What's On Dick's Mind?
YAKIMA -- When Yakima City Manager, Dick Zais finally gave council a date that would end his 31 year tenure, there were those cringing at the thought of finding a suitable replacement. And then there were those popping corks, glad the city could finally move on. Love him or hate him, Zais knows Yakima as well as anyone. What KIMA wanted to know, is where this politician's politician thinks we're headed now.
Getting ten minutes with Dick Zais can be a challenge. Getting an hour as I did was a clear sign this career Government CEO had finally found a reason to relax a bit. He even displayed his sense of humor at this week's State of the City making clear he is leaving Yakima, not government work.
"I am accepting multi-million dollar contract offers…" (laughter)
Zais will be finished here in less than a year. Some say his three decade tenure is proof positive the city should move in a different direction.
"This is no secret to you. There are those out there calling for a strong mayor form of government. Tell me why that is not what the city of Yakima needs," I asked the City Manager.
"The council is subordinated in the strong mayor roll. In most traditional strong mayor forms, the mayor has considerable power and authority. As the chief executive, the chief political leader, has veto power over the city council."
Our current Mayor, Micah Cawley, is on the same page.
"I think a strong Mayor would lead to more of a good ole boys club than what you have now. Which is 7 city council members that have a lot of influence and a lot of say in policy." Still, the council has promised to at least look at the idea.
Something else the city will no doubt be taking a closer look at is the administration at YPD. While Sam Granato and his deputy chief have been credited with having an impact on overall crime, his management style has made him very unpopular with many on the force and on council. Some have been waiting for Zais to announce his retirement to pounce on the chief. Has that time now come?
No sooner did Zais give a date than the calls and e-mails poured into our newsroom, claiming Zais, the council and the chief met.
We were hearing the chief was asked to resign, and the deputy chief was given until the end of the month. I asked Zais if there was anything going on with respect to the police administration that we can talk about?
"There may be at some point future transitions but I'm not gonna get into specifics who, where, how and what. Very few (police chiefs) stay on the job for more than 6, 7, 8 years before they either retire out or take another position somewhere else. It's a very tough job."
Zais has planted plenty of feathers in his cap over the last 31 years. And he's missed the mark on a few as well.
"It was disappointing that we couldn't bring together Yakima, Union Gap and Selah in a way that would have packaged a proposal to go to the voters on an aquatics center. I think that was a missed opportunity. Maybe it will come back."
I'm not sure even Zais believes that. It could be a decade, maybe never again that Yakima can rely on the kind of growth that allows budgets to expand instead of contract.
"We're starting to refer to it as the new normal for the foreseeable future.You can't do business as you might of in the past with expectations of revenue climbing at a certain predictable growth rate when it can fluctuate. When the stock market can fluctuate as much as 500 points in 10 days."
Zais made a permanent mark on Yakima. Just about anything that's happened here for a generation has his signature on it. But today, our needs are different, and our next city manager will have to work even harder to keep the valley more than just a stop along the way.
Getting ten minutes with Dick Zais can be a challenge. Getting an hour as I did was a clear sign this career Government CEO had finally found a reason to relax a bit. He even displayed his sense of humor at this week's State of the City making clear he is leaving Yakima, not government work.
"I am accepting multi-million dollar contract offers…" (laughter)
Zais will be finished here in less than a year. Some say his three decade tenure is proof positive the city should move in a different direction.
"This is no secret to you. There are those out there calling for a strong mayor form of government. Tell me why that is not what the city of Yakima needs," I asked the City Manager.
"The council is subordinated in the strong mayor roll. In most traditional strong mayor forms, the mayor has considerable power and authority. As the chief executive, the chief political leader, has veto power over the city council."
Our current Mayor, Micah Cawley, is on the same page.
"I think a strong Mayor would lead to more of a good ole boys club than what you have now. Which is 7 city council members that have a lot of influence and a lot of say in policy." Still, the council has promised to at least look at the idea.
Something else the city will no doubt be taking a closer look at is the administration at YPD. While Sam Granato and his deputy chief have been credited with having an impact on overall crime, his management style has made him very unpopular with many on the force and on council. Some have been waiting for Zais to announce his retirement to pounce on the chief. Has that time now come?
No sooner did Zais give a date than the calls and e-mails poured into our newsroom, claiming Zais, the council and the chief met.
We were hearing the chief was asked to resign, and the deputy chief was given until the end of the month. I asked Zais if there was anything going on with respect to the police administration that we can talk about?
"There may be at some point future transitions but I'm not gonna get into specifics who, where, how and what. Very few (police chiefs) stay on the job for more than 6, 7, 8 years before they either retire out or take another position somewhere else. It's a very tough job."
Zais has planted plenty of feathers in his cap over the last 31 years. And he's missed the mark on a few as well.
"It was disappointing that we couldn't bring together Yakima, Union Gap and Selah in a way that would have packaged a proposal to go to the voters on an aquatics center. I think that was a missed opportunity. Maybe it will come back."
I'm not sure even Zais believes that. It could be a decade, maybe never again that Yakima can rely on the kind of growth that allows budgets to expand instead of contract.
"We're starting to refer to it as the new normal for the foreseeable future.You can't do business as you might of in the past with expectations of revenue climbing at a certain predictable growth rate when it can fluctuate. When the stock market can fluctuate as much as 500 points in 10 days."
Zais made a permanent mark on Yakima. Just about anything that's happened here for a generation has his signature on it. But today, our needs are different, and our next city manager will have to work even harder to keep the valley more than just a stop along the way.
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