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Home My WebLink About09/19/2023 Business meeting211 MINUTES YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL September 19, 2023 City Hall -- Council Chambers -129 N 2nd Street, Yakima, WA 5:30 p.m. Regular meeting I Conducted in person and virtually via Zoom 1. Roll Call Present: Mayor Janice Deccio, presiding; Assistant Mayor Soneya Lund and Council members Matt Brown (present at 5:36 p.m. and attending via Zoom), Patricia Byers, Holly Cousens, Danny Herrera and Eliana Macias (attending via Zoom) Staff: City Manager Robert Harrison, City Attorney Sara Watkins and City Clerk Rosalinda Ibarra 2. Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Deccio led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Interpreter Services Mayor Deccio introduced Nate Montgomery who announced interpreter services are available in Spanish. 4. Open Discussion for the Good of the Order Mayor Deccio made a statement involving recent events and information that has been circulating regarding her call to 911. MOTION: Byers moved and Cousens seconded to censure Mayor Deccio for inappropriate and unwarranted behavior as an elected official of the City of Yakima. The motion failed 4-3; Deccio, Herrera, Lund and Macias voting no. MOTION: Cousens moved and Byers seconded to move public comment up in the agenda order. The motion failed 4-3; Deccio, Herrera, Lund and Macias voting no. A. Proclamations Surgical Technologists Week Proclamation Mayor Deccio proclaimed the week of September 17-23, 2023, as "Surgical Technologists Week." ii. Draft National Disability Employment Awareness Month Proclamation MOTION: Cousens moved and Herrera seconded to approve the proclamation. The motion carried by unanimous vote. Page 1 of 5 212 Draft Harvest Marching Band Festival Proclamation MOTION: Byers moved and Cousens seconded to approve the proclamation. The motion carried by unanimous vote. B. Presentations / Recognitions / Introductions Retirement recognition of Gary Hill for 43 years of service with the City of Yakima Director of Public Works Scott Schafer and Wastewater/Stormwater Manager Mike Price recognized Gary Hill for his retirement after 43 years of service with the City of Yakima. Mayor Deccio presented a retirement clock to Mr. Hill. Recognition of John Callahan for 40 years of service to the City of Yakima Public Works Director Scott Schafer and Solid Waste & Recycling Manager Trace Bradburn recognized John Callahan for 40 years of service to the City of Yakima. Update on Fundraising Efforts for the Aquatic Center at MLK, Jr. Park Mayor Deccio introduced Addy Logsdon who provided an update regarding the fundraising efforts for the Aquatic Center at MLK, Jr. Park. Esther Huey spoke regarding her appreciation for the community's support for the project. 5. Council Reports A. Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Report Councilmember Byers briefed the Council on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) meeting of September 5, 2023. The LTAC provided budgetary allocation recommendations based on 2024 forecast for Lodging Tax Revenues of $1,675,000: . $420,000 - Debt Service . $280,000 - Convention Center Capital • $625,000 - Convention Center Operations $ 50,000 - Visitor Center Operations $ 90,000 - Sports Commission Operations . $150,000 - Capitol Theatre Operations . $ 60,000 - Sundome MOTION: Lund moved and Cousens seconded to approve the LTAC recommendations as outlined. The motion carried by unanimous vote. 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. Item 61 was removed from the consent agenda. 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: Byers moved and Cousens seconded to approve the consent agenda as presented. The motion carried by unanimous vote. A. Approval of minutes from the September 5, 2023 City Council regular meeting, Page 2 of 5 213 September 12, 2023 City Council study session B. August 2023 Investment Transaction Report C. Approve payment of disbursements for the period August 1-31, 2023 D. Project Completion and Contract Acceptance for the Capitol Theatre HVAC with Bruce Mechanical EPO 2216E Project 2686 E. Resolution authorizing a contract with Apollo Inc for the North 1 st St Phase 3 Project 2580 RESOLUTION NO. R-2023-125, A RESOLUTION authorizing an agreement with Apollo Inc for the North 1 st Street Phase 3 Project 2580. F. Resolution authorizing an agreement with Industrial Construction of Washington, LLC. for Project SW2661 DID #29 Stormwater Improvements and Spot Repairs RESOLUTION NO. R-2023-126, A RESOLUTION authorizing an agreement with Industrial Construction of Washington, LLC. for Project SW2661 DID #29 Improvements and Spot Repairs. G. Resolution authorizing acceptance of a Law Enforcement -Based Victim Services (LEV) Program grant RESOLUTION NO. R-2023-127, A RESOLUTION authorizing acceptance and the execution of a grant agreement for FY23 Law Enforcement -Based Vctim Services (LEV) Program. H. Resolution authorizing an agreement with Yakima County to accept Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to purchase license plate reader cameras RESOLUTION NO. R-2023-128, A RESOLUTION authorizing an agreement with Yakima County to accept Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. I. This item was removed from the Consent Agenda J. Resolution authorizing an amendment to the interlocal agreement with Yakima Training Center (YTC) to provide 