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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 4.
For Meeting of: May 11, 2021
ITEM TITLE: Consideration of letter of support
SUBMITTED BY: Robert Harrison, City Manager
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Yakima Valley Conference of Governments requested a letter of support from the City Council.
Attached is a draft letter of support for Council's consideration.
ITEM BUDGETED:
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER
RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
E � letter of suppo 5/7/ 021 e Me o
2
The Honorable Patty Murray
United States Senator for Washington
Washington, DC 20510
Re: Yakima Valley Conference of Governments Regional Housing Plan Funding
Dear Senator Murray:
The Yakima City Council strongly supports Yakima Valley Conference of Governments (YVCOG) Regional Housing Plan
funding submission for consideration as a funding candidate within the Senate appropriation process.
The Regional Housing Plan is a multistep process. Rural cities within the region rely on YVCOG for their expertise in land
use planning, including but not limited to housing. Activities to be funded will continue the work already started. Moving
forward,funding is needed to perform a study identifying current substandard housing stock and land within cities and
the County and to construct affordable housing.The funding will allow for'housing rehabilitation,the cost of
infrastructure consistent with city zoning codes for affordable housing.
YVCOG has the ability to increase the health equity of families by addressing the barrier to availability of quality housing
and affordable safe housing in an equitable manner. Our impoverished marginalized communities are often distant
from healthy foods, parks,trails, and public transportation. Yakima's Local Interagency Health Network conducted a
survey of Medicaid clients in 2018.Over 400 responses were received revealing the largest barrier to improving a
family's health is Housing.
YVCOG is a regional body that is composed of all 15 Yakima County jurisdictions formed under RCW 39.34.030. YVCOG
provides community planning and regional transportation services to our members.YVCOG also acts as the lead agency
for the Yakima Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization/Regional Transportation Planning Organization, which
conduct long-range regional transportation planning and coordinate federal and state funding distribution to local
governments in the region.
The City of Yakima has been partnering with YVCOG since 1966 o.n addressing matters of regional concern. Within the
social determinants of health,YVCOG has influence with the ,
neighborhood and built environment' sector. As an agency
representing the interest of all cities, YVCOG is able to be more flexible than traditional government bodies.YVCOG has
the scope and oversight to address matters of mutual concern, involving elected officials in each jurisdiction for their
approval and direction for projects within their authority. The issue of housing certainly qualifies as a 'wicked regional
problem' in our region.
As a member of YVCOG,the City of Yakima will commit to collaborating with Yakima Valley Conference of Governments'
dedication to the development and implementation of a Regional Housing Plan.
Sincerely,
Patricia Byers
Mayor