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, Bill Flory, Pam Horner, Jan McDonald, Javier Rodriguez and Joan Souders. Councilmember Robert Morales was absent.

Staff present were: City Administrator Scott Staples, City Attorney Jack Maxwell, City Clerk Anita Palacios and Parks & Recreation Director Mike Carpenter.

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Parks & Recreation Director Mike Carpenter led the pledge of allegiance.

3. PRESENTATIONS - None

4. PUBLIC COMMENT - None

5. CONSENT AGENDA

A. Minutes of the September 18, 2006 study session

B. Minutes of the September 18, 2006 regular meeting

C. Claim Warrant Nos. 76942-77025 in the amount of $76,422.04

D. Payroll Warrant Nos. 41535-41629 in the amount of $142,980.06 for September 30, 2006

E. Chamber of Commerce Street Closure Request - Approved street closure for the 100 block of Division Street on October 27 & 28, 2006 for the Chamber of Commerces Haunted House

6. ACTIVE AGENDA

A. Beautification Commission Recommendation: September 21, 2006; Reviewed recommendation to approve revised list of approved street tree varieties

In 1987, Grandview Municipal Code (GMC) Chapter 12.14 was approved which deals with rules and regulations pertaining to street trees and their planting, maintenance and care. Per GMC Chapter 12.14.050, no varieties other than those approved by the Beautification Commission may be planted as street trees. Late this summer, staff visited local nurseries to gain insight on different varieties of street trees that would boost character, color and overall beauty of the Citys street tree program. Careful consideration was given to ease of maintenance, disease resistance, drought conditions, and color displayed during the growing season. All of the proposed varieties are currently available at Gannons Nurseries in Mabton for $35 per caliper inch. There would be some replacement plantings that would be required as early as October 2006.

The Planning Commission met on September 21, 2006 and reviewed the street tree recommendation/report compiled by staff. As per GMC Chapter 12.14, the Commission recommended that the following street trees be incorporated into the master tree plan as it pertains to street tree plantings: Autumn Blaze Maple, Sparticus White Ash, Cimmaron Green Ash, Shademaster Honey Locust, Spring Snow Crabapple, Chanticleer Flowering Pear, and Greenspire Little Leaf Linden.

On motion by Councilmember Souders, second by Councilmember McDonald, Council unanimously accepted the Planning Commission recommendation to incorporate the following street trees into the master tree plan as it pertains to street plantings: Autumn Blaze Maple, Sparticus White Ash, Cimmaron Green Ash, Shademaster Honey Locust, Spring Snow Crabapple, Chanticleer Flowering Pear, and Greenspire Little Leaf Linden.

B. Downtown Revitalization

Reviewed recommendations related to Community Development Block Grant funding for improvements

Charmaine Stouder, Principal of Pathways to Community, was hired to assist the City in preparing a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application for funding to complete downtown revitalization improvements. She was a former employee of the State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development CDBG program. In a letter dated September 25, 2006, Ms. Stouder made recommendations as to the use of CDBG funding for downtown improvements. She explained that the downtown improvements have been identified through several processes as being highly desired to improve appearance and to stimulate new investment in the downtown. The proposed project would consist of street, water and sewer connections and sidewalk improvements. CDBG funds might also be used to stimulate facade improvements through a low interest revolving loan fund. Much effort has been invested by residents, businesses and the City in determining business and City priorities.

She recommended that the City submit an application to the CDBG Planning Only Grant Program this spring. She believed this would be a better approach than submitting a General Purchase Grant application this fall for the following reasons:

General Purchase Grants were extremely competitive and a Planning Only Grant would help the City become ready to proceed. The downtowns appearance would be decided, including width and composition of sidewalks, appearance of street lighting, direction of traffic, type and location of street trees, number of water and sewer side services, etc.

The City would be moving forward on previously developed goals and preliminary plans, adding the details needed before the project could be fully designed and implemented.

The Planning Only Grant would enable the City to work with local businesses and building owners to reach agreement on the downtown streetscape. The University of Washington has been approached to make use of staff and resources to visualize and complement downtown revitalization planning.

Through the planning process, appropriate funding sources would be identified for various project components enabling the City to leverage its funds to the greatest degree enhancing the projects competitiveness and readiness to proceed.

The Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) program manager expects to begin receiving Planning Only Grant pre-applications in February 2007. When the pre-application was submitted, it would be reviewed by CTED staff who determine if the project was fundable. If it was, an invitation to submit a final application would be issued and an application must be submitted within 60 days of the invitation. The maximum grant amount would be $24,000.

City Administrator Staples informed the Council that he has met with Bryce Humphreys from YVCC Grandview Campus and Robert Ozuna from the University of Washington to discuss a potential HSIAC (Hispanic Serving Institutions And Colleges) grant for a business resource center to be located downtown. If it was determined to be achievable, a grant application would be submitted in early 2007.

City Administrator Staples also advised that he has been in contact with Jim Nicholls from the University of Washington College of Architecture and Urban Planning, who operates the UW Storefront Studio program. The Storefront Studio would be a unique partnership between the UWs College of Architecture and Urban Planning and the City. Over a six-week period, architectural students working at the Storefront Studio would assist local business and property owners with improving individual storefronts, beautifying their streetscape, and creating new concepts for how downtown Grandview could look, feel, and function. The goal would be to identify the assets of the downtown district and to develop design proposals and guidelines to assist the community in preserving and developing the unique character of downtown Grandview.

7. COUNCIL MEMBER MEETING REPORTS

DRYVE Committee Meeting - Councilmember Souders attended the first meeting of the transit subcommittee for DRYVE (Driving Rural Yakima Valleys Economy) held on September 27^th. The meeting was the first discussion of possible options for transit service in the Lower Valley.

Soap Box Derby - Councilmember Bill Flory brought home the first place trophies at the Grandview Soap Box Derby held on September 9^th and the Sunnyside Soap Box Derby on September 16^th.

Grandview Grape Stomp - The Grandview Grape Stomp, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, took place on September 23^rd in downtown Grandview. Elizabeth Alba was commended for her efforts in organizing the successful event.

AWC Regional Meeting - Mayor Childress, Councilmember Morales, Councilmember Souders and City Administrator Staples will be attending the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Regional Meeting on October 11^th at the Yakima Convention Center.

8. UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS -

Gang Information Forum - The School District would be holding a gang awareness informational forum for parents on October 25^th, 6:30 p.m. at the Middle School.

City/College Joint Library Facility - Mayor Childress advised that Dr. Linda Kaminski, President of YVCC, and Bryce Humphreys, Dean of the YVCC Grandview Campus would be interested in pursuing discussions with the City on the concept of a joint library facility operated by City and college staff. Council concurred.

9. EXECUTIVE SESSION - Collective Bargaining and Sale of Real Estate

Mayor Childress adjourned the meeting to an executive session at 8:05 p.m., for approximately 60 minutes to discuss collective bargaining and 30 minutes to discuss sale of real estate with the aforementioned Mayor, Councilmembers, City Attorney and City Administrator present. The meeting resumed at 9:40 p.m., with the aforementioned Mayor, Council and staff present.