OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Yakima City Council Regular Meeting – July 16, 2024

City Council — Tuesday, July 16, 2024
BodyYakima, Washington
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, July 16, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:29:57

Transcript — Verbatim
3:52

Good evening.

3:53

I am going to reconvene the July sixteenth, twenty twenty-four Yakim City Council of Business meeting to order.

3:59

Start roll call, please.

4:01

Here.

4:02

Brown.

4:02

Here.

4:03

Hi, ears.

4:03

Present.

4:04

Here.

4:05

Flynn.

4:06

Here.

4:06

Herrera.

4:07

Here.

4:07

Roy.

4:08

Here.

4:09

Thank you.

4:16

I pledge allegiance to the fly of the United States of America.

4:21

And to the Republicans, indivisible with liberty and disquires.

4:35

Thank you.

5:05

So we have a motion by Deputy Mayor Brown and a second by Councilman Gerg to adjourn to executive session.

5:11

Uh, to evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment for thirty minutes pursuant to RCW forty two thirty one ten one G.

5:19

All those in favor, please say I just joined to executive session.

31:05

Good evening.

31:06

Welcome back.

31:07

I'm going to reconvene the meeting.

31:08

And can we start with roll call, please?

31:12

Third.

31:12

Sure.

31:13

Brown.

31:14

Here.

31:14

My ears.

31:15

Present.

31:15

DCO.

31:16

Here.

31:17

Glenn.

31:17

Here.

31:18

Herrera?

31:19

Here.

31:19

Roy.

31:20

Here.

31:21

Thank you.

31:22

We'll now move into item four, which is public comment.

31:25

There'd be 35 minutes allowed for public comment this evening.

31:27

If you wish to make comments to the council, please make sure you fill out a slip and the table in the lobby and bring it to the city clerk.

31:33

Each person will have two and a half minutes when you come to the podium.

31:36

Please identify yourself and tell us the city that you live in.

31:39

All right.

31:40

So for public comment tonight, the first person I have is Joe Daniels.

31:48

My name is Joe Daniels.

31:49

I'm a 17-year veteran.

31:50

I'm a homeless veteran here in Yakima.

31:53

Uh first I would like to read something to you all.

31:56

Elijah.

31:56

Well, the Hebrew prophet who ranks with Moses and saving the religion of Yahweh from being corrupted by the nature worship of the law.

32:05

Elijah's name means Yahweh is my God.

32:12

Now I have a question for the council.

32:14

Abraham Lincoln was your first black president.

32:16

It took him a term and a half to rally the slaves to fight for freedom under the United States flag.

32:21

The slaves charge the Confederates.

35:00

I don't know if any subcommittee members are or will be on the PC, but I support their addition.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████47%
Public Safety███████████11%
Transportation Safety█████████9%
Public Transportation███████7%
Public Works Administration█████5%
Personnel Matters█████5%
Public Comment███3%
Homelessness███3%
Engineering And Infrastructure███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Yakima City Council Regular Meeting – July 16, 2024

The Yakima City Council held a regular meeting on July 16, 2024, starting at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included three executive sessions, public comment, a consent agenda with one item removed for separate discussion, and several department items. Key outcomes included the selection of Vicki Baker as the new City Manager, approval of a $1 million state grant for roundabout construction, adoption of 2024-2025 strategic priorities, and consensus to send a letter to Pacific Power regarding power shutoff impacts. The consent agenda was approved with a 7-0 vote except for item F, which was separately adopted 7-0. All department items passed unanimously.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved unanimously (7-0): Official minutes from July 1, 2, and 9, 2024, 2nd Quarter Treasury Report, June disbursements, petty cash fund resolution, ARPA revenue replacement (up to $8.6 million), and multiple grant awards (88th Ave Sidewalk, Naches River Bridge Repair, GovInvest labor costing, Hertz rental car concession, FedEx airport lease amendment, settlement for Manka lawsuit, and budget ordinance).
  • Item F (removed): Resolution R-2024-128 accepting a $1 million state grant for the 34th Avenue & Fruitvale Boulevard Roundabouts Project. After discussion, it was adopted 7-0. The project will fully fund two roundabouts at the intersection, with construction expected to begin in late August/early September 2024.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Joe Daniels, a homeless veteran and city resident, read a religious passage and expressed support for adding a third round of Planning Commission applications and transparency.
  • Anne Knapp, newly appointed Planning Commission member, commented on the appointment/reappointment process, suggesting clearer procedures and transparency. She stated she will support the PC.
  • Luis Lopez, a District 1 resident, thanked Councilmember Leo Roy for a recent neighborhood tour and discussed issues like graffiti, a missing stop sign, vacant lot hazards, and overgrown weeds, hoping for city partnership.

