HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/14/2025 Study Session 468
YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
January 14, 2025
City Hall - Council Chambers - 129 N 2nd Street, Yakima, WA
5:00 PM City Council 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 and Danny Herrera
Staff: City Manager Vicki Baker, City Attorney Sara Watkins and City Clerk Rosalinda lbarra
Absent and Excused: Councilmember Leo Roy
Special Announcement— Mayor Byers announced that Yakima has been selected as an
Official Fan Zone location for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
2. Public Comment(allow 15 minutes)
Kyle Curtis, Yakima County Commissioner District 2, thanked Council and staff for discussing
the filing fee funds and encouraged stakeholders to participate in the update of the Yakima
County Five-Year Homeless Housing Plan.
Joe Daniels, City resident, read a religious passage.
3. Study Session Items
A. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Proclamation
Mayor Byers proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday as a "Day of Service." Anthony
Peterson and Reverend Robert Trimble accepted the proclamation.
B. National Mentoring Month Proclamation
Councilmember Deccio proclaimed January 2025 as "National Mentoring Month." Alicia
Tobin accepted the proclamation.
C. Presentation of updates to the Yakima Air Terminal Modernization project
Director of the Yakima Air Terminal Rob Hodgman presented an overview of the Yakima
Air Terminal Modernization Project and provided updates of the terminal parking lot solar
canopy project, overflow parking lot, roof and HVAC project, baggage claim project,
renovations to the ticketing area, cargo and baggage screening, and a Yakima County
Supporting Investment in Economic Development (SIED) grant application.
The solar canopy project proposes installing solar canopies on the front row of the
airport parking lot, resulting in utility cost savings, reduction in carbon dioxide impact and
increased revenue. The baggage claim modernization project replaces outdated
machinery, enhances security and reduces congestion creating a more streamlined and
accessible passenger experience.
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Mr. Hodgman reported that not all elements of the Yakima Air Terminal Modernization
Project are eligible for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding; therefore, staff is
seeking approval to apply for a $2 million SIED grant application to match federal funds
for the first phase of the Yakima Air Terminal Modernization Project.
D. Resolution authorizing submittal of a SIED grant application for the Yakima Airport
Terminal Modernization Project
Director of the Yakima Air Terminal Rob Hodgman briefed the Council on the proposed
resolution in the previous agenda item. The City Clerk read the resolution by title only.
MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to adopt the resolution. The motion
carried by a 6-0 roll call vote; Roy absent.
RESOLUTION NO. R-2025-018, A RESOLUTION authorizing a grant application for the
Yakima Air Terminal Building Modernization project to the Yakima County Supporting
Investments in Economic Development (SIED) for Capital Improvement Projects at the
Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field.
E. Resolution authorizing submittal of a SIED grant application for a feasibility study on
wastewater infrastructure around the Wiley City area
Planning Manager Trevor Martin briefed the Council on the proposed resolution
authorizing the City to apply for approximately $120,000 in SIED funds to conduct a
feasibility study and plan. The City of Yakima was notified that funding may be available
for this purpose.
Mr. Martin stated that the area is outside the jurisdictional boundaries of the City of
Yakima, but within the Urban Growth Area. It was clarified that the City's role is as the
applicant only and, if approved, staff would administer the project. The sole purpose of
the feasibility study is to evaluate the options for addressing wastewater infrastructure
and explore solutions for creating a comprehensive wastewater management system
around the Wiley City area. There would not be any expectation or reliance on the City of
Yakima to move forward with any recommendations in the plan that would connect the
area to City facilities.
The City Clerk read the resolution by title only.
MOTION: Glenn moved and Deccio seconded to adopt the resolution. The motion
carried by a 4-2 roll call vote; with Brown and Berg voting no. Roy absent.
RESOLUTION NO. R- 2025-019, A RESOLUTION authorizing a grant application for a
feasibility study on the wastewater infrastructure around the Wiley City area to the
Yakima County Supporting Investments in Economic Development (SIED).
