City Council Study Session — Yakima, WA
Date: 2024-10-29

YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 October 29, 2024
 City Hall - Council Chambers - 129 N 2nd Street, Yakima, WA
 5:00 PM City Council Study Session – conducted in person and remotely 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 (attending remotely via
 Zoom)

 Staff: City Manager Vicki Baker, City Attorney Sara Watkins and City Clerk Rosalinda
 Ibarra

2. Public Comment (allow 15 minutes)

 Lucia Cuevas Ramos, a Heritage University student, spoke against budget cuts which may
 affect the Parks and Recreation Division programs.

3. Study Session Items

4. Review of Proposed 2025-2026 Biennial Priority Based Budget Session

 A. Public Works Administration Budget Presentation

 Public Works Director Scott Schafer presented a budget overview of the Public Works
 Department administrative services, consisting of administration, the safety/training
 program, and building maintenance. Mr. Schafer highlighted the department's recent
 accomplishments and future goals and expressed the need for a Deputy Public Works
 Director position.

 B. REET 1 & 2 Budget Presentation

 Public Works Director Scott Schafer presented the proposed budget for the Real
 Estate Excise Tax (REET 1 and REET 2) program, which provides restricted funds for
 capital improvement projects, maintenance and debt service on capital improvements.
 Projects listed in the City of Yakima's Five-Year Capital Plan become eligible for
 REET funding. Mr. Schafer also pointed out the program accomplishments and goals.

 C. Streets and Traffic Budget Presentation

 Public Works Director Scott Schafer presented an overview of the services and costs
 associated with the Streets and Traffic Division. Street operations programs relate to
 sidewalks, snow and ice control, roadway maintenance, street cleaning, and
 administrative and general services. Traffic operations programs consist of street


October 29, 2024 – Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 3
 lighting, traffic control devices, planning, and debt services. Accomplishments and
 goals noted include chip sealing projects, various grind and overlay projects, pathway
 improvements at several parks, traffic signal and battery backup installations, traffic
 light upgrades, re-striping main arterials, and painting crosswalks within school zones.

 D. Parks and Recreation Budget Presentation

 Parks and Recreation Manager Ken Wilkinson presented an extensive overview of the
 costs associated with programs and services provided by the Parks and Recreation
 Division, including Tahoma Cemetery which offers full burial services.

 The community and recreation services include programs at the Washington Fruit
 Community Center, Fisher Park Golf Course, Lions Pool and Franklin Pool, Harman
 Center, adult sports, and youth sports and activities. The division also provides park
 maintenance and ballfield maintenance, capital improvements and repairs to park
 facilities.

 Additionally, funding related to the ongoing construction and future operation of the
 Aquatic Center at MLK Jr. Park are being administered by this division. Mr. Wilkinson
 further shared anticipated budget needs and highlighted major accomplishments over
 the last biennial period.

 E. Budget Wrap-Up Questions and Recommendations

 City Manager Vicki Baker opened the discussion by thanking Council for the opportunity
 to serve the community, as well as praising staff for their hard work moving through the
 priority-based budget process. She intends to engage with the community about their
 priorities and provide education about the City’s requirements and how that two-way
 communication impacts budget decisions.

 Mike Bailey, Finance consultant, briefed the Council about priority-based budgeting.
 Local governments have been experiencing many budget development challenges,
 for instance a decline in property taxes, inflation growth, and limited revenue options.
 Changes within the City's organizational structure have impacted the City's approach
 to implement a priority-based budget method. However, recent accomplishments,
 such as the adoption of the Council’s strategic priorities, can help guide the direction
 to produce a balanced budget using the priority-based budget process.

 Director of Finance and Budget Viren Mayani summarized the proposed 2025-2026
 biennial budget. Mr. Mayani and staff described several revenue options, which
 consist of: rolling engineering fees into grants, analyze and maximize the City's Cost
 Allocation plans, implement technology user fees, update the business license fees,
 establish an in-lieu tax, review the Transportation Benefit District and sales tax, collect
 impact fees, increase the sales tax and restrict its use to public safety, add an EMS
 levy, add a Fire District, add a Metropolitan Parks District, implement Levy Lid Lifts,
 charge a business and operation tax, and adjust the CPI language in the City Charter.

 The Council requested additional information to include revenue generating amounts
 for each of the possible revenue options identified.




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5. Adjournment

 MOTION: Brown moved and Glenn seconded to adjourn to the next City Council
 regular meeting on Monday November 4, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers
 at City Hall. The motion carried by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 8:24 p.m.


CERTIFICATION
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY
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 COUNCIL MEMBER DATE

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ATTEST:

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 CITY CLERK MAYOR




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