City Council Regular Meeting — Yakima, WA
Date: 2025-05-06

YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 May 6, 2025
 City Hall – Council Chambers – 129 N 2nd Street, Yakima, WA
 5:30 PM City Council Regular Meeting – Conducted in person and virtually via Zoom.

Executive Session
Executive Session regarding pending litigation pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i)

 MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to adjourn to Executive Session until
 5:30 p.m. to discuss pending litigation pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i). The motion
 carried by a 6-0 unanimous vote; Roy absent. Mayor Byers announced that Council is not
 expected to take further action following executive session.
 Present for Executive Session: Mayor Byers, Assistant Mayor Brown, and Councilmembers
 Berg, Deccio, Glenn, Herrera, and Roy (attending remotely via speakerphone)
 Executive session was held at 5:01 p.m. and adjourned at 5:28 p.m. The regular meeting
 was called to order at 5:30 p.m.

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) Pledge of Allegiance
 Mayor Byers led the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

4) Public Comment
 Patricia Hernandez, City resident, advocated for justice into the investigation of her son’s
 death.
 Tony Sandoval, City resident, played audio for Council of gun shots and emergency
 vehicle sirens in his neighborhood and spoke against any cuts to the police budget.
 Ron Torres, City resident, spoke to Council about HB1110 and the State's preemption on
 middle housing requirements and need for affordable housing.



May 6, 2025 – Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 6
 Shelley White, City resident, addressed concerns about middle housing law changes and
 the revenue which will be made by developers with the changes.

5) Open Discussion for the Good of the Order
 5.A Introduction of Director of Finance & Budget Craig Warner
 City Manager Vicki Baker introduced Craig Warner as the new Director of Finance
 and Budget. She highlighted Mr. Warner's extensive experience and expertise with
 local government financial processes and law.

 5.B Council Nominating Committee recommendations regarding appointments to
 boards, commissions, and committees
 Councilmember Herrera reported on the April 29, 2025 Council Nominating
 Committee meeting. The Nominating Committee's recommendation for
 appointments include:
 • Arts Commission - appoint Reesha Cosby (Capitol Theatre representative),
 Geri O. Ham (Larson Gallery representative), Sylvia Merczel and Jacob Butler
 (Community representatives)
 • Parks and Recreation Commission - appoint Kenneth Wyatt Garcia (youth
 position)
 • Yakima Housing Authority - appoint Eliza Mancilla
 MOTION: Deccio moved and Brown seconded to adopt the Council
 Nominating Committee recommendations. 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.)
 MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to approve the consent agenda. The
 motion carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
 7.A Approval of minutes from the April 15, 2025 City Council regular meeting and April
 22, 2025 City Council study session
 7.B 2025 1st Quarter Financial Report
 7.C Resolution setting date of June 3, 2025 to amend the adopted Six-Year
 Transportation Improvement Program and amend the Capital Facilities Element of
 the Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan for the period of 2025-2030 (No
 budgetary impact)
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2025-074, A RESOLUTION setting the time and place for a
 hearing on June 3, 2025 to review and adopt the amended Six-year Transportation
 Improvement Program and amend the Capital Facilities Element of the Yakima
 Urban Area Comprehensive Plan for the period of 2025-2030.


