Yakima City Council to formalize Beauchamp plans

Aug. 14--The Yakima City Council is expected Tuesday to approve a resolution renaming the Southeast Yakima Community Center for longtime community leader Henry Beauchamp.

Beauchamp, who died three years ago, served on the City Council and was known for his work to support the poor and marginalized. Beauchamp helped start the community center in the late 1960s.

Earlier this month, the council voted 6-0 to rename the center.

The resolution before the council Tuesday will formalize that plan. The measure will also set Nov. 9, Beauchamp's birthday, as the date to dedicate the center in his honor and will provide up to $1,000 for related expenses.

In other action, the council will:

-- Hear a staff update on efforts to manage the homeless population in the city.

The city recently authorized camping for homeless residents in a lot across from the Law and Justice Center on South Third Street.

The council's public safety committee has discussed other possible locations, but the staff report pointed out challenges with each of those.

The report suggests it may be best to leave the Third Street camp in place until cold-weather shelters open for the winter.

-- Receive an update on funding for the proposed downtown plaza.

In July, the council approved a plan that would commit the city to $3 million of the plaza's projected $12 million cost. About $5 million of the remaining $9 million has been pledged from other sources.

The council will need to discuss whether to purchase bonds to start the project before all the money is in hand, partly to prevent any increase in construction costs from adding to the project's price tag.

-- Hear a report from the council's nominating committee on appointing a city representative to the board of the Yakima Housing Authority.

The council delayed making an appointment after a board attorney raised concerns that the board was not able to offer input on the application of Luz Bazan Gutierrez, who is Mayor Avina Gutierrez's mother.

-- Vote to approve a $225,000 settlement with former employee Ryan Anderson, who filed a federal lawsuit in 2015 against the city, former City Manager Tony O'Rourke and former utilities/engineering manager Debbie Cook.

Anderson alleged that he resigned after the city failed to accommodate his disability related to Cook's handling of a wastewater superintendent hire.

The city will reimburse its insurer about $31,000; the remainder of the settlement will be paid by the insurance company and its reinsurer.

The council meeting, held in City Hall at 129 N. Second Ave., starts at 5 p.m. with an executive session to discuss unspecified litigation and the performance of a public official, typically the city manager. The regular business meeting starts at 6 p.m.

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