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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/06/2010 04A Draft Minutes 06-09-2010 Listening Session - Southeast Community CenterYAKIMA CITY COUNCIL LISTENING SESSION .JUNE 9, 2010 SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY CENTER 6:00 P.M. — LISTENING SESSION 1. Roll Call ' Present: Council: Mayor Micah Cawley, presiding, Assistant Mayor Kathy Coffey, Council Members Rick Ensey and Dave Ettl Staff: City Manager Zais and City Clerk Kloster Absent: Council Members Adkison, Edler and Lover 2. Listening Session -- Audience Participation The following citizens addressed the Council. (Comments are summarized) Ken Hargrove — Need to reach the young people that are in and out of prison for a rehabilitation of the mind. Need to mentor youth .by being a positive influence in their lives to show there is another way than by joining gangs. He offered to get involved to take back the community. Need to pray in the schools again and get back to values and morals. Asked why the Southeast Community Center can't get more funding. Minister Shirley Stalling — Came from Chicago to Yakima to do the House of Bethesda ministry. Her main concern is for the young misfits on the streets. She is having a hard time doing her work here because she is not a volunteer with an established association. Asked for a chance to be an effective force in Yakima with her ministry. Recommended setting up hidden cameras in the gang areas because once they know they're being watched, it will deter them. Nestor Hernandez — Representing the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He heard a comment that most of the gangs are Hispanic illegals, which is not true. Many of these members are citizens. Stated they don't see any of the money for the Hispanic community. Many people in the Hispanic community. did not know about these sessions being held; these meetings need to be advertised in Spanish. We don't want the swimming pools closed; we need them for the young people. Elizabeth Torres — Tried to get involved to help kids. The money in the community, is not reaching the people who need it. We need to work together. The first thing is to get involved in the community and learn what the real issues are. It feels like there is money coming.in, but there is no change in the community. Pastor Daniel Stalling — The attendance at this meeting shows how hopeless people feel right now. We need to band together and communicate with each other. There is a barrier in reaching people because we look at the outer JUNE 8, 2010 appearance. The City should install, cameras in the problems areas. The gangs need to know we're watching them. There needs to be more . communication between the authority figures and the residents. Nick Marquez — Need to start caring for everyone.in the community and recognize the disconnection that is happening. Regarding Initiative 1100 (liquor sales), there needs to be limited distribution or the minkmarts are going to be the downfall. There is a demonstration march against gang violence tomorrow at 5:30 p.m, onYakima Avenue. Madeline Sanchez — Commutes between Yakima and Spokane. The community involvement here is great and has many benefits that. Spokane does not. Talked about the positive programs and things to do in Yakima and stated she wants to be part of the community. Liz Anglund — Has worked with gang members and has seen kids coming out of prison that lack proper parenting. Our focus should be prevention and intervention. Her group has started a community garden. Kicking kids out of school just puts them on the streets and they join gangs. If kids were given the opportunity to do something positive, they could change. We need more clubs for youth to provide them something more attractive than gangs. 0 Assistant Mayor Coffey stated she is working with a boys and girls club coordinator. These clubs need to be invited into a community. Rogelio Montes — The Police Chief is doing a good job and we need to support him. Need more places where kids can have fun so they won't be interested in gangs. Putting kids in jail isn't the solution. The Council is promoting different laws that I think are going to further divide the community. Luz Gutierrez — These meetings need more advertising in Spanish on the radio and television. There is a particular area of town where there is very little green space. I've seen what has happened where too many apartments are built in the R -2 neighborhoods. More criminals are being created by putting kids in prison. Supports the GFI coordinator and wants to make sure that person is going to work with the community. We need a good relationship with the police department and develop programs that will make a difference in the community. Sandra Valencia — The programs you have mentioned are good for young kids; but you need to have more centers for teens too. Those centers need to be affordable for everyone. Questions and Answers / Further comments Jerry Enriquez — Is the Priorities of Government tied to budgeting and how are we creating a budget to fight the violence that is going on in this community? Assistant Mayor Coffey stated that 68% of the general government budget is dedicated for public safety. Council Member Ensey added that the JUNE 8,_, 2010 Council is prioritizing, what is the most important: Unfortunately public safety uses the majority of money and parks and pools lose out. Nick Marquez — Many intersections in Yakima don't have stop signs. He reported it to Public Works, but never heard anything from them. It shows a sign of neglect when there aren't stop signs at intersections. Simple things like stop signs give people the impression that you are taking action. Assistant Mayor Coffey said she didn't think it was neglect, but related to traffic patterns. She said she would look into it. Assistant.Mayor Coffey invited attendees to take a copy of the Gang -free Initiative information and stated they wanted the steering committee in place before a coordinator is hired. She encouraged citizens to apply for the Steering Committee; application period closes June 16. 3. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 7:24 p.m. to June 10, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. at the Harman Center for a Special Council Listening Meeting. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY ATTEST: CITY CLERK COUNCIL MEMBER . DATE COUNCIL MEMBER DATE MICAH CAWLEY, MAYOR Minutes prepared by Deborah Kloster, City Clerk. A CD and DVD of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office �I� 3