HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/28/2023 Special Meeting"I
MINUTES
YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
August 28, 2023
Yakima School District Central Services, Conference Rooms A & B - 104 N. 4th Ave, Yakima
4:30 p.m. - 5: 00 p.m. M eet and Greet Social 15: 00 p.m. - 7: 00 p.m. — conducted in person
1. Roll Call
Yakima City Council present: Mayor Janice Deccio, presiding; and Councilmembers Matt Brown,
Patricia Byers, Holly Cousens, Danny Herrera, and Eliana Macias. Assistant Mayor Soneya Lund
was absent and excused. City Staff present included City Manager Robert Harrison and City Clerk
Rosalinda I barra.
Yakima School District Board present: Board President Norm Walker and Board members Ryan
Beckett, Martha Rice, and Graciela Villanueva along with Superintendent Dr. Trevor Greene. Board
member Raymond Navarro Jr. was absent.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
President Norm Walker led the Pledge of Allegiance and the Yakima School District Land
Acknowledgement was broadcast.
3. Public Comment (allow up to 15 minutes)
None.
4. Aquatic Center at Martin Luther King Jr. Park Update
Parks and Recreation Manager Ken Wilkinson presented an update on the progress of the Aquatic
Center at Martin Luther King Jr. Park project and shared schematic designs approved by the Ad Hoc
committee. The development design and construction documents are scheduled to be completed in
December 2023. The total budget is estimated at $11,000,000 and the funding sources include City
of Yakima (ARPA, CDBG, RCO Grant), Yakima County (ARPA), Washington State Legislative
Grant, and other donations and grants.
5. Potential Street Closure Connecting MLK Jr. Park with Adams Elementary
Public Works Director Scott Schafer described a proposal to possibly close a section of Race
Street between 8th Street and 9th Street to create more open green space for the community to
enjoy by connecting Martin Luther King J r. Park to Adams Elementary School. Mr. Schafer noted the
next step would be to conduct a comprehensive traffic analysis to evaluate the traffic volume,
capacity, and safety impacts of the potential street closure.
6. Handle with Care Program Presentation
Yakima Police Lt. Chad Janis and Director of Safety & Security Sara Cordova with the Yakima
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7. Free Bus Passes for Students 18 and Under
Public Works Director Scott Schafer presented information about the City's fare -free service
offered to those ages 18 and under. Mr. Schafer noted that since the implementation of the
program, ridership has increased substantially. Additionally, this service has provided savings to
the Yakima School District.
8. Upcoming Levy - Update and Q&A (Jake Kuper / Superintendent Greene)
Assistant Superintendent of Finance Jake Kuper presented a detailed overview on the upcoming
school levy and bond information and provided an opportunity for a question and answer session.
Voters will decide whether to pass a levy tax to fund educational programs and operations (EP&O
Levy) during a special election in February 2024.
9. Sidewalks
President Norm Walker thanked the City for the sidewalk work completed near Robertson
Elementary and encouraged efforts in other areas near elementary schools to improve safety and
traff ic flow.
10. One -Way Streets
President Norm Walker and Superintendent Greene acknowledged that the changes to one-way
streets nearAdams Elementary, Hoover Elementary and Garfield Elementary have improved pickup
and drop-off of students.
11. Adjournment
MOTION: Cousens moved and Byers seconded to adjourn to the next City Council regular
meeting on September 5, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. The motion
carried by unanimous vote, Lund absent. The meeting adjourned at 6:28 p.m.
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