under the UYARPA, and that the Joint Board would interact forward and backward
with the RPC, and that the RPC would be directed by the Joint Board. The Joint Board
previously consisted of two Commissioners, three City of Yakima Councilmembers and
one member of the Union Gap City Council. Dick Zais commented that the 1976 Four -
Party Agreement is the underpinning of the Joint Board. He said that the process began to
falter in the early 1980s when Union Gap determined that they would not participate in the
Joint Board. Eventually growth management processes, including urban area zoning
ordinances, and case law with respect to annexations, became part of the process. Dick
said he thinks there is value in the framework and objectives of the Joint Board. If the City
and County decide it should be reinstated then Union Gap should be invited to participate.
If they chose not to, then the Four -Party Agreement and the UYARPA would have to be
amended.
Commissioner Leita stated that if the UYARPA were amended or eliminated, the RPC
would not exist. He asked why Union Gap has a representative if they do not wish to be
part of the process. Joan Davenport said that in 1986 when the Urban Area Zoning
Ordinance (UAZO) was adopted by the City and County, the RPC was described in the
ordinance and the zoning ordinance is probably the modern carrier of the RPC.
Commissioner Leita stated that the RPC is less functional than it should be because it is
• not getting direction the way it was intended; it is getting direction from staff only. Mayor
Edier stated that there should be a conversation with Union Gap to see if they are willing to
step back into the agreement. Commissioner Leita agreed. He said if Union Gap chooses
not to participate then the City and County can benefit from working together through the 0
Intergovernmental Relations Committee process by looking at the merger of divisions such
as purchasing, which is in process, information systems and printing. He also said that if
Union Gap does not participate, their member should be removed from the RPC. He
continued, pointing out that the County already has a Planning Commission, and went on
to say that electeds can choose to handle planning issues as separate entities and then
get together if issues become polarized. He also said that the RPC should be going into
communities and asking questions about how wide the streets should be and do they want
sidewalks on both sides, and so on, but that the electeds would make the final decisions
because of the complexities. Rick Ensey said that if everyone is going their own way we
will meet to put out fires, but if we act collectively hopefully we will avoid fires. Vern
Redifer said he thinks that a joint process should begin the RPC process so that both
entities know about all the RPC issues from the time they enter the process. -
Mayor Edler reconfirmed that the Commissioners would like to reenact the Joint Board
process. The Mayor recommended to Rick and the other Councilmembers that the
Intergovernmental Relations Committee commission City staff to really dig into the
UYARPA and to come back to the full Council with a recommendation. Commissioner
Leita said that they are in no hurry. He suggested the first step would be for City staff to
discuss the issue with Council, and then he and the Mayor can. approach Union Gap
depending upon the City's outcome. He said that while this matter is outstanding, the
commissioners are not willing to discuss any joint urban growth area plans. Dave Zabel'
asked if his statement includes the Airport Safety Overlay (ASO). Commissioner Leita 0
replied no, the ASO process needs to continue to move forward and to go to the RPC. He
said to let him and Vern know when the City is ready to reconvene the Intergovernmental
Relations Committee to discuss the outcome of the City Council discussions with staff.
Ap.r.,.d by:
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Dave Edler, Chair Date