OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Yakima City Council Regular Meeting – November 4, 2024

City Council — Monday, November 4, 2024
BodyYakima, Washington
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, November 4, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:21:53

Transcript — Verbatim
3:45

Good evening.

3:46

I'm going to call to to order the Acima City Council member of meeting of November fourth, twenty twenty-four.

3:52

So we'll start with a roll call, please.

3:55

Bird?

3:55

Here.

3:56

Brown.

3:57

Yes.

3:58

Present.

3:59

DCO.

4:00

Here.

4:00

Glenn.

4:01

Here.

4:01

Irena?

4:02

Here.

4:03

Roy.

4:03

Here.

4:04

Thank you.

4:05

So tonight for the Pledge of Allegiance, I want to introduce who is going to lead us this evening.

4:11

In two thousand and twelve, the United Nations dedicated October the eleventh as the International Day of the Girl, and is celebrated all October long.

4:19

The International Day of the Girl encourages girls to tap into their own potential and to inspire change in their world and communities.

5:00

Look at all those beautiful young ladies.

5:01

We love it.

5:05

So we will face the flag, and whoever chooses, we can all start it together.

5:09

All right.

5:10

So join us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

5:14

On my honor.

5:18

Oh, don't believe that.

5:22

I don't know what that is.

5:23

We got this.

5:33

I don't know.

5:40

And Republic for the justice for all.

5:49

Thank you.

5:56

I look forward to this every year.

5:57

It's just fun.

5:59

We thank you, girls, for being here, representing your community.

6:04

She'll never forget.

6:05

Now we're going to move to interpreter services.

6:10

Thanks for the cookies, guys.

6:11

Yes.

6:12

That's a uniform thank you from the council for the lovely cookies.

6:17

You're welcome.

6:21

Good afternoon.

6:22

Good evening.

6:29

Tenemos little radius y so you keep parasitic.

6:34

Thanks.

6:34

Microphone up on the diet.

6:37

I don't think that's on.

6:38

I don't think your mic is not on.

6:39

Or am I not?

6:40

It doesn't sound like it.

6:41

I thought I can hear myself somewhere.

6:43

We could hear you, but it's we could hear you, but I'm just not sure your mic is on.

6:47

It is on.

6:48

It is on.

6:48

Mike says it's on, you're good.

6:50

Thank you.

6:53

Next is public comment.

6:55

There will be 35 minutes a lot for public comment this evening.

6:58

Each person receiving two and a half minutes.

7:00

If you wish to make public comment, please make sure you fill out a form in the lobby and deliver it to our city clerk.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Budget Equity Analysis█████████████████17%
Property Tax█████████████13%
Public Safety███████████11%
Procedural█████████9%
Fiscal Sustainability███████7%
Land Use Planning██████6%
Transportation Safety████4%
Public Transportation████4%
Public Engagement███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Yakima City Council Regular Meeting – November 4, 2024

The Yakima City Council held a regular meeting on November 4, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included public hearings on land use amendments, property tax levies, and the preliminary biennial budget, along with significant discussion on revenue options to address projected deficits. Key actions included approving property tax ordinances, directing staff to explore a public safety levy, and initiating charter amendments.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes from October 15, 22, and 29, 2024 meetings.
  • Set November 19, 2024, for a public hearing on the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan.
  • Authorized contracts: Knobel's Electric Inc. for S 3rd Ave & Division St Signalization Project (R-2024-195), Total Site Services LLC for Systemic Pedestrian Safety Improvements (R-2024-196).
  • Interagency Agreement with WSDOT for Field Survey Collection (R-2024-197).
  • Interlocal Agreement with City of Union Gap for stormwater lab services (R-2024-198).
  • Authorized City Manager to execute 2024 HOME and CDBG grant contracts with HUD (R-2024-199).
  • Agreement with Washington Traffic Safety Commission for a dedicated DUI officer position (R-2024-200).
  • Adopted Yakima Transit's 2024-2029 Transit Development Plan and 2023 Annual Report (R-2024-201). All consent items were approved by a 7-0 roll call vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Valeria Delgado-Aceves (White Swan resident) expressed strong support for the Harm Reduction Program, citing benefits including reduced overdose deaths, lower healthcare costs, and fewer discarded needles. She noted participants are five times more likely to stop injecting drugs.
  • Judith Ramos (Sunnyside, nursing student at Heritage University) supported funding a dedicated DUI officer position, highlighting that 63% of fatal crashes in the area in 2022 involved impaired drivers. She emphasized the strain on emergency healthcare and the importance of bilingual outreach.
  • Veronica Palomares (Yakima resident, nursing student) also supported the DUI officer position, citing 353 DUI arrests in 2021 and the recent Halloween night fatal crash in Terrace Heights.
  • Aubrie Cheatham (nursing student) spoke in favor of specialized DUI enforcement, arguing it would improve efficiency, conviction rates, and deterrence.

