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BOARD OF YAKIMA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ORDINANCE DISSOLVING DRAINAGE )
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS Nos. 4,13, 24, ) ORDINANCE 4 -2015
29, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 48 )
TITLE
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An ordinance dissolving Drainage Improvement Districts (DIDs) Nos. 4, 13, 24, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41
and 48.
PREAMBLE
WHEREAS, Drainage Improvement Districts (DIDs) Nos. 4, 13, 24, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41
and 48 are designated Special Purpose Districts under RCW 36.96 and were created in the early
20th Century pursuant to the provisions of RCW 85 08 and RCW 85.38 for the specific purpose of
addressing excess irrigation surface runoff and the lowering of the water table; and,
WHEREAS, the conversion of the irrigation systems throughout Yakima County from
open ditch to pressurized pipe system in the 1980's and 1990's, and the urbanization and city
annexation of former agricultural lands into areas served by city managed stormwater utilities and
programs eliminated the purpose of the districts; and,
WHEREAS, the service area of each of the nine DIDs that are the subject of this
Findings and Ordinance have been annexed into the city limits of either the City of Yakima or the
City of Union Gap, or both; and in the case of DID No. 41 a portion has been annexed by the City
of Yakima while a portion remains in the county's jurisdiction; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Yakima has established a stormwater utility that assess fees for
drainage services and does not contribute to the maintenance or operations of any of these nine
DIDs; and,
WHEREAS, the Washington State Legislature requires at RCW 36.96.040 that on or
before June 1 st of every year, each county auditor shall search available records and notify the
county legislative authority if any special purpose districts located wholly or partially within the
county appear to be inactive; and
WHEREAS, on May 22, 2015 the Yakima County Auditor, following review of county
records for each of the nine Drainage Improvement Districts (DIDs Nos. 4, 13, 24, 29, 38, 39, 40,
41 and 48) declared that a careful review of the county records indicated that none of these nine
DIDs had held independent elections in the past 7 years; and,
WHEREAS, the Yakima County Engineer has managed the infrastructure and
administration of the nine DID's facilities in a caretaker function for more than the statutory 5 year
period of inactivity because none of the nine DIDs has carried out any of the special purposes or
functions for which each DID was formed to carry out within the preceding consecutive five -year
period, and,
Ordinance 4 -2015
Page 1 of 3
WHEREAS, following receipt of the Auditor's Declaration that Board of County
Commissioners for Yakima County directed, as required by RCW 36.96.030, that notice of a
public hearing to consider finding the nine DIDs to be inactive and subject to dissolution be
published in the county's newspaper at least each week for three consecutive weeks on July 2, 9
and Julyl6, 2015, and was posted prominently in three locations in each of the nine DIDs, and,
WHEREAS, the SEPA Responsible Official has reviewed the proposed action and
determined that this legislative action dissolving the nine inactive Drainage Improvement Districts
subject of this ordinance to be Categorically Exempt as a procedural activity under WAC 197 -11-
800(19) (a) through WAC 197 -11- 800(19) (c); and said Responsible Official issued a written
Finding of Categorical Exemption (SEPA) on July 9, 2015, and,
WHEREAS, a public hearing was held on July 21, 2015 to receive public testimony for
or against a fmding that the nine DIDs are Inactive Special Purpose Districts subject to dissolution,
and any and all comments have been reviewed and considered; now, therefore,
In compliance with RCW 36.96.040, the Board of Yakima County Commissioners
hereby makes the following;
FINDINGS
The Board of Yakima County Commissioners finds.
1 That the dissolution of Drainage Improvement Districts Nos. 4, 13, 24, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41
and 48 is in the public interest and necessary to prevent disparate impacts between county
taxpayers and the citizens living in the cities of Yakima and Union Gap who may be
subject to double assessments as both DID users as well as residents within the jurisdiction
of the city's stormwater utilities and programs.
2 That continuing county management of DID operations for districts that are no longer in
the county is contrary to the express intent of the legislature and neither serves the interest
of the county's taxpayers nor is it a responsible use of the county's resources.
Wherefore, having made the foregoing Findings, it is hereby ordained by the Board of
Yakima County Commissioners, State of Washington, as follows:
ORDINANCE
1 Drainage Improvement Districts Nos. 4, 13, 24, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 48 are hereby
dissolved and shall cease to exist; and the authority and obligation to carry out the purposes
for which each DID was created shall cease thirty -one days after adoption of this
dissolution ordinance.
2. For the sole and exclusive purpose of winding up the affairs of Drainage Improvement
Districts Nos, 4, 13, 24, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 48, the Board of Commissioners, acting as a
Ordinance 4 -2015
Page 2 of 3
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board of trustees, shall have the same powers and duties that the governing authority of
these nine dissolved special purpose district had prior to becoming inactive, which includes
the following:
a. The authority to exchange, sell, or otherwise dispose of all the property, real and
personal, of Drainage Improvement Districts Nos. 4, 13, 24, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41 and
48,
b The power to settle all obligations of each of these special purpose in a manner that
the Board of Yakima County Commissioners deems best serves the interests of
Yakima County citizens.
