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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/01/2016 00 Misc Distributed at the MeetingDistributed at the Meeting Plaza Comments received copied from general council email February 29, 2016 Jason Kildall — director ntheseasonsyakima.com The Board of Directors of the Seasons Performance Hall endorses the Downtown Plaza Project. For hundreds of years, public spaces - in particular large central plazas - have played a critical role in the development of great cities Such spaces create a feeling of inclusion, and nurture a sense of belonging that spans all elements of the community They enrich lives by providing a place for communities to gather and create shared memories And they provide opportunities for citizens and visitors alike to engage in arts and culture in new and exciting ways In 2005, The Seasons Performance Hall was founded as a center for the music and the performing arts in Yakima We take seriously our mission to help revitalize downtown and its many neighborhoods, expand cultural opportunities for Yakima's citizens, and promote economic prosperity The Yakima Central Plaza will complement and extend that mission, and enhance our citizens' avenues for expression, growth and communal fun! Charlie Hines — clhines576a�gmail.com I urge you to consider moving forward with the proposed downtown plaza I believe it will increase pride in our city & will lead the way to further -much needed improvements downtown February 27, 2016 Kristen Fork — kfork54(a� live. com This plan is for the future generations of Yakima It emcompasses„ like Crandall & Arambula's plan, securing city centers and building upwards instead of increasing urban sprawl The core of our city is important, not solely as a destination point but first geared towards our citizens We will be the ones to use it (like all the other plazas and squares) Our city is 47 %+ Latino yet our previous council and stakeholders are all white The design, which is the same as many other GGN designs, nothing outstanding is not conducive to our area, our demographics and our families Crandall & Arambula, world renowned specialists in creating a strong and vital city center, who are award winning designers take the whole city into consideration with their work. I'm sorry, but if you ask 100 people in Yakima who Gustafson is, 85% will say, "Who ? ? ?" or "Que ? ?" Also, the information put out by city on its website states, "skating rink at plaza" when in fact there is no concept of such a thing here It shows other comparable size cities and how they've fared yet they don't mention that Missoula is home to Montana STate University and Rapid City to Ellingworth Air force base They are also cities with many large parks and green areas, bike paths, walking trails and pathways, civic centers and parking meters But, at least they get revenue from all the fines levied against those who dare to go over on their meter time If you keep okaying all the ugly stn malls, you take away from downtown business and increase urban sprawl, congestion and pollution Let Union Gap have the mall and lets get more green areas, parks, paths and a civic center Remember the majority of you on city council are now the minority in Yakima February 25, 2016 Michael Moore — michael michaelmooreconsult.com I am writing to urge your support for construction of the Downtown Plaza The pros and cons for this can at times feel endless But even writing from a family who needs accessible parking I feel it is far more important to have a downtown that is attractive to and animated by lots of pedestrian activity Being out of our cars is good for us - -it is healthy, we meet and greet our neighbors on shared ground and we slow down to actually enjoy all our great community has to offer As a community we need to create every opportunity we can to be in closer proximity to one another - -where ever we live, work and play All great communities share that in common and I know you all share your belief in making and keeping Yakima a great community Please vote yes for the Plaza and vote yes for the people of Yakima With greatest respect and admiration thank you for your service to Yakima, Andy Granitto — andy(c-)-yakimavalleymuseum.org I would like to thank you all for your careful consideration of the Yakima Central Plaza I know you have been inundated with letters, both for and against, and I'm sure that anything I have to say about the pros and cons of this project will simply repeat what others have said before me So I will instead tell you a story that may offer a new perspective on your pending decision Last spring, when my wife and I were in Chicago for my nephew's wedding, we visited the Lurie Garden, a small park between the Chicago Art Institute and Millennium Park (with its iconic reflective "bean" sculpture) that celebrates the city's prairie home with native plants in a seemingly random and natural landscape design We sought out this garden because we knew it was the work of Kathryn Gustafson A plaque at the garden entry proudly announced that this unique public space is the work of world renowned landscape architectural firm Gustafson Guthrie Nichol, and described how the design captures and celebrates Chicago's cultural and natural identity The garden has won 6 major design awards, and praise is consistently showered on design partner Kathryn Gustafson Although the garden was full of people, it was calm and peaceful, the subtle design of the space successfully fostered relaxation and reflection We, like other tourists around us, reached for our smartphones to learn more about this oddly "wild" space in the center of this most urban city We discovered many words of praise in published articles and books and many more from "average folks" like ourselves, and we were consistently directed to the website of Gustafson Guthrie Nichol and various other pages dedicated to Kathryn Gustafson herself We learned of other award - winning city parks in Washington DC, Venice, Singapore, and elsewhere, and of Gustafson's best known work, the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Garden in London We were repeatedly informed of Gustafson's birth and youth in Yakima, Washington, and of how the high desert sagebrush environment shaped her ability to capture the essence of a place in her unique designs And, on the Gustafson Guthrie Nichols website, we saw the proud announcement of Yakima Central Plaza, a pending project in Gustafson's hometown As we looked at the people around us, we realized that they too were discovering these same facts about Gustafson and Yakima, Washington I could go on about promotion of our -city in some unlikely places, world - recognized projects that are rarely found in our home town, and opportunities that may never come again, but I will trust you to weigh the many short-term costs and long -term benefits, and draw your own conclusions Thank you for your time and service to Yakima Alex Barth — alex.barthCa).iohnihaas.com Letter attached David Morales — dtown2703(cDgmail.com Our city is at an impasse The plaza is an opportunity to give Yakima a built environment worth of its people and our beautiful central