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Council' Intergovernmenta (2t(ations Committee
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
3:00 p.m.
CED Large Conference Room
Council present: Dave Edler, Rick Ensey, Neil McClure
Commissioner: Mike Leita
City staff present: Dick Zais, Bill Cook; Joan Davenport, .Doug Mayo, Cindy Epperson
County staff present: Vern Redifer, Steve Ekstedt
Continued discussion on County proposal for building roads in the Urban Growth Area
(UGA) including questions from City of Yakima and County responses:
Mayor Edler said that the discussion at the last committee meeting brought forth new ideas
and now we need to discern and determine how to move forward. His continued goal is
common development standards in the UGA. Commissioner Leita 'agreed that common
standards are very important. From the County perspective, it is important to keep the
transitions contiguous and to have commonality in the ordinances when land is annexed.
He thinks that a separate issue has arisen; the joint board, regional planning agreement
0 issue. He would like to have the City's input on that issue.
Vern Redifer began the discussion on the City's first question: Has the County traditionally
invested road tax dollars collected from within the Yakima Urban Growth Area (UGA) back
into the UGA? He stated that the County takes projects on the basis of priority and briefly
explained the process.
Question Two: In 2009, it is estimated that the County will collect $2.26 million in road tax
revenue from within the UGA. What are the budgeted plans for these funds in terms of
road projects? Vern said that the amount would be approximately $1.7 million. He
supplied a list of projects for funded road construction and maintenance activities. Bill
Cook asked if there is an expectation of sewer in any of the West Valley area projects.
Vern said no, but perhaps we should talk about. it.
Question Three was not discussed.
Question Four: Common street standards are an unresolved issue. Would the newly
improved streets be built to current City standards? Vern said the issue will be solved .
before the projects are constructed. Commissioner Leita asked what is the most
immediate project in West Valley. Gary Ekstedt said the most immediate is Hennesey
Road. Currently it is planned at the County's urban access standard which includes curb,
gutter and sidewalk on one side.
0 Vern Redifer mentioned that the County put in a project request for Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) stimulus money to add sewer to Ahtanum Road.
Discussion on question five regarding the West Valley Neighborhood Plan (WVNP) was
postponed.
Question Six: What funding would be used to construct wastewater mains in newly
improved streets? . Vern said that the County is not in the position to answer or even give
any ideas on funding wastewater mains until they have some understanding of how that is
done now. Dick Zais gave a brief overview of wastewater funding. Commissioner Leita
asked about the percentages that are allocated to future sewer projects - projects that are
not driven by specific developments. Dick said that it varies according to capacity, other
issues that are on the horizon, existing reserves and so on. There was a general
discussion about growth, budget constraints, taking care of what the City already has, and
meeting federal mandates at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Mayor Edler interjected
that it is development that is driving the expansion of roads and sewer, and while we have
to live with what is already there, we need to work out a better way to control this.
Commissioner Leita asked how to create a plan that motivates developers to come into
certain locations. He stated that it makes sense for both the City and the County to
support greater infill within the City. He agreed with the Mayor's statement that we can't
change what we've done, but we can change as we move forward. He asked if the County
can pay to build a road in the City. Gary Ekstedt said that road levy funds could not be
used but gas tax funds could be a possibility. Commissioner Leita reiterated his idea that
incentive zones should be created to encourage infill and disincentive zones would be "out
fill."
Due to time constraints, Mayor Edler requested that the conversation on question five
(WVNP) be postponed until the next meeting. Commissioner Leita would like to continue
to talk about incentives and disincentives to encourage development into appropriate
areas. He acknowledged that the WVNP has been put on hold by the County
Commissioners because there are questions about the broad policies that have been done
jointly. At the next meeting he would like to talk about the WVNP and how it relates to the
standing regional planning agreement and why. He proposed that the starting point for the
next meeting should be "Did the West Valley Neighborhood Plan 'go through the joint
board ?"
The next meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee will be Monday, April. 6, at 2:00 p.m.
The topic of discussion will be the West Valley Neighborhood Plan.
Appro • by:
A d r'W 3 /3f /
Da - • Ier, Chair Date