City Council Regular Meeting — Yakima, WA
Date: 2024-11-04

YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 November 4, 2024
 City Hall - Council Chambers - 129 N 2nd Street, Yakima, WA
 5:30 PM City Council Regular Meeting – 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

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

2. Pledge of Allegiance
 Mayor Byers introduced local Girl Scout Troop members who led the Pledge of Allegiance.

3. Interpreter Services
 Mayor Byers introduced Jorge Villaseñor who announced interpreter services are available
 in Spanish.

4. Public Comment
 Valeria Delgado-Aceves, White Swan resident, spoke in favor of the Harm Reduction
 Program and urged Council to continue supporting this program.
 Judith Ramos, Sunnyside resident and nursing student at Heritage University; Veronica
 Palomares, Yakima resident and nursing student at Heritage University; Aubrie Cheatham
 Yakima resident and nursing student at Heritage University; spoke in support of funding for
 a dedicated DUI officer position.

5. Open Discussion for the Good of the Order
 A. Draft Small Business Saturday proclamation
 MOTION: Deccio moved and Brown seconded to approve the proclamation. The
 motion carried by unanimous vote.

6. Council Reports
 None.

7. Consent Agenda
 Mayor Byers referred to the items placed on the Consent Agenda, questioning whether
 there were any additions or deletions from Council members present. There were no
 changes. 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.)




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 MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to approve the consent agenda. The
 motion carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
 A. Approval of minutes from the October 15, 2024 City Council regular meeting and
 October 22, 2024 and October 29, 2024 study sessions
 B. Set date of November 19, 2024, for a public hearing on the 2025-2029 Consolidated
 Plan process
 C. Resolution authorizing contract with Knobel's Electric Inc. for the S 3rd Ave & Division
 St Signalization Project 2598
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2024-195, A RESOLUTION authorizing an agreement with
 Knobel’s Electric Inc. for the S 3rd Avenue & Division Street Signalization Project 2598.
 D. Resolution authorizing contract with Total Site Services LLC for the Systemic
 Pedestrian Safety Improvements Project 2675
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2024-196, A RESOLUTION authorizing an agreement with Total
 Site Services LLC for the Systemic Pedestrian Safety Improvements Project 2675.
 E. Resolution authorizing Interagency Agreement with Washington State Department of
 Transportation for Field Survey Collection
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2024-197, A RESOLUTION authorizing Agreement GCC 1057
 with the Washington State Department of Transportation for Field Survey Collection.
 F. Resolution authorizing an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Union Gap for
 stormwater laboratory services
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2024-198, A RESOLUTION authorizing an Interlocal
 Agreement between the City of Yakima and the City of Union Gap for Stormwater
 Laboratory Services.
 G. Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the funding agreements with
 Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the 2024 HOME and CDBG grant contracts
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2024-199, A RESOLUTION authorizing the City Manager to
 accept the 2024 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Funds
 and execute the Funding contracts as mandated by the Department of Housing and
 Urban Development (HUD).
 H. Resolution authorizing an agreement with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission
 to provide funding for a dedicated DUI officer position
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2024-200, A RESOLUTION authorizing an agreement with
 Washington Traffic Safety Commission to provide pass-through funding from the US
 Department of Transportation to fund a police officer position for impaired driving patrol.
 I. Resolution adopting Yakima Transit's Transit Development Plan for 2024-2029 and
 Annual Report for 2023
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2024-201, A RESOLUTION adopting Yakima Transit’s
 Development plan for 2024-2029 and annual report for 2023.

8. Public Hearings
 A. Open record public hearing to consider the Yakima Planning Commission's recommendation
 on a Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA#001-24) and Rezone (RZ#001-24) request for
 five parcels in the vicinity of the 2000 block of Viola Ave and Simpson Ln