Washington surroundings It is my hope, as well as that of my family, that this city come together and make this dream a reality I look forward to the day that all communities will gather at this one place and know that we are home February 24, 2016 Dowd Luce — dvdluce(c-)-gmail.com Either discontinue Downtown Plaza or put up to vote by residents We cannot afford it. Jackie Jones — 1(a-,)thinkallday.com As a homeowner, active community member, and wife to a third year medical student at PNWU, I am putting my trust in the City Council to use their authority as my representatives to approve the construction for the Gustafson - designed Yakima Central Plaza This city needs a heartbeat. It's a straight run through town on Yakima Ave with no consideration for a pause There is nowhere to relax, take a walk, enjoy greenery, wander from restaurant to shop without having to cross unsightly parking lots and more concrete We need a place to sit, a place to find inspiration in our downtown This design offers nothing but a win - win for our community, and I believe this is what will help promote Yakima to become its best self We are all investors in this city, and it would be a shame to lose this opportunity of growth when we already have so much on the table for the plaza to begin Let's take this moment to change our city for the better, and make a difference in how we, and others, will interact with our downtown February 22, 2016 Tyson Baker — tson cJfitstudioVakima.com In Chicago s Millennium Park, there are Saturday morning workout classes, drawing hundreds of people to downtown at otherwise quiet times These Tai Chi, Yoga, Pilates, and Zumba classes bring people together to create a sense of community, and also battle obesity I can certainly see local businesses and organizations collaborating to bring this type of programming to the Yakima Central Plaza I for one wili be there with my tennis shoes on! Sharon Miracle — Sharon miracle(cDtreetop com As a citizen of Yakima and significant participant in our community, I encourage each of you to move ahead with the creation of a Central Plaza in downtown Yakima to benefit our citizens The concept was not dreamed up by City staff or the former Council but is a result of public meetings and a significant process of due diligence There are countless cities around the globe where the community's heartbeat and positive energy flourishes around a central plaza where no parking exists, Instead people mingle around fountains, enjoy eating al fresco, shopping and listening to street musicians and more The business communities around such plazas tend to grow and be more successful than ever as a result of the additional foot traffic and events which draw residents and visitors together in the area There will never be 100% support for anything involving the spending of public funds so don't let fear of criticism stop you There are a few, fearful business owners around the proposed plaza who are concerned about the potential reduction in parking As you hopefully know, they didn't invest in the parking lot initially and according to the parking studies, there will not be a reduction in the number of spaces available I strongly believe, like the development experts, those owners will ultimately benefit from more and more people enjoying downtown Yakima thanks to a Central Plaza where citizens will mingle safely among friends, family and visitors while enjoying open air markets, music, and more Thank you for all you do for our great city! February 20, 2016 Quinn Dalan — guinndalanCo)-gmail.com I fully support the approval of the Yakima Central Plaza I am a wife, lawyer and the mother of a 19 month old boy I am involved in the Yakima community and I enjoy all of the events Yakima has to offer The plaza will be an asset to our community It will be a beautiful place in the heart of our downtown I'm so excited to take my son to the plaza in the summer so he can play in the water fountains and picnic on the lawn I look forward to a better place to hold the Farmer's Market, including the possibility of a more year - round market. The Fresh Hop Ale Festival and all of the downtown concerts will be so much more pleasant when they are held in a place with shaded event seating and lawn I would encourage you all, as the leaders of our community, to vote to continue with the creation of the plaza As leaders, it is your job to make the best decision for the people of Yakima - and the plaza is that decision Years ago, when the water slide park went in to Moses Lake it was initially put to a vote The people of Moses Lake voted no on the water slide park They didn't want increase of taxes But, fortunately for the people of Moses Lake, the leaders of the community found some bonds and went ahead with the project regardless of public outcry It is, and has been, an amazing asset to that community, just as the plaza will be for Yakima Please vote to build the Yakima Central Plaza February 18, 2016 Dan & Mollie Koommoo — craftedyakima(a-)_gmail.com The Yakima Central Plaza will be visual evidence of our willingness and foresight as a community to invest today for the good of our community in the future That good will come in new businesses, employment opportunities, increased community space for multiple uses, attraction to tourists and other visitors to spend more time in our stores, our restaurants, and our entertainment venues close to local hotels Growing commerce will mean growing funds for ongoing community projects and needs We want this kind of opportunity for Yakima This plaza will only benefit the community and economy of Downtown Yakima We vote YES! February 16, 2016 Curt Gilbert — curt gilbertcellars com My name is Curtiss Gilbert I am general manager of Gilbert Cellars I have a tasting room on Front and Yakima Avenue It is located two blocks from a parking lot that I hope is transformed into a user friendly plaza that attracts visitors to Yakima's downtown core Without visitors, my tasting room goes away I am solidly for the Kathryn Gustafson /Brett Baba designed plaza They are not only local products but are also world class designers I have pledged $25,000 to the Plaza Project because it is good for my business and great for City tax revenues February 15, 2016 Carol Vanevenhoven — carollyns(cDmsn.com Events like Cinco de Mayo and Fresh Hop Ale Festival celebrate different aspects of why Yakima is such a great place to live These celebrations require significant infrastructure, everything from tents, to a stage, to power must be brought in The design for the proposed Yakima Central Plaza has an ample and well- located power supply that will not only support the events mentioned, but it will also provide a venue for smaller concerts and the farmers market to flourish without the high cost of renting many event items Our community should be proud to showcase a plaza designed by a word - renowned firm, Gustafson Guthrie Nichol which has designed projects for the Smithsonian and the Gates Foundation to name a few My family enjoys attending events in Yakima's downtown I think the Yakima Central Plaza would be a welcome addition to our community Julie Gilbert — julierankingilbert �gmail.com As a life