HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/07/2008 04B-2 Minutes 09-17-2008 Council Downtown Yakima Futures Initiative `
® Meeting Minutes -
For Downtown Yakima Futures Initiative (DYFI)
Committee of the City Council
September 17, 2008 Meeting
Council Committee Members present: Norm Johnson, Chairman
Kathy Coffey
Rick Ensey
City Staff Members present: Dick Zais
Chris Waarvick
Bill Cook .
Brett Sheffield
Bob Degrosellier
Invited Guests: Sean Hawkins, CDY
Lynne Kittleson
• The first item of business was Phase 3 project status. Brett Sheffield provided the status
update. Committee approval for two change orders was requested— planter
adjustment on 2nd Street and a sidewalk adjustment on the west side of Naches
Avenue— totaling $26,000. The Committee approved the extra work.
Sean Hawkins inquired whether funds existed in the project to provide plantings in the
public area around 2^d Street and'Yakima Avenue. Brett responded in the affirmative.
Sean gave the Committee an update on the new Business Improvement District (BID).
The City Finance Department is working with CDY to create the billing data base. The
new DYBID Fourth Quarter 2008 billing structure will be sent out by the end of
September.
Sean stated that his crew is busy with tree trimming and weed abatement within the
new larger area. He stated that it will be the spring of 2009 when the Safety
Ambassadors will return. It did not seem logical to bring Safety Ambassadors on board
for a very short time this fall and then let them go for the winter.
Councilmember Kathy Coffey commented that the baskets and planters looked very
0 good, and there was a question of whether the current flowers and hanging baskets bid
was good for multiple years. (Research indicates that we may use the current bid for
one more season in 2009 and a rebid would be in 2010.)
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Bob Desgrosellier responded to a question about the lower banner arms on West
Yakima Avenue. Flexible lower banner arms will be installed as a temporary solution
to allow the new banners provided by others to be put up prior to the Sunfair Parade.
The Farmers Market banners were requested by the Council Committee to be taken
down and replaced with the Wine Country Banners for the rest of this season.
The agenda item regarding the 2009 Legislative Request was initially discussed by Chris
Waarvick explaining the $3.6 million DYFI Phase 4 request. The first element is
continuing pedestrian improvements in the downtown core and out to the new hotels
on East Lincoln Avenue. John Cooper from the Convention Center described the
$2.8 million second element which includes short -term improvements to create a
pedestrian plaza on the eastside of the Convention Center. The Committee voted to
send the $6.4 million 2009 Legislative Request to the, full City Council on October 7,
2008. The City Manager continued the discussion of the 2009 Legislative Request by
describing the history of the project and funding sources. The Governor's Budget
submittal is anticipated to be received by the State Legislature in early December.
Councilmember Coffey stated that discussions were important with the other
stakeholders in the Downtown Core to achieve a single voice on this funding request.
Councilmember Coffey further stated that she believed that renderings of the possible i
look of "A" Street would be an important marketing tool for the budget request. Sean
reminded the Committee that CDY has already endorsed the 2009 Legislative Request
as outlined.
And finally, Councilmember Coffey discussed what she believed to be an important
matter as Yakima continues to develop relating to transportation planning and access to
Highway 12, Highway 24, and I -82.
The meeting then adjourned.
Approved:
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N. l m f r e son, Chairman .
DY r Committee of Council
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Meeting Minutes DYFI September 17 2008.doc
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