Mayor Norm Childress called the study session to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

Present were: Mayor Norm Childress and Councilmembers Helen Darr, Pam Horner, Robert Morales, Javier Rodriguez and Joan Souders. Absent were Councilmembers Bill Flory and Jan McDonald.

Staff present were: City Administrator Scott D. Staples, City Attorney Jack Maxwell, Police Chief David Charvet and City Clerk Anita Palacios.

Present on behalf of the School District were: School Board Member Karen Veloz, Superintendent Kevin Chase and Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Brad Shreeve.

2. JOINT MEETING WITH SCHOOL BOARD

School Resource Officer Direction and Funding

The School Board and Council discussed and agreed to a 50/50 split on salaries and benefits to place a School Resource Officer at the middle school for a three year period beginning January 2007.

Gang Dialogue Strategy and Actions

The City and School District staff have previously met on two occasions to discuss gang dialogue strategy and actions. They were in the process of developing a gang action plan that includes prevention, intervention and suppression that would be presented to the City Council and School Board once complete. The group would also be developing an asset/resource inventory. Other representatives at these meetings have included the Grandview Ministerial Association, ESD-105 and the Yakima County Sheriffs Department. In addition, the Police Department, School District administration at the middle school and high school, and a Yakima County Probation Officer have been meeting on a weekly basis to discuss gang activity and juvenile crime in the community.

With respect to prevention, the School District and Police Department would be partnering to present gang awareness training in both English and Spanish at parent information nights within the schools.

With respect to intervention, the School District was reviewing alternative schooling opportunities. Superintendent Chase has met with YVCC to discuss options available for students to obtain their GED. Another option would be for the School District to offer a contract learning type school, similar to Compass, that would be available for students in the evening.

Discussion included ways to manage and be proactive with the Friday early release program which included after-school recreational programming. School District staff and the City Recreation staff have met to compile a list of activities offered in the school and community. They would be developing an English/Spanish informational flyer that would be sent home with each student and also placed on the Citys and School Districts websites in order to communicate to parents what activities were available for the youth after-school. It would require a multi-level approach to identify the activities that the students were interested in, then find the people that would supply them and then educate the parents what activities were available. Superintendent Chase offered to open up the school classrooms and gymnasiums to provide facilities for after-school recreational services.

The Police Department was requested to begin tracking the number of juvenile incidents occurring after school.

Community Center Direction

Mayor Childress explained that the City was exploring additional uses of the senior center. YVCC would like to utilize the senior center to offer drama classes for their college students. If the class was not full, they would allow senior citizens to audit the class for a nominal fee. The drama class would put plays on for the senior citizens for free. There could also be a possible partnership with the high school drama class. With the renovation of the old Safeway building for the viticulture and allied health center, YVCC would be extending high speed fiber optics to the building and have offered to run a line to the senior center for a computer lab to be utilized by senior citizens and/or college students. Another use being proposed by YVCC would be fitness classes.

The School District and City Recreation staff would meet to discuss other possible uses of the senior center as a community center to include after-school programming.

Leadership Grandview Development

City Administrator Staples explained that a number of communities offer leadership development programs. These programs involve a number of community resources to teach people who are working in the community on how to be leaders and take leadership positions in their community. Topics of discussion would include economic development, agriculture, local government, education, etc. Staff was in the process of gathering examples of these types of programs from other communities.

Joint Facility Use

It was noted that the City and School District had previously entered into a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2005 which provided for the cooperative use of facilities, equipment and personnel.

3. ADJOURNMENT

The study session was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.

GRANDVIEW CITY COUNCIL

Mayor Norm Childress called the regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

Present were: Mayor Norm Childress and Councilmembers Helen Darr, Pam Horner, Robert Morales, Javier Rodriguez and Joan Souders. Councilmembers Bill Flory and Jan McDonald were absent.

Staff present were: City Administrator Scott Staples, City Attorney Jack Maxwell and City Clerk Anita Palacios.

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Rick McLean led the pledge of allegiance.

3. PRESENTATIONS

Mayor Childress presented former Councilmember Rick McLean with the Distinguished Service Award in recognition and appreciation of his loyal service and dedication to the citizens of Grandview (July 15, 2002 - June 5, 2006).

B. September Homes of the Month & Beautification Award

Mayor Childress presented the September Homes of the Month Certificates of Appreciation to the following: Clyde & Norma Morris, 1100 South Euclid #65; Clarence & Maria Roosendaal, 600 Broadway; Armando & Maria Ramirez, 902 West Fourth Street; Jose & Marcela Hernandez, 500 Ensio Court; and Scott & Leasa Simard, 302 East Fourth Street. Karens Floral located at 802 West Wine Country Road received the September Beautification Award.

4. PUBLIC COMMENT

Gaylene Tucker, Co-Chair of the Grandview Parade, thanked the Mayor, Councilmembers and staff for their support and participation with the community parade.

