Yakima City Council Study Session - July 23, 2024
Yakima City Council Study Session - July 23, 2024
The Yakima City Council held a study session on July 23, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included approvals of an Overdose Awareness Day proclamation, a city manager employment agreement, and an amendment to ARPA funding for a domestic violence shelter, as well as presentations on utility rate studies for refuse, wastewater, and stormwater, and a final annexation study report. An executive session was also held.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Joseph Daniels, a Yakima resident and homeless veteran, read a personal statement and a religious passage during the 15-minute public comment period.
Discussion Items
- Overdose Awareness Day Proclamation: Council reviewed and unanimously approved the proclamation.
- City Manager Employment Agreement: Human Resources Director Connie Mendoza briefed Council on the agreement for Victoria Baker, effective August 8, 2024. Council adopted Resolution R-2024-139 by a 7-0 roll call vote.
- YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter ARPA Funding Amendment: Assistant City Manager Rosylen Oglesby introduced the resolution extending the contract. YWCA Executive Director Cheri Kilty and Isabel Garcia presented an update: the project will renovate the historic St. Elizabeth Nursing School to add 112 shelter beds, aiming to address a high demand (over 1,000 families turned away in 2023, 700 crisis calls per month). Funding sources include $9 million from the state, $2 million from the city, $1 million from the county, $1.6 million from the capital campaign, and a bridge loan from Heritage Bank. Construction timeline: notice to proceed in December 2024. Council discussed the project and adopted Resolution R-2024-140 by a 7-0 roll call vote.
- Utility Rate Studies (Refuse, Wastewater, Stormwater): Public Works Director Scott Schafer introduced the studies. Solid Waste Manager Trace Bradburn and consultant Chris Bell presented refuse rates, proposing a 3% annual increase for 2025–2028 to cover rising costs and a new bulky waste collection service (e.g., $4 per tire). Wastewater/Stormwater Manager Mike Price and Tage Aaker (FCS Group) presented wastewater and stormwater rate studies. Proposed wastewater increases: 3% for retail rates, with phased increases for pretreatment (5.3%/yr), BOD surcharge (10%/yr), suspended solids (6.5%/yr), fats/oils/grease (1.6%/yr), and industrial wastewater (6%/yr). Stormwater scenarios: Scenario 1 required 16% increases for three years (or 7% phased) to fund priority capital; Scenario 2 required 21% increases for four years to fund additional capital. Councilmembers expressed concerns about affordability for low-income residents and equity. No action was taken; further discussion will occur during the 2025–2026 biennial budget process.
- Final Annexation Study Report: Planning Manager Trevor Martin presented the study of five potential annexation areas within the Urban Growth Area. A sub-area in Terrace Heights (Area 1) was highlighted, noting 53 dwelling units, potential 2,069 new jobs (770 service, 1,299 industrial), 900 housing units, 1,300 new residents, and land valuation of approximately $350 million. City Attorney Sara Watkins answered questions on annexation election methods. Council discussed the annexation process, property owner interest, and infrastructure considerations.
- Executive Session: Council voted unanimously to adjourn to executive session for 30 minutes to discuss litigation or legal risks under RCW 42.30.110(1)(i)(iii). The session was extended by 15 minutes, ending at 7:30 p.m., and the meeting reconvened at 7:31 p.m. The previously scheduled discussion on Unlawful Camping and General Nuisance Ordinances was not held.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous approval of the Overdose Awareness Day Proclamation.
- Adoption of Resolution R-2024-139 (7-0) authorizing the City Manager employment agreement with Victoria Baker.
- Adoption of Resolution R-2024-140 (7-0) amending the YWCA contract for ARPA-funded domestic violence shelter construction.
- Motion to adjourn to executive session (unanimous) for 30 minutes, later extended 15 minutes.
- Motion to adjourn to the next regular meeting on August 5, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. (unanimous).
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome. I am going to call the July twenty-third, twenty twenty-four Yakima City Council study session to order. We'll start with roll call, please. Bird? Here. Brown. Here. Fires. Present. DCL. Here. Glenn. Here. Herrera. Here. Roy. Here. All right. Thank you. Next is public comment, and tonight we will allow 15 minutes for public comment. If you wish to address the council, please make sure you fill out a form in the back and give it to the city clerk. You will have two and a half minutes to speak. When you come to the podium, please identify yourself and tell us the city in which you live. The first person I have is uh Joseph Daniels. My name is Joseph Daniels. I'm a homeless veteran here in Yakima after 17 years of being assaulted by the city. Uh Superior Court of Washington, County of Yakima, Klein Joe Daniels, to whom we may concern. Joe Daniels was further to me for counseling in April 20 of April 24th for VA community-based mental health therapy. The VA diagnosed him with PTSD anxiety base. He was in the army for 17 years. It was armally discharged in 2015. I met with Mr. Daniels on four occasions during the time I have not observed him, expressed anger, a uh lack of temper control, a threats of harm to himself or others. He appears to be anxious and high energy, but polite and positive. Every one of the brook the builders had his sword gurden in his side as he built. Mr. Beelers or anyone online who would like to address the council. Thank you. Then we will end public comment for this evening and move into our study session. The first item on the adjustment uh excuse me on the um agenda as a draft overdose awareness day proclamation. This was given to the council for approval. Have all the council had an opportunity to read the declaration. Any questions or concerns? If not, then I would entertain a motion to uh uh move forward with it. I move to approve the doc the proclamation. Second. So we have a motion by councilwoman DCO and a second by Deputy Mayor Brown to approve the proclamation. All of those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed?
openpublica.com