HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/08/2021 Study Session 336
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MINUTES
YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
STUDY SESSION
June 8, 2021
Virtual via Zoom
5 p.m.
1. Roll Call
Council: Mayor Patricia Byers, presiding,Assistant Mayor Holly Cousens and
Councilmembers Kay Funk, Soneya Lund and Eliana Macias (present at 5:25 p.m.)
Staff: City Manager Robert Harrison and City Clerk Sonya Claar Tee
Absent: Councilmember Brad Hill (excused), Councilmember Jason White
2. Public comment (allow 15 minutes)
None.
3. Discussion with the Community Integration Committee
Mayor Byers reported Councilmember Hill has a work conflict and Councilmember Lund
needs to leave the meeting at 6 p.m. Assistant Mayor Cousens shared the history on why the
Committee was created and how she believes Council has failed to provide tasks for the
Community Integration Committee (CIC). She questioned if the CIC is still needed, and if
so, perhaps Council could revisit new bylaws for the Committee.
CIC Chair Rocio Carrion and members Sandra Aguilar and Chad Stover reported the CIC
would like communication with Council regarding an ongoing list of topics and issues going
on in Yakima. They discussed the Committee's duties and responsibilities and stated the City
needs more communication on equity and diversity. The members spoke about the
importance of utilizing an equity lens and agreed the bylaws could be amended.
Councilmember Lund noted a lot of the City's focus is on infrastructure, roads and planning,
and those need to be seen through an equitable lens. She and Councilmember Macias would
like to see a CIC member on the Planning Commission and a routine report from the CIC on
a monthly or quarterly basis. Councilmember Funk shared her concern with affordable and
segregated housing and imagines that would be an interesting topic for the C I C. Assistant
Mayor Cousens reminded the group that the City had an equity study completed a couple of
years ago.
City Manager Harrison suggested the CIC revisit the Government Alliance on Race and
Equity(GARE)training though the International City Manager's Association, which would be a
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community conversation around race and equity rather than focusing on decision makers.
Mayor Byers stated she has heard several suggestions and would like Council to have a
future conversation on how to avail ourselves of what the CI C has to offer.
4. Special Events and Insurance Requirements
Colleda Monick, Community Development Specialist, provided a presentation on special
events. Ryan Bleek, Senior Assistant City Attorney, and Payne West representative Jeff
Widdows discussed the insurance aspect of special events. Mr. Bleek strongly encouraged
the City not to relax any of the insurance requirements due to risk to the City.
Assistant Mayor Cousens reported she and Mayor Byers will continue meeting on this issue
and bring back additional information for Council review.
5. Adjournment
MOTION: Cousens moved and Macias seconded to adjourn to a City Council
special meeting on June 9, 2021, at noon virtually via Zoom. The motion carried by
unanimous vote, Hill and White absent. The meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m.
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