long Yakima resident I am completely mystified why anyone who cares about the future of our city would be against the plans for the downtown plaza Having a central plaza will bring tourism, retail restaurants, jobs, increased taxes and a place where local residents can feel proud and safe I have followed the work of Katherine Gustafson and Brett Baba for several years They are both incredibly talented and their work draws people to visit from all over the world The idea that we could be lucky enough to have them involved in the design for our downtown is an unbelievable opportunity for our entire community The contribution of two Yakima natives who have gone on, through education, hard work, and talent, to become experts in their fields provides a wonderful example for the youth in our city My husband and I are pledging to support the plaza We believe in Yakima, the downtown core, and the future of our lovely town with the plaza at its center Please consider supporting the plaza as designed and help our city move forward to downtown prosperity Gilbert Plascencia — plascenciagCa)-hotmail.com The Yakima City Council and residents alike have looked at other cities with successful plazas, heard testimonies from experts in those cities about the success of their plaza developments with significant returns on investment of $15 million to $55 million for every $1 of public investment. Those communities have reported success because community leaders and city government have had the will to move forward despite some resistance to such change In the end, they reported an overall cooperation by businesses Let's accomplish the same in Yakima Lawrence Golan — lawrencegolan(a-)-gmail.com We are fortunate to be a community of many events The organizations that create events like Cinco de Mayo and Fresh Hop Ale Festival, for example have invested many years of time and money to make their events a success We could have many more events like these (and even ones we have not thought of) if it were easier to produce events The Yakima Central Plaza's design includes a year -round permanent stage that eliminates the cost of stage rental The stage will make it easier for new community groups to produce new events in our downtown I look forward to attending these new events in the plaza Nora Requena — mrsreguena65)-gmail.com Some of our great outdoor events are hosted on the city streets This is of concern to local businesses when blocked streets prevent customers from easily entering their establishments The Yakima Central Plaza is intended to provide ample space for events, and to then decrease the number of street closures that can hinder local business The Farmer's Market is an example of that. When such events are able to be moved off the street into a pleasant setting and even into a shaded vendor area, two positive things happen First, street access is available to shoppers in the down town area And second, parking is available around and close to both businesses and event attendees This is a positive solution! Even if every business person does not directly benefit from every event, in the long run the economic and quality of life benefit for the entire community makes it a great solution February 14, 2016 Gay Dorsey — gaydoo(cD-yahoo.com I hope that you will carefully consider the Plaza project at your March 8 meeting and vote YES on this important part of Yakima's future! We are big supporters of the project and have pledged $150,000 or our own money to back it This may be the last chance for all of us to build a beautiful gathering place and help Yakima become a place where people want to visit, work, live, and raise their children When we travel, we never return and say, "wasn't that a beautiful city? It had such lovely parking!" But we often say, "Wasn't that a beautiful city? Remember that lovely park where there were trees and flowers, and kids were laughing, and people were sitting outside having coffee, and that band was playing ?" Think hard about this, and please vote yes Mike Snyder – mikesnyder(a-)-mikesnyder.com Letter attached John Baule –john _yakimavalleymuseum . org Can you imagine Yakima without the Capitol Theatre, Gilbert Park, and Franklin Park? Yet, in each case, there was significant opposition to supporting these community treasures After the 1975 Capitol Theatre fire, many wanted the burned -out shell leveled for more parking, when Elon Gilbert offered land for Gilbert Park, many thought another park was a waste of money, and when property owners around the empty lots between 19th and 22nd on Tieton petitioned the city to create a park, opponents said the space would add more to the city as residential building lots Fortunately, in each case, private citizens came together to raise the needed private money, and the Yakima City Council members had the courage and wisdom to see the hope and opportunity these three projects would bring to our community for generations to come They did not let fear and negativity blind their decisions 1 urge the present Yakima City Council to once again act in favor of hope and opportunity —not fear and negativity, and support the construction of the Yakima Central Plaza The plaza is an expression of hope and belief in our community's future, retention of the parking lot it replaces will forever be a symbol of a lost opportunity February 12, 2016 Nancy & Joe Gabriel – gabrieljnf(cD_msn.com We moved to Yakima seven years ago, eager to explore our new community, including downtown Quickly we noticed the ebb and flow of downtown businesses, while growth continued in strip malls of West Yakima When plans to revive downtown began, we were thrilled! The Plaza project promises growth and vibrancy It offers a "hub" for folks to gather, attend free events and /or shop, dine and stimulate local economy Plus, it offers a green space designed by a world renown landscape architect And, private donations are deferring the costs wow! Why pass up this creative opportunity to improve our downtown, the core of our community? February 11, 2016 Matt Hargreaves — hargrema- ,gmail.com I am business person and I am in favor of the Gustafson - designed Yakima Central Plaza I believe this will benefit the business community by provided a gathering place for people to spend time together and spend money at nearby business In addition, events can be held there, business people can enjoy lunch in a central location and it can be a central gathering spot for anyone from anywhere The fact that we have private pledges and a WORLD -class designer makes this project an amazing opportunity What other city has this opportunity at their fingertips! This will make Yakima a better place to live and work February 10, 2016 Joy Clark — joyclark1996(a-charter.net Although I am not a resident of Yakima (I live in Selah) I work in Yakima and spend much recreation time downtown I urge you to approve the Plaza project, because it would not merely enhance downtown, it has the ability to re- create a downtown, with space for the kind of social and cultural, along with commercial, activities that are the heart and soul of any community I understand that there are numerous valid projects, but I believe that we all are