City Council Study Session — Yakima, WA
Date: 2024-07-23

YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 July 23, 2024
 City Hall - Council Chambers - 129 N 2nd Street, Yakima, WA
 5:00 PM City Council Study Session – 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: Interim City Manager Dave Zabell, City Attorney Sara Watkins and City Clerk
 Rosalinda Ibarra

2. Public Comment (allow 15 minutes)

 Joseph Daniels, City resident, read a personal statement and a religious passage.

3. Study Session Items

 A. Draft Overdose Awareness Day Proclamation

 MOTION: Deccio moved and Brown seconded to approve the proclamation. The
 motion carried by unanimous vote.

 B. Resolution authorizing the Mayor of the City of Yakima to execute an Employment
 Agreement for City Manager with Victoria Baker

 Director of Human Resources Connie Mendoza briefed the Council on the proposed
 City Manager employment agreement with Victoria Baker; to be effective August 8,
 2024. The City Clerk read the resolution by title only.

 MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to adopt the resolution. The
 motion carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.

 RESOLUTION NO. R-2024-139, A RESOLUTION authorizing the Mayor of the City of
 Yakima to execute an Employment Agreement for City Manager with Victoria Baker.

 C. Resolution amending the contract between the YWCA of Yakima and the City of
 Yakima regarding ARPA funding for the construction of a domestic violence shelter

 Assistant City Manager Rosylen Oglesby briefed Council on the proposed resolution
 extending the funding agreement with the YWCA of Yakima for an additional year to
 allow use of ARPA funds to construct a domestic violence shelter.




July 23, 2024 Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 3
 Cheri Kilty, Executive Director of the YWCA of Yakima, and Isabel Garcia, presented an
 update on the status of the domestic violence shelter project and shared a rendering of
 the proposed facility.

 The City Clerk read the resolution by title only.

 After Council discussion,
 MOTION: Deccio moved and Herrera seconded to adopt the resolution. The
 motion carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.

 RESOLUTION NO. R-2024-140, A RESOLUTION amending the contract between the
 YWCA of Yakima and the City of Yakima regarding ARPA funding for the construction
 of a domestic violence shelter.

 D. Rate Studies for Refuse, Wastewater and Stormwater

 Public Works Director, Scott Schafer, introduced the topic of the rate studies.

 Solid Waste Manager Trace Bradburn and Chris Bell with Bell & Associates presented
 an overview of the Refuse rate study for 2025-2028. The findings showed that a
 modest rate increase is necessary as a proactive measure to meet the demands of the
 expenses in providing refuse services for the residents of the city. Staff also shared
 proposed rates for the bulky waste collection and disposal program.

 Wastewater/Stormwater Manager Mike Price and Tage Aaker with the FCS Group
 provided an extensive presentation on the Wastewater and Stormwater rate studies for
 2025-2028. The study included an analysis of all rates and charges related to
 Wastewater and an update to the revenue needs assessment based on Stormwater
 level of service options. In summary, the findings suggested increases in several utility
 rates with phased-in approaches over the 2025-2028 period.

 The proposed rates will be discussed further as part of the 2025-2026 biennial budget
 process, at which time Council will provide direction or take action.

 E. Final Annexation Study report

 Planning Manager Trevor Martin provided a recap of the five areas covered in the final
 Growth Plan and Annexation Study report. He also introduced a subarea as part of
 Terrace Heights Area 1. The study was completed by the FCS Group which studied
 potential annexation areas within the City’s Urban Growth Area (UGA) and includes
 information about existing conditions, development potential, and fiscal impact on the
 City. The findings are intended to inform future annexation decisions by considering the
 fiscal impacts of growth and development on the City of Yakima.

4. Executive Session

 A. Executive Session to discuss litigation or legal risks of a proposed action or current
 practice that the agency has identified when public discussion of the litigation or legal
 risks is likely to result in an adverse legal or financial consequence to the agency
 pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i)(iii)



July 23, 2024 Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 3
 MOTION: Brown moved and Berg seconded to adjourn to Executive Session for
 30 minutes to discuss litigation or legal risks of a proposed action or current
 practice that the agency has identified when public discussion of the litigation or
 legal risks is likely to result in an adverse legal or financial consequence to the
 agency pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i)(iii). The motion carried by unanimous vote.

 Present for Executive Session: Mayor Byers, Assistant Mayor Brown, and
 Councilmembers Berg, Deccio, Glenn, Herrera, and Roy

 Mayor Byers announced that Council would be extending executive session for 15
 minutes.

 Executive session was held at 6:45 p.m.; extended for 15 minutes; and adjourned at
 7:30 p.m. The meeting was called back to order at 7:31 p.m.

 B. Unlawful Camping and General Nuisance Ordinances

 This item was not discussed.

5. Adjournment

 MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to adjourn to the next City Council
 regular meeting on Monday August 5, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at
 City Hall. The motion carried by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:32 p.m.


CERTIFICATION
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY
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 ___________________________________
 COUNCIL MEMBER DATE

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 ___________________________________
 COUNCIL MEMBER DATE

ATTEST:

 /s/ Signature on File
___________________________________ /s/ Signature on File
 ___________________________________
 CITY CLERK MAYOR




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