City Council Regular Meeting — Yakima, WA
Date: 2026-04-21

YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 April 21, 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 5:34 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, Acting City Attorney Cynthia Martinez and City Clerk
 Rosalinda Ibarra
2) Pledge of Allegiance
 Mayor Brown led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3) Interpreter Services
 Mayor Brown introduced Jorge Villaseñor who announced interpreter services are
 available in Spanish.
4) Public Comment
 Julian Paschen, City resident, spoke about the bathroom closures at Chesterley Park,
 specifically related to potential contractual obligations.
 Tony Sandoval, City resident, spoke in support of the Washington Fruit Community Center.
 William Chichenoff, City resident, suggested instituting a 72-hour hold to address domestic
 violence offenders and prevent future incidents.
 Tony Courcy, City resident, expressed concerns about the crosswalks at 16th Avenue and
 Hathaway.
5) Open Discussion for the Good of the Order
 5.A Recognition of Yakima Police Officer Dulce Diaz for 20 years of service
 Police Chief Shawn Boyle recognized Police Officer Dulce Diaz for 20 years of
 service to the City of Yakima. Officer Diaz thanked the Council for their recognition.
 5.B Consideration of letter to KIMA-TV
 MOTION: Potrykus moved and Berg seconded to have Councilmember Byers
 read the letter into the record and have Council sign it. The motion carried by
 unanimous consent.
 Councilmember Byers read the draft letter aloud. It expressed the City Council's
 appreciation to KIMA-TV for their dedicated service to the Yakima community.


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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 G was 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 as read.
 The motion carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
 7.A Approve payment of disbursements for the period March 1 - 31, 2026
 7.B 2026 1st Quarter Treasury Report
 7.C Resolution amending agreement with Geosyntec Consultants Inc. to support City's
 ongoing Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) program and Disinfection Byproduct
 (DBP) Monitoring
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-050, A RESOLUTION authorizing a contract
 amendment to the DBP Monitoring Study and Ongoing ASR Program Support (City
 Contract No. 2020-075) in the amount of $445,000 for the ASR DBP Monitoring
 and Recharge Enhancement Project No. AC2506.
 7.D Resolution declaring two refuse trucks rolling stock surplus and authorizing the City
 Manager to dispose of said property in a manner most beneficial to the City of
 Yakima
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-051, A RESOLUTION declaring certain rolling stock
 surplus and authorizing the City Manager to dispose of said property in a manner
 most beneficial to the City of Yakima.
 7.E Ordinance amending the 2025-2026 Biennial Budget for the City of Yakima; and
 making appropriations from unappropriated fund balances in various funds for
 expenditures during 2026, including 2025 encumbrances (Second Reading)
 ORDINANCE NO. 2026-018, AN ORDINANCE amending the 2026 Budget for the
 City of Yakima; and making appropriations from Unappropriated Fund Balances
 within various funds for expenditure during 2026 for various purposes including
 2025 encumbrances as described in the attached Schedule I.
 7.F Ordinance amending Yakima Municipal Code Chapter 10.15 relating to fireworks
 permit fees
 ORDINANCE NO. 2026-019, AN ORDINANCE amending the City of Yakima
 Municipal Code Chapter 10.15 Fireworks as it relates to permit fees.
 7.G Ordinance amending Yakima Municipal Code Chapter 11.62 Historic Preservation
 Ordinance for Special Valuation relating to appeal fees
 This item was removed from the consent agenda.



