City Council Special Meeting — Yakima, WA
Date: 2024-11-26

YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 November 26, 2024
 Yakima Convention Center Room B, 10 N. 8th Street, Yakima, WA
 5:30 PM City Council Special Meeting – Conducted in person.
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 (present at 5:37 p.m.)
 Staff: City Manager Vicki Baker, City Attorney Sara Watkins and City Clerk Rosalinda Ibarra

2. Public Comment (allow 15 minutes)
 Jeanna Hernandez, City resident, requested an opportunity for additional public comment after
 the budget presentation and discussion.
 Luis Lopez, City resident, spoke about suspicious activity increasing in his neighborhood.

3. Special Meeting Items
 A. 2025-2026 Budget discussion options
 City Manager Vicki Baker shared her long-term financial roadmap and vision in order to
 create sustainable budget practices. With the assistance of Finance consultant Mike Bailey
 and Director of Finance and Budget Viren Mayani, Ms. Baker presented Council short term
 budgetary options to address the current financial challenges facing the City of Yakima.
 After extensive Council discussion,
 MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to direct staff to create a new policy
 reserve to 12% and prepare a resolution. The motion carried by unanimous consent.
 It was City Council consensus to move forward with the following administrative functions:
 - Move bond payoff in Streets to general fund
 - Utilize CDBG funds to support the construction of MLK Aquatic Center
 - Change policy on salary savings funds
 - Reduce professional services across all departments
 - Eliminate all non-essential travel except certifications
 - Reduce overtime costs in Police and Fire

 B. Ordinance amending YMC Chapter 7.64.040 to update the utility tax for the Storm
 Drainage and Surface Water Management Utility
 Director of Public Works Scott Schafer briefed Council on the proposed ordinance to
 increase the stormwater utility tax from 15% to 20%.
 The City Clerk read the ordinance by title only.
 MOTION: Deccio moved and Herrera seconded to approve the ordinance amending
 YMC Chapter 7.64.040 to update the utility tax for storm drainage and surface water
 management utility. The motion carried by a 5-2 roll call vote; with Berg and Brown
 voting no.


November 26, 2024 – Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 2
 ORDINANCE NO. 2024-037, AN ORDINANCE amending Yakima Municipal Code
 Chapter 7.64.040 YMC to update the utility tax for the Storm Drainage and Surface Water
 Management Utility.

 C. Ordinance amending City of Yakima Municipal Code Section 3.85.020, Aquatic Center at
 Martin Luther King Jr. Park Fund
 Director of Public Works Scott Schafer briefed Council on the proposed ordinance intended
 to dedicate the 5% stormwater tax increase to the Aquatic Center at Martin Luther King Jr.
 Park Fund to provide funding for the operations of the new aquatic center facility.
 The City Clerk read the ordinance by title only.
 MOTION: Herrera moved and Deccio seconded to pass the ordinance. The motion
 failed by a 5-2 roll call vote; with Berg, Brown, Byers, Glenn, and Roy voting no.
 MOTION: Brown moved and Berg seconded to direct staff to bring back an
 ordinance that includes this funding going towards all pool operations. The motion
 passes by a 5-2 roll call vote; with Glenn and Herrera voting no.

 D. Ad hoc advisory budget committee discussion
 City Attorney Sara Watkins provided information about forming a budget committee. The
 Council discussed at length the expectations of the task and purpose for an advisory
 budget committee to include: reviewing and analyzing the City budget; public engagement
 and feedback; identifying cost-saving measures; and monitoring financial performance.
 MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to direct staff to create a resolution
 formalizing a budget advisory ad hoc committee and bring back to the December
 10th meeting. The motion carried by unanimous consent.

4. Adjournment
 MOTION: Brown moved and Berg seconded to adjourn to the next City Council regular
 meeting on December 3, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The motion
 carried by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:41 p.m.

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



November 26, 2024 – Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 2