May 6, 2025 – Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 6
 7.D Resolution accepting and approving 1st Quarter 2025 Claim Report (Risk
 Management)
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2025-075, A RESOLUTION accepting and approving the 1st
 Quarter 2025 Claim Report for the City of Yakima.
 7.E Resolution amending the Yakima Planning Commission Bylaws
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2025-076, A RESOLUTION approving amendments to
 Bylaws of the Yakima Planning Commission.
 7.F Resolution authorizing a contract amendment with InfoSend Inc., for Bulk Printing
 and Mailing Services for Utility Services (Enterprise Fund)
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2025-077, A RESOLUTION authorizing a Contract
 Amendment with InfoSend Inc., for Bulk Printing and Mailing Services for Utility
 Services.
 7.G Resolution authorizing an Agreement with Ascent Foundation & More, LLC for the
 Expanding Water and Wastewater Access to Underserved Communities Project
 AC2570 & SC2605 (Water and Wastewater Capital, USBOR Grant)
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2025-078, A RESOLUTION authorizing an Agreement with
 Ascent Foundation & More LLC for the construction of the Expanding Water and
 Wastewater Access to Unserved Communities Project AC2570 & SC2605.
 7.H Resolution authorizing the Sole Source Purchase of digester mixer motors and
 gear boxes from Whitney Equipment Company, Inc. for the City of Yakima
 Wastewater Division (Wastewater Facilities Capital)
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2025-079, A RESOLUTION authorizing the sole source
 purchase of digester mixer motors and gear boxes and from Whitney Equipment
 Company, Inc. for the City of Yakima Wastewater Division.
 7.I Resolution authorizing contract with Culbert Construction Inc for the S. 72nd
 Avenue & Washington Avenue Roundabout Improvements Project 2517 (Streets
 Capital Fund)
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2025-080, A RESOLUTION authorizing an agreement with
 Culbert Construction Inc for the S 72nd Ave & Washington Roundabout
 Improvements Project 2517.
 7.J Resolution authorizing contract with Graham Baba Architects for the Capitol
 Theatre Capital Improvements 2025 (Public Facilities District Fund)
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2025-081, A RESOLUTION authorizing an agreement with
 Graham Baba Architects for Capitol Theatre Capital Improvements 2025.
 7.K Resolution authorizing an agreement with JUB Engineers, Inc to provide
 construction management services for Phase 1A upgrades in the Yakima Air
 Terminal building (Airport Fund)
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2025-082, A RESOLUTION authorizing the execution of an
 agreement with JUB Engineers, Inc. to provide construction administration services
 for phase 1A upgrades in the terminal building at Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister
 Field.




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 7.L Resolution authorizing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Seattle Police
 Department to receive reimbursement funding for the continued use of forensic cell
 phone tools (No Budgetary Impact)
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2025-083, A RESOLUTION authorizing a Memorandum of
 Understanding with the Seattle Police Department to receive reimbursement
 funding for the continued use of forensic cell phone tools.
 7.M Resolution authorizing a facility use agreement with Kittitas County for use of
 Bowers Field for police vehicle training (No Budgetary Impact)
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2025-084, A RESOLUTION authorizing a Facility Use
 Agreement between Kittitas County and the City of Yakima for use of real property
 commonly known as "Bowers Field" for police vehicle training.
 7.N Resolution authorizing a dispatch communications contract between the City of
 Yakima and the City of Toppenish allowing SunComm to provide dispatching
 services to the Toppenish Police Department (General Fund Revenue)
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2025-085, A RESOLUTION authorizing the City Manager to
 execute a Dispatch Communications Services Contract between the City of
 Yakima and City of Toppenish Police Department.

8) Public Hearings
 8.A Public hearing and Ordinance to consider the Yakima Planning Commission's
 recommendation regarding text amendments to YMC Title 15 - Yakima Urban Area
 Zoning Ordinance, Chapters 15.02, 15.04, and 15.11
 Planning Manager Trevor Martin briefed the Council on the proposed text
 amendments to Title 15 Yakima Urban Area Zoning Ordinance to streamline
 application requirements.
 Mayor Byers opened the public hearing. Tony Sandoval provided remarks
 unrelated to the public hearing matter. With no one else coming forward or calling
 in to speak, Mayor Byers closed the hearing.
 The City Clerk read the ordinance by title only.
 After Council discussion and deliberation,
 MOTION: Deccio moved and Brown seconded to approve the Yakima
 Planning Commission's recommendation and pass the ordinance. The
 motion carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
 ORDINANCE NO. 2025-016, AN ORDINANCE amending Yakima Municipal Code
 Title 15 (Yakima Urban Area Zoning Ordinance) to incorporate text amendments
 recommended by the City of Yakima Planning Commission.
 Mr. Martin shared additional staff recommended amendments to the notice
 requirements in Title 14 Subdivision. It was Council consensus to include these
 text amendments for Council to consider in a future public hearing.