Discussion Items

  • National Health Center Week Proclamation: Approved 7-0.
  • Planning Commission Appointments: The Council Nominating Committee recommended Arthur Salido and Kevin Rangel. After Assistant Mayor Brown was excused from voting (political conflict), the motion passed 4-2 (Deccio and Herrera voted no; Brown abstained). Anne Knapp was previously appointed.
  • Item F (removed consent): City Engineer Bill Preston presented the 34th/Fruitvale/River Road roundabouts grant. The project is fully funded; construction advertising planned for late Aug/Sep 2024. Council approved 7-0.
  • Downtown Transit Center Improvements: Assistant Transit Manager Greg Story presented a resolution to accept state funding for a complete remodel of the 1991-built transit center (painting, clock tower, benches, lighting, plumbing, security cameras). Senator King was recognized for help in reallocating funds. Approved 7-0.
  • Comprehensive Healthcare Lease: City Attorney Sara Watkins summarized a 15-year lease for city-owned property adjacent to Camp Hope, for a mental health clinic using shipping containers. Rent is zero due to services for homeless. The rezone for medical use is pending. Approved 7-0.
  • Terminal Building Modernization Phase 1B,2,3: Airport Director Rob Hodgman presented a master agreement with MWA Architects for design services at Yakima Air Terminal. Phase 1A construction (roof, HVAC, fire suppression) went to bid July 11, 2024. Approved 7-0.
  • 2024-2025 Strategic Priorities: Interim City Manager Dave Zabell presented the final plan from the June retreat, with one change: “Adopt sustainable budgeting practices” replaced with “Adopt reasonable budgeting practices.” Four priorities: Safe & Healthy, Resilient, Thriving, Engaged Yakima. Approved 7-0.
  • Lewis Avenue One-Way Street: City Engineer Preston proposed making Lewis Avenue between Lincoln and Folsom one-way southbound to improve safety for pedestrians and address speeding (65% of traffic is southbound; 85th percentile speed 24 mph). Narrow width (22 ft) and housing infill cited. Approved 7-0.

Key Outcomes

  • City Manager Selection (Executive Session): After a 5-minute executive session, the council voted 7-0 to select Vicki Baker as the City Manager, effective August 8, 2024. Staff will bring back a resolution and employment contract on July 23, 2024.
  • Pacific Power Letter: City Manager Zabell drafted a letter expressing concerns about Pacific Power's Public Safety Power Shutoff program, citing impacts on traffic signals, streetlights, utility pumps, businesses, and healthcare equipment. The council reached consensus to send the letter, with several members signing.
  • All consent and department items passed unanimously (7-0), except Planning Commission appointments (4-2).
  • Next Meeting: Study session on July 23, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. I am going to reconvene the July sixteenth, twenty twenty-four Yakim City Council of Business meeting to order. Start roll call, please. Here. Brown. Here. Hi, ears. Present. Here. Flynn. Here. Herrera. Here. Roy. Here. Thank you. I pledge allegiance to the fly of the United States of America. And to the Republicans, indivisible with liberty and disquires. Thank you. So we have a motion by Deputy Mayor Brown and a second by Councilman Gerg to adjourn to executive session. Uh, to evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment for thirty minutes pursuant to RCW forty two thirty one ten one G. All those in favor, please say I just joined to executive session. Good evening. Welcome back. I'm going to reconvene the meeting. And can we start with roll call, please? Third. Sure. Brown. Here. My ears. Present. DCO. Here. Glenn. Here. Herrera? Here. Roy. Here. Thank you. We'll now move into item four, which is public comment. There'd be 35 minutes allowed for public comment this evening. If you wish to make comments to the council, please make sure you fill out a slip and the table in the lobby and bring it to the city clerk. Each person will have two and a half minutes when you come to the podium. Please identify yourself and tell us the city that you live in. All right. So for public comment tonight, the first person I have is Joe Daniels. My name is Joe Daniels. I'm a 17-year veteran.

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