HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/25/2010 00 Action Agenda ACTION ON
YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
ADJOURNED MEETING — STUDY SESSION
MAY 25, 2010 — 8:00 -9:30 A.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS — YAKIMA CITY HALL
1. Roll Call
Present:
Council: Mayor Micah Cawley, presiding, Assistant Mayor Kathy Coffey, Council
Members Maureen Adkison, Dave Edler, Rick Ensey, Dave Ettl and Bill
Lover
Staff: City Manager Zais and City Clerk Kloster
2. E- verify discussion
City Manager Zais explained that following direction from Council at the April 20, 2010
business meeting, this study session was scheduled to further explore the E- Verify
system as it relates to City of Yakima employment practices and its application to
vendors and contractors doing business with the City of Yakima. He introduced Sheryl
Smith, Human Resources Manager and Sue Ownby, City /County Purchasing
Manager.
Mrs. Ownby gave background on the federal government's requirement to use E- Verify
to authorize employees performing work under federal contracts. She stated that if
Council wishes to make E- Verify a requirement for City of Yakima contractors, various
decisions will need to be made to accomplish this. The Council would need to define
what types of contracts would require E- Verify; define the dollar amount to require E-
Verify; define the method of compliance and consequences of non - compliance; and
the impacts to contractors and City of Yakima staff. She outlined the current federal
requirements for contractors.
Jim Mitchell, Assistant City Attorney, stated that Council's decision is not tied to the
immigration debate and is a stand -alone process that has been around for two
administrations. Currently, twenty -two states are looking into adopting some version of
this system. He believes the City can develop a policy that is tailored to our needs and
will work well for us without being onerous for staff.
Council Members discussed this issue at length before Mayor Cawley opened it up for
audience comments.
3. Audience Comments (9:15 — 9:30 a.m.)
The following individuals were in favor of E- Verify: Nick Hughes, Craig Keller, Craig
Fisher, Bob West, Anna Jaussald, Peter Morris, Michele Strobel, James Goss and
Sandi Brendale.
The following individuals were not in favor of E- Verify: Nick Marquez, Luz Gutierrez,
Martin Chacon, Nestor Hernandez and Gustavo Guzman.
ACTION: Motion to adopt E- Verify with levels to be determined.
ACTION: Amend the motion to adopt the current federal requirements. VOTE: Failed
5 -2, Adkison, Coffey, Edler, Ettl and Lover voting no
ACTION: Original motion failed. VOTE: 4 -3, Coffey, Edler, Ensey and Adkison voting
no.
4. Adjournment — 9:47 a.m.
ACTION: Motion carried to adjourn to the next Council business meeting on June 1,
2010. VOTE: Unanimous