Yakima City Council Study Session – June 25, 2024
Yakima City Council Study Session – June 25, 2024
The Yakima City Council held a study session on June 25, 2024, at 5:12 PM (delayed due to technical difficulties). The meeting included recognition of retiring Police Chief Matt Murray, a review of zoning and building permit processes, postponement of Planning Commission appointments, and a discussion on lifting the fireworks ban. Council reached consensus not to change the fireworks ban.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Aileen Kane (City resident) spoke against lifting the fireworks ban, citing increased risk of fire, injury, death, and financial costs. She noted that professional shows lack bus service from her neighborhood.
- Les Kinney (City resident) opposed lifting the ban, calling it "careless" given dry conditions, risk of fires and injuries, and negative effects on animals.
- Cheri Kilty (CEO of YWCA) thanked Police Chief Murray for his leadership on domestic violence issues and partnership with the community.
- James Parks (on behalf of Yakima County NAACP) presented Chief Murray with the Community Service Award and praised his work, especially in District One.
- Anthony Peterson (CEO of OIC of Washington) expressed appreciation for Chief Murray's work on homeless outreach and adjudicated youth programs.
- Additional speakers during the Chief's recognition praised his fair policing of protests (e.g., women's march) and engagement with the community, including schools.
Discussion Items
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Recognition of Retiring Police Chief Matt Murray
- Interim City Manager Dave Zabell highlighted Chief Murray's tenure, including significant crime reduction across all categories, enhanced domestic violence response through technology, improved neighborhood conditions via inter-departmental collaboration, and community engagement. Councilmembers and community members expressed gratitude for his service and leadership.
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Review of Zoning and Building Permits Related to Business and Economic Development
- Planning Manager Trevor Martin explained the history of zoning (Euclid v. Ambler, 1924), Washington's Growth Management Act (1990s), and Yakima's use-based zoning strategy. He noted that the city processed 406 applications in 2023, of which about one-quarter were land use permits (68 type 1, 56 type 2, 3 type 3). Upcoming state mandates (HB 1110 on middle housing, reduced processing timelines from 120 to 65 days) will require code updates and may increase workload. Council discussed challenges of state preemption, affordable housing, and infrastructure bottlenecks (e.g., 40th Avenue).
- Code Administration Manager Glenn Denman presented building code history (Hammurabi code, Chicago/San Francisco fires), current codes (International Building Code, Washington State Building Code), and their purposes: fire safety, structural strength, health (plumbing backflow), and neighborhood conservation. The division processed 2,963 permits in 2023, conducted 1,800 plan reviews and 8,379 inspections. Council discussed the cost burden on residents and the need for public education on permit requirements.
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Council Nominating Committee Recommendations – Yakima Planning Commission
- Councilmember Janice Deccio noted the committee had not yet met with candidates. Council voted unanimously to postpone the item until the July 16 business meeting.
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Discussion on Lifting the Fireworks Ban for July 4th
- Councilmember Danny Herrera, who made the motion to discuss, acknowledged the topic was contentious and stated he was "good with moving on." He clarified he proposed allowing only Washington State legal fireworks (sparklers, ground items), not aerials. Fire Chief (name not given) provided data: 457 fireworks-related injuries/fires in Washington in 2023 (60% from legal fireworks, 70% of injuries), and 90 fires in Yakima between July 1-7, 2023. He noted the significant operational burden on fire departments. Council reached consensus not to pursue any changes to the ban. Staff was directed to communicate that nothing is changing.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to postpone Planning Commission appointments: Councilmember Rick Glenn moved, Councilmember Janice Deccio seconded to postpone until the Nominating Committee can meet with candidates. Passed unanimously (Byers absent).
- Motion to bring the report back on July 16: Councilmember Deccio moved, Glenn seconded to postpone the report to the July 16 business meeting. Passed unanimously (Byers absent).
- Consensus on fireworks ban: Council decided not to move forward with any changes; the ban remains in place.
- Adjournment: Motion by Deccio, seconded by Glenn to adjourn to the special meeting on July 1, 2024, at 6:00 PM at the Yakima Convention Center. Passed unanimously (Byers absent).
Meeting Transcript
Yeah. All right, good evening. I call this uh meeting of the city council for our study session for June twenty-fifth, and just for folks that are watching online or Zoom, uh, you will only have audio. That's why we're a little late tonight because our video for some reason is not working. So uh clerk, uh roll call, please. Berg here. Brown? Here. DCO? Here. Glenn? Here. Herrera? Here. Roy? Here. Myers is absent. All right. Next up we have uh public comment. If you would uh like to make public comment, there are slips in the back, and you can uh bring it up to our clerk up here. Uh public comment tonight is for 15 minutes. Um we have two and a half minutes per. And first up is uh Alina Aline Eileen Kane, sorry. Thank you, Council. It's nice to be number one. I came because of the possibility of having legal fireworks. I used to love blowing up those legal fireworks. It was one of the best things about coming to Yacima. But the city decided to ban them, and I got an education from our firefighters about the consequences. The consequences are increased risk of fire, increased risk of injury and death to people with the fireworks and any bystanders. The other consequence is financial. Which I think our city would like to keep the costs of things down. We have it's a wonderful professional show. I've been many times, enjoyed it. The only problem I've ever had with it where I quit going is there's no bus from my neighborhood, which is, you know, around Fruitville Boulevard in North Six. As there were in many years past, the city said it was too expensive to do it. So we probably have the highest rate of illegal firework use. It's a miracle the whole neighborhood hasn't burned down. And it's dangerous. I'm sorry, it's dangerous. And I would assume we kept the ban. And uh for serving on City Council. All right. Next up is uh Sherry Kiltee. Good evening, Council members. Um I'm here tonight to bring the official farewell from the YWCA uh staff and board to send Chief Murray on to his next uh destination. We have desperately appreciated his um leadership around the issue of domestic violence, all of the community issues we have. You can root it back to the issue of violence and abuse in the home. And uh being able to partner with him and all the other officers and others throughout the community has really made a huge difference. Um we're all working in the same direction together, and so I just wanted to come tonight and express our appreciation for him, and thank you very much.
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