City Council Study Session — Yakima, WA
Date: 2024-12-17

YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 December 17, 2024
 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)

 Rhonda Hauff, City resident, invited the public to the annual Homeless Person's Memorial
 Day on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. at Millenium Plaza, to raise awareness
 and reflect on the difficulties faced by the homeless community.

 Joe Daniels, City resident, read religious passages.

 Steven Epperson, Union Gap resident, inquired about his water utility bill.

3. Study Session Items

 A. Alan Sillence Day proclamation

 Councilmember Danny Herrera proclaimed December 23, 2024 as "Alan Sillence Day"
 and Alan Sillence accepted the proclamation.

 B. Resolution authorizing a contract with Catholic Charities Housing Services of HOME-
 ARP funds to support the construction of an affordable housing project known as Casa
 de la Mora.

 Community Development Director Bill Preston briefed the Council on the proposed
 resolution. The City Clerk read the resolution by title only.

 It was Council consensus to accept Councilmember Deccio’s request for recusal from
 voting on the matter.

 MOTION: Brown moved and Herrera seconded to adopt the resolution. The motion
 carried by a 6-0 roll call vote; Deccio recused.

 RESOLUTION NO. R-2024-228, A RESOLUTION authorizing a Contract between the
 City of Yakima and Catholic Charities Housing Services for federal housing and urban
 development HOME American Rescue Plan funds for construction of a 72-unit
 affordable housing project known as Casa de la Mora.


December 17, 2024 – Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 3
 C. Ordinance adopting the 2025-2026 Priority Based Biennial Budget for the City of
 Yakima

 City Manager Vicki Baker and Director of Finance & Budget Viren Mayani briefed the
 Council on the proposed ordinance adopting the 2025-2026 Priority Based Biennial
 Budget for the City of Yakima.

 The City Clerk read the ordinance by title only.

 Council members expressed appreciation to City staff for their work during the lengthy
 budget process.

 MOTION: Deccio moved and Brown seconded to pass the ordinance. The motion
 carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.

 ORDINANCE NO. 2024-049, AN ORDINANCE adopting the biennial budget for the City
 of Yakima, Washington, for the fiscal years 2025-2026; and making appropriations for
 estimated expenditures.

 D. Discussion with community service providers relating to opioid epidemic

 City Attorney Sara Watkins introduced the discussion with community service providers
 relating to the opioid epidemic. The participants included: Dr. Gillian Zuckerman, Dr.
 Richard Repass and Jon Schlenske (Comprehensive Healthcare); Dr. Jocelyn Pedrosa
 and Annette Rodgriguez (Yakima Neighborhood Health Services); Cassidy Leslie
 (Triumph Treatment); Melissa Sixberry and Erica Ochoa (Yakima Health District);
 Megan Tweedy (Community leader); and Dr. Caleb Banta-Green and Mandy Owens,
 PhD (University of Washington Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute).

 The discussion centered around how service providers address opioid use disorders,
 services provided in the community, trends and updates from the previous year, funding
 or resources available, new restrictions and how that has affected the ability to serve
 the community.

 Dr. Pedrosa, with Yakima Neighborhood Health Services (YNHS), shared information
 about activity related to their opioid use disorder population. YNHS saw an increase in
 overdose incidents requiring the administration of naloxone and a higher number of
 individuals receiving treatment for Hepatitis C.

 Dr. Caleb Banta-Green and Mandy Owens, PhD, talked about their work with the
 University of Washington Addictions, Drug and Alcohol Institute.

4. Adjournment

 MOTION: Brown Move moved and Deccio seconded to adjourn to the next City
 Council regular meeting on January 7, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at
 City Hall. The motion carried by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.m.




December 17, 2024 – Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 3
CERTIFICATION
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY
 /s/ Signature on File
 ____________________________________
 COUNCIL MEMBER DATE

 /s/ Signature on File
 ____________________________________
 COUNCIL MEMBER DATE

ATTEST:

 /s/ Signature on File
____________________________________ /s/ Signature on File
 ____________________________________
 CITY CLERK MAYOR




December 17, 2024 – Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 3