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Home My WebLink About10/29/2024 Study Session 429 YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES October 29, 2024 City Hall - Council Chambers - 129 N 2nd Street, Yakima, WA 5:00 PM City Council Study Session - conducted in person and remotely 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: City Manager Vicki Baker, City Attorney Sara Watkins and City Clerk Rosalinda I barra 2. Public Comment (allow 15 minutes) Lucia Cuevas Ramos, a Heritage University student, spoke against budget cuts which may affect the Parks and Recreation Division programs. 3. Study Session Items 4. Review of Proposed 2025-2026 Biennial Priority Based Budget Session A. Public Works Administration Budget Presentation Public Works Director Scott Schafer presented a budget overview of the Public Works Department administrative services, consisting of administration, the safety/training program, and building maintenance. Mr. Schafer highlighted the department's recent accomplishments and future goals and expressed the need for a Deputy Public Works Director position. B. REET 1 & 2 Budget Presentation Public Works Director Scott Schafer presented the proposed budget for the Real Estate Excise Tax (REET 1 and REET 2) program, which provides restricted funds for capital improvement projects, maintenance and debt service on capital improvements. Projects listed in the City of Yakima's Five-Year Capital Plan become eligible for REET funding. Mr. Schafer also pointed out the program accomplishments and goals. C. Streets and Traffic Budget Presentation Public Works Director Scott Schafer presented an overview of the services and costs associated with the Streets and Traffic Division. Street operations programs relate to sidewalks, snow and ice control, roadway maintenance, street cleaning, and administrative and general services. Traffic operations programs consist of street October 29, 2024 -Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 3 430 lighting, traffic control devices, planning, and debt services. Accomplishments and goals noted include chip sealing projects, various grind and overlay projects, pathway improvements at several parks, traffic signal and battery backup installations, traffic light upgrades, re-striping main arterials, and painting crosswalks within school zones. D. Parks and Recreation Budget Presentation Parks and Recreation Manager Ken Wilkinson presented an extensive overview of the costs associated with programs and services provided by the Parks and Recreation Division, including Tahoma Cemetery which offers full burial services. The community and recreation services include programs at the Washington Fruit Community Center, Fisher Park Golf Course, Lions Pool and Franklin Pool, Harman Center, adult sports, and youth sports and activities. The division also provides park maintenance and ballfield maintenance, capital improvements and repairs to park facilities. Additionally, funding related to the ongoing construction and future operation of the Aquatic Center at MLK Jr. Park are being administered by this division. Mr. Wilkinson further shared anticipated budget needs and highlighted major accomplishments over the last biennial period. E. Budget Wrap-Up Questions and Recommendations City Manager Vicki Baker opened the discussion by thanking Council for the opportunity to serve the community, as well as praising staff for their hard work moving through the priority-based budget process. She intends to engage with the community about their priorities and provide education about the City's requirements and how that two-way communication impacts budget decisions. Mike Bailey, Finance consultant, briefed the Council about priority-based budgeting. Local governments have been experiencing many budget development challenges, for instance a decline in property taxes, inflation growth, and limited revenue options. Changes within the City's organizational structure have impacted the City's approach to implement a priority-based budget method. However, recent accomplishments, such as the adoption of the Council's strategic priorities, can help guide the direction to produce a balanced budget using the priority-based budget process. Director of Finance and Budget Viren Mayani summarized the proposed 2025-2026 biennial budget. Mr. Mayani and staff described several revenue options, which consist of: rolling engineering fees into grants, analyze and maximize the City's Cost Allocation plans, implement technology user fees, update the business license fees, establish an in-lieu tax, review the Transportation Benefit District and sales tax, collect impact fees, increase the sales tax and restrict its use to public safety, add an EMS levy, add a Fire District, add a Metropolitan Parks District, implement Levy Lid Lifts, charge a business and operation tax, and adjust the CPI language in the City Charter. The Council requested additional information to include revenue generating amounts for each of the possible revenue options identified. October 29, 2024—Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 3 431 5. Adjournment MOTION: Brown moved and Glenn seconded to adjourn to the next City Council regular meeting on Monday November 4, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The motion carried by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 8:24 p.m. CERTIFICATION READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY COUNCIL MEMBE D TE ‘‘, COUNCIL MEMBER DATE i=yp,KlMq h�' ATTEST: —*�'•• i * SEAII ' i; / AN 6 ce CITY CLERK 1%�`SH:NC' MAYO October 29, 2024—Yakima City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 3