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 Planning Manager Trevor Martin introduced this item and briefed Council on the Yakima
 Planning Commission's recommendation.
 Mayor Byers administered the Appearance of Fairness Doctrine. Each Councilmember
 answered negatively or affirmatively to the following questions:
 1. Do you have any interest in the property or the application, or do you own property
 within 300 feet of the property subject to the application? All Council members
 responded they did not.
 2. Do you stand to gain or lose any financial benefit as a result of the outcome of this
 proposal? The response from Council members was no.
 3. Can you hear and consider the application in a fair and objective manner, without
 bias? All Council members stated they could.
 4. Have you had any ex parte communications with the Applicants, or anyone else,
 regarding this application? All Council members responded no.
 Mayor Byers opened the public hearing. Mayor Byers asked if anyone wished to
 challenge any Council member’s participation in this application on appearance of
 fairness grounds? No one from the audience or on Zoom spoke to the issue.
 With no one coming forward or calling in to speak, Mayor Byers closed the public hearing.
 MOTION: Deccio moved and Brown seconded to approve the Yakima Planning
 Commission’s recommendation and direct staff to prepare the appropriate
 ordinance for consideration at a subsequent meeting. The motion carried by a 7-0
 roll call vote.
 B. Open record public hearing to consider the Yakima Planning Commission's recommendation
 on a Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA#002-24) and Rezone (RZ#002-24) request for
 7500 W Nob Hill Blvd
 Associate Planner Connor Kennedy introduced this item and briefed Council on the Yakima
 Planning Commission's recommendation.
 Mayor Byers administered the Appearance of Fairness Doctrine. Each Councilmember
 answered negatively or affirmatively to the following questions:
 1. Do you have any interest in the property or the application, or do you own property
 within 300 feet of the property subject to the application? All Council members
 responded they did not.
 2. Do you stand to gain or lose any financial benefit as a result of the outcome of this
 proposal? The response from Council members was no.
 3. Can you hear and consider the application in a fair and objective manner, without
 bias? All Council members stated they could.
 4. Have you had any ex parte communications with the Applicants, or anyone else,
 regarding this application? All Council members responded no.
 Mayor Byers opened the public hearing. Mayor Byers asked if anyone wished to
 challenge any Council member’s participation in this application on appearance of
 fairness grounds? No one from the audience or on Zoom spoke to the issue.
 With no one coming forward or calling in to speak, Mayor Byers closed the public hearing.
 MOTION: Deccio moved and Brown seconded to approve and direct staff to
 prepare the appropriate ordinance accepting the recommendation of the Planning
 Commission for consideration at a subsequent meeting. The motion carried by a 7-0
 roll call vote.




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 C. Open record public hearing to consider the Yakima Planning Commission's recommendation
 on a Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA#003-24) and Rezone (RZ#003-24) request for
 8603 & 8604 Ahtanum Rd
 Planning Manager Trevor Martin introduced this item and briefed Council on the Yakima
 Planning Commission's recommendation.
 Mayor Byers administered the Appearance of Fairness Doctrine. Each Councilmember
 answered negatively or affirmatively to the following questions:
 1. Do you have any interest in the property or the application, or do you own property
 within 300 feet of the property subject to the application? All Council members
 responded they did not.
 2. Do you stand to gain or lose any financial benefit as a result of the outcome of this
 proposal? The response from Council members was no.
 3. Can you hear and consider the application in a fair and objective manner, without
 bias? All Council members stated they could.
 4. Have you had any ex parte communications with the Applicants, or anyone else,
 regarding this application? All Council members responded no.
 Mayor Byers opened the public hearing. Mayor Byers asked if anyone wished to
 challenge any Council member’s participation in this application on appearance of
 fairness grounds? No one from the audience or on Zoom spoke to the issue.
 With no one coming forward or calling in to speak, Mayor Byers closed the public hearing.
 MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to approve and direct staff to
 prepare the appropriate ordinance for consideration at a subsequent meeting
 based on the approval of the Planning Commission. The motion carried by a 7-0 roll
 call vote.

 D. Public hearing and Ordinances pertaining to Ad Valorem Taxes (property tax) to be levied
 for collection in fiscal year 2025
 City Manager Vicki Baker opened this item for discussion. Finance Manager Kimberly
 Dominé reviewed the proposed ordinances pertaining to ad valorem taxes which authorizes
 the County Assessor to levy real and personal property taxes necessary to fund the City of
 Yakima's 2025-2026 Biennial Budget. Staff stressed the importance of passing this
 legislation because it provides the primary funding source for the City’s budget.
 Deanna Gregory, with Pacifica Law Group, further briefed Council on budget-based property
 tax levies and provided an overview of municipal bond financing tools and legal obligations.
 Mayor Byers opened the public hearing.
 With no one coming forward or calling in to speak, Mayor Byers closed the public hearing.
 The City Clerk read Ordinance A by title only.
 MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to pass Ordinance A. The motion
 carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
 A. ORDINANCE NO. 2024-032, AN ORDINANCE relating to the annual property tax
 levy; declaring the City Council’s intent to increase the City’s 2025 regular levy up to
 101% along with new construction, annexation, refunds and growth in state-assessed
 property values from the amount levied the previous year.
 The City Clerk read Ordinance B by title only.




