City Council Regular Meeting — Yakima, WA
Date: 2026-03-17

YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 March 17, 2026
 City Hall - Council Chambers - 129 N 2nd Street, Yakima WA
 5:30 PM City Council Regular Meeting - Conducted in person and virtually via Zoom.

Executive Session - 5:00 p.m.
 Executive Session to discuss pending litigation pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i)
 MOTION: Potrykus moved and Berg seconded to adjourn to Executive Session until
 5:30 p.m. to discuss pending litigation pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i). The motion
 carried by unanimous vote. Mayor Brown announced that Council is expected to take further
 action following executive session.
 Present for Executive Session: Mayor Matt Brown, Assistant Mayor Reedy Berg, and
 Councilmembers Patricia Byers, Rick Glenn, Felisa Gonzalez, Juliet Potrykus and Leo Roy
 Executive session was held at 5:02 p.m. and adjourned at 5:20 p.m.
1) Roll Call
 The regular meeting was called to order at 5:34 p.m.
 Present: Mayor Matt Brown, presiding; Assistant Mayor Reedy Berg, and Councilmembers
 Patricia Byers, Rick Glenn, Felisa Gonzalez, Leo Roy, and Juliet Potrykus (present via
 Zoom at 5:38 p.m. and in person at 6:13 p.m.)
 Staff: City Manager Vicki Baker, City Attorney Sara Watkins and City Clerk Rosalinda
 Ibarra
2) Pledge of Allegiance
 Mayor Brown led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3) Interpreter Services
 Mayor Brown introduced Jorge Villaseñor who announced interpreter services are
 available in Spanish.
4) Public Comment
 Tony Sandoval, City resident, recognized City Attorney Sara Watkins and City Manager
 Vicki Baker for Women's History Month and their positive impacts on the community.
 Reverend Rosetta Marshall-Williams, City resident, expressed concern related to ready-
 to-serve charges on her utility bill.
 Lynn Harden, City resident, spoke about paramedics and the Fire Department budget.
 Tony Courcy, City resident, talked about prior actions taken regarding the boundary line
 at Hathaway and 16th Avenue.
 Joseph Kopsick, City resident, expressed concerns about recent tax increases and
 spoke in support of land value taxation.


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5) Open Discussion for the Good of the Order
 5.A Recognition of Davis High School girls’ basketball team
 Mayor Brown announced that due to scheduling conflicts this recognition will be
 made at a future meeting.
 5.B Recognition of years of service for Yakima Fire Department members
 Yakima Fire Chief Aaron Markham recognized Fire Lieutenant Brent Bauer (30
 years), Fire Deputy Chief Jonathan Hood (20 years) and Firefighter William
 Lealos (20 years) for their years of service to the City of Yakima.
 5.C Presentation of the 2025 Yakima Valley Tourism annual report
 John Cooper, President & CEO of Yakima Valley Tourism, distributed the 2025
 Annual Report and shared information about programs and events hosted at the
 Yakima Convention Center. Mr. Cooper also highlighted goals focused on
 boosting tourism and enhancing the community.
6) Council Reports
 None.
7) Consent Agenda
 Mayor Brown referred to the items placed on the Consent Agenda, questioning whether
 there were any additions or deletions from Council members present. There were no
 changes. The City Clerk read the Consent Agenda items, including resolutions and
 ordinances, by title. (Items on the Consent Agenda are handled under one motion
 without further discussion-see motion directly below.)
 MOTION: Berg moved and Byers seconded to approve the consent agenda. The
 motion carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
 7.A Approval of minutes from the March 3, 2026 Council regular meeting
 7.B Approve payment of disbursements for the period February 1-28, 2026
 7.C February 2026 Investment Transaction Report
 7.D Set date of April 14, 2026 for a closed record public hearing to consider the
 Hearing Examiner's recommendation regarding the master planned development
 and subdivision for the Plat of Johnston Estates
 7.E Set date of April 14, 2026 for a closed record public hearing to consider an appeal
 of a Certificate of Appropriateness granted by the Historic Preservation Commission
 at 2810 Barge St
 7.F Project Completion and Contract Acceptance with Chervenell Construction
 Company for MLK Jr Park Eastside Pool (Aquatic Center) Project 2745
 7.G Ordinance updating Classification and Compensation Plan for City Employees
 Section 2.20.100
 ORDINANCE NO. 2026-008, AN ORDINANCE relating to City personnel; adopting
 a classification and compensation plan for City employees to be effective April 20,
 2026; and repealing all preceding pay ordinances in the City of Yakima Municipal
 Code.


