HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/13/2024 Study Session 276
MINUTES
YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
STUDY SESSION
February 13, 2024
City Hall —Council Chambers - 129 N 2nd Street, Yakima, WA
5:00 p.m. Study Session -conducted in person and virtually via Zoom
1. Roll Call
Present: Mayor Patricia Byers, presiding;Assistant Mayor Matt Brown and Councilmembers
Reedy Berg, Janice Deccio Rick Glenn, Danny Herrera and Leo Roy(attending remotely via
Zoom)
Staff: Interim City Manager Dave Zabell, City Attorney Sara Watkins and City Clerk
Rosalinda I barra
2. Public comment(allow 15 minutes)
Daylene Ackerman urged Council not to implement the Climate Action Plan developed by the
Sustainable Yakima Committee.
3. Discussion regarding Council Boards, Committees, and Commissions
City Attorney Sara Watkins outlined the roles and responsibilities of liaisons to boards,
committees, and commissions and shared the councilmember liaison job description utilized
by the City of Bainbridge Island for Council's information. The various boards, committees,
and commissions were discussed at length, including background, requirement for
participation, benefits, and potential downsides.
It was Council consensus to designate Assistant Mayor Brown to serve as an ex-officio
member on the Tourism Promotion Area (TPA formerly Hotel/Motel Commission), and
Councilmember Berg to serve as an alternate on the Council Nominating Committee and as
the liaison to the Yakima Valley Conference of Government(YVCOG) General Membership
board.
After further discussion,
MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to direct staff to prepare an
ordinance to expand the Yakima Planning Commission to eleven members and two
non-voting Council representatives. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
Councilmember Deccio and Glenn expressed an interest to serve as the Council
representatives to the Yakima Planning Commission when the changes are implemented.
Page 1 of 3
277
MOTION: Brown moved and Berg seconded to direct staff to create an ordinance to
move the Historic Preservation Commission,the Bike and Pedestrian Committee,
and the Yakima Tree Board as subcommittees in the ordinance for the Yakima
Planning Commission. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
MOTION: Brown moved and Berg seconded to direct staff to remove the
Community Integration Committee and the Sustainable Yakima Committee out of the
City code. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
4. Consideration of Naches Avenue Historic Overlay Zone Standards
Planning Manager Joseph Calhoun briefed Council on the Naches Avenue Historic Overlay
Zone Standards. He provided background information regarding the inventory of the North
and South Naches corridors adjacent to the Naches Avenue median which was achieved
using grants from the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic
Preservation (DAHP). The inventory study noted there is not enough historic significance to
warrant a new historic district but recommended Historic Overlay Zone (HOZ) standards to
preserve existing historic structures.
There are six primary purposes of the HOZ zone which include: retain/increase housing
density; retain architectural integrity; encourage investment in existing buildings and multi-
family infill; strengthen the historic role of Naches Avenue; prioritize rehabilitation of
contributing buildings; and, prioritize rehabilitation or replacement of noncontributing buildings
built during the period of significance. Implementation of these standards will require text
amendments to the Zoning Ordinance (YMC Title 15)and the Historic Preservation
Ordinance (YMC Ch. 11.62).
After Council discussion regarding housing density and parking concerns,
MOTION: Deccio moved and Brown seconded to direct staff to begin the
implementation process for the Naches Avenue Historic Overlay Zone. The motion
passed 6-1; Glenn voting no.
5. Council discussion on memberships
Interim City Manager Dave Zabell and City Attorney Sara Watkins briefed Council on the
current memberships that the City of Yakima partners with and described the benefits of the
membership services the City receives. They include the Chamber of Commerce, Yakima
County Development Association (YCDA), Yakima Valley Conference of Governments
(YVCOG),Association of Washington Cities (AWC), National League of Cities (NLC), and
the Yakima Homeless Network.
After Council discussion,
MOTION: Glenn moved and Brown seconded to eliminate participation in the
National League of Cities. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
6. Adjournment
MOTION: Glenn moved and Deccio seconded to adjourn to the next Council regular
meeting on February 20, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The
motion carried by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 6:19 p.m.
Page 2 of 3
278
CERTIFICATION
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY M !I �'L A—a9`—'2`Z
COUNCIL MEMBER DATE
2 2Z
COUNCIL MEMBER DATE
ATTEST: (A K 1 nr,,ay\��,
EAL11 pa
CITY CLERK '14 �.0 / dW
��h��N�N
Page 3 of 3