City Council Study Session — Yakima, WA
Date: 2025-02-11

YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 February 11, 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.

1. Roll Call
 Present: Assistant Mayor Matt Brown, presiding; and Councilmembers Reedy Berg, Janice
 Deccio, Rick Glenn, Danny Herrera and Leo Roy
 Staff: City Manager Vicki Baker, Senior Assistant City Attorney Ryan Bleek and City Clerk
 Rosalinda Ibarra
 Absent and Excused: Mayor Patricia Byers

2. Public Comment (allow 15 minutes)
 Joe Daniels, City resident, read a religious passage and named states that had slavery.

 Tony Courcy, City resident, spoke on several matters related to his property.

 Jeanna Hernandez, City resident, thanked Council for not responding to items frequently
 heard.

3. Study Session Items
 A. Land use basics, middle housing legislation, and Comprehensive Plan process
 Planning Manager Trevor Martin presented information about planning and zoning in
 the City of Yakima. Planning is the technical and regulatory process focused on
 property design and land use. Zoning is a method used by cities to direct specific types
 of desired growth and growth patterns. He provided a brief history of the establishment
 of zoning laws and programs in the United States and how regulations are currently
 applied and implemented in the City. He described the role of City staff, the Yakima
 Planning Commission, and the Hearing Examiner. The Planning Division ensures all
 applicants are afforded due process on land use applications.
 Mr. Martin provided information about House Bill 1110 (known as the “middle housing”
 bill) and House Bill 1337 (related to accessory dwelling units “ADU’s”). The middle
 housing bill requires cities to allow more housing types in predominately residentially
 zoned areas with the goal of increasing housing options and creating more affordable
 neighborhoods. HB 1337 allows homeowners to build more accessory dwelling units
 on their properties and reduces regulatory barriers. He noted that Washington cities
 are required to create a unit lot subdivision process and shared an illustration with
 various examples. Other considerations include exploring additional building design
 criteria.
 Mr. Martin described at length the Comprehensive Plan process required under the
 Growth Management Act (GMA) as well as the annual amendment process. Under the


February 11, 2025 – Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 3
 GMA, the Office of Financial Management develops population projections and
 counties, in consultation with cities, determine where that growth should occur. The
 Comprehensive Plan guides Yakima’s development over the next 20-year period and
 includes the exterior urban growth area boundary. The plan contains required
 elements such as land use, housing, capital facilities, utilities, transportation, and
 climate resilience as well as other optional elements. The Comprehensive Plan may be
 amended on an annual basis in between the mandatory periodic update deadline.
 Without a current or adopted Comprehensive Plan, cities and counties lose eligibility
 for state funding programs.

 B. Resolution opening the Comprehensive Plan Amendment process
 Planning Manager Trevor Martin briefed Council on the resolution.
 The City Clerk read the resolution by title only.
 MOTION: Deccio moved and Berg seconded to adopt the resolution. The motion
 carried by a 6-0 roll call vote; Byers absent.
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2025-032, A RESOLUTION opening the 2025-2026 Comprehensive
 Plan Amendment process pursuant to RCW 36.70A.130, and YMC Ch. 16.10.

 C. Discussion of Comprehensive Plan Including Study of Impact Fees
 Community Development Director Bill Preston and Planning Manager Trevor Martin
 updated the Council on impact fees and requested that direction on whether to move
 forward with preparing a scope of work to study the viability of implementing impact
 fees for development.
 After discussion, it was majority Council consensus that staff work with a
 consultant to develop the scope of work description for an RFQ/RFP that would
 then determine the potential cost of an impact fee study. The Council also
 requested that staff bring back information, before the RFQ process, regarding
 impact fee revenues collected by other jurisdictions.

 D. Discussion of Special Event Permits and Street Closures on Yakima Avenue
 Planning Manager Trevor Martin introduced the discussion regarding Special Event
 Permits and Street Closures. Associate Planner Connor Kennedy provided an
 extensive review of the special event permit workflow process and street closures on
 Yakima Avenue, specifically cruise night events. Special event permits are processed
 pursuant to Yakima Municipal Code 9.70 and permitted cruise nights are established in
 Yakima Municipal Code 9.25. The permit process involves various City divisions and
 can be time-consuming.
 Yakima Police Department Sergeant Scott Grant elaborated on YPD’s involvement in
 the special events, noting the amount of police presence required to ensure public
 safety.
 Assistant Mayor Brown expressed interest in ideas to recoup some costs relating to
 special events and parades.
 After Council discussion, MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to direct
 staff to prepare appropriate legislation to amend YMC 9.25 relating to
 establishing cruising event dates and times by resolution annually. The motion
 carried by unanimous vote; Byers absent.



February 11, 2025 – Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 3
4. Adjournment
 MOTION: Deccio moved and Berg seconded to adjourn to the next City Council
 regular meeting on February 18, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City
 Hall. The motion carried by unanimous vote; Byers absent. The meeting adjourned at 7:06
 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




February 11, 2025 – Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 3