aware how powerful any kind of plaza like this is, drawing community members to common purpose and common experiences Yakima needs that. Terry Meloy — terrymeloy(cD-gmail.com I noticed in your rules that you will not accept form letters I would suggest you inform " I LOVE YAKIMA" of that fact since ! just received an e-mail requesting I submit my love for the proposed plaza to you along with suggested language for expressing my feelings and a link to your site in order to.make thier request as easy as possible for me Please allow me to use my own thoughts I do love Yakima, however I do not approve of the Plaza proposed location or the expenditure of millions of tax payer dollars when the city can't even afford to pick up the leaves after their already raked, bagged, and placed by the curb If someone feels strongly enough about a city issue to write a letter to the editor then let them write their own letter Melissa Christianson — melissachristianson(aD- live. com I am the mother of three children and a member of the Real Estate community In addition, my family owns a well known downtown business It is my opinion that the Plaza is a great idea, but please read on I do NOT like the location for this plaza Downtown parking is limited, despite what is shown on maps and diagrams The parking lot marked to become plaza space is used by multiple businesses With this lot gone, it is more difficult for elderly and anyone with small children or special needs to get to the business they'd like to visit. There are better areas to put a year round plaza and they have been suggested by multiple people Please do not be swayed by the money that is being thrown towards this project. I have a commercial client who is no longer looking at the perfect downtown retail building (that has sat vacant for YEARS!!) because he and his partners are concerned there is not adequate parking for customers As of today, there is that parking, but if the plaza goes in this lot will be much busier People will not be able to park next to his business but will be forced to walk several blocks We all know we could use the exercise, but this is the land of extreme weather - too hot, too cold, too windy These potential customers will instead drive down 1 st Street to the big box stores to shop Think carefully about what is wanted long term for Yakima A revamp is needed but perhaps it doesn't start with a plaza in a main lot. Kate Sundquist — sundquistkate(D_gmail.com I am a mom, designer and a passionate Yakima community member and I want to see City Council use their authority as our representatives by approving construction for the Gustafson - designed Yakima Central Plaza I believe in the project because a strong and vibrant core is essential to any city This multipurpose gathering space at the heart of our city would become a catalyst for new and existing businesses surrounding the plaza and throughout downtown The plaza will create a stronger sense of place and community pride for all of those who live in Yakima I believe the project could not be in better hands Kathryn Gustafson and her team have developed an amazingly appropriate design that focuses on the strengths and diversity of our beautiful valley With pledges from the private sector in hard, and a world -class design at our fingertips, this project is a win -win for our community Thank you for serving our community Please say yes to improving our city and voting yes of the Yakima Central Plaza! Laura Rankin — laura(a�gilbertcellars.com I am a business owner, a non - profit founder, and a lifelong Yakimainiac In short, I love Yakima and want to see it succeed for a multitude of reasons I know the Yakima Central Plaza will serve to bring our community together When the center of our community is a world - class, permanent, event -ready place for an infinite number of programs, I believe we will see much more unity than we do today This plaza has never been positioned as "instead of " The plaza is "more than " As in "more than" the sum of its parts Communities like ours must invest in the future in a way that is physically visible to potential residents and tourists We must demonstrate to current residents our ability to be progressive and visionary about the future What does the future look like? In our town, it looks like more human interaction (and density!), pedestrian activity, and spaces for small business to start (and to grow) Young professionals, families, and those who seek a safer community ALL want these things The plaza is the engine that will drive these outcomes As for events, creating events in our downtown is currently challenging - -due to lack of a plaza, organizers must close streets, rent power, pay to construct risers for stages, hire sound engineers to operate equipment, etc Creating a plaza will eliminate these expensive barriers to entry so that ANY organization or person can create new events, can start small and grow them to be an essential part of the larger fabric of the community The events the community can produce and attend in the plaza are only limited by our imaginations I urge you to consider what has been put into this project to date Research, public meetings, RFPs, volunteer time, professional and expert knowledge, not to mention private business pledges in the MILLIONS, and the city $$ that has already been spent on this project. Turn those investments into a finished plaza I look forward to standing with all of you when we cut the ribbon Cheers to the future of our ever - strengthening community! Travis Margoni — travis.margoni(cD-gmail.com First, congratulations to the new members It's really exciting to see the city represented more fairly than ever by the diverse people and ideas found in Yakima I'm thrilled to support you as you move forward A short note about me I'm a new faculty member at Yakima Valley Community College in the English Department, and I'm about 10 years into my career as an educator Prior to YVCC, I taught full tirne and developed curriculum at the University of Utah and Oregon State University After 4 years in Utah, I applied to about 30 community colleges around the country and interviewed with 4 excellent schools I chose YVCC above them all And I chose your town, Yakima I'm profoundly grateful for the opportunity afforded to me by my colleagues in the department and my Dean I chose YVCC and Yakima because I want to settle into a community that is diverse and in need of passionate young professionals (Am I still "young" at 35? Let's just go with it ) I came here to listen and learn about your community and apply my experience and skills as an educator I also came here because I see so many opportunities for improvement One area in need of improvement is Yakima's downtown, as some of you might agree Since I arrived last August, I've followed the Yakima Central Plaza situation closely, and I want to express my unequivocal support for the project. It's a great opportunity to improve downtown Yakima, and I urge you all to support the Plaza project. I'm aware of the many arguments against the Plaza, and I'll address just a couple I've met and spoken with leaders of the Capitol Theatre, (I'm on the planning committee to bring