HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/08/2026 05. Distributed at the MeetingYakima City Charter
Provisions bearing on authority over litigation: Council vs. City Manager. Text reproduced verbatim. Highlighting added.
ARTICLE I — Name, Boundaries, Powers, Rights and Liabilities
SECTION 1.
The people of the City of Yakima, within the boundaries as now established, or as hereafter established, shall.
continue to be the body politic and corporate by name of City of Yakima, and under that name shall have
perpetual succession; shall use a corporate seal; may sue and be sued; may acquire property within or without
its boundaries for municipal purposes by purchase, gift, devise, lease, or condemnation, and may sell, lease, hold,
manage and control such property as its interests may require, except that property purchased for park
purposes shall be within the city limits; and except as prohibited by the constitution of the State of Washington,
or restricted by this charter, the City of Yakima shall have all municipal powers, functions, rights, privileges and
immunities of every name and nature whatsoever pertaining to cities of the first class within the State of
Washington.
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ARTICLE II — Officers: Council -Manager Form of Government
SECTION 2.
The Council shall constitute the legislative branch and authority of the City government and shall have power to
adopt rules of order and regulations for the conduct of its business.
SECTION 4.
Except as otherwise provided in this charter, all powers of the City shall, be vested in the Council. The Mayor and
each member of the Council shall receive compensation as established by Ordinance. Members of the Council
shall be qualified electors of the City and any member ceasing to possess any of the qualifications specified in.
general law or in this charter or convicted of crime involving moral turpitude while in office shall immediately
forfeit his office.
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SECTION 6.
The Council shall such employees .of. its own body, as it inay deem necessary. Employees of the Council
shall not be chosen for a definite term but shall continue to serve during the pleasure of the Council.
&Isis f`Qr=Councl retairniris counsel' or its ovvn where Council acid Ma r1W1 rerests diverge.
SECTION 9.
The powers and duties of the City Manager shall be:
(1) To have general supervision over the administrative affairs of the municipality;
(2) To appoint and remove at any time all department heads, officers and employees of the City, except
members of the Council, but the appointment and removal of those department heads, officers and
employees who are subject to Civil Service or merit systems of the City of Yakima shall be pursuant to the
Civil Service laws, rules and regulations of such City in existence at the effective date hereof: provided, that
that the Council may cause an audit to be made of any department or office of the City government and
may select the persons to make it, without the advice or consent of the City Manager;
(3) To attend all meetings of the Council at which his attendance may be required by that body;
(4) To see that all laws and ordinances are faithfully executed, subject to the authority which the Council
may grant the Mayor to maintain law and order in times of emergency;
(5) To recommend for adoption by the Council such measures as he may deem necessary or expedient;
(6) To prepare and submit to the Council such reports as may be required by that body or as he may deem it
advisable to submit;
(7) To keep the Council fully advised of the financial condition of the City or town and its future needs;
(8) To prepare and submit to the Council a tentative budget for the fiscal year;
(9) To perform such other duties as the Council may deterrhine by ordinance or resolution.
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SECTION 13.
Neither the Council, nor any of its committees or members shall direct or request the appointment of any person
to, or removal from, office by the City Manager or any of the City Manager's subordinates. Except for the
purpose of inquiry, the Council and its members shall deal with the administrative service solely through the City
Manager and neither the Council nor any committee or member thereof shall give orders to any subordinate of
the City Manager, either publicly or privately: Provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed to
prohibit the Council, while in open session, from fully and freely discussing with the City Manager anything
pertaining to appointments and removals of City officers and employees and City affairs.
ARTICLE X — Claims
SECTION 1.
Claims for damages and the filing of such claims against the City, its officers, employees or volunteers acting in
such capacity, are governed by State law.
The tar ter defers er to state low on claim filing. 1 doos not o_; ipn ,nterno7 outh e 9 y to decide whether to
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Begin forwarded message:
From: Sue Fenich <sfenich@gmail.com>
Date: September S, 2026 at 1:12:06 PM PDT
To: Sue Fenich <sfenich@gmail.com>
Subject: I to A
Good afternoon,
Please see the attached Notice of Appeal that
was filed on behalf of Defendant City of
Yakima. This Notice will also be served via
Process Server today.
Thank you,
ailen N. Perry Le I Administra ive Assistant
3aker Sterchi Cowden Rice LLC
O0 Westlake Ave. N., Suite 206 1 Seattle, Washington 98109
D 206.957.9672 I
Sent from my iPhone