Union Gap widens search for entity to provide fire services

Nov. 27--UNION GAP, Wash. -- The Union Gap City Council has authorized its city manager to explore opportunities for contracting out fire services to the city of Yakima as well as any other interested entities.

The proposal to pay another entity to provide fire services had originally only included exploring options with Yakima. But Mayor Roger Wentz said the council expanded it to allow City Manager Rod Otterness to look at a broader scope of options.

The council has also approved six-month severance packages Monday for former fire Chief Chris Jensen and City Clerk Sylvia Sanchez, whose positions were eliminated earlier this month.

Both positions were cut Nov. 1 as part of a government restructuring carried out by the city manager to meet a projected 2014 budget deficit of more than $300,000. Jensen will be paid $40,344, plus insurance benefits, over that period, while Sanchez will also get benefits and severance pay of $38,106.

Sanchez turned down an offer for a city job with a more limited role and pay scale, Wentz said.

"The position she was offered would have had no managerial duties and would have included a significant reduction in pay," he said.

As part of their severance packages, Jensen and Sanchez agreed to testify "or otherwise participate" in pending or future litigation against the city should they be called as witnesses. Wentz said there's potential for both to be called as witnesses in a lawsuit former City Clerk Kathryn Thompson has pending against former Mayor Jim Lemon and the city.

Jensen's position was eliminated as part of a consolidation of management over the fire and police departments.

Former interim police Chief Greg Cobb is currently managing both departments as the city's acting director of public safety.

Also Monday, the city held another public hearing on its proposed budget for next year. The city is looking at a preliminary general fund budget of $6.8 million -- about $120,000 less than was approved for this year.

Total projected revenues for next year are $24.5 million, with much of that allocated to various capital, department and utilities budgets.

Overall revenue is up about $4 million over 2013, but much of that extra money comes from grants dedicated to specific projects, such as the city's downtown revitalization plan.

The council has called a special session for Monday to discuss the proposal, and expects to take a vote on the 2014 general budget at its regular meeting Dec. 9.

___

(c)2013 Yakima Herald-Republic (Yakima, Wash.)

Visit Yakima Herald-Republic (Yakima, Wash.) at www.yakima-herald.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services