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Items Removed from the Consent Agenda
7. G) Ordinance amending Yakima Municipal Code Chapter 11.62 Historic Preservation Ordinance
 for Special Valuation relating to appeal fees
 Planning Manager Trevor Martin clarified Councilmember Glenn’s concern related to the
 proposed ordinance. The City Clerk read the ordinance by title only.
 MOTION: Berg moved and Byers seconded to approve item 7G and adopt the
 ordinance. The motion carried by a 6-1 roll call vote; with Glenn voting no.
 ORDINANCE NO. 2026-020, AN ORDINANCE amending the City of Yakima Municipal Code
 Chapter 11.62 Historic Preservation Ordinance for Special Valuation as it relates to fees.
8) Public Hearings
 None.
9) Department Items
 9.A Yakima Police Explorers Presentation
 Yakima Police Lieutenant Ira Cavin and Officer Dulce Diaz introduced members of
 the Yakima Police Department Explorers program. Yakima Police Explorer Captain
 Dayanara Abundiz and Lt. Christian Sevao presented information about the law
 enforcement career exploration program for youth. They highlighted their focus on
 leadership skills, discipline, professionalism and community service engagements.
 They mentioned past participants who pursued law enforcement careers.
 9.B Public Safety Update - Police Department
 Police Chief Shawn Boyle presented the first quarter update highlighting the Yakima
 Police Department's continued commitment to community public safety. Chief Boyle
 also provided 2024-2025 crime stats, current staffing levels and impact on overtime,
 and shared success stories resulting from the hard work of the dedicated YPD units.
 9.C Public Safety Update - Fire Department
 Fire Chief Aaron Markham presented the first quarter update highlighting
 significant fire and emergency incidents responded to and community risk
 reduction events conducted by the Yakima Fire Department.
 9.D Resolution authorizing the establishment of a Law Enforcement Memorial Garden
 at the Yakima Police Department to honor fallen officer Sergeant Joseph Deccio
 and other members of law enforcement who have died in the line of duty
 Yakima Arts Commission Staff Liaison Erica McNamara and Police Sgt. Ilifonso
 Garcia briefed the Council on the proposed resolution authorizing city-owned
 property for the installation of public art in the form of a law enforcement memorial
 garden at the Yakima Police Department. The Yakima Arts Commission reviewed
 this proposal and recommended approval of the installation.
 The City Clerk read the resolution by title only.
 MOTION: Glenn moved and Byers seconded to approve the resolution. The
 motion carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-052, A RESOLUTION authorizing the establishment of
 a Law Enforcement Memorial Garden at the Yakima Police Department to honor
 fallen officer Sergeant Joseph Deccio and other members of law enforcement who
 have died in the line of duty.


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 9.E Resolution amending the Master Fee Schedule setting Irrigation Rates for 2026-
 2031
 Water/Irrigation Manager Daniel Tiliano described the proposed resolution setting
 the irrigation rates for 2026-2031.
 The City Clerk read the resolution by title only.
 MOTION: Byers moved and Berg seconded to adopt the resolution. The
 motion carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
 RESOLUTION NO. 2026-053, A RESOLUTION amending the Master Fee
 Schedule regarding annual rates and charges for irrigation rates for Operation and
 Maintenance and Capital Improvement Plan.
 9.F Ordinance amending Yakima Municipal Code Title 5 Licenses and Business
 Regulations, Title 6 Public Safety and Morals, Title 8 Streets and Sidewalks, and
 Title 11 Buildings as it relates to regulatory licenses
 Supervising Code Inspector Julia Rosales briefed Council on the proposed
 ordinance. Staff identified several regulatory licenses that are not necessary and
 recommended that the licensing requirement be removed from the regulations.
 The City Clerk read the ordinance by title only.
 MOTION: Glenn moved and Potrykus seconded to pass the ordinance. The
 motion carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
 ORDINANCE NO. 2026-021, AN ORDINANCE amending the City of Yakima
 Municipal Code Title 5 Licenses and Business Regulations, Title 6 Public Safety
 and Morals, Title 8 Streets and Sidewalks, and Title 11 Buildings as it relates to
 regulatory licenses.
 9.G Ordinance amending Yakima Municipal Code Title 8 Streets and Sidewalks and
 Title 12 Development Standards
 Planning Manager Trevor Martin and Community Development Director Bill Preston
 briefed Council on the proposed ordinance related to Engineering permit fees.
 The City Clerk read the ordinance by title only.
 MOTION: Byers moved and Berg seconded to pass the ordinance. The motion
 carried by a 6-1 roll call vote; with Brown voting no.
 ORDINANCE NO. 2026-022, AN ORDINANCE amending the City of Yakima
 Municipal Code Title 8 Streets and Sidewalks and Title 12 Development Standards.
 9.H Ordinance amending Yakima Municipal Code Title 5 Licenses and Business
 Regulations relating to business license fees
 Supervising Code Inspector Julia Rosales briefed Council on the proposed ordinance
 amending the business licensing chapter related to the removal of curb number
 painting and other housekeeping measures.
 The City Clerk read the ordinance by title only.
 MOTION: Glenn moved and Berg seconded to pass the ordinance. The motion
 carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
 ORDINANCE NO. 2026-023, AN ORDINANCE amending the City of Yakima
 Municipal Code Chapter 5.52 Occupation Taxes-General.


