The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About01/13/2026 Study Session126 YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES January 13, 2026 City Hall - Council Chambers -129 N 2' 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 5:01 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 City Clerk Rosalinda Ibarra Public Comment (allow 15 minutes) Tessie Coscarart, City resident; Isaac Wheeler, City resident; Kaitlin Hovanes, City resident; Lesley Arellano, City resident; David Morales, City resident and Immigrant Response Network; Noemi Sanchez, City resident; Giovanni Severino, City resident; Kyra Smith, County resident; Josh Cook, County resident; Luis Soto, Moxee resident; expressed concerns about the use and cost of ALPR data. Tony Sandoval, City resident, expressed concerns about actions of Federal agents within Yakima. Luis Lopez, City resident, expressed support for all law enforcement activities in Yakima. Alyxandria Voorhees, City resident; Neeve and Rory Scheidegger, City residents; Shannon Sardell, Idaho resident; Peggy Hughes, Kirkland resident; Greg Johnsen, non - City resident; expressed support for the Yakima Valley Trolleys. Sarah Davila, City resident, spoke against expanding the LTAC membership. Tony Courcy, City resident, expressed ongoing frustration with Council's lack of response. 3) Study Session Items 3.A Resolution increasing the number of members on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, repealing Resolution No. 2015-155, and re-establishing the procedures and duties of the LTAC (No Budgetary Impact) Senior Assistant City Attorney Ryan Bleek briefed the Council on the proposed resolution to increase the number of members on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC). The Council did not take action on this matter. A RESOLUTION increasing the number of members on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, repealing Resolution No. 2015-155, and re-establishing the procedures and duties of the LTAC. January 13, 2026 - Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 4 127 3.B Homeless Strategic Plan Updates City Manager Vicki Baker introduced Yakima County Commissioner Kyle Curtis who presented an update on the Yakima County 5-Year Homeless Strategic Plan. Yakima County Human Services Manager Esther Magasis briefly described the state of the homelessness situation in Yakima County, current challenges, homelessness response system network and funding efforts and opportunities provided by federal, state, and local resources. The comprehensive homeless response system includes outreach, permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, vouchers, case management, rental and eviction assistance, low -barrier and cold -weather shelters, domestic violence shelters, drug and alcohol rehabilitation and mental health programs, and employment assistance. Commissioner Curtis highlighted his top four goals to address homelessness issues: medical detox program, additional strategic permanent supportive housing and tong term care, regional shelter system and Objective 8 which is to balance outreach strategies with public space stewardship and safety to reduce homelessness in critical areas. 3.0 Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) Cameras Yakima Police Chief Shawn Boyle and Union Gap Police Chief Dustin Soptich presented an overview of the history and potential advancements of automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras in Yakima. ALPR's have existed in Yakima since 2022 through the Flock Safety company. Law enforcement officials have relied on this tool successfully to address a variety of crime cases associated with suspect vehicles, such as missing people and stolen vehicles. The city has an opportunity to incorporate additional Flock cameras with the ability to capture video instead of still images. Using artificial intelligence these cameras can identify individuals based on specific features, such as clothing, but do not use facial recognition technology. Director of Finance and Budget Craig Warner explained some of the overall costs involved if the city agrees to accept the additional Flock cameras, specifically related to handling public records. Discussion ensued regarding privacy concerns, accessibility, cybersecurity and associated long-term costs; however, no action was taken at this time. 3.D Proposed Parks, Recreation & Tahoma Cemetery Fees Parks & Recreation Manager Ken Wilkinson presented information about current and proposed fee changes for Parks, Recreation and Tahoma Cemetery. The fees for Yakima Parks and Recreation facilities, programs and services are set as low as reasonably possible to allow for the highest amount of participation by the largest number of people, using an identified program fee formula. MOTION: Glenn moved and Potrykus seconded to approve the recommendations. The motion carried by unanimous vote. 3.E Resolution regarding 2026 state legislative priorities Communications & Public Affairs Director Randy Beehler briefed the Council on the proposed resolution related to state legislative priorities. Mayor Brown distributed an edited version of the resolution for Council's consideration. January 13, 2026 — Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4 128 The City Clerk read the resolution by title only. MOTION: Berg moved and Byers seconded to approve the edits to the legislative priorities as presented and adopt the resolution. The motion carried by a 6-1 roll call vote; with Gonzalez voting no. RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-009, A RESOLUTION encouraging the Washington State Legislature to focus on and act on the legislative priorities during its 2026 session expressed by the Yakima City Council in this resolution. 3.F Boards, Commissions, and Committees Councilmembers reviewed the list of boards, commissions, and committees. It was Council consensus to make the following assignments: • Nominating Committee: 1) Roy; 2) Gonzalez; 3) Berg; (Alternate) Brown • GRIT Steering Committee: 1) Glenn; 2) Roy • Hotel/Motel Commission of the TPA: 1) Gonzalez; (Alternate) Roy • Lodging Tax Advisory Committee: 1) Brown; (Alternate) Potrykus • Yakima Regional Clean Air Board: 1) Potrykus; (Alternate) Glenn • Arts Commission: Liaison: Gonzalez; (Alternate) Byers • Yakima Nation Community Contribution Committee: 1) Brown; (Alternate) Byers • Fire Relief & Pension Board: 1) Byers; (Alternate) Brown • Board of Volunteer Firefighters: 1) Brown • Police Relief & Pension Board: 1) Byers; (Alternate) Brown • Yakima Valley Tourism Board of Directors: 1) Gonzalez; (Alternate) Brown • Capitol Theatre Board: 1) Gonzalez; (Alternate) Brown • Choose Yakima Valley (YCDA): 1) Potrykus; (Alternate) Glenn • Yakima Chamber of Commerce Board: 1) Glenn; (Alternate) Gonzalez • Supporting Investments in Economic Development Board (SIED): 1) Brown; (Alternate) Byers • Yakima Valley Conference of Govemments (YVCOG) Executive Board: 1) Byers; (Alternate) Glenn • Yakima Valley Conference of Govemments (YVCOG) General Membership: 1) Byers; (Alternate) Glenn • Yakima Basin Fish & Wildlife Recovery Board: 1) Potrykus; (Alternate) Brown • TRANS -Action: 1) Potrykus; (Alternate) Byers • Sports Commission: 1) Roy; (Alternate) Byers • Homeless Network General Membership: 1) Glenn • Seniors, Inc: 1) Brown • Yakima County Homeless Coalition Executive Committee: 1) Brown • Yakima County Board of Health: 1) Byers • Parks & Recreation Commission: 1) Gonzalez; (Alternate) Brown • Yakima Planning Commission: 1) Brown; 2) Gonzalez • Office of Emergency Management: 1) Byers 4) Adjournment MOTION: Glenn moved and Byers seconded to adjourn to the next City Council regular meeting on January 20, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. The motion carried by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m. January 13, 2026 — Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4 129 CERTIFICATION READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY COUNCIL EMBER "' ATE CONCILEMBER DATE MAYOR January 13, 2026 — Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4