City Council Study Session — Yakima, WA
Date: 2025-06-10

YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 June 10, 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.

Executive Session
Executive Session to discuss potential litigation pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i)
MOTION: Deccio moved and Byers seconded to adjourn to Executive Session for one
hour to discuss potential litigation pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i). The motion carried by
4-0 vote; Roy, Berg, and Herrera not present.

Assistant Mayor Brown announced that Council would be in executive session until 5:00 p.m.
and is not expected to take further action following executive session.
Present for Executive Session: Mayor Byers (attending remotely via speakerphone), Assistant
Mayor Brown, and Councilmembers Berg (present at 4:45 p.m.), Deccio, Glenn, Herrera
(attending remotely via speakerphone)
Absent and Excused: Councilmember Roy
Executive session was held at 4:07 p.m. and adjourned at 4:59 p.m. The regular meeting was
called to order at 5:02 p.m.

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

2) Public Comment (allow 15 minutes)
 Randall Leofsky, City resident, expressed concerns with utilizing TBD funds for trolley
 services when the City is in a budget crisis and there are other infrastructure needs.
 Anne Knapp, City resident, spoke about various aspects of the budget deficit and expressed
 support about potential budget revenue options, such as impact fees.
 Luis Lopez, City resident, thanked Public Works staff for recent alley improvements and
 appreciated Council’s decisions relating to matters which may cause division in the city.
 Tony Sandoval, City resident, spoke against allowing public commenters to yield their time
 to others and encouraged Council to create an economic development committee.




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 Ken Johnsen (Yakima Valley Trolley Association President) and Clayton Bussey (Historic
 Preservation Commission member), spoke in support of the trolley and encouraged
 collaboration in seeking funding to preserve the trolley.
 Tony Courcy, City resident, spoke about a crosswalk at 16th Ave and Hathaway Ave.

3) Study Session Items

 3.A 2026 Budget options and recommendations
 City Manager Vicki Baker and Director of Finance and Budget Craig Warner provided
 a brief overview of results obtained through extensive community outreach efforts
 related to the City's current financial challenges. The City is facing a $9 million deficit in
 the 2026 general fund budget which covers streets, parks, public safety, and other city
 services and programs.

 Baker and Warner presented an in-depth review of the following revenue possibilities:
  Utility Tax: a 5% increase would generate approximately $2.5 million; however,
 implementation could impact economic development efforts
  Transportation Benefit District: an increase from $20 to $40 would have an impact
 on other city funds; therefore, staff recommended reserving this option for future
 transportation capital needs
  Transportation Benefit District Sales Tax: proposed 0.1% sales tax would implicate
 other city funds and staff recommended reserving this option for future
 transportation capital needs
  Impact Fees, Fire District, and Metropolitan Parks District: these options require
 long-term planning and evaluation therefore are not deemed viable at this time
  Public Safety Sales Tax Additional 0.1%: this option includes provisions that
 require further analysis and vetting
  EMS Levy: this option does not support the police department and parks and
 requires a supermajority vote for approval
  CPI Adjustment to City Charter: this option requires a charter amendment
  Voter-Approved Levy Options: proposed public safety levy and parks levy requires
 a ballot measure
  City-Wide User Fee Increases: staff will compare rates with similar jurisdictions
 with a rate review presentation at a future meeting

 Baker and Warner reviewed reduction options to bridge the gap in the budget shortfall:
  Option A: full cuts as identified in the city-wide budget survey, totaling $9 million
  Option B: public safety levy to support related services
  Option C: parks levy to maintain related parks and recreation programs
  Option D: city services levy to cover the service reductions

 Staff recommended a $5.4 million public safety levy, a $1.8 million parks levy,
 reduction of services totaling $1.8 million, and fee increases to offset certain service
 reductions.

 After Council discussion, staff agreed to bring back more information relating to the
 public safety sales tax and the staff recommended revenue levies. Additional details
 about the budget reduction program list will also be provided.




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4) Adjournment

 MOTION: Deccio moved and Berg seconded to adjourn to the next City Council
 regular meeting on June 17, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.
 The motion carried by unanimous vote; Roy and Herrera absent. The meeting adjourned
 at 6:38 p.m.


CERTIFICATION
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ATTEST:

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