HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/04/2024 Business Meeting 432
YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
November 4, 2024
City Hall - Council Chambers - 129 N 2nd Street, Yakima, WA
5:30 PM City Council Regular Meeting — 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
Staff: City Manager Vicki Baker, City Attorney Sara Watkins and City Clerk Rosalinda Ibarra
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Byers introduced local Girl Scout Troop members who led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Interpreter Services
Mayor Byers introduced Jorge Villasenor who announced interpreter services are available
in Spanish.
4. Public Comment
Valeria Delgado-Aceves, White Swan resident, spoke in favor of the Harm Reduction
Program and urged Council to continue supporting this program.
Judith Ramos, Sunnyside resident and nursing student at Heritage University; Veronica
Palomares, Yakima resident and nursing student at Heritage University; Aubrie Cheatham
Yakima resident and nursing student at Heritage University; spoke in support of funding for
a dedicated DUI officer position.
5. Open Discussion for the Good of the Order
A. Draft Small Business Saturday proclamation
MOTION: Deccio moved and Brown seconded to approve the proclamation. The
motion carried by unanimous vote.
6. Council Reports
None.
7. Consent Agenda
Mayor Byers 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.)
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MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to approve the consent agenda. The
motion carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
A. Approval of minutes from the October 15, 2024 City Council regular meeting and
October 22, 2024 and October 29, 2024 study sessions
B. Set date of November 19, 2024, for a public hearing on the 2025-2029 Consolidated
Plan process
C. Resolution authorizing contract with Knobel's Electric Inc. for the S 3rd Ave & Division
St Signalization Project 2598
RESOLUTION NO. R-2024-195, A RESOLUTION authorizing an agreement with
Knobel's Electric Inc. for the S 3rd Avenue & Division Street Signalization Project 2598.
D. Resolution authorizing contract with Total Site Services LLC for the Systemic
Pedestrian Safety Improvements Project 2675
RESOLUTION NO. R-2024-196, A RESOLUTION authorizing an agreement with Total
Site Services LLC for the Systemic Pedestrian Safety Improvements Project 2675.
E. Resolution authorizing Interagency Agreement with Washington State Department of
Transportation for Field Survey Collection
RESOLUTION NO. R-2024-197, A RESOLUTION authorizing Agreement GCC 1057
with the Washington State Department of Transportation for Field Survey Collection.
F. Resolution authorizing an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Union Gap for
stormwater laboratory services
RESOLUTION NO. R-2024-198, A RESOLUTION authorizing an Interlocal
Agreement between the City of Yakima and the City of Union Gap for Stormwater
Laboratory Services.
G. Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the funding agreements with
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the 2024 HOME and CDBG grant contracts
RESOLUTION NO. R-2024-199, A RESOLUTION authorizing the City Manager to
accept the 2024 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Funds
and execute the Funding contracts as mandated by the Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD).
H. Resolution authorizing an agreement with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission
to provide funding for a dedicated DUI officer position
RESOLUTION NO. R-2024-200, A RESOLUTION authorizing an agreement with
Washington Traffic Safety Commission to provide pass-through funding from the US
Department of Transportation to fund a police officer position for impaired driving patrol.
I. Resolution adopting Yakima Transit's Transit Development Plan for 2024-2029 and
Annual Report for 2023
RESOLUTION NO. R-2024-201, A RESOLUTION adopting Yakima Transit's
Development plan for 2024-2029 and annual report for 2023.
8. Public Hearings
A. Open record public hearing to consider the Yakima Planning Commission's recommendation
on a Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA#001-24) and Rezone (RZ#001-24) request for
five parcels in the vicinity of the 2000 block of Viola Ave and Simpson Ln
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Planning Manager Trevor Martin introduced this item and briefed Council on the Yakima
Planning Commission's recommendation.
Mayor Byers administered the Appearance of Fairness Doctrine. Each Councilmember
answered negatively or affirmatively 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? All Council members
responded they did not.
