HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/03/2009 04B Minutes 01-20-2009 Council Downtown Yakima Futures Initiative Committee Meeting Minutes
For Downtown Yakima Futures Initiative (DYFI)
Committee of the City Council
January 20, 2009 Meeting
Council Committee Members present: Kathy Coffey
Rick Ensey
Neil MCClure
City Staff Members present: Dave Zabell
Chris Waarvick
Doug Mayo
Bob Degrosellier
Invited Guests: Sean Hawkins, CDY
Members of Parking Commission
Council Member Kathy Coffey led the DYFI meeting in the absence of its Chair Norm Johnson
who has left for his newly elected role as State Representative. Sonia Rodriguez had been
appointed by the Council just previously to fill Norm Johnson's position; however, Council
Member Neil McClure, Alternate Member of the Committee had already been invited to attend.
The Committee will formally elect a chairperson at its next meeting in late February.
The first item of business was a presentation by Sean Hawkins, Executive Director of
Committee for Downtown Yakima (CDY), on the parking commission recommendations.
Council Member Coffey wished to know if the Westside Merchants had been involved in the
process, what had happened since the last series of recommendations for parking management
were made, and requested a list of the Parking Commission members. Council Member Ensey
expressed positive support, recognizing that at a minimum all areas would have at least one
hour free parking. Parking Commissioner Larry Hull observed that one of the changes would be
that parking permits would be applicable at any of the four city lots. It appeared as though the
technological improvements and minimum parking lot improvements may require approximately
$50,000 to implement. Council Member McClure recommended that potentially a bridge loan
be looked at to support this request, given that parking fees and improvements to the lots would
generate the payback. Council Member Coffey recommended that the Commission come
forward with a full plan identifying those technical improvements, parking fine changes, how
much set -up revenue is necessary, and how that expense would be funded. Council Member
Coffey was asked if prior to implementing this series of recommendations, a public hearing
would be required. Staff responded that it did not appear legally to be a requirement, but that a
full presentation at a Council meeting in a public meeting format would be a reasonable activity.
The second item was DYFI Phase 4 funding; yet at this time no new information is available on
that matter.
And finally under Other Business, Sean Hawkins stated that all of the flowers for the downtown
hanging baskets and vases have been ordered. There are now 357 hanging baskets in the
PBIA improvement area. With that, the meeting concluded with Council Member Coffey wishing
to talk informally about the North First Street PBIA formation, and asking staff to work on some
tasks to assist in that effort
Approved: ir
Acti g Chair Ilk
DYFI Committ- - of C• n I C
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