F. Report regarding service calls and code compliance at hotels and other supportive
housing facilities
Code Administration Manager Glenn Denman, Yakima Police Department Interim Chief
Shawn Boyle, and YPC Crime Analytics Supervisor Brandon Lynn provided a report on
the number of service calls and code compliance matters regarding hotels and other
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supportive housing facilities in 2024. The information presented reflected cases handled
by Code Administration, Yak Back complaints, and YPD statistics. The greatest number
of YPD calls for service generated from the Yakima Union Gospel Mission and Camp
Hope locations.
Councilmember Glenn expressed frustration about individuals who disobey laws and are
not held accountable. Councilmembers emphasized the use of the Chronic Nuisance
Ordinance as a resourceful tool that should be applied more regularly.
G. Discussion of 1406 Funds (Retained Sales Tax for Affordable Housing)
City Attorney Sara Watkins provided information regarding the 1406 funds with a brief
overview of the Point In Time (PIT) data counts conducted by Yakima County in 2024.
The City adopted HB 1406 which allows the retention of a portion of sales tax money for
affordable housing to help address homelessness. The total revenue collected to date is
approximately $806,837. These funds can be used to construct affordable housing, for
the operation and maintenance costs of affordable or supportive housing, and to provide
rental assistance to tenants. Certain income eligibility criteria apply based on how
funding is utilized.
Yakima Municipal Code Chapter 7.92 established the Affordable Housing Incentive
Program, as required by the CHIP grant program, wherein applicants can use funds to
pay for some or all of the connection fees for water and/or sewer utilities; however, the
units must remain affordable for 50 years.
Ms. Watkins provided information about imposing an affordable housing tax which is a
sales and use tax to be used for housing and related services, including behavioral
health treatment facilities and programs to serve eligible individuals. To adopt the tax,
the City Council has two options: pass an ordinance imposing the sales and use tax; or
send the tax proposition to the voters. She noted that in 2021 a similar measure was
proposed but did not receive supermajority votes to pass.
Additionally, Ms. Watkins shared that the City of Olympia expanded their housing policy
to allow non-faith-based service providers to operate temporary emergency homeless
encampments. She also briefly discussed the collaboration and education opportunities
the City participates in and other options that the City could consider.
Councilmembers expressed interest in funding permanent supportive housing facilities
which can provide more benefits to individuals experiencing homelessness issues.
H. Information regarding filing fee funds if collected directly by City
City Attorney Sara Watkins described the current situation of filing fee funds. Yakima
County retains 30% of the filing fee surcharge collected by the County Auditor for each
recorded document. A portion of that amount must be used to accomplish the purposes
of the Yakima County Five-Year Homeless Housing Plan. Ms. Watkins noted that the
Yakima County Commissioners have the authority to allocate the funds as they deem
appropriate.
Ms. Watkins stated that State statute allows cities to operate their own local homeless
housing program if they assert responsibility for homeless housing within its boundaries.
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If it chooses to do so, the percentage share of the filing fees charged by the County
would be transmitted to the City. The City would be obligated to adopt a local plan to
address homelessness, consistent with the statewide Department of Commerce
guidelines, and create a homeless working group to provide support and help develop
the plan. Ms. Watkins also shared a breakdown of the amounts the City would have
collected over the past years, noting a trend of significant decreases in filing fees.
Other programs and services currently funded by filing fee sources include outreach,
coordinated entry, emergency shelter, extreme winter weather shelter, domestic violence
shelter, and capital improvements.
4. Adjournment
MOTION: Brown moved and Deccio seconded to adjourn to the next City Council
regular meeting on January 21, 2025, beginning with Executive Session at 5:00 p.m., in
the Council Chambers at City Hall. The motion carried by unanimous vote; Roy absent.
The meeting adjourned at 6:47 p.m.
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