2. Do you stand to gain or lose any financial benefit as a result of the outcome of this
proposal? The response from Council members was no.
3. Can you hear and consider the application in a fair and objective manner, without
bias? All Council members stated they could.
4. Have you had any ex parte communications with the Applicants, or anyone else,
regarding this application? All Council members responded no.
Mayor Byers opened the public hearing. Mayor Byers asked if anyone wished to
challenge any Council member's participation in this application on appearance of
fairness grounds? No one from the audience or on Zoom spoke to the issue.
With no one coming forward or calling in to speak, Mayor Byers closed the public hearing.
MOTION: Deccio moved and Brown seconded to approve the Yakima Planning
Commission's recommendation and direct staff to prepare the appropriate
ordinance for consideration at a subsequent meeting. The motion carried by a 7-0
roll call vote.
B. Open record public hearing to consider the Yakima Planning Commission's recommendation
on a Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA#002-24) and Rezone (RZ#002-24) request for
7500 W Nob Hill Blvd
Associate Planner Connor Kennedy introduced this item and briefed Council on the Yakima
Planning Commission's recommendation.
Mayor Byers administered the Appearance of Fairness Doctrine. Each Councilmember
answered negatively or affirmatively 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? All Council members
responded they did not.
2. Do you stand to gain or lose any financial benefit as a result of the outcome of this
proposal? The response from Council members was no.
3. Can you hear and consider the application in a fair and objective manner, without
bias? All Council members stated they could.
4. Have you had any ex parte communications with the Applicants, or anyone else,
regarding this application? All Council members responded no.
Mayor Byers opened the public hearing. Mayor Byers asked if anyone wished to
challenge any Council member's participation in this application on appearance of
fairness grounds? No one from the audience or on Zoom spoke to the issue.
With no one coming forward or calling in to speak, Mayor Byers closed the public hearing.
MOTION: Deccio moved and Brown seconded to approve and direct staff to
prepare the appropriate ordinance accepting the recommendation of the Planning
Commission for consideration at a subsequent meeting. The motion carried by a 7-0
roll call vote.
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C. Open record public hearing to consider the Yakima Planning Commission's recommendation
on a Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA#003-24) and Rezone (RZ#003-24) request for
8603 & 8604 Ahtanum Rd
Planning Manager Trevor Martin introduced this item and briefed Council on the Yakima
Planning Commission's recommendation.
Mayor Byers administered the Appearance of Fairness Doctrine. Each Councilmember
answered negatively or affirmatively 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? All Council members
responded they did not.
2. Do you stand to gain or lose any financial benefit as a result of the outcome of this
proposal? The response from Council members was no.
3. Can you hear and consider the application in a fair and objective manner, without
bias? All Council members stated they could.
4. Have you had any ex parte communications with the Applicants, or anyone else,
regarding this application? All Council members responded no.
Mayor Byers opened the public hearing. Mayor Byers asked if anyone wished to
challenge any Council member's participation in this application on appearance of
fairness grounds? No one from the audience or on Zoom spoke to the issue.
With no one coming forward or calling in to speak, Mayor Byers closed the public hearing.
MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to approve and direct staff to
prepare the appropriate ordinance for consideration at a subsequent meeting
based on the approval of the Planning Commission. The motion carried by a 7-0 roll
call vote.
D. Public hearing and Ordinances pertaining to Ad Valorem Taxes (property tax) to be levied
for collection in fiscal year 2025
City Manager Vicki Baker opened this item for discussion. Finance Manager Kimberly
Domine reviewed the proposed ordinances pertaining to ad valorem taxes which authorizes
the County Assessor to levy real and personal property taxes necessary to fund the City of
Yakima's 2025-2026 Biennial Budget. Staff stressed the importance of passing this
legislation because it provides the primary funding source for the City's budget.
Deanna Gregory, with Pacifica Law Group, further briefed Council on budget-based property
tax levies and provided an overview of municipal bond financing tools and legal obligations.
Mayor Byers opened the public hearing.
