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Water service repairs will disrupt traffic in the eastbound lanes of a portion of Nob Hill Boulevard on Monday, January 26^th. The work will begin at 7:00 am and should be completed by 3:30 pm.

The eastbound lanes of Nob Hill Boulevard between South 8^th Street and South Fair Avenue will be restricted while the project is underway. Traffic will channelized through construction zone.

Because of heavy traffic volume, drivers can expect delays in the project area. Drivers should use alternate routes if possible until the work is completed.

Access to homes and businesses in the project area will be maintained as best as possible and emergency vehicles will be allowed through the project area.

As always, the schedule for this type of project is subject to change daily dependent on weather, equipment failure, and emergencies.

For more information about the project, contact Water Distribution Supervisor, Emilio Lopez at 575-6196.

East Nob Hill Water Service Repairs – News Release

P.O.W. Contracting, Inc., a Pasco-based construction firm, is the primary contractor for an approximately $980,000 project that will improve the irrigation system in several neighborhoods in Yakima. Work on the West Yakima Irrigation System Phase 2 Improvements project will continue in the coming weeks and is expected to be completed by the start of the 2015 irrigation season this spring.

During the week of January 26^th, 2015, the contractor will continue trench installation of new 6-inch PVC irrigation main along the north side of Summitview between 24^th Avenue and 20^th Avenue.

The project will improve the irrigation water delivery system in neighborhoods between Summitview Avenue to the south, Lincoln Avenue to the north, 21^st Avenue to the east, and 37^th Avenue to the west.

As part of the project, approximately 5,130 linear feet of new 3-inch and 4-inch high-density polyethylene (“HDPE”) pipe and approximately 7,390 linear feet of new 3-inch to 12-inch polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”) pipe will be installed. More than 200 new irrigation service connections will also be completed as part of the project.

While the project is underway, construction equipment such as backhoes and dump trucks will be used. Traffic control devices will be used in the areas of construction and traffic will be routed around project areas.  Travel will periodically be restricted to one lane in each direction on Summitview Avenue through the project area. Although access may be temporarily restricted in the immediate areas of construction, access to homes in the project area will be maintained as best as possible.

Funding for the project is provided from the City’s Irrigation Capital Improvement budget.

For more information about the project, contact Water/Irrigation Engineer Mike Shane at 576-6480.

Irrigation Improvement Project Update – News Release

About two years ago, the City of Yakima began to more actively enforce its existing sign regulations. In the wake of the stepped up enforcement efforts, some local business owners complained to the City that the sign code was being imposed too strictly and that some of its elements were overly burdensome.

In August 2014, the Yakima City Council and the Yakima Planning Commission held a joint study session to discuss sign code issues. As a result of the study session, the Council and Commission decided to undertake a public process to review the existing sign code to determine if any amendments to the code should be made. The public process included an online community survey, preliminary discussion by the Planning Commission, environmental review, and additional public comment.

Draft amendments have now been developed that would better define terms in the City’s sign code and provide greater clarity to both business owners and code enforcement officers. The Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing on the draft amendments during its regular business meeting on Wednesday, January 28^th at 3:30 pm in the Council Chambers at Yakima City Hall. Anyone wanting to provide input about the draft amendments is invited to attend the hearing.

To see the draft amendments, click on the following link – http://bit.ly/1AP1XhZ.

Following the January 28^th public hearing, the Planning Commission will make a formal recommendation to the City Council regarding proposed amendments to the City’s sign code. The Council will consider the proposed amendments at an upcoming business meeting, which will also include another opportunity for public input.

To find out more about the proposed City sign code amendments, contact Supervising Planner Jeff Peters by phone (575-6163) or by e-mail (jeff.peters@yakimawa.gov).

Public Hearing re Proposed Sign Regulations – News Release

The Yakima City Council held its most recent regular agenda business meeting on Tuesday, January 20^th, 2015.

Action taken by the Council on January 20^th included:

–    Approval of a land exchange for Cascade Mill Parkway roundabout

–    Amending the six-year transportation improvement program

–    Approval of an agreement with Southwest Yakima Rotary for a new observation deck at Randall Park

–    Authorizing participation in the Washington Department of Corrections work crew program

–    Amending the City of Yakima dangerous dog ordinance

Follow this link to watch Y-PAC coverage of the January 20^th Yakima City Council meeting – http://bit.ly/1CcECv6

Yakima City Council regular agenda business meetings air live on Charter Cable channel 194 and are replayed at 7:00 pm the following night. The meetings are shown again at 9:00 am on the following Saturday and Sunday and are also available on the City of Yakima website – http://www.yakimawa.gov/.

A project to upgrade traffic signals at about two dozen intersections throughout Yakima in order to improve driver and pedestrian safety will be going on from now until late February. The traffic signal upgrade is part of a citywide traffic safety improvement project that began last year.

