HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/02/2023 Business Meeting/Adj to Executive Session147
MINUTES
YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
May 2, 2023
City Hall — Council Chambers -129 N 2nd Street, Yakima, WA
5:30 p.m. Regular meeting — conducted in person and virtually via Zoom
Roll Call
Present: Mayor Janice Deccio, presiding, Assistant Mayor Soneya Lund and Councilmembers
Matt Brown, Patricia Byers, Danny Herrera, Eliana Macias, and Holly Cousens
Staff: City Manager Robert Harrison, City Attorney Sara Watkins, City Clerk Sonya Claar Tee,
and City Clerk In -training Rosalinda lbarra
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Deccio led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3 Interpreter Services
Mayor Deccio introduced Jorge Villasenor who announced interpreter services are available in
Spanish.
4. Open Discussion for the Good of the Order
MOTION: Lund moved and Cousens seconded to adjourn to Executive Session for 10
minutes to discuss pending litigation per RCW 42.30.110(1)(i). The motion carried by
unanimous vote.
Executive Session was held at 5:33 p.m. and adjourned at 5:43 p.m. at which time the regular
business meeting resumed.
A. Proclamations
Draft Missing and Unidentified Persons Awareness Month proclamation
MOTION: Byers moved and Cousens seconded to approve the proclamation. The
motion carried by unanimous vote.
5. Council Reports
A. Discussion on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee membership rules
Assistant Mayor Lund as the Council liaison of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
introduced the item. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee asks that Council approve one
committee member be allowed to live outside the City limits however, the member must own
property or a business within the City limits.
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MOTION: Lund moved and Cousens seconded to change the membership rules of the
Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee to allow one member of the committee to live
outside the City limits, as long as they have property, own property, or a business
within the City limits. The motion carried by a 4-3 vote; Byers, Brown, and Cousens voting
no.
B. Discussion regarding the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee reviewing
traffic calming measures
City Engineer Bill Preston discussed his presentation of the City's traffic calming policy at the
last Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee meeting.
City Manager Harrison has already directed the Streets and Traffic division to inspect
crosswalks for any potentially obscured signs. Mr. Harrison also spoke to the crossing guard
at 12th/Tieton Ave. regarding problems they observed in the area; YPD will do additional
enforcement. Communication & Public Affairs Manager Beehler will draft an education
campaign on City's social media regarding crosswalks and enhance the Traffic Tuesdays
program regarding red light campaign. Mr. Harrison stated he would report back to Council
regarding the outcome of the educational campaign efforts.
6. Consent Agenda
Mayor Deccio 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: Lund moved and Cousens seconded to approve the consent agenda. The
motion carried by unanimous vote.
A. Approval of minutes from the April 18, 2023 City Council regular meeting, April 25,
2023 City Council study session and April 27, 2023 City Council special meeting
B. Project Completion and Contract Acceptance with Total Site Services LLC for the
North 1st Street Revitalization Phase 2 Project 2390
C. Project Completion and Contract Acceptance with Tapani Inc for the North 1st
Street Revitalization N Street to SR12 Phase 1 Project 2340
D. Project Completion and Contract Acceptance for Spring Creek Phase 2 Project
2559 and 48th & Washington Project 2516
E. Resolution authorizing a recurring annual Agreement with Yakima Valley Umpires
Association to obtain officiating services for the City's organized softball program
RESOLUTION NO. R-2023-065, A RESOLUTION authorizing an agreement with the
Yakima Valley Umpires Association for officiating services for the City of Yakima's organized
softball program.
7. Public Comment
Tony Courcy, resident, spoke regarding several matters.
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PUBLIC HEARINGS
8. Public hearing to consider a rezone request located in the vicinity of 1406 S Fair Avenue / 909
LaFollette Street
Mayor Deccio stated this is a closed record hearing and the Council is sitting in its quasi-
judicial capacity. Mayor Deccio read the following statement: the Council determined that
additional public testimony was necessary with regard to the application, and this is the time for
additional testimony associated with the application, after which the Council is charged with
evaluating the record and the testimony made today and rendering a decision on the
application. Testimony will be limited to matters regarding the application —the rezone of 1406
South Fair Avenue / 909 La Follette Street from R-2 to B-2, and the development permit and
administrative adjustments requested therein with regards to the proposed automotive
dealership use on the property. As this is a quasi-judicial hearing, the Appearance of Fairness
doctrine controls. Each Council member answered affirmatively or negatively to the following
questions:
1. Do you have any interest in the property or the application, or do you own
property within 300 feet of the property subject to the application?