Mary Barrett, 301 Douglas, Grandview, expressed concern with a pine tree on private property located at the intersection of Avenue J and West Second Street which impedes visibility with traffic flow. She requested that the City contact the property owner and have the tree trimmed.

5. CONSENT AGENDA

A. Minutes of the September 5, 2006 regular meeting

B. Claim Warrant Nos. 76840-76941 in the amount of $234,783.13

C. Payroll Warrant Nos. 41444-41534 in the amount of $213,770.86 for September 15, 2006

6. ACTIVE AGENDA

A. Planning Commission Appointment - Brad Shreeve

In April 2005, Council agreed to invite the School District to appoint a non-voting ad hoc member to the Planning Commission for liaison and information purposes. When a future vacancy on the Planning Commission occurred, the Council would appoint the ad hoc School District appointee as a commissioner to that vacant position. With the resignation of Jan McDonald from the Planning Commission, Mayor Childress recommended Brad Shreeve, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations, be appointed to the Planning Commission.

On motion by Councilmember Darr, second by Councilmember Morales Council unanimously confirmed the appointment of Brad Shreeve to the Planning Commission as recommended by the Mayor.

B. City Administrator Update

Railroad Crossing Improvements - The railroad crossing improvement on Euclid was finished last month, the North Birch Street railroad crossing improvement was finished last week, and the Elm Street railroad crossing improvement was expected to be completed by end of the month.

Downtown City-Owned Buildings - The deadline for submission of requests for proposals (RFP) to lease and/or purchase the two downtown buildings owned by the City was August 30^th. One proposal was received for the lease and/or purchase of 146 Division and one proposal was received for the purchase of 150 Division. Appraisals were being conducted by Steve Korn on both properties which were expected to be received by next week.

2007 Preliminary Budget - The proposed 2007 budgets were submitted by Department Directors last month. The initial reviews began last week and a second review would take place before submission to Council in the next 30 days. A format change has been made to the program statement and would consist of an expanded version to include staffing levels, overview of ongoing and present activities, notable changes in 2007, revenue generated, equipment and vehicles assigned, etc. A budget summary would also be prepared covering a 24 month period and consisting of the projected revenue and expenses in each fund.

YVCOG General Membership Meeting - The Yakima Valley Conference of Governments (YVCOG) General Membership meeting will be held on September 20^th in Yakima.

AWC Regional Meeting - The Association of Washington Cities (AWC) will be hosting their regional meetings on October 11^th at the Yakima Convention Center.

YVCC Business Workshops - A series of six "Bettering Your Business" workshops hosted by the Yakima Valley Community College, Grandview Chamber of Commerce, Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce and Prosser Chamber of Commence will be held at the Grandview Campus starting October 11.

Council Targets -

Maintenance and Consolidation Study and Direction Public Works Director and Parks & Recreation Director were preparing a report regarding maintenance consolidation for Council consideration in October.

Code Enforcement Compliance & Nuisance Ordinance Review Currently gathering input and data from Department Directors to prepare a summary report with recommended changes for Council consideration to improve the quality of life in the community.

Community Center Direction The Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development has confirmed that the Community Development Block Grant the City was awarded to construct the Senior Center has no restrictions on utilizing the building for activities other than for senior citizens. The City Attorney also reviewed the grant documents and agreed that programming at the facility could be expanded. The Mayor and Parks & Recreation Director met with the Senior Advisory Board who were supportive of the effort. The Recreation staff would be meeting with community groups and the School District to identify other potential programming and uses for the facility.

Parks Restroom Replacement Plan and Funding Staff was developing a list of priorities in terms of needs and costs. This item was not planned for the 2007 budget discussions. Council should expect a report in February 2007.

Merger of Water Rights City Engineer Jeff Louman was in the process of working on an application for submission to the Yakima County Conservancy Board for review. The application would then be submitted to the Department of Ecology for approval. The goal would be to merge the Citys individual water rights into one aggregated water right which placed the City in a stronger position for the future.

Rental Property Registration Staff was reviewing examples of rental property registration programs received from three other cities and would be preparing a report for Council consideration in November.

Municipal Court Evaluation and Direction Staff has been meeting with individuals as it relates to the court costs to develop different cost scenarios if the City considers consolidation with the District Court. Also met with the County Prosecutor and the City Prosecutor to review the cost of local prosecutor versus prosecution by the County. The proposal should be compiled for Council review in October to determine how to proceed.

7. COUNCIL MEMBER MEETING REPORTS

Grandview Grape Stomp - The Grandview Grape Stomp, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, will take place on Saturday, September 23^rd in downtown Grandview.

Community Awards Banquet - The Community Awards Banquet, co-sponsored by the City and Chamber, has been scheduled for Thursday, November 16^th.

Soap Box Derby - Councilmember Bill Flory once again won the Celebrity Challenge at the annual Grandview Soap Box Derby held on September 9^th.

United Way Day of Caring - Employees of the Wal-Mart Distribution Center, along with the Parks and Recreation staff were commended for their participation in the United Way Day of Caring held at the Senior Center on September 6^th.

8. UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS - None