HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/18/2010 04B-3 Minutes 05-05-2010 Council Economic Development Committee s B _3
• Yakima City Council Committee Meeting Minutes
Council Development Committee
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
2 :30 p.m.
Council Members present: Maureen Adkison, David Edler, Bill Lover
Staff: Dick Zais, Michael Morales, Doug Mayo, Joan Davenport, Vaughn McBride
Proposed CDBG Investment: Michael Morales introduced John Finke from the National
Development Council (NDC). NDC has done economic development work for the City for
several years, including work on Section 108 loans. Mr. Finke related that there are needs
for two very significant local business projects that exceed the City's current Section 108
capacity, so he suggested the NDC Grow America Fund. The Grow America Fund
leverages CDBG Economic Development funds with a Small Business Administration loan
program. Mr. Finke and Mr. Morales outlined the program. The Committee unanimously
moved to forward the proposal to the full Council with a recommendation to approve. The
proposal was made earlier in the day to the Council Neighborhood Development
Committee, and they were also in favor of the proposal.
Mill District update: Yakima Bears Manager K. L. Wombacher talked about the plans the
Bears are working on with the Mill District developer. The goal is for the ballpark /
community gathering place to be part of the first phase of development. A consultant is
working on the funding package. Mr. Wombacher expects the funding package and
conceptual design to be done by mid - summer. They hope to break ground in the spring of
2011 and have the new park ready for the 2012 season. He and Bears owner Mike
McMurray expressed appreciation to the Council for their support. The Committee asked to
be kept in the loop as development proceeds.
Request from Yakima Farmers' Market: The current area available to the Farmers' Market
is South Third Street from Yakima Avenue (north) to the northern -most Post Office driveway
between Chestnut and Walnut (south). However, Market Manager Don Eastridge explained
that the Post Office lobby is no longer open on Sundays, and the Market would like to be
able to extend south to Walnut as necessary from week to week. It is understood that the
configuration would change should the Post Office decide to reopen on Sundays. Vaughn
McBride asked if the Committee would care to pursue a new contract for the Market at this
time, since the current contract is set to expire at the end of this year. The Committee
unanimously agreed to forward the request for the change in area, and the request for a
new contract, to the full Council with a recommendation to approve both.
Lincoln Avenue underpass update: Doug Mayo reported on progress for the underpass
construction. Traffic is scheduled to be rerouted onto MLK on June 2. Engineering staff
has completed a community awareness campaign. Staff is in the process of scheduling a
ground breaking ceremony that will occur sometime between June 14 & June 22. The
Committee would like monthly updates on this project.
Capitol Theatre expansion: Doug Mayo, Capitol Theatre CEO Steve Caffery, and Barbara
Cline from Traho Architects gave a detailed update about the progress of the . current and
a future expansion projects at the Capitol Theatre. Completion of the first phase is scheduled
for late summer. The Committee would like monthly updates an this project.
Grant applications: Mr. Mayo shared that Engineerinq� has applied for $900,000 to match
with an existing $200,000 to do improvements on 64 Avenue between Tieton Drive and
Nob Hill. In the near future applications will be done for the Safe Routes To School
sidewalk program (for 80 Avenue sidewalk, traffic signal at 72 & Mead, sidewalk from
58 to 63 on Chestnut), and pedestrian / bike safety grants for Powerhouse from 28 to
Englewood and 16t Avenue from Fruitvale to Madison.
Use of downtown parking lots for events: Allied Arts has requested use of the SW quadrant
of the parking lot on South 2nd Street (Olive Garden) on the first Friday in October for
staging for the Fresh Hop Ale Festival. Chris Waarvick and Mike McMurray reported on the
recommendations from the Parking Commission. The Parking Commission is in favor of the
use for this one event, but with stipulations. The Commission wants to pursue further
discussion and a formal policy. In addition, Allied Arts must pay for the use of the parking,
and they must communicate with the affected businesses early enough so that the
businesses have a chance to comment. CDY will help find suitable parking for the day for
the patrons that are displaced. David Edler commented that CDY discussed the matter at
their last meeting and were not totally in favor of the closure from a downtown business
perspective. Chairman Adkison concurred, saying that parking in the area can be hard to
find. The Committee recommended that this matter be forwarded to the full Council to
consider the recommendation from the Parking Commission.
Request from Port of Moses Lake: The Port of Moses Lake has asked if the City is
interested in being included in their Foreign Trade Zone service area. Mr. Morales briefed
the Committee on the advantages and noted that there would be no cost to the City, or to
Yakima County, to be included. The Committee recommended that a letter of support be 410
sent.
Continuation of sidewalk sign discussion: Joan Davenport prepared a fact sheet as directed
at the last Committee meeting, and the Legal Department is working on a memo regarding
the regulation of content. When the "content" memo is complete, the fact sheet and the
memo will be sent from the City Council to the downtown business organizations for their
review and so that they can discuss the matter with Council. Ms. Davenport noted that no
changes to the Municipal Code or to enforcement will occur while the matter is under
consideration.
Planning for capital facilities infrastructure presentation: Dick Zais said this item will be
ready for extensive discussion at the Committee's meeting on June 2.
Other Business
Bill Lover reminded staff about his request for a legal opinion regarding banning campaign
signs in the downtown area.
Mr. Edler asked to have updates regarding adult businesses at the meetings of the
Economic Development Committee. Ms. Davenport reported that the public hearing for the
proposed gentlemen's club has been set for May 28.
Mr. Edler reported that he has received some negative comments from downtown
businesses about carrying out the feeding of the homeless project on South Naches
Avenue. He would not be surprised if the issue comes before Council in the near future.
Mr. Waarvick said that Miller Park has been suggested as an alternate, and he believes it is
being considered.
• The Committee briefly discussed the downtown PBIA, noting that the current assessment
will expire a year or so from now. They suggested that work should begin now to achieve
the percentage required to keep the assessment in place.
The next meeting of the Council Economic Development Committee is scheduled for
Wednesday, June 2, 2010, at 2:30 p.m.
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Maureen Adkison, Chair Date
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