City Council Regular Meeting — Yakima, WA
Date: 2025-03-18

YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 March 18, 2025
 City Hall - Council Chambers - 129 N 2nd Street, Yakima, WA
 5:30 PM City Council Regular Meeting – 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 Deputy City Clerk Brandy
 Bradford
2. Pledge of Allegiance
 Mayor Byers led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Interpreter Services
 Mayor Byers introduced Jorge Villaseñor who announced interpreter services are available
 in Spanish.
4. Public Comment
 Susan Maza, City resident, spoke to Council regarding the budget and the need to increase
 taxes to continue to provide services to the community.
 Issac Wheeler, City resident; Dustin Case, City resident; Ashley Haney, City resident; Emily
 Case Wright, County resident; Priscilla Ortega, City resident; Noemi Sanchez; City resident;
 Michael Morrison, City resident; Samantha Zuno, City resident; and Cosmo Jack, County
 resident; spoke in opposition to Item 7L on the agenda relating to the contract with Axon
 Software Inc. Many audience members stood during these public comment speakers.
 Jim Anson, City resident; Sheila Haverfield, City resident; shared their concerns about the
 budget and potential cuts to the Harman Center and its importance to the senior community
 members. Several audience members stood during these public comment speakers.
 Shelley White, City resident, congratulated the council on the accomplishments they've
 made over the last year, including budget; and discussed the substantial effect that
 decisions about middle housing will have on the City and its residents.
 Joe Daniels, City resident, spoke about artificial intelligence; and read a religious passage
 to Council.
5. Open Discussion for the Good of the Order
 A. Introduction of Assistant City Manager Gary Ballew
 City Manager Vicki Baker introduced and welcomed the new Assistant City Manager
 Gary Ballew. Ballew described his work history and accomplishments.
6. Council Reports
 None.


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7. Consent Agenda
 Mayor Byers referred to the items placed on the Consent Agenda, questioning whether
 there were any additions or deletions from Council members present. Items H, I, J and L
 were removed from the Consent Agenda. The Deputy 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: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to approve the consent agenda as
 read. The motion carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
 A. Approval of minutes from the March 4, 2025 City Council regular meeting and March
 11, 2025 City Council study session
 B. Approve payment of disbursements for the period February 1 - 28, 2025
 C. February 2025 Investment Transaction Report
 D. 2024 4th Quarter Financial Report
 E. Project Completion and Contract Acceptance with Prospect Construction, Inc. for
 WWTP Primary Clarifier Rehabilitation Project WP2631
 F. Project Completion and Contract Acceptance for Knobels Electric Inc. for the Russell
 Lane Improvements Project 2650
 G. Resolution authorizing a contract extension with Connell Oil for the purchase of bulk
 fuels and delivery of gasoline, diesel fuels and related products
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2025-052, A RESOLUTION authorizing a contract extension
 with Connell Oil Inc. for the purchase of bulk fuels and delivery of gasoline, diesel
 fuels and related products.
 H. Item 7H was removed from the Consent Agenda.
 I. Item 7I was removed from the Consent Agenda.
 J. Item 7J was removed from the Consent Agenda.
 K. Resolution accepting the Yakima County Supporting Investments in Economic
 Development (SIED) funding for the Wiley City Sewer Feasibility Study
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2025-056, A RESOLUTION authorizing the acceptance and
 spending of the Yakima County Supporting Investments in Economic Development
 (SIED) grant for a feasibility study to examine the wastewater infrastructure in the
 Wiley City area.
 L. Item 7L was removed from the Consent Agenda.

Items Removed from Consent Agenda

7.H) Resolution authorizing a contract extension with Airplanners, LLC for the purpose of air
 service development and consulting services for the Yakima Air Terminal
 This item was listed as Item 7H on the published agenda and was removed from the Consent Agenda.
 Yakima Air Terminal Director Rob Hodgman presented this resolution to Council. The
 Deputy City Clerk read the resolution by title.



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 MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to adopt the resolution. The motion
 carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2025-053, A RESOLUTION authorizing a contract extension with
 Airplanners, LLC. for air service development and consulting services for the Yakima Air
 Terminal/McAllister Field.

