POSITION STATEMENTS


Juvenile Justice

We support action on the needs and services for the guidance and protection of juveniles.

Better cooperation and communication between agencies involved with juveniles should be encouraged. The Juvenile Court System should be expanded to meet the growing needs of the community. This should include participation in additional programs, increasing salaries to an adequate level, encouraging further training for personnel and obtaining additional staff. Basic information in the juvenile code should be made available to students, parents and the general public. Clarification regarding disposition of court records is essential. All juvenile records should remain confidential.

We support the expansion and improvement of counseling facilities for children and parents through school and community. The members recognize the need for special facilities in the community for Òalienated youth.Ó

Land Use

We support implementation of the Land Use Consensus with first priority given to the preservation of the Yakima River front. We recognize the importance to the economic structure of the valley of its agricultural base. We support a continued careful scrutiny (or study) of proposed zoning to determine the best use of land and to encourage continued agricultural use and operation of related industries. We support an amendment to the Subdivision Ordinance that would give the county review of land use before it has been subdivided many times. All recommendations for general use of land must be made with careful consideration to the balance achieved between public good and private interests.

The Yakima River front should be preserved in its natural state and used for recreational purposes as proposed in the (Ellensburg) City Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan.

We support the concept of the need to preserve the core of the downtown business area. We support the more rigid enforcement of city ordinances, which eventually will improve the condition of rundown residential areas, vacated commercial property and vacant lots.

Health Care

We support a local hospital in Ellensburg. Because the membership of the League supports the election of governing boards by public vote for public institutions, we believe that the form of ownership for the hospital should be Public Hospital District.

We believe that the most effective way to implement major changes is through planning that includes public participation from the beginning.

For maintenance and operation costs, in addition to patient fees, we support the collection of assessments as authorized for hospital districts under state law. Special projects may be financed by any approved means, but we prefer voter participation in any major decisions.

County Government

Kittitas County Government shall:

• promote informed, involved and effective public participation
• establish procedures that will implement long range planning
• insure effective, uniform management practices
• equitably represent all geographic areas of the county.

The Kittitas County Budget shall:

• be understandable and easily available to the public;
• be developed through a process that is consistent and includes the same level of detail for each department;
• reflect the goals of long range planning.

Kittitas County Government shall:

• develop effective methods for dealing with issues of mutual concern by exploring any means that would encourage effective coordination and cooperation.