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Home My WebLink About03/17/2026 Business Meeting153 YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES March 17, 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. Executive Session - 5:00 p.m. Executive Session to discuss pending litigation pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) MOTION: Potrykus moved and Berg seconded to adjourn to Executive Session until 5:30 p.m. to discuss pending litigation pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i). The motion carried by unanimous vote. Mayor Brown announced that Council is expected to take further action following executive session. Present for Executive Session: Mayor Matt Brown, Assistant Mayor Reedy Berg, and Councilrrmembers Patricia Byers, Rick Glenn, Felisa Gonzalez, Juliet. Potrykus and Leo Roy Executive session was held at 5:02 p.m. and adjourned at 5:20 p.m. 1) Roll Call The regular 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, Leo Roy, and Juliet Potrykus (present via Zoom at 5:38 p.m. and in person at 6:13 p.m.) Staff: City Manager Vicki Baker, City Attorney Sara Watkins and City Clerk Rosalinda lbarra 2) Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Brown led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3) Interpreter Services Mayor Brown introduced Jorge Villasenor who announced interpreter services are available in Spanish. 4) Public Comment Tony Sandoval, City resident, recognized City Attorney Sara Watkins and City Manager Vicki Baker for Women's History Month and their positive impacts on the community. Reverend Rosetta Marshall -Williams, City resident, expressed concern related to ready - to -serve charges on her utility bill. Lynn Harden, City resident, spoke about paramedics and the Fire Department budget. Tony Courcy, City resident, talked about prior actions taken regarding the boundary line at Hathaway and 16th Avenue. Joseph Kopsick, City resident, expressed concerns about recent tax increases and spoke in support of land value taxation. March 17, 2026 - Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 5 154 5) Open Discussion for the Good of the Order 5.A Recognition of Davis High School girls' basketball team Mayor Brown announced that due to scheduling conflicts this recognition will be made at a future meeting. 5.B Recognition of years of service for Yakima Fire Department members Yakima Fire Chief Aaron Markham recognized Fire Lieutenant Brent Bauer (30 years), Fire Deputy Chief Jonathan Hood (20 years) and Firefighter William Lealos (20 years) for their years of service to the City of Yakima. 5.0 Presentation of the 2025 Yakima Valley Tourism annual report John Cooper, President & CEO of Yakima Valley Tourism, distributed the 2025 Annual Report and shared information about programs and events hosted at the Yakima Convention Center. Mr. Cooper also highlighted goals focused on boosting tourism and enhancing the community. 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. There were no 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: Berg moved and Byers seconded to approve the consent agenda. The motion carried by a 7-0 roll call vote. 7.A Approval of minutes from the March 3, 2026 Council regular meeting 7.B Approve payment of disbursements for the period February 1-28, 2026 7.0 February 2026 Investment Transaction Report 7.D Set date of April 14, 2026 for a closed record public hearing to consider the Hearing Examiner's recommendation regarding the master planned development and subdivision for the Plat of Johnston Estates 7.E Set date of April 14, 2026 for a closed record public hearing to consider an appeal of a Certificate of Appropriateness granted by the Historic Preservation Commission at 2810 Barge St 7.F Project Completion and Contract Acceptance with Chervenell Construction Company for MLK Jr Park Eastside Pool (Aquatic Center) Project 2745 7.G Ordinance updating Classification and Compensation Plan for City Employees Section 2.20.100 ORDINANCE NO. 2026-008, AN ORDINANCE relating to City personnel; adopting a classification and compensation plan for City employees to be effective April 20, 2026; and repealing all preceding pay ordinances in the City of Yakima Municipal Code. March 17, 2026 — Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5 155 7.H Ordinance amending the City of Yakima Municipal Code Chapter 1.70 Police Department Service Fees ORDINANCE NO. 2026-009, AN ORDINANCE amending the City of Yakima Municipal Code Chapter 1.70 Police Department Service Fees. 7.1 Ordinance amending YMC 3.127 Transportation Benefit District Fund ORDINANCE NO. 2026-010, AN ORDINANCE amending the City of Yakima Municipal Code Chapter 3.127 Transportation Benefit District Fund. 7.J Resolution authorizing grant acceptance from the Department of Commerce for the statutorily required Climate Resilience Element of the Comprehensive Plan RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-034, A RESOLUTION authorizing a Grant Contract with the Washington State Department of Commerce (Commerce), to provide funding assistance to integrate development of regional policies, plans, and strategies adopted under RCW 36.70A.210 and chapter 47.80 RCW. 7.K Resolution authorizing settlement of damage claims arising out of a City of Yakima water main break on Yakima Avenue on November 27, 2025, affecting properties located in the 300 block of Yakima Ave RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-035, A RESOLUTION authorizing settlement of damage claims arising out of a