City Council Study Session — Yakima, WA
Date: 2025-04-08

YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 April 8, 2025
 City Hall - Council Chambers - 129 N 2nd Street, Yakima WA
 5:00 PM City Council Study Session - Conducted in person and virtually via Zoom

1) Roll Call
 Present: Mayor Patricia Byers, presiding; Assistant Mayor Matt Brown and
 Councilmembers Reedy Berg, Janice Deccio, Rick Glenn, Danny Herrera and Leo Roy
 Staff: City Manager Vicki Baker, City Attorney Sara Watkins and City Clerk Rosalinda
 Ibarra

2) Public Comment (allow 15 minutes)
 Anne Knapp, City resident, expressed concern regarding property owners’ responsibility
 for unpaid tenant bills and the property lien process as it relates to State law.
 Ron Torres, City resident, spoke about research relating to single-family housing, primarily
 middle housing laws and illegal immigration.
 Shelley White, City resident, spoke about and distributed a handout about population
 growth and immigration in Washington state related to recent housing laws changes.

3) Study Session Items
 3.A Arbor Day proclamation
 Councilmember Deccio proclaimed the second Saturday in April as Arbor Day in
 the City of Yakima and recognized the Yakima Area Arboretum's Arbor Festival as
 the City's official celebration. Garrett Brenden, Yakima Area Arboretum Education
 Director, accepted the proclamation.
 3.B Presentation regarding the current status of City jail
 Yakima Police Department Commander Maritza Davis and Yakima Police Chief
 Boyle presented information about the Yakima City Jail, from its inception to its
 current state. The Yakima City Jail opened in 1996 and houses male inmates
 charged with misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors. Male inmates that require
 a higher level of care and female inmates are housed at the Yakima County Jail.
 While limited in services offered, one thing the court allows is the ability for inmates
 to enroll in electronic home detention, resulting in reduced jail costs. At full staff,
 the Corrections team includes 15 staff members who are certified by the Criminal
 Justice Training Commission. Commander Davis detailed the main functions
 provided by corrections officers, expanding on services impacted by inmates
 suffering from mental health illnesses and substance abuse disorders. The most
 notable challenge Commander Davis reported is staff shortages and recruitment
 efforts. Her top goals are to fill existing vacancies and attain jail accreditation
 through the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC).




April 8, 2025 – Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 2
 Judge Aryn Masters discussed the benefits that the City jail brings to the municipal
 court system and how the jail interacts with the Court system.

 3.C Discussion regarding the process of City of Yakima Utility Billing Collection Stream
 Utility Services Manager Anabel Chavez presented a detailed overview of the
 City's utility billing collection process. She outlined the procedures on how
 customers can open a residential or commercial utility account, allowing for
 property owners to stay informed of their tenant’s accounts. Regarding the utility
 billing cycle and delinquent turn offs, Ms. Chavez explained that payment
 arrangements are offered to eligible account holders.
 MOTION: Glenn moved and Roy seconded to direct the City to bring a
 discussion to the Council on the second business meeting in May regarding
 whether or not the City can reserve the right to collect delinquent tenant
 accounts from the property owner [YMC 7.50.080G]. The motion carried by
 unanimous vote.

 3.D Ordinance amending the City of Yakima Municipal Code Section 9.50.220: Long-
 term parking permits
 City Attorney Sara Watkins briefed the Council on the proposed ordinance relating
 to parking permits. The City Clerk read the ordinance by title only.
 MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to pass the ordinance. The
 motion carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
 ORDINANCE NO. 2025-011, AN ORDINANCE amending the City of Yakima
 Municipal Code Section 9.50.220: Long-term parking permits.

4) Adjournment
 MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to adjourn to the next City Council
 regular meeting on April 15, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City
 Hall. The motion carried by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:33 p.m.

CERTIFICATION

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