With no one coming forward or calling in to speak, Mayor Byers closed the public hearing.
The City Clerk read Ordinance A by title only.
MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to pass Ordinance A. The motion
carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
A. ORDINANCE NO. 2024-032, AN ORDINANCE relating to the annual property tax
levy; declaring the City Council's intent to increase the City's 2025 regular levy up to
101% along with new construction, annexation, refunds and growth in state-assessed
property values from the amount levied the previous year.
The City Clerk read Ordinance B by title only.
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MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to pass Ordinance B. The motion
carried by a 7-0 roll call vote.
B. ORDINANCE NO. 2024-033, AN ORDINANCE fixing and levying the amount of ad
valorem taxes necessary to discharge the expected expenses and obligations for the
2025 Budget for the City of Yakima.
E. First public hearing on the 2025-2026 Preliminary Biennial Budget for the City of Yakima.
Director of Finance and Budget Viren Mayani briefed Council on the 2025-2026
Preliminary Biennial Budget and reported on the forecast for General Fund and Citywide
revenues and expenditures. He highlighted several changes impacting the budget and
noted an anticipated deficit in 2025 and 2026. An update on projects funded by ARPA
funds was also provided.
Mayor Byers opened the public hearing.
With no one coming forward or calling in to speak, Mayor Byers closed the public hearing.
9. Department Items
A. Draft 2025 City of Yakima State and Federal Legislative Priorities
Communications and Public Affairs Manager Randy Beehler briefed Council on the 2025
State and Federal Legislative Priorities.
After Council discussion,
MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to adopt the 2025 State and Federal
Legislative Priorities. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
B. Ordinance amending the 2024 Budget for the City of Yakima and making appropriations
from unappropriated fund balances within various funds for expenditure during 2024 for
various purposes (First Reading)
Director of Finance and Budget Viren Mayani briefed Council on the first reading of
proposed amendments to the 2024 budget.
The City Clerk read the ordinance by title only.
First Reading of AN ORDINANCE amending the 2024 Budget for the City of Yakima; and
making appropriations from Unappropriated Fund Balances within various funds for
expenditure during 2024 for various purposes.
C. 2025 - 2026 Budget Discussion
Director of Finance and Budget Viren Mayani presented follow-up information on the
preliminary 2025-2026 Biennial Budget. He noted several projects that remain unfunded
and will therefore impact reserve fund levels if alternative revenue options are not
implemented. Mr. Mayani also explained several previously identified revenue sources that
staff recommend not moving forward with at this time.
Additional information was provided on the following revenue options for Council to review,
such as a levy lid lift, remove Charter directed CPI inflator, increase in-lieu utility taxes,
implement impact fees, charge technology fees, EMS levy, establish a fire district, impose
a business and occupation tax, increase the Transportation Benefit District fee, and
charge a sales tax on the Transportation Benefit District fee.
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After extensive Council discussion,
MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to direct staff to explore and develop
options for a public safety levy in coordination with police and fire and bring back to
a future Council meeting for discussion. Motion carried by unanimous vote.
MOTION: Deccio moved and Glenn seconded to direct staff to prepare Charter
amendment language to remove the Charter directed inflator CPI and other
amendments and bring back at a study session. Motion carried by unanimous vote.
MOTION: Deccio moved and Byers seconded to direct staff to put together an
ordinance for the in-lieu increase for Stormwater fees. The motion carried by 4-3 vote;
Brown, Glenn, and Berg voting no.
MOTION: Berg moved and Deccio seconded to direct staff to bring an ordinance
related to impact fees comparable to Union Gap. The motion carried by 5-2 vote; Brown
and Glenn voting no.
10. City Manager Update
City Manager Baker thanked Council for their willingness to continue to review and discuss
budget options.
11. Other Business
None.
12. Adjournment
MOTION: Brown moved and Herrera seconded to adjourn to the next City Council
study session on November 12, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City
Hall. The motion carried by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 8.49 p.m.
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