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 9.I Resolution amending the Master Fee Schedule related to permitting and licensing
 fees for Planning, Codes, and Engineering
 Planning Manager Trevor Martin briefed Council on the proposed resolution
 amending the Master Fee Schedule related to building permits and plan review
 fees, business and regulatory license fees, zoning, subdivision and land use fees,
 engineering permit application fee, and other housekeeping amendments.
 The City Clerk read the resolution by title only.
 MOTION: Glenn moved and Byers seconded to approve the resolution. The
 motion carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
 RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-054, A RESOLUTION amending the City of Yakima
 Master Fee Schedule relating to Planning, Codes, and Engineering permitting and
 licensing fees.
 9.J 2025 4th Quarter Financial Report
 Director of Finance & Budget Craig Warner presented the 2025 4th Quarter
 Financial Report and provided insight into the monitoring of General Fund revenue
 and expenses, indicating that the City has excess funds beyond the reserve
 threshold. He mentioned that the information is preliminary, and final calculations
 will be known after the annual audit is conducted later in 2026. Mr. Warner noted
 that the current policy for the reserve fund allows the City to be at a 12% level;
 however, cautioned that a reserve level below 15% can result in a reduced credit
 rating for bond purposes and should not be left at the 12% level permanently.
 He also indicated that additional one-time funds of approximately $450,000
 became available due to the recent passage of utility tax increases dedicated to
 Fire Station 92, which releases some of the funds originally set aside for that
 purpose. The Council discussed at length intended uses for the newly available
 one-time funds. Current needs affecting the community include reopening park
 restrooms and pools, and operating Washington Fruit Community Center and
 Harman Center.
 After amendments and debate, the final version of the motion was considered.
 FINAL AMENDED MOTION: Glenn moved and Byers seconded to open the
 park restrooms at $141,000. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
10) City Manager Update
 10.A Parks bathroom update
 This item was discussed as part of agenda item 9.J.
 10.B Preview of upcoming topics
 City Manager Baker mentioned upcoming topics related to Code of Ethics and
 Principles of Conduct and an update on the Mill Site property.
11) Other Business
 MOTION: Gonzalez moved and Berg seconded to direct staff to prepare a Mental
 Health Awareness month proclamation to be placed on the May 12 agenda. The
 motion carried by unanimous vote.



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12) Adjournment
 MOTION: Byers moved and Berg seconded to adjourn to the next City Council
 regular meeting on May 5, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. The
 motion carried by unanimous vote.
 The meeting adjourned at 8:54 p.m.



CERTIFICATION
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY
 __/s/ Signature on File____________________
 COUNCIL MEMBER DATE


 __/s/ Signature on File____________________
 COUNCIL MEMBER DATE

ATTEST:


__/s/ Signature on File____________________ __/s/ Signature on File____________________
 CITY CLERK MAYOR




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