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 MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to pass Ordinance B. The motion
 carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
 B. ORDINANCE NO. 2024-033, AN ORDINANCE fixing and levying the amount of ad
 valorem taxes necessary to discharge the expected expenses and obligations for the
 2025 Budget for the City of Yakima.

 E. First public hearing on the 2025-2026 Preliminary Biennial Budget for the City of Yakima.
 Director of Finance and Budget Viren Mayani briefed Council on the 2025-2026
 Preliminary Biennial Budget and reported on the forecast for General Fund and Citywide
 revenues and expenditures. He highlighted several changes impacting the budget and
 noted an anticipated deficit in 2025 and 2026. An update on projects funded by ARPA
 funds was also provided.
 Mayor Byers opened the public hearing.
 With no one coming forward or calling in to speak, Mayor Byers closed the public hearing.

9. Department Items

 A. Draft 2025 City of Yakima State and Federal Legislative Priorities
 Communications and Public Affairs Manager Randy Beehler briefed Council on the 2025
 State and Federal Legislative Priorities.
 After Council discussion,
 MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to adopt the 2025 State and Federal
 Legislative Priorities. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

 B. Ordinance amending the 2024 Budget for the City of Yakima and making appropriations
 from unappropriated fund balances within various funds for expenditure during 2024 for
 various purposes (First Reading)
 Director of Finance and Budget Viren Mayani briefed Council on the first reading of
 proposed amendments to the 2024 budget.
 The City Clerk read the ordinance by title only.
 First Reading of AN ORDINANCE amending the 2024 Budget for the City of Yakima; and
 making appropriations from Unappropriated Fund Balances within various funds for
 expenditure during 2024 for various purposes.

 C. 2025 - 2026 Budget Discussion
 Director of Finance and Budget Viren Mayani presented follow-up information on the
 preliminary 2025-2026 Biennial Budget. He noted several projects that remain unfunded
 and will therefore impact reserve fund levels if alternative revenue options are not
 implemented. Mr. Mayani also explained several previously identified revenue sources that
 staff recommend not moving forward with at this time.
 Additional information was provided on the following revenue options for Council to review,
 such as a levy lid lift, remove Charter directed CPI inflator, increase in-lieu utility taxes,
 implement impact fees, charge technology fees, EMS levy, establish a fire district, impose
 a business and occupation tax, increase the Transportation Benefit District fee, and
 charge a sales tax on the Transportation Benefit District fee.




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 After extensive Council discussion,
 MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to direct staff to explore and develop
 options for a public safety levy in coordination with police and fire and bring back to
 a future Council meeting for discussion. Motion carried by unanimous vote.

 MOTION: Deccio moved and Glenn seconded to direct staff to prepare Charter
 amendment language to remove the Charter directed inflator CPI and other
 amendments and bring back at a study session. Motion carried by unanimous vote.

 MOTION: Deccio moved and Byers seconded to direct staff to put together an
 ordinance for the in-lieu increase for Stormwater fees. The motion carried by 4-3 vote;
 Brown, Glenn, and Berg voting no.

 MOTION: Berg moved and Deccio seconded to direct staff to bring an ordinance
 related to impact fees comparable to Union Gap. The motion carried by 5-2 vote; Brown
 and Glenn voting no.

10. City Manager Update
 City Manager Baker thanked Council for their willingness to continue to review and discuss
 budget options.

11. Other Business
 None.

12. Adjournment
 MOTION: Brown moved and Herrera seconded to adjourn to the next City Council
 study session on November 12, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City
 Hall. The motion carried by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 8.49 p.m.



CERTIFICATION
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 COUNCIL MEMBER DATE

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ATTEST:

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 CITY CLERK MAYOR




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