C. Such powers and duties shall commence upon the effective date of dissolution and
shall continue thereafter until such time as the affairs of the dissolved special purpose
district have been completely wound up
The Clerk of the Board is directed to transmit a copy of this Ordinance to the county Auditor and
Treasurer.
DONE this 181 day of August, 2015
/ I C
st: Linda Kay O'Hara
4Du eputy le Clerk of the Board
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Ordinance 4 -2015
Page 3 of 3
ato
J 6#d Elliott, Chairman
Michael D Lerta, Commissioner
EXCUSED
Kevin J Bouchey, Commissioner
Constiant/ng the Board of Cownty Commissioners
for Yakima County, Washington
Distributed at the
Meeting, 10
Information supporting neighborhood councils /committees
The following are examples of what neighborhood councils /committees can
accomplish to help both the neighborhood and the entire City of Yakima. The
Barge Chestnut Neighborhood Association has been a part of the following
Traffic Control. Working with the City, the BCNA was able to implement traffic
calming within the neighborhood. It was discovered there were fewer traffic
controls along Chestnut, a designated walking/bicycling street, than on either of
the parallel mayor arterials of Tieton or Summitview Many cars traveled Chestnut
to avoid the stoplights along those major streets Using the Radar equipment
provided by the City, BCNA members discovered that many vehicles were
traveling far above posted speed limits within the neighborhood. (One vehicle
registered 45 MPH along Chestnut, a posted 20 MPH street.) Through these
combined efforts, speed control devices were placed throughout the neighborhood.
Working with Memorial Hospital, it was also agreed that, upon completion of the
closing of 28`h and 30' Avenues to through traffic, the city would complete
addition traffic counts to recognize whether traffic had shifted other neighborhood
streets The Hospital requested that a portion of the money paid to close those
streets be set aside and used, following the city's processes, for any additional
traffic calming devices deemed necessary
Institutional Overlav — the City, BCNA and Memorial Hospital helped create an
Institutional Overlay that establishes a process whereby large institutions within
the City of Yakima will lay out and make known, a long -range plan for their
facilities. This allows anyone considering locating near these institutions to be
aware of future changes
Cell Towers While working with the City, it was discovered there were no real
guidelines for locating cell towers within the city limits It was also discovefed
that the City did not know how many towers there were, and which companies had
placed them. Since then guidelines concerning requests for cell tower placement,
locations, screening, etc have been implemented.
Billboards While working with the City, it was discovered 60% of the billboards
within the city limits did not have permits, including two (2) that were on city
property It was also noticed that some were within 300 feet of neighborhoods,
contrary to City guidelines Though these remain in place, it is understood all
billboards were to be properly permitted.
Halloween Working with the City, the BCNA was able to help provide a safer
and more pedestrian friendly Halloween within the neighborhood. Each year large
numbers of families came to the neighborhood to "trick -or- treat" It became
obvious it was very unsafe due to the high volume of cars The Police Department,
Streets Department and BCNA members have worked together to keep children
safer
Downtown The BCNA has stated strong support for a downtown plaza. It is felt
that such a gathering place would greatly benefit the entire city Your packet
contains a letter stating our position.
The BCNA feels that to have a vibrant downtown, there most also be strong
neighborhoods around it. These are examples of what a neighborhood council can
accomplish. They not only are concerned with their individual neighborhood, but
with the city as a whole. Neighborhood councils help provide a contact point for each
part of the city This gives residents in each area, which may have different concerns and
issues, an organized approach to solving these. It gives them a stronger voice and a
representative group that can communicate on their behalf with city officials, as well as
the City Council, their elected officials. While creating stronger neighborhoods, these
councils will help create a stronger Yakima.
The BCNA has, for over 10 years, offered to help any neighborhood wanting to
form a council, committee or other like minded organization to help improve their
neighborhood, as well as contribute to the betterment of the entire city We
encourage the City Council to work toward creating such councils throughout the city of
Yakima. One of our members, Anne Knapp, worked with neighborhood councils in
Colorado Springs. Included is the website for that organization. It contains great
information concerning how this process works in that city Anne has asked that her
contact information be included in this message as well.
Website for Colorado Springs organization.
hqp. / /www.cscono.org/
Anne Knapp
akaknapkina,yahoo. corn
Thank you for your consideration of this very important project. We hope you will see
the importance of such councils, and move forward to help create them.
Walt Ranta
President Barge - Chestnut Neighborhood Association
teachemup(a,charter.net
(509) 452 -6897
(509) 952 -5088