HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/11/2025 Study Session482
YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
February 11, 2025
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
Present: Assistant Mayor Matt Brown, presiding; and Councilmembers Reedy Berg, Janice
Deccio, Rick Glenn, Danny Herrera and Leo Roy
Staff: City Manager Vicki Baker, Senior Assistant City Attorney Ryan Bleek and City Clerk
Rosalinda lbarra
Absent and Excused: Mayor Patricia Byers
2. Public Comment (allow 15 minutes)
Joe Daniels, City resident, read a religious passage and named states that had slavery.
Tony Courcy, City resident, spoke on several matters related to his property.
Jeanna Hernandez, City resident, thanked Council for not responding to items frequently
heard.
3. Study Session Items
A. Land use basics, middle housing legislation, and Comprehensive Plan process
Planning Manager Trevor Martin presented information about planning and zoning in
the City of Yakima. Planning is the technical and regulatory process focused on
property design and land use. Zoning is a method used by cities to direct specific types
of desired growth and growth patterns. He provided a brief history of the establishment
of zoning laws and programs in the United States and how regulations are currently
applied and implemented in the City. He described the role of City staff, the Yakima
Planning Commission, and the Hearing Examiner. The Planning Division ensures all
applicants are afforded due process on land use applications.
Mr. Martin provided information about House Bill 1110 (known as the "middle housing"
bill) and House Bill 1337 (related to accessory dwelling units "ADU's"). The middle
housing bill requires cities to allow more housing types in predominately residentially
zoned areas with the goal of increasing housing options and creating more affordable
neighborhoods. HB 1337 allows homeowners to build more accessory dwelling units
on their properties and reduces regulatory barriers. He noted that Washington cities
are required to create a unit lot subdivision process and shared an illustration with
various examples. Other considerations include exploring additional building design
criteria.
Mr. Martin described at length the Comprehensive Plan process required under the
Growth Management Act (GMA) as well as the annual amendment process. Under the
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GMA, the Office of Financial Management develops population projections and
counties, in consultation with cities, determine where that growth should occur. The
Comprehensive Plan guides Yakima's development over the next 20-year period and
includes the exterior urban growth area boundary. The plan contains required
elements such as land use, housing, capital facilities, utilities, transportation, and
climate resilience as well as other optional elements. The Comprehensive Plan may be
amended on an annual basis in between the mandatory periodic update deadline.
Without a current or adopted Comprehensive Plan, cities and counties lose eligibility
for state funding programs.
B Resolution opening the Comprehensive Plan Amendment process
Planning Manager Trevor Martin briefed Council on the resolution.
The City Clerk read the resolution by title only.
MOTION: Deccio moved and Berg seconded to adopt the resolution. The motion
carried by a 6-0 roll call vote; Byers absent.
RESOLUTION NO. R; 2025-032, A RESOLUTION opening the 2025-2026 Comprehensive
Plan Amendment process pursuant to RCW 36.70A.130, and YMC Ch. 16.10.
C. Discussion of Comprehensive Plan Including Study of Impact Fees
Community Development Director Bill Preston and Planning Manager Trevor Martin
updated the Council on impact fees and requested that direction on whether to move
forward with preparing a scope of work to study the viability of implementing impact
fees for development.
After discussion, it was majority Council consensus that staff work with a
consultant to develop the scope of work description for an RFQ/RFP that would
then determine the potential cost of an impact fee study. The Council also
requested that staff bring back information, before the RFQ process, regarding
impact fee revenues collected by other jurisdictions.
Discussion of Special Event Permits and Street Closures on Yakima Avenue
Planning Manager Trevor Martin introduced the discussion regarding Special Event
Permits and Street Closures. Associate Planner Connor Kennedy provided an
extensive review of the special event permit workflow process and street closures on
Yakima Avenue, specifically cruise night events. Special event permits are processed
pursuant to Yakima Municipal Code 9.70 and permitted cruise nights are established in
Yakima Municipal Code 9.25. The permit process involves various City divisions and
can be time-consuming.
Yakima Police Department Sergeant Scott Grant elaborated on YPD's involvement in
the special events, noting the amount of police presence required to ensure public
safety.
Assistant Mayor Brown expressed interest in ideas to recoup some costs relating to
special events and parades.
After Council discussion, MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to direct
staff to prepare appropriate legislation to amend YMC 9.25 relating to
establishing cruising event dates and times by resolution annually. The motion
carried by unanimous vote; Byers absent.
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Adjournment
MOTION: Deccio moved and Berg seconded to adjourn to the next City Council
regular meeting on February 18, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City
Hall. The motion carried by unanimous vote; Byers absent. The meeting adjourned at 7:06
p.m.
CERTIFICATION
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