City Council Special Meeting — Yakima, WA
Date: 2025-07-22

YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 July 22, 2025
 City Hall – Council Chambers – 129 N 2nd Street, Yakima, WA
 5:45 PM City Council Special 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 City Clerk Rosalinda
 Ibarra

2) Executive Session
 2.A Executive Session to discuss pending or potential litigation pursuant to RCW
 42.30.110(1)(i)
 Present for Executive Session: Mayor Byers, Assistant Mayor Brown, and
 Councilmembers Berg, Deccio, Glenn, Herrera, and Roy
 MOTION: Brown moved and Berg seconded to adjourn to Executive Session
 until 6:00 p.m. to discuss pending or potential litigation pursuant to RCW
 42.30.110(1)(i). The motion carried by unanimous vote.

 Mayor Byers announced that Council is not expected to take further action
 following executive session.
 Executive session was held at 5:47 p.m. and adjourned at 5:58 p.m. The special
 meeting was called back to order at 6:00 p.m.

3) Public Comment (allow 15 minutes)
 Kenton Gartrell, City property owner, proposed a “$30 protest permit” resolution relating
 to car tab fees.
 Jeanna Hernandez, City resident, spoke in support of levy to voters for budget and
 guidance provided by both City staff and the budget advisory committee.
 Peter Rasmussen, non-City resident and Local 469 Fire President, spoke in opposition
 to closing station 92 and encouraged the support for a levy.
 Konner Hopkins, Yakima County resident, advocated for green space and quality of life
 and expressed support for a levy.
 Tony Courcy, City resident, spoke about a water rights claim in Selah.




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4) Special Meeting Items
 4.A Yakima Training Center proclamation
 MOTION: Deccio moved and Brown seconded to approve the proclamation
 and request that it be read and presented. The motion carried by unanimous
 vote.
 Mayor Byers proclaimed that Yakima, Washington shall identify itself as a city
 that proudly supports our military and honor the historic significance of the
 Yakima Training Center, the United States Army, and the families of active-duty
 service members. Command Sergeant Major Anton Ruffin (HQ Commander)
 thanked the Council and accepted the proclamation.

 4.B Resolution authorizing a Right of Way Use Permit Application RL240082 for
 Young Women's Christian Association of Yakima (YWCA) at 910 W Chestnut
 Avenue

 Acting City Engineer Bill Preston briefed the Council on the proposed resolution
 requesting approval to install stairs and ramp in a portion of the right of way.
 The City Clerk read the resolution by title only.
 After Council discussion,
 MOTION: Deccio moved and Herrera seconded to adopt the resolution. The
 motion carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2025-108, A RESOLUTION authorizing the issuance of a
 right-of-way long term use permit to allow stairs and landing on the north side of
 the building at 910 W Chestnut Avenue.

 4.C Discussion of city service level reductions at $9 m, $4.5 m, $3 m, $1.8 m
 City Manager Vicki Baker briefly recapped the City of Yakima strategic priorities
 and the comprehensive public outreach efforts conducted since the beginning of
 the year. Ms. Baker reminded the Council about the issues related to the current
 budget deficit and the measures that were implemented in 2024 to provide a
 balanced 2025-2026 budget, as required by the State.
 Director of Finance and Budget Craig Warner discussed city service level
 reductions at $1.8 million with a $7.2 million levy; $3 million with a $6 million levy;
 $4.5 million with a $4.5 million levy, and a $9 million cut package.
 Assistant Mayor Brown presented a list of proposed reductions without significantly
 impacting public safety, swimming pools, community centers, streets, and parks.
 After considerable Council discussion,
 MOTION: Glenn moved and Deccio seconded to direct staff to bring back a
 resolution for a $6 million levy and accompanying budget reduction of $3
 million to make it balance. The motion carried by 5-2 vote; with Berg and Roy
 voting no.

 4.D Discuss potential Charter amendments
 No discussion or action was taken regarding this matter. A review of the Charter
 will be scheduled at a future City Council meeting.



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5) Adjournment
 MOTION: Glenn moved and Berg seconded to adjourn to the next City Council
 special meeting on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council
 Chambers. The motion carried by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:58 p.m.



CERTIFICATION
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ATTEST:

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