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 7.H Ordinance amending the City of Yakima Municipal Code Chapter 1.70 Police
 Department Service Fees
 ORDINANCE NO. 2026-009, AN ORDINANCE amending the City of Yakima
 Municipal Code Chapter 1.70 Police Department Service Fees.
 7.I Ordinance amending YMC 3.127 Transportation Benefit District Fund
 ORDINANCE NO. 2026-010, AN ORDINANCE amending the City of Yakima
 Municipal Code Chapter 3.127 Transportation Benefit District Fund.
 7.J Resolution authorizing grant acceptance from the Department of Commerce for
 the statutorily required Climate Resilience Element of the Comprehensive Plan
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-034, A RESOLUTION authorizing a Grant Contract
 with the Washington State Department of Commerce (Commerce), to provide
 funding assistance to integrate development of regional policies, plans, and
 strategies adopted under RCW 36.70A.210 and chapter 47.80 RCW.
 7.K Resolution authorizing settlement of damage claims arising out of a City of
 Yakima water main break on Yakima Avenue on November 27, 2025, affecting
 properties located in the 300 block of Yakima Ave
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-035, A RESOLUTION authorizing settlement of
 damage claims arising out of a City of Yakima water main break on Yakima
 Avenue on November 27, 2025, affecting properties located in the 300 block of
 Yakima Ave.
 7.L Resolution authorizing an Interlocal Agreement with Yakima County for use of a
 K-9 vehicle
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-036, A RESOLUTION authorizing an Interlocal
 Agreement with Yakima County, Washington through the Yakima County
 Sheriff's Office, for the use of K-9 vehicle during anticipated time allotted for
 retrofit of City vehicle for K-9 unit use.
8) Public Hearings
 None.
9) Department Items
 9.A Discussion regarding a Municipal Fire District, House Bill 2224, Senate Bill 6037
 and Fire Department Overtime
 Yakima Fire Chief Aaron Markham provided an update on pending House Bill 2224
 and Senate Bill 6037 pertaining to creation of fire protection districts within its own
 jurisdictional boundaries.
 Chief Markham outlined the method of formation for fire protection districts as
 allowed by RCW 52.02.160. He also shared the staffing levels and overtime
 costs incurred for January and February 2026 which are funded with General
 Fund and County EMS funds.
 Councilmembers further discussed the taxing levy rate; however, no action was
 taken on the matter.
 Chief Markham provided information on upcoming retirements occurring between
 now and June of this year and the anticipated impact on recruiting efforts.


March 17, 2026 – Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5
 9.B 2025 Update on Capital Improvement Projects Report
 City Engineer Robert Washabaugh presented an update on the 2025 Capital
 Improvement Projects and other projects. Mr. Washabaugh highlighted
 completed projects and shared proposed 2026 and 2027 construction projects.
 An update on the Mill Site property will be provided in April.
 9.C Review of Business and Regulatory Licensing Fees
 Assistant City Manager Gary Ballew informed Council about changes in the way
 presentations are conducted to be compliant with ADA accessibility standards.
 Assistant City Manager Gary Ballew and Supervising Code Inspector Julia Rosales
 presented an extensive overview of current business and regulatory licensing fees
 and shared proposed fee adjustments.
 Mr. Ballew briefed Council on the impacts of the fee proposals which would result
 in a slight increase for most home-based businesses; non-profits would pay a
 license fee based on number of employees; exempting religious organizations to
 include faith-based organizations involved in social services directed at the larger
 community; and any additional revenue would be used to support economic
 development initiatives.
 Ms. Rosales noted future changes related to regulatory license fees, and code
 regulation updates to simplify, consolidate or eliminate some regulatory license
 types. Staff will evaluate the current variable rates and adjust them to reflect actual
 cost of processing. In the meantime, staff proposed a $45 flat rate for existing
 regulatory license fees.
10) City Manager Update
 10.A Preview of upcoming topics
 City Manager Vicki Baker expressed appreciation for tenured City employees.
 Ms. Baker also mentioned upcoming discussion topics related to Mill Site
 property, Flock camera legislation, quarterly reports and information from
 Finance.
11) Other Business
 MOTION: Byers moved and Berg seconded to direct staff to prepare an Arbor Day
 proclamation to be read and voted on to be placed on the April 7 agenda. The
 motion carried by unanimous vote.
 MOTION: Berg moved and Brown seconded to direct staff to prepare an updated
 presentation on the annexation progress in Terrace Heights. The motion carried by
 unanimous
 After discussion and amendment, the following motion was considered,
 AMENDED MOTION: Berg moved Brown seconded to direct the City Manager to
 prepare an ordinance amending the City of Yakima utility tax rate by 3%, to
 include Nob Hill Water, with additional revenue dedicated to funding the continued
 operation of Fire Station 92, and place ordinance on the next City agenda for
 action. The motion carried by a 4-3 vote; with Byers, Glenn and Gonzalez voting no.



March 17, 2026 – Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5
 MOTION: Potrykus moved and Glenn seconded to prepare an ordinance for
 Council to consider creating the strongest criminal penalty our city is allowed to
 enact for exposing a child to fentanyl and other dangerous drugs and bring back
 in April. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

 Mayor Brown distributed a draft letter to Council indicating Council’s support of business
 leaders who are interested in doing business within the City of Yakima.
 MOTION: Brown moved and Berg seconded to suspend the rules to pass the letter
 as written and signed by Council. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
 After discussion, Councilmember Glenn read the letter aloud in its entirety. Following
 debate and amendments, the final version of the motion as amended was proposed:
 FINAL AMENDED MOTION: Brown moved and Glenn seconded to pass the letter
 as amended. The motion carried by unanimous vote. [The first sentence of the fifth
 paragraph was eliminated and the last sentence of the fourth paragraph was removed.]
12) Adjournment
 MOTION: Glenn moved and Byers seconded to adjourn to the next City Council
 regular meeting on April 7, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.
 The motion carried by unanimous vote.
 The meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m.

CERTIFICATION
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 COUNCIL MEMBER DATE

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ATTEST:

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 CITY CLERK MAYOR




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