City of Yakima water main break on Yakima Avenue on November 27, 2025, affecting properties located in the 300 block of Yakima Ave. 7.L Resolution authorizing an Interlocal Agreement with Yakima County for use of a K-9 vehicle RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-036, A RESOLUTION authorizing an Interlocal Agreement with Yakima County, Washington through the Yakima County Sheriffs Office, for the use of K-9 vehicle during anticipated time allotted for retrofit of City vehicle for K-9 unit use. 8) Public Hearings None. 9) Department Items 9.A Discussion regarding a Municipal Fire District, House Bill 2224, Senate Bill 6037 and Fire Department Overtime Yakima Fire Chief Aaron Markham provided an update on pending House Bill 2224 and Senate Bill 6037 pertaining to creation of fire protection districts within its own jurisdictional boundaries. Chief Markham outlined the method of formation for fire protection districts as allowed by RCW 52.02.160. He also shared the staffing levels and overtime costs incurred for January and February 2026 which are funded with General Fund and County EMS funds. Councilmembers further discussed the taxing levy rate; however, no action was taken on the matter. Chief Markham provided information on upcoming retirements occurring between now and June of this year and the anticipated impact on recruiting efforts. March 17, 2026 — Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5 156 9.B 2025 Update on Capital Improvement Projects Report City Engineer Robert Washabaugh presented an update on the 2025 Capital Improvement Projects and other projects. Mr. Washabaugh highlighted completed projects and shared proposed 2026 and 2027 construction projects. An update on the Mill Site property will be provided in April. 9.0 Review of Business and Regulatory Licensing Fees Assistant City Manager Gary Ballew informed Council about changes in the way presentations are conducted to be compliant with ADA accessibility standards. Assistant City Manager Gary Ballew and Supervising Code Inspector Julia Rosales presented an extensive overview of current business and regulatory licensing fees and shared proposed fee adjustments. Mr. Ballew briefed Council on the impacts of the fee proposals which would result in a slight increase for most home -based businesses; non -profits would pay a license fee based on number of employees; exempting religious organizations to include faith -based organizations involved in social services directed at the larger community; and any additional revenue would be used to support economic development initiatives. Ms. Rosales noted future changes related to regulatory license fees, and code regulation updates to simplify, consolidate or eliminate some regulatory license types. Staff will evaluate the current variable rates and adjust them to reflect actual cost of processing. In the meantime, staff proposed a $45 flat rate for existing regulatory license fees. 10) City Manager Update 10.A Preview of upcoming topics City Manager Vicki Baker expressed appreciation for tenured City employees. Ms. Baker also mentioned upcoming discussion topics related to Mill Site property, Flock camera legislation, quarterly reports and information from Finance. 11) Other Business MOTION: Byers moved and Berg seconded to direct staff to prepare an Arbor Day proclamation to be read and voted on to be placed on the April 7 agenda. The motion carried by unanimous vote. MOTION: Berg moved and Brown seconded to direct staff to prepare an updated presentation on the annexation progress in Terrace Heights. The motion carried by unanimous After discussion and amendment, the following motion was considered, AMENDED MOTION: Berg moved Brown seconded to direct the City Manager to prepare an ordinance amending the City of Yakima utility tax rate by 3%, to include Nob Hill Water, with additional revenue dedicated to funding the continued operation of Fire Station 92, and place ordinance on the next City agenda for action. The motion carried by a 4-3 vote; with Byers, Glenn and Gonzalez voting no. March 17, 2026 — Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5 157 MOTION: Potrykus moved and Glenn seconded to prepare an ordinance for Council to consider creating the strongest criminal penalty our city is allowed to enact for exposing a child to fentanyl and other dangerous drugs and bring back in April. The motion carried by unanimous vote. Mayor Brown distributed a draft letter to Council indicating Council's support of business leaders who are interested in doing business within the City of Yakima. MOTION: Brown moved and Berg seconded to suspend the rules to pass the letter as written and signed by Council. The motion carried by unanimous vote. After discussion, Councilmember Glenn read the letter aloud in its entirety. Following debate and amendments, the final version of the motion as amended was proposed: FINAL AMENDED MOTION: Brown moved and Glenn seconded to pass the letter as amended. The motion carried by unanimous vote. [The first sentence of the fifth paragraph was eliminated and the last sentence of the fourth paragraph was removed.] 12) Adjournment MOTION: Glenn moved and Byers seconded to adjourn to the next City Council regular meeting on April 7, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. The motion carried by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m. CERTIFICATION READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY MAYOR March 17, 2026 — Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5