City Council Regular Meeting — Yakima, WA
Date: 2026-05-12

YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 May 12, 2026
 City Hall – Council Chambers – 129 N 2nd Street, Yakima, WA
 5:30 PM City Council Regular Meeting – Conducted in person and virtually via Zoom.

1) Roll Call
 The meeting was called to order at 5:31 p.m.
 Present: Mayor Matt Brown, presiding; Assistant Mayor Reedy Berg and Councilmembers
 Patricia Byers, Rick Glenn, Felisa Gonzalez, Juliet Potrykus and Leo Roy
 Staff: City Manager Vicki Baker, City Attorney Sara Watkins and City Clerk Rosalinda
 Ibarra

2) Pledge of Allegiance
 Mayor Brown led the Pledge of Allegiance.

3) Interpreter Services
 An interpreter was not available for this meeting.

4) Public Comment
 The following individuals commented in opposition to ending fluoridation in the City of
 Yakima water system: Fotinos Panagakos (City resident), Karen Tritinger-Young (City
 resident), Carlos Dorantes (City resident), Russell Maier (City resident), Kevin Hudson
 (City resident), Andrew Hieber (City resident), Michael Morrison (City resident), Jennifer
 Domagalski (County resident), Mary Ann Walker (County resident), Chris Dorow (non-
 City resident),Marilyn Firman (non-City resident)
 Daylene Ackerman, County resident, talked about the negative effects of fluoride.
 Zachary Galland (City resident), Michael Morrison (City resident), and Noemi Sanchez
 (City resident) spoke about neighborhood safety, privacy and surveillance issues related
 to automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras, and urged Council to end the use of
 Flock cameras in Yakima.
 William Chichenoff (City resident), Meloney Rosen (non-City resident, Habitat for Humanity),
 and Shelly Parker (non-City resident, Habitat for Humanity) encouraged Council to expand
 the allowable uses of the HB 1406 affordable housing funds to address current needs.
 Tony Courcy, City resident, spoke on several matters including the ONDS home repair
 program.



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5) Good of the Order
 5.A Mental Health Awareness Month proclamation
 MOTION: Gonzalez moved and Byers seconded to approve the Mental Health
 Awareness Month proclamation and request that it be read and presented.
 The motion carried by unanimous vote.
 Councilmember Berg proclaimed May 2026 as "Mental Health Awareness Month"
 and Angela Bazan accepted the proclamation.
6) Council Reports
 None.
7) Consent Agenda
 Mayor Brown referred to the items placed on the Consent Agenda, questioning whether
 there were any additions or deletions from Council members present. Item 7D and 7E
 were removed from the Consent Agenda. The City Clerk read the Consent Agenda
 items, including resolutions and ordinances, by title. (Items on the Consent Agenda are
 handled under one motion without further discussion-see motion directly below.)
 MOTION: Berg moved and Byers seconded to approve the consent agenda read.
 The motion carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
 7.A Resolution accepting and approving 1st Quarter 2026 Claim Report
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-064, A RESOLUTION accepting and approving the
 1st Quarter 2026 Claim Report for the City of Yakima.
 7.B Resolution authorizing Right of Way Use Permit Application RL260011 for Iglesia
 de Dios Puerta De Salvacion at 301 S 9th Avenue
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-065, A RESOLUTION authorizing the issuance of a
 right-of-way use permit to allow a new ADA compliant ramp for the Iglesia de
 Dios Puerta De Salvacion Church.
 7.C Resolution authorizing Right of Way Use Permit Application RL260019 for
 Michelsen Packaging Co. at 922 N 1st Ave
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-066, A RESOLUTION authorizing the issuance of a
 right-of-way use permit to allow Michelsen Packaging Co. truck traffic use on
 Quince Street between N. 4th Ave. and N. 1st Ave.
 7.D Resolution authorizing an Interlocal Agreement with Purchasing Cooperative of
 America (PCA) for Cooperative Purchasing Services
 This item was removed from the Consent Agenda.
 7.E Resolution awarding and authorizing an agreement with InfoSend, Inc., for Utility
 Bill Printing and Bulk Mailing Services
 This item was removed from the Consent Agenda.
 7.F Resolution authorizing the write-off of certain uncollectable accounts receivables
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-069, A RESOLUTION authorizing the write-off of
 certain uncollectable central accounts receivables for the City of Yakima.
 7.G Resolution authorizing the write-off of certain uncollectable utility accounts
 receivables
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-070, A RESOLUTION authorizing the write-off of
 certain uncollectable accounts receivable by the utility funds of the City of Yakima.


