City Council Regular Meeting — Yakima, WA
Date: 2025-12-02

YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 December 2, 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
 The meeting was called to order at 5:33 p.m.
 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) 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
 The following community members provided remarks related to the proposed budget
 and potential reductions: Ryan Anderson, Amanda and Coven Evans, Jessica Villa,
 John Whitney, Lynnette Whitney, Dr. Barry Bernfeld, Andrea Redman, Tony Sandoval,
 Flora Prado, Lucy Prado, Richard Blahm, Sharon Madson, Brian Hedengren, Barbara
 Toney, Dr. Jessica Bruner, Allycia Thomas, Elise Cardenas, G “Nini” Van De Venter,
 Jack Cannon, Axel Raptcheff, Karen Lange, Susan Whitman, Kailan Dunn, Yanira
 Aburto, Karla Craig
 Anne Knapp, City resident; provided suggestions regarding the Yakima Valley Trolleys.
 Andrew Reyes, City resident; spoke about an equal opportunity lending economy.
5) Open Discussion for the Good of the Order
 MOTION: Glenn moved and Roy seconded to remove from the agenda items 9B,
 9C, 9D and 9E. The motion carried by a 4-3 roll call vote; with Byers, Deccio and
 Herrera voting no.
6) Council Reports
 None.
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. There were no


December 2, 2025 – Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 4
 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: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to approve the consent agenda. The
 motion carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
 7.A Approval of minutes from the November 12, 2025 City Council study session and
 November 18, 2025 City Council regular meeting
 7.B Resolution adopting the City Council regular meeting schedule for 2026
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2025-179, A RESOLUTION adopting the City Council
 2026 regular business meeting schedule.
8) Public Hearings
 None.
9) Department Items
 9.A Status of Council adopted motions and direction from the November 12, 2025
 and November 18, 2025 Council meetings
 City Manager Vicki Baker provided opening remarks about the budget process
 over the last year and the current state of the budget.
 Communication & Public Affairs Manager Randy Beeler stated that Franklin Pool
 has been included in the legislative priorities. Beehler also reported that the
 Washington State Auditor’s Center for Government Innovation does not offer
 comprehensive performance audits, rather they provide Lean consultation
 services for specific processes.
 Director of Finance and Budget Craig Warner provided additional information
 regarding the revised 2026 General Fund budget based on recent adjustments
 approved by Council. The ending fund balance results in $781,503 over the
 reserve policy required amount of 12% identified as one-time reserve surplus
 funds.
 Assistant City Manager Gary Ballew provided an update on the progress of
 motions made and questions posed by City Council at the November 12th study
 session and November 18th business meeting as follows:
 - Develop a budget for the Harman Center that is revenue neutral to the
 General Fund - buildings require base operations such as utilities,
 maintenance, pest control and security; increased fees could lower
 demand/participation; predicting donations is complex. Alternative options
 include reducing operation, increasing fees and membership structure.
 - City Manager to speak to the school districts that use Lion's Pool regarding
 joint agreement - alternative options include transferring to school districts,
 minimal operation and same hours/days, minimal operations and reduced
 hours/days.
 - Develop a budget for the Washington Fruit Community Center that is revenue
 neutral to the General Fund - ongoing costs for utilities, maintenance and
 security estimated at $35,000. Alternative options include leasing structure/
 operations agreement with third party non-profit organization, minimal
 operation of facility.



December 2, 2025 - Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4
 - Keep Lion's Pool open until the end of February - baseline operations through
 end of current swim season and ongoing utilities and maintenance costs.
 After Council discussion and amendment,
 AMENDED MOTION: Brown moved and Berg seconded that the Harman
 Center be removed from all budget cut options and remain fully funded in
 this year’s budget and apply $225,000 of the one-time money to keep the
 Harman facility open for 2026. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
 MOTION: Byers moved and Deccio seconded to direct staff to continue
 conversation with school district in the first part of the year to continue to
 find more clarity on the situation with the pool and Council will readdress it
 in January. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
 MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to fund the Washington Fruit
 Community Center for 6 months for $150,000 to include the Beyond the Bell
 program, karate program and lunch program. The motion carried by
 unanimous vote.
 MOTION: Byers moved and Deccio seconded to direct staff to add AWC
 back to the budget, allocating the cost to all City funds. The motion failed by
 a 5-2 vote; with Berg, Brown, Glenn, Herrera and Roy voting no.
 MOTION: Berg moved and Brown seconded that Station 92 remain open
 and that the City Manager require the Fire Chief and the Financial Director
 to identify and implement $1.8 million in operational reductions within the
 budget without using any fire station closures including the use of
 extraordinary measures to achieve the required savings, that the budget be
 adopted with these adjustments, and that the City Manager report back to
 Council in January with the changes. The motion carried by a 5-2 vote; with
 Byers and Deccio voting no.
 9.B Ordinance imposing a one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) local sales and use tax to
 fund criminal justice purposes
 This item was removed from the Agenda.
 9.C Ordinance imposing a Council-directed increase in Water and Wastewater tax
 rates to fund Council specific programs and amending YMC 7.64.020
 This item was removed from the Agenda.
 9.D Ordinance imposing a Council-directed increase in the Stormwater tax rate to
 fund Council directed programs and amending YMC 7.64.040
 This item was removed from the Agenda.
 9.E Ordinance imposing a Council-directed increase in Refuse tax rate to fund
 Council directed programs and amending YMC 7.64.030
 This item was removed from the Agenda.
 9.F Ordinance to adopt the 2026 Mid-Biennial Budget
 Director of Finance and Budget Craig Warner briefed the Council on the
 proposed ordinance adopting the 2026 mid-biennial budget for the City of
 Yakima, including adjustments approved by the Council at this meeting.



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 The City Clerk read the ordinance by title only.
 MOTION: Glenn moved and Berg seconded to pass the ordinance adopting
 the 2026 mid-biennial budget with adjustments presented. The motion
 carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
 ORDINANCE NO. 2025-036, AN ORDINANCE adopting the modification of the
 2025-2026 Biennium Budget for the fiscal year 2026; setting forth the estimated
 revenues and appropriations; and establishing an effective date.
10) City Manager Update
 City Manager Vicki Baker informed Council about the Airport Director candidates’ meet
 and greet event on December 8th at the Yakima Air-Terminal. Due to a possible quorum
 of Councilmembers attending, the event will be noticed as a special meeting.
11) Other Business
 MOTION: Glenn moved and Berg seconded that the City prepare a resolution
 listing legislative issues that Council wants to be addressed in the 2026 legislative
 year. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
 Assistant Mayor Brown and Mayor Byers expressed appreciation for Council and City
 staff's work on the process, as well as the community’s recent involvement.
12) Adjournment
 MOTION: Glenn moved and Berg seconded to adjourn to the next City Council
 regular meeting on December 9, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council
 Chambers. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
 The meeting adjourned at 8:56 p.m.


CERTIFICATION
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ATTEST:

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 CITY CLERK MAYOR




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