Yakima City Council Study Session - August 27, 2024
Yakima City Council Study Session - August 27, 2024
The Yakima City Council held a study session on the evening of August 27, 2024, at 5:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included public comments, proclamations, board appointments, and a discussion on residential parking. The meeting adjourned at 5:31 PM.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Joe Mann, downtown business owner, spoke in support of local landmarks including the Capitol Theatre, the Fruit Row historic designation, and the trolleys. He also welcomed new City Manager Vicki Baker.
- Gregory Johnsen, a New York City resident, spoke in favor of the trolleys, noting that Yakima's interurban electric railroad is the last of its kind in the U.S.
- Barbara Walker, a lifelong Yakima resident and trolley motor person-in-training, praised the trolley's 50-year history and its role in bringing families together.
- Paul Edmondson, a Yakima resident and long-time trolley volunteer, highlighted the trolley's national significance and its operation on original city streets.
- Joe Daniels, a homeless veteran, raised concerns about racial inequity in the local judicial system, specifically criticizing a prosecutor's use of religious language during a trial.
- Mayor Patricia Byers expressed sympathies to Mary Anderson on the passing of former Yakima County Commissioner Ron Anderson.
Discussion Items
- Trolley Week Proclamation: Mayor Byers read a proclamation declaring August 25–31, 2024, as "Yakima Valley Trolley Week." Ken Johnson accepted the proclamation, noting the 50th anniversary of trolley restoration and the railroad's status as a candidate for National Historic Landmark designation. The council voted unanimously to approve the proclamation (motion by Deccio, second by Brown).
- Fruit Row National Historic District and Yakima Harvest Month Proclamation: Planning Manager Trevor Martin presented a draft proclamation recognizing the Fruit Row Historic District—one of the largest active warehouse districts west of the Mississippi—and declaring September as Yakima Harvest Month. The council voted unanimously to approve the proclamation (motion by Deccio, second by Brown).
- Council Nominating Committee Recommendations for Board Appointments: Assistant Mayor Matt Brown reported that the committee recommended three appointments: Lisa Graham to the Henry Beauchamp Jr. Community Center Advisory Board, David Brown to the Public Facilities District Board, and Annaka Yockey to the Parks and Recreation Commission youth position. All recommendations were approved unanimously (motion by Deccio, second by Brown).
- Residential Parking: Lieutenant Chad Stephens of the Yakima Police Department presented an overview of the existing residential parking permit system, which allows up to two permits per downtown residential unit at an annual fee of $50. He proposed designating angled parking on specific streets near Chestnut Manor and the Transit Center to address resident concerns about ticketing after recent parking rules. City Attorney Sara Watkins indicated that legal staff are reviewing potential amendments, including a visitor placard program and administrative simplifications. No action was taken; the item was for discussion only.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous approval of the Trolley Week Proclamation.
- Unanimous approval of the Fruit Row National Historic District and Yakima Harvest Month Proclamation.
- Unanimous approval of the three board appointments: Lisa Graham, David Brown, and Annaka Yockey.
- No formal action on residential parking; city staff will continue reviewing ordinance changes and report back.
- The next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for September 3, 2024, at 5:30 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome. I call the August 27, 2024 Yakim City Council study session to order. We'll start with roll call, please. Here. Brown. Here. Five years. Present. DCO. Here. Glenn. Here. Irena? Here. Roy. Here. Thank you. The first thing we're gonna have is public comment. Tonight we will allow 15 minutes for public comment. Anyone wishing to address the council should fill out a forum from the lobby and bring it to the city clerk. You will have two and a half minutes. When you come to the microphone, please identify yourself and tell us what city you live in. Thank you. The first is Joe Mann. No pressure. Good evening, Council. Uh Joe Mann, uh lifetime resident of Yakima. Um, I just wanted to talk about a few of the gems that we have left in our community. We have the Capitol Theater, which truly is a gym, and it was saved from a fire several years ago. And at that time, people wanted to build a parking lot there. Just what we needed was another parking lot. And uh another gem that we just got earlier this year was uh the fruit row historical designation of the fruit row. And without irrigation and the fruit row, Yakima wouldn't be here. And the other one I want to talk about is the trolleys. Because a tr the trolleys moved a lot of that fruit firsthand and moved a lot of the people at that hand. And so having these historical memories in our community, I think brings people to our community, but makes us appreciate our community even more. So I just wanted to pass it on to council and welcome our new city manager to her chair. So thank you, guys. Thank you, Mr. Mann. Next is Gregory Johnson. I'm a trolley fan, I'm a trolley fan. Thank you. Oh my gosh, I can't believe this. Thank you. I needed this. A few hometowns have trolley systems. There are a few others around. But according to the National Park Service, there's only one that has an interurban electric railroad left, and that's here in Yakima. And I think those are the kinds of things that give people pride in their community and give people a sense of purpose and place.
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