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Home My WebLink About12/02/2025 Business Meeting108 YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES December 2, 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 1) Roll Call The meeting was called to order at 5:33 p.m. Present: Mayor Patricia Byers, presiding; Assistant Mayor Matt Brown and Councilmembers Reedy Berg, Janice Deccio, Rick Glenn, Danny Herrera and Leo Roy Staff: City Manager Vicki Baker, City Attorney Sara Watkins and City Clerk Rosalinda I barra 2) Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Byers led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3) Interpreter Services Mayor Byers introduced Jorge Villasenor who announced interpreter services are available in Spanish. 4) Public Comment The following community members provided remarks related to the proposed budget and potential reductions: Ryan Anderson, Amanda and Coven Evans, Jessica Villa, John Whitney, Lynnette Whitney, Dr. Barry Bernfeld, Andrea Redman, Tony Sandoval, Flora Prado, Lucy Prado, Richard Blahm, Sharon Madson, Brian Hedengren, Barbara Toney, Dr. Jessica Bruner, Allycia Thomas, Elise Cardenas, G "Nini" Van De Venter, Jack Cannon, Axel Raptcheff, Karen Lange, Susan Whitman, Kailan Dunn, Yanira Aburto, Karla Craig Anne Knapp, City resident; provided suggestions regarding the Yakima Valley Trolleys. Andrew Reyes, City resident; spoke about an equal opportunity lending economy. 5) Open Discussion for the Good of the Order MOTION: Glenn moved and Roy seconded to remove from the agenda items 9B, 9C, 9D and 9E. The motion carried by a 4-3 roll call vote; with Byers, Deccio and Herrera voting no. 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 December 2, 2025 - Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 4 109 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 November 12, 2025 City Council study session and November 18, 2025 City Council regular meeting 7.B Resolution adopting the City Council regular meeting schedule for 2026 RESOLUTION NO. R-2025-179, A RESOLUTION adopting the City Council 2026 regular business meeting schedule. 8) Public Hearings None. 9) Department Items 9.A Status of Council adopted motions and direction from the November 12, 2025 and November 18, 2025 Council meetings City Manager Vicki Baker provided opening remarks about the budget process over the last year and the current state of the budget. Communication & Public Affairs Manager Randy Beeler stated that Franklin Pool has been included in the legislative priorities. Beehler also reported that the Washington State Auditor's Center for Government Innovation does not offer comprehensive performance audits, rather they provide Lean consultation services for specific processes. Director of Finance and Budget Craig Warner provided additional information regarding the revised 2026 General Fund budget based on recent adjustments approved by Council. The ending fund balance results in $781,503 over the reserve policy required amount of 12% identified as one-time reserve surplus funds. Assistant City Manager Gary Ballew provided an update on the progress of motions made and questions posed by City Council at the November 12th study session and November 18th business meeting as follows: Develop a budget for the Harman Center that is revenue neutral to the General Fund - buildings require base operations such as utilities, maintenance, pest control and security; increased fees could lower demand/participation; predicting donations is complex. Altemative options include reducing operation, increasing fees and membership structure. - City Manager to speak to the school districts that use Lion's Pool regarding joint agreement - alternative options include transferring to school districts, minimal operation and same hours/days, minimal operations and reduced hours/days. Develop a budget for the Washington Fruit Community Center that is revenue neutral to the General Fund - ongoing costs for utilities, maintenance and security estimated at $35,000. Alternative options include leasing structure/ operations agreement with third party non-profit organization, minimal operation of facility. December 2, 2025 - Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4 110 - Keep Lion's Pool open until the end of February - baseline operations through end of current swim season and ongoing utilities and maintenance costs. After Council discussion and amendment, AMENDED MOTION: Brown moved and Berg seconded that the Harman Center be removed from all budget cut options and remain fully funded in this year's budget and apply $225,000 of the one-time money to keep the Harman facility open for 2026. The motion carried by unanimous vote. MOTION: Byers moved and Deccio seconded to direct staff to continue conversation with school district in the first part of the year to continue to find more clarity on the situation with the pool and Council will readdress it in January. The motion carried by unanimous vote. MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to fund the Washington Fruit Community Center for 6 months for $150,000 to include the Beyond the Bell program, karate program and lunch program. The motion carried by unanimous vote. MOTION: Byers moved and Deccio seconded to direct staff to add AWC back to the budget, allocating the cost to all City funds. The motion failed by a 5-2 vote; with Berg, Brown, Glenn, Herrera and Roy voting no. MOTION: Berg moved and Brown seconded that Station 92 remain open and that the City Manager require the Fire Chief and the Financial Director to identify and implement $1.8 million in operational reductions within the budget without using any fire station closures including the use of extraordinary measures to achieve the required savings, that the budget be adopted with these adjustments, and that the City Manager report back to Council in January with the changes. The motion carried by a 5-2 vote; with Byers and Deccio voting no. 9.B Ordinance imposing a one -tenth of one percent (0.1%) local sales and use tax to fund criminal justice purposes This item was removed from the Agenda. 9.0 Ordinance imposing a Council -directed increase in Water and Wastewater tax rates to fund Council specific programs and amending YMC 7.64.020 This item was removed from the Agenda. 9.D Ordinance imposing a Council -directed increase in the Stormwater tax rate to fund Council directed programs and amending YMC 7.64.040 This item was removed from the Agenda. 9.E Ordinance imposing a Council -directed increase in Refuse tax rate to fund Council directed programs and amending YMC 7.64.030 This item was removed from the Agenda. 9.F Ordinance to adopt the 2026 Mid -Biennial Budget Director of Finance and Budget Craig Warner briefed the Council on the proposed ordinance adopting the 2026 mid -biennial budget for the City of Yakima, including adjustments approved by the Council at this meeting. December 2, 2025 - Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4 1 1 1 The City Clerk read the ordinance by title only. MOTION: Glenn moved and Berg seconded to pass the ordinance adopting the 2026 mid -biennial budget with adjustments presented. The motion carried by a 7-0 roll call vote, ORDINANCE NO. 2025-036, AN ORDINANCE adopting the modification of the 2025-2026 Biennium Budget for the fiscal year 2026; setting forth the estimated revenues and appropriations; and establishing an effective date. 10) City Manager Update City Manager Vicki Baker informed Council about the Airport Director candidates' meet and greet event on December 8th at the Yakima Air -Terminal. Due to a possible quorum of Councilmembers attending, the event will be noticed as a special meeting. 11) Other Business MOTION: Glenn moved and Berg seconded that the City prepare a resolution listing legislative issues that Council wants to be addressed in the 2026 legislative year. The motion carried by unanimous vote. Assistant Mayor Brown and Mayor Byers expressed appreciation for Council and City staffs work on the process, as well as the community's recent involvement, 12) Adjournment MOTION: Glenn moved and Berg seconded to adjourn to the next City Council regular meeting on December 9, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. The motion carried by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 8:56 p.m. CERTIFICATION READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY COUNCIL MEMBER L-1 cgiNciL MEMBER tir DATE bATE December 2, 2025 - Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4