Council responded they did not.
2. Do you stand to gain or lose any financial benefit as a result of the outcome of the appeal?
The response from Council was no.
3. Can you hear and consider the application in a fair and objective manner, without bias?
Council stated they could.
4. Have you had any ex parte communications with Tom Durant, Rosa Harati, Sarah Harati, or
anyone else, regarding this rezone, type 2 review for an automobile dealership use, or the
administrative adjustments requested in the application during the pendency of this
application? Council members stated they have not had any ex parte communications.
Mayor Deccio asked if anyone wished to challenge any council member's participation in this
application on appearance of fairness grounds, and no one from the audience or on Zoom
spoke to the issue.
Planning Manager Joseph Calhoun briefed the Council on the matter.
Mayor Deccio opened the public hearing. Before the public commenter spoke, the City Clerk
asked the speaker the following question: "do you promise to tell the truth in this matter
presently before the City Council?" The speaker promised to tell the truth in this matter.
Tom Durant of PLSA Engineering, the applicant's representative, thanked Council for the
opportunity to speak. Mr. Durant spoke regarding the rezone and approval process and
indicated that the current property owners purchased the property after the rezone process
was being considered by the City for consistency under the Growth Management Act. Mr.
Durant requested Council approval.
With no one else coming forward to speak, Mayor Deccio closed the public hearing. After
Council discussion,
MOTION: Lund moved and Byers seconded to accept the findings outlined in the
staff report, plus the exhibits provided by applicant, approve the rezone, development
permit and administrative adjustments, and direct staff to bring back the appropriate
legislation based on the Council's decision. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
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DEPARTMENT ITEMS
9. Review of 2023 State Legislative Session
Communications & Public Affairs Director Randy Beehler introduced the City's Olympia
lobbyists, Luke Esser and Nick Federeci, who briefed Council on the City's 2023 State
Legislative Priorities and other legislative issues of interest to the City. Many of the City's
priorities were achieved during this session.
10. Yakima Area Arboretum Operation and Maintenance agreement status
City Attorney Sara Watkins provided an update on the status of negotiations with the Yakima
Area Arboretum for an operation and maintenance and use agreement.
11. Resolution awarding and authorizing an agreement with Tyler Technologies for Payroll
Enterprise ERP Software
Jennifer Ferrer -Santa Ines, Director of Finance & Budget briefed the Council on the proposed
agreement with Tyler Technologies for the Payroll Enterprise ERP Software.
The City Clerk read the resolution by title only.
MOTION: Cousens moved and Byers seconded to adopt the resolution. The motion
carried by unanimous vote.
RESOLUTION NO. R-2023-066, A RESOLUTION awarding and authorizing an agreement
with Tyler Technologies for Payroll Enterprise ERP Software.
12. Ordinance amending Chapter 7.65, Chapter 11.44, and Chapter 12.03 of the Yakima Municipal
Code, relating to building sewers and connections
Code Administration Manager Glenn Denman briefed the Council on the proposed ordinance
relating to building sewers and connections.
The City Clerk read the ordinance by title only.
MOTION: Cousens moved and Brown seconded to pass the ordinance. The motion
carried by unanimous vote.
ORDINANCE NO. 2023-016, AN ORDINANCE amending the City of Yakima Municipal
Code Chapter 7.65, Chapter 11.44, and Chapter 12.03, relating to building sewers and
connections.
13. Other Business
MOTION: Cousens moved and Byers seconded to schedule a study session to
discuss the downtown master plan. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
MOTION: Lund moved and Byers seconded to add to the regular Council business
agenda a discussion about establishing a coalition of community partners to address
chronic repeat offenders of misdemeanor crime. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
14. Adjournment
MOTION: Byers moved and Cousens seconded to adjourn to the next Council study
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session meeting on May 9, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. at the Yakima Convention Center Room
G. The motion carried by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:09 p.m.
CERTIFICATION
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY
COUNCIL MEMBER
COUNCIL M'ER
DATE
DATE
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