the first Hispanic U S Poet Laureate to Yakima in May, Juan Carlos Herrera ) The Capitol Theatre and parking have been a concern that seems to get repeated in the community, but folks at the theater support the Plaza Community anxiety over parking seems misplaced My understanding is that roughly the same number of parking spots will be available Further, the concern that adjacent streets are "unsafe" and therefore the Plaza is a bad idea represents troubling, fallacious thinking Please do not succumb to this Yakima's high rate of substance abuse (and the violence that comes with it) is an issue that needs direct action To develop in ways that attempt to avoid contact zones is doubly troubling we'd be again sweeping aside the substance abuse problems while also missing out on a wonderful opportunity for business and social engagement I know there are more issues and concerns in play regarding the Plaza, but I'll end this now because I realize you're all very busy, and I can be very wordy The Plaza is not merely a practical, sensible development. It's also representative of the type of progress Yakima needs to make in order to draw new, talented people to the city As the City Council is energized by new, talented ccmmunity members, I hope that you'll approve the Plaza without reservation Lynda Otey — Isoteye-yvn.com I love the idea of a Central Plaza I dislike immensely the thought that the Millennium Plaza was worth so little that it will be torn down I also dislike that the core area will loose available parking for the disabled and elderly All of Yakima's children and families need to be able to EASILY access this plaza -- walking several blocks is not easy for some I appreciate that Kathryn Gustafson is from Yakima but there must be other options available that will include everyone I was recently at a Mercy Theater and a artist's rendering of a possible plaza design popped up on the screen I didn't get to see it in complete detail but I could easily see that part of the current proposed area was a new plaza, the current Millennium Plaza was intact, AND there was a multi -level parking garage on the west end What a great solution! Everyone wins Please reconsider the design that would displace the current parking conveniences Build a Plaza that all can enjoy in the future along with supporting the arts, events, and restaurants that are what Downtown Yakima is about today Sean Hopkins — seanmhopkins(a-).hotmail.com I am a fourth generation Yakima Valley resident who was raised and educated in this valley and I choose to raise my kids here for many reasons I love Yakima and all that it has to offer As new council members you have a historic opportunity to continue to make our city great and I want to see this City Council use their authority as our representatives by approving construction for the Gustafson - designed Yakima Central Plaza I believe in the project because it will enhance public and private use of the downtown, bring business back downtown and provide a heartbeat for our community. With pledges from the private sector in hand, and a world -class design at our fingertips, this project is a win -win for our community I live in Holly Cousens district and want her especially to know that she needs to represent her district where a vast majority of residents support the plaza Do your homework and do your job and don't cow to the private interests of Bill Smith and those opposed to the Plaza idea Moriet Miketa — morietmiketa(,U-)gmail.com Tonight you will meet to discuss the opportunity to revitalize and bring life to our downtown core with a state of the art project. I am in full support of this project and believe as community voice YOU have the talent, the knowledge and the ability to make this project happen Please make a commitment for our downtown, our city and community and VOTE YES for this project It will become the catalyst for positive change in our community Bruce Bacon — bruce. bacon (cD-glaaersales.com I am an owner of a business located in downtown Yakima Glacier Sales is located at 316 N 3rd St- 98901 1 would encourage all of the council- especially the representative of the district where my business is located- to support the Gustafson designed Yakima Central Plaza I believe it is important to support this project as it will boost not only my business, but be a positive attraction for new businesses which might be considering coming to the area In addition, this plaza will have a positive effect on quality of life for residents of this community and also attract tourism to the area I am very pleased with the recent changes to the city council, new insights and ideas are of paramount importance to progress Please continue to go forward with this project as it is a continued step in the right direction 't , 9 WAS H I N GTO N �'' FRUIT & PRODUCE CO P.O BOX 1588 - YAKIMA, WA 98907, USA - PHONE 509457 -6177 - FAX 509-457 - RECEIVED CITY OF YAKIMA February 25, 2016 Members of the City Council, FFR :2 9 2016 OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL If there was ever a time to make a decision that will take downtown Yakima into the future, it is now Yakima is in the midst of making an amazing transformation to elevate its quality of life. However, there has yet to be anything that adequately showcases the energy and life that pulses within this valldy We are presented with an incredible opportunity to revive the heart of our beautiful city and nobody is pretending it will be easy or without challenges. As with any project there are those who oppose the change, but it is imperative that the leaders of our community fight to move forward and take Yakima out of the past. This city and its people are being tested and future generations will fudge us by how we respond to this test. An historic number of business leaders are standing up to support the dream of building a downtown to inspire its residents. Now it falls to the Council. It is time to reclaim the economic future of our downtown and that means investing in a public space that all future generations of Yakima can be proud of. This Council represents a Council of Firsts for Yakima. the first Council with a female majority and the first Council of three elected Latinos. With your approval of the Yakima Central Plaza, you will be the first Council to vote in favor of hope and optiniisin and not in favor of fear Sincerely, .