911 call -taking and dispatching services RESOLUTION NO. R-2023-130, A RESOLUTION authorizing an amendment to the current Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with Yakima Training Center (YTC) to provide 911 call -taking and dispatching services. K. Resolution authorizing a professional services agreement with Lisa Wallace Consulting, LLC to serve as the Office on Violence Against Women Firearms Technical Assistance Pilot Project Grant Site Coordinator RESOLUTION NO. R-2023-131, A RESOLUTION authorizing a Professional Services Agreement with Lisa Wallace Consulting, LLC to serve as the Office on Violence Against Women Firearms Technical Assistance Pilot Project Grant Site Coordinator through October 2026. L. Resolution authorizing acceptance of a grant from the Department of Commerce Page 3 of 5 214 under the Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) for the "Justice Housing" project for system development charges and utility infrastructure improvements RESOLUTION NO. R-2023-132, A RESOLUTION authorizing an agreement with the Washington State Department of Commerce through the Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) to be administered by the City of Yakima's Community Development Department Items Removed from the Consent Agenda A. Resolution authorizing an agreement with Department of Natural Resources for an Aquatic Lands Easement Councilmember Byers requested that Water and Irrigation Manager Mike Shane provide a brief description of this item prior to voting. The City Clerk read the resolution by title. MOTION: Byers moved and Cousens seconded to adopt the resolution. The motion carried by unanimous vote. RESOLUTION NO. R-2023-129, A RESOLUTION establishing an Aquatic Lands Easement Agreement with the Washington Department of Natural Resources for structures associated with the Naches River Water Treatment Plant Intake. 7. Public Comment Elizabeth Hallock, City resident, spoke in support of Mayor Deccio and against sexually aggressive comments towards women. She encouraged the public to be civil in their words and behaviors. Joe Daniels, City resident, apologized for any harassment behavior directed at Mayor Deccio was caused by his public protests. Mr. Daniels questioned whether the Police Chief has the best interest of the community. He also voiced concern about child safety in public parks. Mary Place, City resident district 6, spoke in support of Mayor Deccio's decision to contact 911 and against the public release of information regarding the call. Janet Sedy, City resident, thanked the Mayor for calling 911 which may have assisted in obtaining additional signatures on the petitions. Lynn Harden, spoke against conflicting political views without finding common ground, but in support of the initiative process for representation. Mr. Harden stated he is not in favor of removing Mayor Deccio; however would like for her to step down as Chair. Benine McDonald, City resident, distributed a handout to Councilmembers regarding the initiatives that are the subject of the petition gatherers. City Attorney Sara Watkins pointed out that the use of public facilities for supporting or opposing any sort of initiative is not allowed and any materials to be distributed should be reviewed by the City Attorney.. Cindy Simmons, district 6, commented about the derogatory calls received by Mayor Deccio and spoke against the descriptive language used by the Mayor during the 911 call. She urged citizens to find common ground on important issues. Page 4 of 5 215 Eric Torres, spoke against the derogatory comments made towards Mayor Deccio but disagreed with the inflammatory language used by the Mayor and lack of remorse. He also expressed opposition to previous efforts of transitioning Yakima to entirely electric. Tim Eyman, non-resident, made several remarks about Mayor Deccio's statement regarding the 911 call and stated an apology is warranted. Benjamin Hatfield, non-resident and paid petitioner, spoke against the Mayor's 911 call and use of extremist terminology, and in favor of free speech. City Attorney Sara Watkins determined that the publication distributed was inappropriate for Council and asked it be returned to Ms. McDonald. DEPARTMENT ITEMS 8. Discuss Fire District Annexation of City Fire Services (RCW 52.04.061) Fire Chief Aaron Markham briefed the Council on an alternative option for fire district annexation of city fire services and explained the process and requirements involved. State law allows for a city or town located within reasonable proximity to a fire district to be annexed to such fire district. The legislative authority may initiate annexation by adoption of an ordinance and if the board of fire commissioners of the annexing fire district concur, then a special election must take place in the city and the fire district, with a majority in favor votes in each area. 9. Other Business MOTION: Byers moved and Cousens seconded to place on the next business meeting a discussion on the order of agenda items. The motion carried by unanimous vote. 10. Adjournment MOTION: Lund moved and Cousens seconded to adjourn to the next Council regular meeting on October 3, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The motion carried by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 6:38 p.m. CERTIFICATION READ AND CERTIFIEDACCURATE BY ATTEST: COUNCIL MEMBER DATE 611 i .k ) 1c),3 UNIL MEMBER i t CITY CLERK DATE 1 MAYOR Page 5of5