The latest phase of the project involves replacing older 8-inch-diameter traffic signal heads with modern, state-of-the-art 12-inch-diameter heads. Signals at intersections included in the project will be turned off between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm during the days when traffic signal heads are being replaced. Traffic at those intersections will be directed by Yakima police officers while the work is underway.

Click on the”Traffic Signal Replacement Project – Involved Intersections List” link  below to see a list of the intersections included in the project and the dates that signals at each intersection will be replaced.

The first phase of the citywide traffic safety improvement project included installing ramps at intersections along 16^th Avenue between Nob Hill Boulevard and River Road that comply with standards established by the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). The total cost of the safety project, including installation of the ADA ramps and replacement of traffic signal heads, will be approximately $400,000 and is being completely covered by a federal grant.

During the traffic signal replacement project, traffic delays in the areas near the involved intersections may occur. Drivers should use alternate routes if possible until the project is completed.

As always, the schedule for this type of a project is subject to change daily dependent on weather, equipment failure, and emergencies.

For additional information about this project, contact Construction Supervisor Bruce Floyd at 575-6138.

Traffic Signal Replacement Project – Involved Intersections List

The Yakima City Council holds its next regular agenda business meeting on Tuesday, January 20^th, 2015. The meeting begins at 6:00 pm at Yakima City Hall.

Items on the January 20^th agenda include:

–     Special recognition for Yakima Fire Department

–     Land exchange for Cascade Mill Parkway

–     A public hearing on the six-year transportation improvement program

–     An agreement with Southwest Rotary for a new observation deck at Randall Park

–     Participation in the Washington Department of Corrections work crew program

–     Amending the City of Yakima dangerous dog ordinance

To see the complete agenda for the January 20^th Council meeting, click on the following link http://bit.ly/1Gq0IhI

Yakima City Council regular agenda business meetings air live on Charter Cable channel 194 and are replayed at 7:00 pm the following day. The meetings are shown again at 9:00 am on the following Saturday and Sunday and are also available on the City of Yakima website – http://www.yakimawa.gov/

P.O.W. Contracting, Inc., a Pasco-based construction firm, is the primary contractor for an approximately $980,000 project that will improve the irrigation system in several neighborhoods in Yakima. Work on the West Yakima Irrigation System Phase 2 Improvements project will continue in the coming weeks and is expected to be completed by the start of the 2015 irrigation season this spring.

The project will improve the irrigation water delivery system in neighborhoods between Summitview Avenue to the south, Lincoln Avenue to the north, 21^st Avenue to the east, and 37^th Avenue to the west.

As part of the project, approximately 5,130 linear feet of new 3-inch and 4-inch high-density polyethylene (“HDPE”) pipe and approximately 7,390 linear feet of new 3-inch to 12-inch polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”) pipe will be installed. More than 200 new irrigation service connections will also be completed as part of the project.

During the week of January 19^th, 2015, the contractor will continue trench installation of new 6-inch, 8-inch PVC irrigation main along the north side of Summitview between 29^th Avenue and 25^th Avenue.

While the project is underway, construction equipment such as backhoes and dump trucks will be used. Traffic control devices will be used in the areas of construction and traffic will be routed around project areas.  Travel will periodically be restricted to one lane in each direction on Summitview Avenue through the project area. Although access may be temporarily restricted in the immediate areas of construction, access to homes in the project area will be maintained as best as possible.

Funding for the project is provided from the City’s Irrigation Capital Improvement budget.

For more information about the project, contact Water/Irrigation Engineer Mike Shane at 576-6480.

West Yakima Irrigation Project Update – News Release

The Yakima City Council held a study session on Tuesday, January 13^th, 2015 at Yakima City Hall.

At the study session on January 13^th the Council

–     Adopted the 2015 City of Yakima Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan

–     Approved a restructuring plan for the Yakima Gang Free Initiative Program

–     Received an update on the Cascade mill redevelopment project

Yakima City Council Study Session are aired live on Charter Cable Channel 194 and replays of the meeting are also available on Y-PAC and on the City of Yakima Website – http://www.yakimawa.gov/

Water service repairs will disrupt traffic in the northbound lane of South 18^th Street on Monday, January 12^th. The work will begin at 7:00 am and should be completed by 3:30 pm.

South 18^th Street between East Viola Avenue and Simpson Lane will be restricted going north. Traffic will channeled through the construction zone.

Because of expected heavy traffic volumes, drivers can expect delays in the project area. Drivers should use alternate routes if possible until the work is completed.

Access to homes and businesses in the project area will be maintained as best as possible and emergency vehicles will be allowed through the project area.

As always, the schedule for this type of project is subject to change daily dependent on weather, equipment failure, and emergencies.

For more information about the project, contact Water Distribution Supervisor, Emilio Lopez at 575-6196.

South 18th Street Water Service Repairs – News Release