• _ _. Corporate Publicist Washington Fruit and Produce Co. INDEPENDENT "LIBERTY BELL" APPLES, PEARS AND CHERRIES Dear Yakima City Council Members. John I Haas, Inc., a company with broad international connections and deep roots in Yakima, is pleased to contribute to the fund to construct the Yakima Central Plaza in Downtown Yakima We clearly see the benefits of this dynamic, well- designed public space The Yakima Central Plaza will be a powerful visual representation of our community pride Haas works hard to recruit highly skilled people from within our community and beyond city borders, and an attractive downtown is vital to our recruiting efforts We believe that an energetic downtown is a positive factor for potential employees considering moving to Yakima For current residents, a downtown with vibrant social activities and expanding retail opportunities will improve the quality of life Yakima's abundant sun and easy access to recreation are great for the individual, a place where everyone can come together is great for the town and its community spirit As the CEO of John I Haas, I know that the success of our business depends on the success of our employees and the community we live in Our contribution of $250,000 to the Yakima Central Plaza in Downtown Yakima is not only the right business decision, but it is the right thing to do Alex Barth, CEO John I Haas, Inc. Michael J Snyder February 14, 2016 The Honorable Yakima City Council City of Yakima 129 North 2nd Street Yakima, WA 98901 Dear Council Members '005 Scenic Drive Yakima, Washington 98908 mikesnvier'ti- mikesn dy er.com 303 601 1000 c bio Good day My name is iMike Snyder, born and raised in Yakima �4y granddad started a wholesale bakery in Yakima in 1929, joined by my uncle and dad they built it into one of the larger and successful wholesale bakeries in the Pacific Northwest. I lived in Yakima when downtown was vibrant and economically successful Pretty much all of our Yakima shopping was downtown with the occasional trip way out there to the County Store I started my own business in Yakima in 1979, then, through expansion and acquisitions spread thru out the United States and Canada I have returned to Yakima after a long absence, and purchased a home in Yakima along with my wife Lisa Deccio Snyder We support investment in downtown Yakima, as demonstrated by our actions Graham Snyder my son, and Mark DiPietro have created a well - received addition to downtown, Cowiche Canyon Kitchen & Icehouse A significant investment creating jobs, drawing people to downtown, increasing tax revenues for the city, and hopefully providing a great experience for its guests We seldom locate foodservice business in downtowns as the parking, costs, and general economic climate is challenging Yet, in Yakima, with the parking where the current plaza proposal is, we felt we could be successful and be a catalyst to help promote downtown development The objective of investing in downtown for a municipality should be to increase economic activity To do this, two things need to happen First, a reason to go downtown And second, the ability to get downtown in a timely fashion, and, to park The parking study contracted by the city in 2014 concluded downtown Yakima had adequate parking And, a recent promotional brochure said there are over 4000 parking spaces downtown, including on- street, private, city and county spaces We believe the number is much lower as the public cannot park in many of the city, county and private parking spaces counted Without going deep into this, you can use whatever number of parking spaces you want Irrespective of what one deems as adequate or inadequate parking, simply attempt to park in core downtown during peak periods The current parking situation is deterring visitors to downtown during peak times Peak times are when the majority of retail sales occur. The city, its architects and designers have created an attractive rendering of a plaza, and we would love to see something like it somewhere downtown. That said, to simply invest to make downtown more attractive with event /visiting space without significantly increasing the ability for event and retail visitors to park downtown is not a good objective Additionally, and as important, attracting new business to fill the empty space downtown with the current and /or proposed parking is problematic. Rapid City and Missoula have presented their views regarding plazas There is one significant difference between Rapid City/Missoula and Yakima downtowns Rapid City and Missoula have large parking strictures immediately adjacent to their plazas. Abundant and mostly free parking during peak retail times. Rapid City's plaza is 1/2 the size of the proposed. Yakima plaza and has a 560 space parking structure immediately adjacent to their plaza Destination Rapid. City President said, "Yakima doesn't have a parking problem, Yakima has a walking problem" I submit- with a 560 parking space structure immediately adjacent to Rapid City's plaza, they don't have parking or walking problem. Missoula similar Park Place Structure with 330 spaces immediately adjacent to their plaza Fred Bruning, Center Cal Properties (Valley Mall) said of the current proposal, "the city (Yakima) still needs a more coordinated and comprehensive downtown plan My advice (Mr Bruning continues) Think about the place around it " The Yakima Herald reports, "But while Bruning supports the plaza, he also stressed to city officials the importance of free and available parking " INN -ost of us who are in favor, against, or on the fence of the current downtown plaza have an honorable objective- to care for and nurture Yakima Lets give it our best shot at bringing downtown back with improved business potential with enhanced ambience and activity Many believe a revised proposal that incorporates a parking structure and provides an aesthetically pleasing event area can get done And will help facilitate a much - needed rejuvenation of downtown Yakima I urge you to consider an alternate plan that is a win for all of Yakima Sincerely, March 25, 2015 Yakima Valley Tourism 10 North 81° street Yakima, WA 98901 T 509 - 575 -3010 F- 509 - 575 -6252 800 -221 -0751 www.yakimavalleytoudsm.com Mayor Micah Cawley City Council City of Yakima 129 N 2nd Street Yakima, WA 98901 Honorable Mayor and Council On behalf of the Board of Yakima Valley Tourism, we are proud to endorse and support the Yakima Downtown Plaza and stand ready to assist with its development. We believe the plan has vision and is what the community needs to thrive and grow A vibrant downtown is not only important for our residents, but also the thousands of visitors who come to the region each year A healthy downtown is also important for the success of the Yakima Convention Center When selecting event venues, meeting planners seek a vibrant, thriving destination for their delegates. This Plaza will help us in our efforts to attract and serve conventions and groups while improving the quality of life for our residents Naturally there are many issues to work out. We believe those items are well addressed in the plan The consultants who have devised the Plaza have an extensive history and knowledge of what works for downtown redevelopment. We believe the Plaza is what Yakima needs to grow and succeed We hope you agree too and fully support the Plaza and keep it advancing through its process Sincerely, ennifer iiesner Chair of the Board Price, Cally From: Dorian Kensok <dorian k @me com> Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2016 4.27 PM To: City Council Cc: Dorian Kensok Subject: The Plaza is Not an Expense, it's an Investment in our City and our People, Literally Honorable City Council Members. First I want to say a big congratulations to the new council members Holly Cousens, Mayor Avma Gutierrez, Dulce Gutierrez and Carmen Mendez! I attended many events in support of all of you and I'm proud to have volunteered as well I look forward to seeing what an energized, progressive city