City Council Study Session — Yakima, WA
Date: 2026-02-10

YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 February 10, 2026
 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
 The meeting was called to order at 5:03 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 Deputy City Clerk
 Brandy Bradford
2) Public Comment (allow 15 minutes)
 Greg Johnsen, non-City resident, spoke in support of the Yakima Valley Trolleys.
 Tony Courcy, City resident, questioned the City’s budget spending.
3) Study Session Items
 3.A Chronic nuisance report
 Yakima Police Chief Shawn Boyle and Senior Assistant City Attorney Brooke
 Hargreaves provided the annual Chronic Nuisance Property report in accordance
 with YMC 11.45 Chronic Nuisance ordinance. Two locations were identified as
 being declared chronic nuisance properties with proper notice provided to the
 property owners and corrective measures established. It was noted that the
 ordinance has been effective in reducing criminal activity in both locations.
 3.B Review of Community Development Proposed Fee Changes - Planning, Codes,
 Engineering
 Assistant City Manager Gary Ballew provided an overview of how Community
 Development divisions help drive Economic Development efforts.
 Community Development staff provided an in-depth review of the current permit
 processes and fees. Staff also introduced proposed fee adjustments for the
 Planning Division, Code Administration Division, and Engineering Division.
 Planning Division – Planning Manager Trevor Martin described the land use
 application process and noted that the Planning Division processed 193 land use
 applications over the past two years. The Community Development Department
 underwent a fee evaluation in 2022 to establish fee projections into 2028. The
 rate of fee increases was based upon cost of service and market rate analysis.
 Some current proposed fee increases are a result of state mandates, such as the
 site plan reviews and unit lot subdivisions. Staff is also recommending revising
 the fees related to special event permits.


February 10, 2026 – Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 2
 Code Administration Division – Supervising Code Inspector Julia Rosales and
 Code Administration Manager Glenn Denman reviewed with Council the fee
 updates pertaining to permitting. To cover the cost of permit processing, reviewing
 and inspections for building permits, staff is recommending updating the minimum
 permit fees and adjusting the building valuation data table rates to reflect a 2.5%
 local cost of level service increase, effective January 1, 2027. For plumbing permit
 fees, staff is suggesting reverting to a per fixture structure with a flat rate. Several
 fee comparisons were described in detail to illustrate the difference in the proposed
 fee adjustments. Other miscellaneous changes include updating the hourly rates
 to appropriately capture staff labor and overhead, correcting fireworks fees, mobile
 home installation duplicated fees, creating a fee for permit expiration extensions,
 clarifying re-inspection and re-review fees, and eliminating change of ownership for
 business licenses.
 Engineering Division – City Engineer Robert Washabaugh described the proposed
 fee adjustments for excavation permits, short-term and long-term right of way use
 permits, and private construction of public improvements. He stated a proposed
 increase to the excavation permit base fee and inspection fee; however, noted that
 the calculation for restoration fees related to excavation permits is not changing but
 the fee is required when there is any disturbance of pavement. In addition to
 increasing fees for right of way use permit applications, an inspection fee is being
 proposed and a slight increase to the annual renewal fee for long-term permits.
 Regarding engineering permits for private construction of public improvements, staff
 suggested changing the current $250 deposit fee (which is deducted from plan
 review and inspection fees) to a static $500 application fee. Several examples were
 shown to demonstrate the current and recommended fee adjustments.
 Assistant City Manager Ballew reported that staff will put forth a resolution for their
 consideration and a future presentation about business and regulatory licenses.
4) Adjournment
 MOTION: Berg moved and Byers seconded to adjourn to the next City Council
 regular meeting on February 17, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.
 The motion carried by unanimous vote.
 The meeting adjourned at 6:49 p.m.

CERTIFICATION
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ATTEST:

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