OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Yakima City Council Study Session - July 9, 2024

City Council — Tuesday, July 9, 2024
BodyYakima, Washington
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, July 9, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 50:24

Transcript — Verbatim
1:15

Good evening and welcome.

1:17

I call the Yakima City Council study session of June 9th, 2024.

1:21

Excuse me, July 9th, 2024 to order.

1:24

We'll start with roll call, please.

1:25

Berg.

1:26

Here.

1:26

Brown.

1:27

Mayor.

1:28

Byers.

1:28

Present.

1:29

DCO.

1:30

Here.

1:30

Glenn.

1:31

Here.

1:31

Herrera.

1:32

Here.

1:33

Roy.

1:34

You will be here.

1:36

Thank you.

1:37

Yes.

1:37

In about five minutes, we think.

1:39

Okay.

1:40

Um, you may see executive session on the agenda.

1:43

We have no executive session this evening.

1:45

So we're going to move down to public comment during public comment.

1:49

Anyone who wishes to approach council can speak for two and a half minutes.

1:52

Please fill out a form in the back and bring it to the city clerk.

1:55

And when you come to the podium, identify yourself in the city in which you live.

1:59

Do we have anybody for public comment?

2:01

No one.

2:01

No?

2:02

Okay.

2:03

Mr.

2:03

Beeler, do we have anyone online for public comment?

2:07

No, Mayor Buyers.

2:08

There's not.

2:09

Thank you.

2:09

Then we will move on from public comment into our study session items.

2:13

The first is item A, a public hearing and resolution to declare property rights obtained by assessment to be surplus to the city's needs.

2:22

And Mike Shane will be addressing us.

2:24

Thank you, Mike.

2:26

Good evening, Madam Mayor and Council members.

2:29

Uh you'll have to pardon a little bit of a lisp.

2:32

I lost a crown on my front tooth about a half hour ago.

2:35

So I won't be smiling much.

2:39

So this is a resolution in a public hearing to consider declaring the property rights obtained by the city in the provided easement deed, which runs through the parcel addressed as 1116 Fruitville Boulevard to be surplused to the uses and needs of the city and authorized disposition of the property rights to the Yakima Housing Authority.

3:40

Thank you.

3:45

All right.

3:47

Does uh council have any questions or comments for Mr.

3:50

Shane?

3:52

If not, I'll open the public hearing.

3:56

Do we have anyone in the audience who wishes to address the council this evening regarding this matter?

4:04

Mr.

4:04

Beeler, do we have anyone online who wishes to make comment during public the hearing?

4:09

No, Mayor Byers.

4:11

Thank you.

4:12

Then I will close the public hearing.

4:14

Bring it back to council.

4:16

Thank you, Mr.

4:16

Shane.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Homelessness███████████████████████████████████35%
Public Safety███████████████████████23%
Planning And Development██████████████████████22%
Substance Use Disorder████████8%
Procedural██████6%
Budget Equity Analysis███3%
Legal Services███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Yakima City Council Study Session - July 9, 2024

The Yakima City Council held a study session on July 9, 2024, at 5:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included a public hearing and resolution to surplus property rights to the Yakima Housing Authority, a presentation of draft strategic priorities for 2024-2025, and a discussion on the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson. The meeting adjourned at 5:51 PM.

Public Comments

  • No members of the public provided comments either in person or online.

Discussion Items

  • Public Hearing and Resolution (Item 4A): Water/Irrigation Division Manager Mike Shane presented a proposal to declare property rights obtained by easement (parcel 181313-31516, Fruitvale Boulevard) as surplus and dispose of them to the Yakima Housing Authority. No public testimony was given. The council unanimously adopted Resolution R-2024-125 by a 7-0 roll call vote.
  • Draft City of Yakima Strategic Priorities for 2024-2025 (Item 4B): Interim City Manager Dave Zabell introduced the draft strategic priorities developed during a council retreat on June 14-15, 2024, facilitated by Zach Ratkai of Sageland Strategic LLC. The four priorities are: 1) Safe and Healthy Yakima, 2) Resilient Yakima, 3) Thriving Yakima, and 4) Engaged Yakima. Each priority includes specific goals. Council discussed the document, with Councilmember Brown inquiring about including customer service under "streamlined city processes." No changes were made. The final document will be presented at the next business meeting for adoption.
  • Discussion on Grants Pass v. Johnson Supreme Court Decision (Item 4C): City Attorney Sara Watkins briefed the council on the June 30, 2024, Supreme Court ruling that upheld Grants Pass ordinances prohibiting camping on public property. Watkins explained that Yakima's existing unlawful camping ordinance is similar but includes a requirement to verify shelter availability before enforcement. The city has adequate shelter space (e.g., Camp Hope, Union Gospel Mission). Council discussed potential changes: removing the shelter verification requirement, aligning definitions with Grants Pass, and exploring options such as mandatory minimum sentences or diversion programs. Chief of Police Boyle noted that enforcement will continue similarly, with emphasis on connecting people to services. Councilmember Glenn and others highlighted the need for broader community discussions involving the county, courts, and service providers to address underlying issues of addiction and mental health. No immediate action was taken; changes will be brought to a future meeting.

Key Outcomes

  • Resolution R-2024-125 adopted (7-0) to surplus property rights to the Yakima Housing Authority.
  • Strategic Priorities draft will be presented for adoption at the July 16, 2024, regular council meeting.
  • Grants Pass discussion: Council agreed to review current ordinances and bring proposed changes for consideration at a future meeting. No votes were taken.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome. I call the Yakima City Council study session of June 9th, 2024. Excuse me, July 9th, 2024 to order. We'll start with roll call, please. Berg. Here. Brown. Mayor. Byers. Present. DCO. Here. Glenn. Here. Herrera. Here. Roy. You will be here. Thank you. Yes. In about five minutes, we think. Okay. Um, you may see executive session on the agenda. We have no executive session this evening. So we're going to move down to public comment during public comment. Anyone who wishes to approach council can speak for two and a half minutes. Please fill out a form in the back and bring it to the city clerk. And when you come to the podium, identify yourself in the city in which you live. Do we have anybody for public comment? No one. No? Okay. Mr. Beeler, do we have anyone online for public comment? No, Mayor Buyers. There's not. Thank you. Then we will move on from public comment into our study session items. The first is item A, a public hearing and resolution to declare property rights obtained by assessment to be surplus to the city's needs. And Mike Shane will be addressing us. Thank you, Mike. Good evening, Madam Mayor and Council members. Uh you'll have to pardon a little bit of a lisp. I lost a crown on my front tooth about a half hour ago. So I won't be smiling much. So this is a resolution in a public hearing to consider declaring the property rights obtained by the city in the provided easement deed, which runs through the parcel addressed as 1116 Fruitville Boulevard to be surplused to the uses and needs of the city and authorized disposition of the property rights to the Yakima Housing Authority. Thank you. All right. Does uh council have any questions or comments for Mr. Shane?

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