council has in store for the city! I am writing today to express my support and hopefully change some minds about the Yakima Central Plaza. My reasons for supporting the plaza are many; to touch on them all would make for a very long letter so I will focus on two points economic benefit, and the health benefits to the people who live and work in proximity to the future plaza. Parks, plazas and recreational areas make a tremendous amount of money for communities in both direct monetary gain such as tourism and city revenue, as well as cost savings such as healthcare savings and pollution. The Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit that measures, analyzes, and forecast the benefits of parks and other natural lands, has analzyed various cities and identified six ways that public spaces and park contribute to a city economy in dollar value Property value Tourism Direct use Health Community cohesion Clean water and air As an example, by using conservative data gathering methods, they have concluded that San Fransico has recieved quantifiable economic benefits of nearly $1 billion annually Of course we are not San Francisco, far from it; however, it's not hard to see that even scaled down to our population and area, the ecomonic benefit to our community would be tremendous every year The other point I would like to make that is closer to my heart in why I wish for a vibrant public space in the heart of our city, and that is the. physical and mental health benefits that public green spaces bring to those in proximity to them According to Environmental Health Perspectives, ('a peer- reviewed journal of research for the study of interrelationships between the envirbnment and human health'), there is irrefutable evidence that `metro nature' areas provide both health (mental and physical) and economic benefits to citizens I hope you can read the entire study but below are some health benefit highlights • "Urban forest canopy proximate to households has been associated with higher infant birth weight (Dadvand et al 20 12) and green urban neighborhoods with reductions in elder mortality (Takano et al 2002) " • "Studies have found that nature is supportive in human performance situations as evidenced by improved workplace satisfaction (Kaplan 1993) and high school success." • "studies have shown how vegetation can contribute to reductions in domestic aggression and violent behaviors (Kuo and Sullivan 2001), assault, robbery, and burglary (Wolfe and Mennis 2012), and theft (Troy et al 2012) " • "In resurgent cities, cleaning up vacant lots, restoring parks, and creating community gardens are often markers of community recovery (Harnik 2010) These acts of civic ecology can lead to social engagement and cohesion, perhaps improving local social resilience (Krasny and "fidball 2012) " We look to our leaders to not just say `no we look to leaders who don't just see what is in front of them, but who have a vision of our future potential, we look to leaders to make it work in the face of controversy Please carefully consider the overwhelming positives that an investment into the Plaza will do for our community I respectfully urge those of you who are against the plaza to do your due diligience in investigating the true and real return on investment that our city will gain. To do otherwise is to fall short in your role as our city leaders. Thank you so much for your time, I appreciate it, and I look forward to seeing you all on March 8th! Warm regards, Dorian Kensok links. https: / /www.!pl. or:? /sites /default /files/ cloud. tpl. oriz/ pubs /ccpe- econvalueparks- rpt.pdf http. / /ehp.niehs.nih.aov/ 1408216/ http. / atunes.or /protecting- environment - benefits -p I .- outdoor space. , http. / /www.dec.ny, ,,ov /dots /lands forests pdf /openspaceprzs.pc f Dorian K Design I Tel. 206 383 5552 1 Fax 206 428 7150 1 www.coroflot_corn /dorian kensok Price, Cally From: Claudia Gonzalez <cllarios @aol com> Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2016 3 59 PM To: City Council Subject: Support of Yakima Plaza Support of Yakima Plaza I grew up in the Yakima Valley and this is the place I intend on raising my children and eventually retiring Many people only focus on the bad Yakima has to offer, I prefer to focus on the good and try to involve myself with what we can do to benefit this community My husband is an active member of Rotary and we have a strong desire to impact our community in a positive way We are casting our full support for the downtown plaza and encourage you to support this as well Let's continue to enhance our downtown area and make it a place people want to come to, not run away from Not only will this benefit our economic situation but it will be a place to bring our families and make memories for years to come I want to be able to show off our downtown area and give people a reason to want to visit Yakima and be proud of it! Bringing the plaza to downtown is just what Yakima desires and what it needs! Please support this and lets move forward and impact this community in a positive way! Thank you for taking the time to read this note Claudia Gonzalez Price, Cally From: berno gonzalez <bernog @hotmail com> Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2016 2.25 PM To: City Council Subject: Yakima Central Plaza To Whom This May Concern am writing to you today so that I can voice my onion about the Central Plaza I grew up in the Yakima valley for the past 38 years ( With a short time away in Portland ) I have seen many changes to our community It's truly great to see how Yakima has changed My wife and 1 year old baby girl are honored to call Yakima home We both volunteer through the community and are involved with Rotary With help from company's ( like the one I work for ) we can make Yakima a dream place to Live, Work and raise a family The Central Plaza would be a great addition to Yakima We need to get 110% behind this project We need more business and community leaders to help see this project through Yakima needs this and our community needs this! The question is Why not ?? really appreciate you taking your time to read this and consider the Central Plaza Thank You Berno Gonzalez Price, Cally From: Dirk Bernd <dirk @erickey com> Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2016 2.23 PM To: City Council Subject: improve our downtown, pro - plaza, yes please Thank you for what you do for this community I want to share my support for the Central Plaza The City itself and us the tax payers have spent, a good amount of time and money to get to the point of where we are today So far to date we have over 4 75million in private donations and let me add, huge support not just from one or two families but multiple families. This is an tipping point, not just for the city of Yakima, but for our entire Valley The City is a gathering point and with the amount of support these families showing, I feel will just cause more families with the means to support future projects This is the tip of the ice -berg, our city needs to re- invest in itself These private and tax dollars being spent are actually monies that we can see, and use I understand we need roads and police, but so many of my tax dollars