HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-26-2023 YPC MinutesCity of Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) Meeting Minutes
City Council Chambers
July 26, 2023
Call to Order
Vice -Chair Wallace called the meeting to order at 3:06 p.m.
Roll Call
YPC Members Present: Lisa Wallace, Mary Place, Frieda Stephens, Leanne Hughes -
Mickel, Colleda Monick
YPC Members Absent: Chair Jacob Liddicoat, Charles Hitchcock
Staff Present: Joseph Calhoun; Planning Manager; Connor Kennedy; Assistant
Planner, Eva Rivera, Planning Technician; Soneya Lund, City
Council Liaison
Staff Announcements — Planning Manager Calhoun announced the following:
• Text Amendments were effective on Sunday, July 23.
• Comp Plan Amendment Rezone hearing will be scheduled for August 23.
• Introduced new Assistant Planner, Connor Kennedy.
June 28 2023 Meetina Minutes — It was motioned by Commissioner Place and seconded by
Commissioner Hughes -Mickel to approve the meeting minutes of June 28, 2023, as presented.
The motion carried unanimously.
Public Meeting to receive comments on, the 2023 Annual Action Plan — Joan Davenport, the
Community Development Director for the city, presented the 2023 Annual Action Plan, a required
document for HUD. She compared this report to an application to HUD indicating how the money
would be used. She provided the commission with copies of a summary report and went over the
projects that will be funded and projects that have been done. She explained the improvements
done to the Washington Fruit Community Center. Vice Chair Wallace asked how the community
gets informed of the money available for funding. Director Davenport answered the city is working
on marketing the program. She concluded by asking Vice Chair Wallace to open the meeting for
public comment.
Vice Chair Wallace opened the public comment session. The following attendees provided public
comments:
Julia Nelson — 2600 Birch St. A new resident of the Yakima area. Started off by agreeing with the
report focusing on housing and questioned if there were any programs that help individuals
maintain stable housing.
Alvira Perry — 2300 Birch St. Has been living in Yakima for 15 years. She shares the same opinion
as Julia Nelson that there should be more consistency in providing assistance to individuals in
maintaining their homes. She discussed the construction of two new housing developments on
Fruitvale and 16th Ave and Jerome, which are intended for agricultural workers. She expressed
her concern about the lack of housing for those with a fixed income. Additionally, she shared her
experience living in Camp Hope.
Director Davenport clarified that the two housing projects Ms. Perry referred to are oriented toward
families with a family member who works in agriculture.
Wallace closed the public comment
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Housing Permit Statistics- During the second quarter of 2023, Calhoun provided the
commission with an update on permit tracking. From 2017 to June of this year, a total of 2,487
units have been permitted, which is 39% of the 2040 target. As of June, 197 units have been
permitted this year. Since August 2021, 488 permits have been finalized and 975 units being
permitted. As of June 2023, 125 units have received certificates of occupancy.
Other Business — Calhoun asked the commission about any future topics they'd like more
information on.
Adjourn — A motion to adjourn to August 9, 2023, was passed with a unanimous vote. The
meeting adjourned t approximately 3:45 p.m.
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,-66r Liddicoat Date
This meeting was filmed by YPAC. Minutes for this meeting submitted by: Eva Rivera, Planning Technician.
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