1. CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Norm Childress called the study session to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

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

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

2. ANIMAL SHELTER PROJECT

City Administrator Staples explained that at the January 16, 2007 study session, the Council directed staff to develop recommendations related to a new animal shelter.

A committee of individuals was brought together to examine issues related to location, design, specifications, and funding strategies. That committee included Mayor Pro Tem Horner, Allison Grow, Sandy Childress, Chief Charvet, Animal Control Officer Nedrow, Public Works Director Arteaga and me. The committee also received valuable technical assistance from John Flodin, President of Columbia River Steel and Construction, Inc.

After four (4) meetings of the committee, a consensus was reached on the ideal location, a building design was completed, project specifications were prepared, and a recommended funding strategy was developed.

Recommendations:

· Location – The facility should be placed on City property south of the Public Works building.

· Design – The facility would be 40’ x 56’ in size. A copy of the proposed design was presented.

· Funding – The estimated cost of the facility was $150,000. The expectation was that one or more potential bidders would provide supplies, materials and equipment to the City at cost, and that would be reflected in the bid prices. The recommended financing strategy was a five (5) year inter-fund loan from the Equipment Rental Fund to the Current Expense Fund. Debt service payments would be split 50/50 from the Capital Improvement Fund and Current Expense Fund. A copy of the debt service schedule prepared by the City Treasurer was presented.

· Potential Partnership – City Administrator Staples met with Mr. Allan Landvoy, Executive Director of the Central Washington Humane Society to discuss the project and any potential for service partnerships. The Humane Society currently has a contract with the City of Sunnyside and transports animals back to the Humane Society facility in Yakima. Mr. Landvoy was very positive about the potential Grandview facility and expressed an interest in exploring opportunities further.

If the City moved forward on this project, it would be a public works construction project and would require sealed bids. It was estimated that the facility could be constructed in ninety (90) days.

Council provided the following suggestions regarding the design of the facility:

· provide ample ventilation;

· incorporate an interior window in the lobby area to view the holding pens; and

· install electronic skylights that could be opened and closed for increased ventilation.

Following review and discussion, Council agreed to proceed and instructed staff to prepare bid documents for advertisement.

3. GANG ORDINANCE UPDATE

Present for the discussion was Yakima County Prosecutor Ron Zirkle.

City Administrator Staples explained that last week a meeting was held with the Mayor, Police Chief, Assistant Chief, School District Superintendent, Yakima County Prosecutor and himself to discuss the gang ordinance adopted by the City of Sunnyside, which makes being a member of a criminal street gang a gross misdemeanor. This was the first law of its kind in the State of Washington. Prior to the meeting, the County Prosecutor’s staff conducted a side-by-side comparison of Sunnyside’s gang ordinance with existing State law to compare the behavior the Sunnyside ordinance proposed to be regulated. The consensus of the group was that the gang issue could be successfully prosecuted in Grandview if the City would tighten up existing City codes relating to gang-like behavior such as harassment, intimidation and loitering rather than having to prove gang membership.

County Prosecutor Zirkle noted that a juvenile offender could not be sentenced to more than 30 days for a gross misdemeanor. He explained that the State legislature controls juvenile court sentencing.

City Administrator Staples explained that Grandview Municipal Code Title 9 was currently under review by staff, which included the City’s criminal codes that deal with harassment, intimidation and loitering, as well as disorderly conduct, curfews and parental responsibility.

County Prosecutor Zirkle offered his staff’s assistance to the City in updating of its criminal codes.

Throughout the discussion, Councilmembers stressed the importance for the City to adopt an ordinance similar to Sunnyside’s gang ordinance in order to provide law enforcement with a tool to help fight the gang problems occurring in our community.

Following discussion, Council agreed to proceed with updating the city’s criminal codes and instructed the City Attorney to work with the County Prosecutor’s office in preparation of the ordinances for consideration within the next 60 days.

In conclusion, Mayor Childress commended the City of Sunnyside for leading the battle with the growing gang problems in the Lower Valley and indicated staff would use Sunnyside’s ordinance as a spring board for development of an ordinance for Grandview.

4. ADJOURNMENT

The study session adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

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Mayor Norm Childress Anita Palacios, City Clerk