get spent in ways I don't see or use I want to see this plaza be built and have a great center piece to the valley to attract new faces and bring back people that grew up here The downtown has made tremendous strides over the last 7 -10 years. This will create more investment by the private sector, to occupy vacant buildings, attract more wineries down town, more breweries, more retail Don't stop this momentum, please keep it rolling this community and valley need this project. Please represent me and vote to support this plaza and invest our city funds in this project Thank you for your time Dirk Bernd tl Lcn!onard Rick http . / /www.Ip1.com /leonard.rickey http. / /www.erickey.com a] t ), Leonard Rickey Investment Advisors, P L.L.0 3908 Creekside Loop Suite 100 Yakima, WA 98901 (509) 972 3686 295 Bradley Blvd Suite 201 Richland, WA 99352 (509) 943 0200 6501 Perimeter Road South Seattle, WA 98108 (425) 644 7877 Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA /SIPC Investment advice offered through Leonard Rickev Investment Advisors, PLLC, a registered investment advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial Caution Electronic mail sent through the internet is not secure and can be intercepted by a third party For your protection, Leonard Rickey Investment Advisors, P L L C sends all personal identifying information through a secure server Any replies to Leonard Rickey Investment Advisor, P L.L C 's electronic mail Is unsecure and may be intercepted by a third party Do not reply to or send electronic mail that contains personal Identifying information, such as account numbers, social security numbers, card numbers, etc Further, do not send time - sensitive, action oriented messages, such as transaction orders, fund transfer instructions, or check stop payments as it is our policy not to accept such items electronically The information contained in this e -mail message is being transmitted to and is intended for the use of only the individual(s) to whom it is addressed If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby advised that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please immediately delete Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA /SIPC investment advice offered through Leonard Ricke) Investment Advisors. PLLC a registered investment advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial Caution. Electronic mail sent through the internet is not secure and can be intercepted by a third part) For your protection, Leonard Rickey Investment Advisors, P L L C sends all personal idenuf},ing information through a secure server Any replies to Leonard Rickey Investment Advisor P L L C s electronic mail is unsecure and mad be intercepted by a third party Do not reply to or send electronic mail that contains personal identifi,mg information, such as account numbers, social security numbers, card numbers, etc Further do not send time- sensitive, action oriented messages, such as transaction orders, fund transfer instructions, or check stop payments as it is our policy not to accept such items electronically The information contained in this e -mail message is being transmitted to and is intended for the use of only the individual(s) to whom it is addressed. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient. you are hereby advised that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this message is strictly prohibited If you have received this message in error please immediately delete Price, Cally From: Sandi <sandibelzer @charter net> Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2016 9.15 AM To: City Council Subject: Plaza(s) Dear Council, I would like to strongly urge you to consider the alternative plaza plan Two major flaws in the original plan are a lack of parking and the water attraction that I see as a homeless magnet The prior council not only took the promised advisory vote from the people, they also cancelled the study session for the proposed alternative plaza That is an egregious disservice to the citizens You have the opportunity to right these wrongs The two cities that have been showcased as major plaza successes both have public parking garages adjacent or very near their plazas This vital information was not shared during past plaza presentations This begs the question, "Why not ?" Surveys ask if people would walk a few blocks to an event. This is a bit disingenuous They should also ask how far people will walk to enjoy a meal out or while carrying purchases. Another deceptive move by planners was the counting of privately owned parking as available to the public If the plan is so great and well thought out, why is this deception necessary? The alternative plan includes a public garage Yakima cannot afford to lose prime public. parking Please schedule the before promised study session for this plan and give the citizens a choice Thank you, Sandi Belzer Sent from my iPhone 1 Distributed at the Meeting 3-1-1j'— Memorandum February 16, 2016 To City Council Member Kathy Coffey From Brett Sheffield, Chief Engineer Subject. Sidewalk on 16th Avenue Thank you for your interest in construction of sidewalks on 16th Avenue The stretches of 16th Avenue that do not have sidewalk include • River Road to Hathaway Street (600 feet north of Fruitvale Boulevard) on the east side of 16th Avenue • River Road to `J' Street on the west side of 1611 Avenue • Hathaway Street to Garfield Avenue (300 feet north of Lincoln Avenue) on the west side of 1611 Avenue • Nob Hill Boulevard to Washington Avenue on the west side of 1611 Avenue In order for a location to be eligible to receive "Safe Routes to School" funding, it needs to be in close proximity to a school Several schools include 16th Avenue on their "recommended walking routes " These areas stretch from Lincoln Avenue to Washington Avenue Therefore, the missing sections of sidewalk between Nob Hill and Washington on the west side of 16th Avenue are eligible for "Safe Routes to School" funding On January 20, 2016, 1 met with Carl Easter and Shirley Jenkins of the Yakima School District, Shawn Conrad of the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments, and Sheryl DiPietro of the Department of Health to strategize for the upcoming "Safe Routes to School" funding application (notice of the funding was received the following day, January 21St) Last year, the City of Yakima was successful in receiving two "Safe Routes to School" grants — one for the area around Garfield Elementary and one for the area around Adams Elementary and Washington Middle School During the meeting, Shirley stated that the staff at McKinley Elementary and the staff at Nob Hill Elementary have expressed interest in applying for a grant during this call for projects Although the City can only apply for these grants, cooperation and help from the schools is required I believe that McKinley Elementary is looking at help in locations closer to the school, however, the missing section of sidewalk on the west side of the road between Nob Hill and Washington is within their "recommended walking route " When we meet with them, I will suggest that this section of sidewalk be included in the application for their school