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 7.H Resolution authorizing a grant program agreement with the Department of
 Ecology for environmental cleanup of Tiger Oil site at 2312 W Nob Hill Blvd
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-071, A RESOLUTION authorizing the execution of
 an agreement with Department of Ecology (Ecology) for the former Tiger Oil site
 located at 2312 West Nob Hill Boulevard.
Items removed from the Consent Agenda
 7.D Resolution authorizing an Interlocal Agreement with Purchasing Cooperative of
 America (PCA) for Cooperative Purchasing Services
 Purchasing Manager Rudy Silva briefed Council on the proposed resolution.
 The City Clerk read the resolution by title only.
 MOTION: Berg moved and Byers seconded to adopt Item D resolution. The
 motion carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-067, A RESOLUTION authorizing the City Manager
 to execute an Interlocal Agreement for Cooperative Purchasing Services
 between the City of Yakima and Purchasing Cooperative of America (PCA).
 7.E Resolution awarding and authorizing an agreement with InfoSend, Inc., for Utility
 Bill Printing and Bulk Mailing Services
 Utility Customer Services Manager Anabel Chavez briefed Council on the resolution
 and responded to questions related to timely billing and paperless options.
 The City Clerk read the resolution by title only.
 MOTION: Berg moved and Byers seconded to approve the resolution on
 Item E. The motion carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-068, A RESOLUTION awarding and authorizing an
 agreement with InfoSend, Inc., for Utility Bill Printing and Bulk Mailing Services
 for the Utility Services Division.
8) Public Hearings
 8.A Resolution adopting findings of fact and sending moratorium issues to the Yakima
 Planning Commission
 City Attorney Sara Watkins briefed Council on the proposed resolution related to a
 moratorium on halfway houses and secured community transition facilities (SCTF).
 The resolution would allow the Yakima Planning Commission to review the zoning,
 permitting and other land uses associated and make recommendation for Title 15
 revisions. No new applications will be accepted or permits issued for the duration
 of the six-month moratorium period.
 Mayor Brown opened the public hearing.
 The following individuals provided testimony: Anthony (Tony) Courcy; William
 Chichenoff commented about clean and sober houses; and Melissa Christianson
 and Gerry Heyen spoke in support of the moratorium.
 With no one else coming forward to speak, Mayor Brown closed the public hearing.
 The City Clerk read the resolution by title only.



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 After Council discussion,
 MOTION: Byers moved and Berg seconded to adopt the resolution and direct
 the Yakima Planning Commission to review the issue and provide
 recommendations to the City Council. The motion carried by 7-0 roll call vote.
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-072, A RESOLUTION adopting findings of fact for the
 6-month moratorium of halfway house and secure community transition facility use
 applications in the City of Yakima and directing the Yakima Planning Commission
 to review the issue and provide recommendations to the City Council.
9) Department Items
 9.A Mill Site Update
 Community Development Director Bill Preston and Yakima County Engineer Matt
 Pietrusiewicz provided an update on the Bravo Company Blvd project, collectively
 known as the East-West Corridor, which crosses through the former Boise Cascade
 Mill Site property. The overall project also includes future lane improvements to I-82
 by the Washington State Department of Transportation.
 The City of Yakima and Yakima County are currently in a waiting period while the
 Department of Ecology completes the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
 process before any road construction activity can proceed. However, Mr. Preston
 indicated that water and sewer lines can be installed in the portion identified as City
 Phase 1A and 1B (purple area) without being impacted by ongoing NEPA issues.
 He also noted that because the city is designated as a potential liable party it is
 responsible for cleanup efforts around the former municipal landfill site.
 Mr. Pietrusiewicz provided a timeline of the project funding and actions to date and
 emphasized that Yakima County is ready to remove wood waste and clean up the
 area where the county road would ultimately cross the I-82 interstate.
 9.B Process to put fluoridation of water on the ballot
 City Attorney Sara Watkins briefed Council on the process needed to add a ballot
 measure related to fluoridation in the City of Yakima water system. Because the
 people voted by initiative to fluoridate its drinking water, the people would similarly
 need to decide whether it wants to discontinue fluoridating its water supply. State
 law and the Department of Health also have notification requirements to discontinue
 fluoridation of at least 90 days prior to any meeting at which a decision will occur.
 Staff recommended that the City Council determine if it wants to move forward with
 an evaluation of whether to create an initiative on the matter; select which election
 date to add the ballot measure to; send out the required notification; and provide
 opportunity for public participation on the issue of fluoridation.
 After Council discussion,
 MOTION: Potrykus moved and Berg seconded to postpone this item indefinitely
 [discussion of putting fluoridation on the ballot]. The motion carried by 6-1 roll call vote,
 Brown voting no.
10) Council Open Discussion
 Mayor Brown reported that the issues related to the delayed removal of the Transportation
 Benefit District car tab fees have been resolved and the removal of fees will proceed as
 scheduled, to be effective July 1st.



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 Councilmember Potrykus invited outside groups, including non-profits, to share their
 ideas with them so Council can review and possibly facilitate requests.
11) City Manager Update
 11.A Preview of upcoming topics
 City Manager Vicki Baker recognized National Police Week and extended an
 invitation to YPD’s Memorial Service ceremony on May 15th. She also thanked
 Assistant City Manager Gary Ballew for volunteering to raise funds for YPD.
 Ms. Baker reported that Yakima will be hosting the 2026 FIRA USA agriculture
 robotics conference at State Fair Park in October. Council thanked YCDA and
 the SIED Board for their efforts in securing this event which enhances the area’s
 agricultural industry.
 Upcoming topics include a discussion about Opportunity Zones 2.0.
12) Other Business
 MOTION: Byers moved and Brown seconded to direct staff to prepare an America
 250 Light it Up! proclamation to be placed on the June 9 agenda. The motion
 carried by unanimous vote.
13) Adjournment
 MOTION: Byers moved and Berg seconded to adjourn to the next City Council
 regular meeting on May 19, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.
 The motion carried by unanimous vote.
 The meeting adjourned at 7:43 p.m.


CERTIFICATION
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY
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 ______________________________________
 COUNCIL MEMBER DATE

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 COUNCIL MEMBER DATE

ATTEST:

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 _________________________________
 CITY CLERK MAYOR




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