7.I) Resolution authorizing a Supplemental Agreement 2 with FCS Group to provide an
 Irrigation Rate Study
 This item was listed as Item 7I on the published agenda and was removed from the Consent Agenda.
 Water and Irrigation Manager Mike Shane briefed Council on the proposed resolution.
 The Deputy City Clerk read the resolution by title.
 MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to adopt the resolution. The motion
 carried by a 6-1 roll call vote; with Glenn voting no.
 RESOLUTION NO. R 2025-054, A RESOLUTION authorizing a Supplemental Agreement
 2 with FCS Group to provide an Irrigation Rate Study.

7.J) Resolution accepting the Yakima County Supporting Investments in Economic Development
 (SIED) funding for Capital Improvement projects at the Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field
 This item was listed as Item 7J on the published agenda and was removed from the Consent Agenda.
 Yakima Air Terminal Director Rob Hodgman presented this item to Council. The Deputy
 City Clerk read the resolution by title.
 MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to adopt the resolution. The motion
 carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2025-055, A RESOLUTION authorizing the acceptance and
 spending of the Yakima County Supporting Investments in Economic Development (SIED)
 grant for Capital Improvement Projects at the Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field.

7.L) Resolution authorizing a contract with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for the purchase of tasers and
 community engagement software for the Police Department
 This item was listed as Item 7L on the published agenda and was removed from the Consent Agenda.
 Lieutenant Tory Adams briefed Council on this resolution and responded to community
 concerns expressed during public comment. Following discussion, the Deputy City Clerk
 read the resolution by title only.
 MOTION: Herrera moved and Brown seconded to amend the resolution title to "A
 Resolution authorizing the execution of a Master Services and Purchasing
 Agreement for the purchase of police tasers and community request software from
 Axon Enterprise, Inc.” The motion carried by unanimous vote.
 The Deputy City Clerk read the resolution by amended title.
 MOTION: Deccio moved and Berg seconded to adopt the resolution as read. The
 motion carried by a 6-1 roll call vote; Herrera voting no.
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2025-057, A RESOLUTION authorizing the execution of a Master
 Services and Purchasing Agreement for the purchase of police tasers and community
 request software from Axon Enterprise, Inc.




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8. Public Hearings
 A. Closed record public hearing and Ordinance to consider the Planning Commission's
 recommendation regarding a rezone request located in the vicinity of 103-107 N 40th
 Ave and 3902 Summitview Ave

 Senior Planner Eric Crowell introduced this item and briefed Council on the Yakima
 Planning Commission's recommendation.
 Mayor Byers stated this is a closed record hearing and testimony will be limited to the
 record regarding the rezone application.
 Mayor Byers administered the Appearance of Fairness Doctrine. Each
 Councilmember answered negatively or affirmatively to the following questions:
 1. Do you have any interest in the property or the application, or do you own
 property within 300 feet of the property subject to the application? All
 Councilmembers responded they did not.
 2. Do you stand to gain or lose any financial benefit as a result of the outcome of
 this proposal? The response from Council members was no.
 3. Can you hear and consider the application in a fair and objective manner,
 without bias? All Council members stated they could.
 4. Have you had any ex-parte communications with the Applicants, or anyone
 else, regarding this application? All Council members responded no.
 Mayor Byers asked if anyone wished to challenge any Council member's participation
 in this application on appearance of fairness grounds? No one spoke to the issue.
 Councilmember Roy announced that he does attend church at a location subject to
 the rezone. Roy stated that the church leases the location and that he is not involved
 in administrative decisions for the church.
 Mayor Byers opened the public hearing.
 Daniel Tilley, City resident; Leanne Liddicoat, applicant for property owner; spoke in
 support of the project and thanked Council for their consideration.
 Shawn (last name unknown), resident of Kenny Drive, expressed concern about the
 rezone and its effect on the nearby residential roads and increased traffic. Shawn
 asked about a prior application and why it did not move forward during the previous
 process. Crowell explained the prior process and difference in the current process.
 With no one else coming forward or calling in to speak, Mayor Byers closed the public
 hearing.
 The Deputy City Clerk read the ordinance by title only.
 MOTION: Glenn moved and Deccio seconded to pass the ordinance. The motion
 carried by 7-0 roll call vote.
 ORDINANCE NO. 2025-007, AN ORDINANCE rezoning parcels 181322-42486, -
 42487, - 42488, -42489, -42490, & -42492 from Single-Family Residential (R-1) to
 Small Convenience Center (SCC) and amending the Zoning Map of the City of
 Yakima.