 8.B Public hearing and Ordinance to consider the Yakima Planning Commission's
 recommendation regarding text amendments to YMC Title 15 - Yakima Urban Area
 Zoning Ordinance, Chapters 15.06, 15.08, 15.09, 15.10, 15.13, and 15.17
 Planning Manager Trevor Martin briefed the Council on the proposed text
 amendments to Title 15 Yakima Urban Area Zoning Ordinance regarding changes


May 6, 2025 – Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 6
 to development permit standards, adding an expedited land use review process for
 businesses within existing buildings, and adding clarification to downtown business
 development requirements.
 Mayor Byers opened the public hearing. With no one coming forward or calling in
 to speak, Mayor Byers closed the hearing.
 The City Clerk read the ordinance by title only.
 After Council discussion and deliberation,
 MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to pass the ordinance as
 recommended by the Yakima Planning Commission. The motion carried by a
 7-0 roll call vote.
 ORDINANCE NO. 2025-017, AN ORDINANCE amending Yakima Municipal Code
 Title 15 (Yakima Urban Area Zoning Ordinance) to incorporate text amendments
 recommended by the City of Yakima Planning Commission and adding a new
 section 15.09.026.

9) Department Items
 9.A Citizen Budget Advisory Committee final budget report
 Financial Consultant Mike Bailey presented a progress report from the Citizen
 Budget Advisory Committee. He distributed a memo summarizing the activities of
 the committee members and shared some highlights. The Budget Advisory
 Committee will continue their efforts and provide a final report to the City Council.
 Jeanna Hernandez gave a brief statement about the committee's work and their
 hope to provide a collective of recommendations to Council in approximately one
 month.
 Gunnar Berg provided Council with a list of strategies and a proposed ordinance.
 Mr. Berg's three primary measures include: 1) targeted budget cuts with specific
 examples; 2) CPI based automatic fee adjustments to offset inflation; and, 3)
 renegotiate interlocal service contracts.
 Mayor Byers recognized the members of the Citizen Budget Advisory Committee:
 Dirk Bernd, Gunnar Berg, Matt Duffy, Angie Girard, Dulce Gutierrez, Jeanna
 Hernandez, Luis Lopez

 9.B Budget survey results
 City Manager Vicki Baker presented results from the budget survey and shared
 details about the extensive public engagement efforts conducted at town halls and
 with community groups. She noted that over 2,000 participants completed the
 survey with the top priority for the City's budget being Police services, followed by
 street maintenance, parks and recreation, and Fire services. The budget reduction
 exercise showed that 20% of respondents did not support cutting any of the
 services listed in the budget survey. Additionally, 57% supported increasing taxes
 to help sustain public safety services.
 Councilmembers provided feedback and observations from the town hall meetings.
 Community concerns included maintaining senior services and youth recreation
 programs, long term economic development growth, and preserving funding for
 police services.



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10) City Manager Update
 Ms. Baker thanked Mike Bailey for his assistance and time with the City of Yakima as
 Interim Finance Director and financial consultant.
 She also noted availability for an additional Councilmember to attend the AWC
 Conference on June 24-27.

11) Other Business
 Assistant Mayor Brown informed Council that he requested additional data from Yakima
 County as follow-up from the joint City/County meeting regarding the homeless coalition.

 Councilmember Herrera acknowledged the newly appointed boards and commissions
 members in attendance at the meeting.

 MOTION: Herrera moved and Brown seconded to direct staff to prepare a
 Juneteenth proclamation to be read and presented at the June 3rd regular meeting.
 The motion carried by unanimous vote.

 It was Council consensus to direct staff to prepare a National Salvation Army Week
 proclamation and be placed on the May 13 study session.

12) Adjournment
 MOTION: Brown moved and Berg seconded to adjourn to the next City Council
 study session on May 13, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
 The motion carried by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.


CERTIFICATION

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ATTEST:

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 CITY CLERK MAYOR




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