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9. Department Items

 A. Ordinance granting a non-exclusive franchise to Gigabeam Internet, LLC to construct,
 operate, and maintain a telecommunications system in the city of Yakima
 Communications & Public Affairs Director Randy Beehler briefed the Council on the
 proposed ordinance granting a franchise to Gigabeam Internet, LLC.
 The Deputy 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. 2025-008, AN ORDINANCE granting a non- exclusive franchise
 Gigabeam Internet, LLC (Gigabeam) to construct, operate and maintain a
 Telecommunications System, with all necessary facilities, within the City of Yakima,
 Washington (City); setting forth provisions, terms and conditions accompanying the
 grant of this Franchise; providing for City regulation of construction, operation,
 maintenance and use of the Telecommunications System; prescribing penalties for
 the violations of its provisions; and setting an effective date.

 B. Ordinance amending Yakima Municipal Code Chapters 8.01, 8.20 and 8.72 relating to
 work in the right of way
 Community Development Director and Interim City Engineer Bill Preston briefed the
 Council on the proposed ordinance transferring the responsibility of right-of-way use
 permits to the Engineering Division.
 The Deputy 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. 2025-009, AN ORDINANCE amending the City of Yakima
 Municipal Code Chapters 8.01, 8.20, and 8.72 relating to working in and use of the
 right-of-way.

 C. Ordinance implementing a new chapter in the Yakima Municipal Code, Chapter 8.21,
 relating to small wireless facilities
 Community Development Director Bill Preston and Planning Manager Trevor Martin
 briefed the Council on the proposed ordinance pertaining to small wireless facilities.
 The Deputy 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. 2025-010, AN ORDINANCE creating Chapter 8.21 in the City of
 Yakima Municipal Code relating to small wireless facilities in the right-of-way.

10. City Manager Update

 City Manager Baker reminded Council of the AWC Conference taking place June 24-27,
 2025, in Kennewick, WA. Assistant Mayor Brown and Councilmembers Deccio and Glenn
 plan to attend.




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11. Other Business
 Assistant Mayor Brown asked Council about its position on House Bill 1380. After
 discussion,
 MOTION: Brown moved and Berg seconded to add to the next Council meeting on
 April 1, to direct staff to draft a letter in opposition to HB 1380. The motion carried by
 unanimous vote.
 MOTION: Byers moved and Deccio seconded to bring to Council at our next
 business meeting a proclamation for Arbor Day. The motion carried by unanimous
 vote.
 MOTION: Byers moved and Berg seconded to bring to Council at our next business
 meeting a proclamation for National Day of Prayer. The motion carried by unanimous
 vote.
 MOTION: Byers moved and Brown seconded to bring to our next business meeting
 a proclamation and an action for America 250's "Two Lights for Tomorrow"
 Initiative. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
 Assistant Mayor Brown provided an update on the Homeless Coalition. A motion was
 made and passed at the March 19, 2025 Homeless Coalition meeting to increase city
 representation on the board.
 Councilmember Herrera recognized Rich Austin of the Yakima Valley Sports Commission
 for hosting the WIAA Tournament. Herrera also recognized the Davis High School girls
 basketball team for their first Washington State 4A Girls Basketball Championship.
 Mayor Byers announced the March Madness Youth Basketball Tournament at two
 different locations. The Rosie's Rosebuds cheer team will be competing around 11 a.m.
 on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at one of the sites.

12. Adjournment
 MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to adjourn to the next City Council
 regular meeting on April 1, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
 The motion carried by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:49 p.m.


CERTIFICATION
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ATTEST:

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 CITY CLERK MAYOR



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