Discussion Items

  1. Small Business Saturday Proclamation – Approved unanimously.
  2. Public Hearings on Comprehensive Plan Amendments and Rezones:
    • CPA#001-24 and RZ#001-24 (2000 block of Viola Ave/Simpson Ln): Changed future land use from residential to industrial, rezoned to light industrial. Planning Commission recommended approval; Council approved 7-0 to prepare ordinance.
    • CPA#002-24 and RZ#002-24 (7500 W Nob Hill Blvd): Changed portion of parcel from commercial mixed-use to community mixed-use, rezoned accordingly. Approved 7-0.
    • CPA#003-24 and RZ#003-24 (8603 & 8604 Ahtanum Rd): Changed from low-density residential to community mixed-use, rezoned to local business. Approved 7-0.
  3. Property Tax Levies (Ad Valorem) – Two ordinances passed (7-0):
    • Ordinance 2024-032: Declared intent to increase 2025 regular levy up to 101% plus new construction.
    • Ordinance 2024-033: Fixed the levy amount for 2025 budget. Deanna Gregory (Pacifica Law Group) explained the importance of the levy for bond obligations and city operations. Council discussed the critical nature of the levy to avoid a $30 million deficit.
  4. First Public Hearing on 2025-2026 Preliminary Biennial Budget – Finance Director Viren Mayani presented a forecast showing a $6.8 million deficit in 2025 and $8.6 million in 2026, with reserves dropping to 11.5% in 2025 and 0.5% in 2026 after adjustments. No action taken.
  5. Draft 2025 State and Federal Legislative Priorities – Adopted unanimously after discussion. Priorities are categorized as actively pursue, support, and monitor.
  6. Ordinance Amending 2024 Budget (First Reading) – Budget-neutral adjustments and reserve draws for various funds; no action required.
  7. 2025-2026 Budget Discussion – Extensive review of revenue options:
    • Council passed four motions:
      • Motion 1 (Brown/Deccio): Direct staff to explore and develop options for a public safety levy in coordination with police and fire, to be brought back for discussion. (7-0)
      • Motion 2 (Deccio/Glenn): Direct staff to prepare charter amendment language to remove the Charter-directed CPI inflator and other amendments for a study session. (7-0)
      • Motion 3 (Deccio/Byers): Direct staff to bring an ordinance for a 5% in-lieu increase for stormwater fees (from 15% to 20%). Passed 4-3 (Brown, Glenn, Berg dissenting).
      • Motion 4 (Berg/Deccio): Direct staff to bring an ordinance related to impact fees comparable to Union Gap. Passed 5-2 (Brown and Glenn dissenting).

Key Outcomes

  • Approved property tax levies for 2025 (Ordinances 2024-032 and 2024-033, 7-0 each).
  • Directed staff to explore public safety levy options for potential ballot measure (7-0).
  • Directed staff to prepare charter amendment to remove CPI inflator from streets and parks funding (7-0).
  • Directed staff to prepare ordinance for stormwater in-lieu tax increase to 20% (4-3).
  • Directed staff to prepare impact fee ordinance modeled after Union Gap (5-2).
  • Approved 2025 State and Federal Legislative Priorities (7-0).
  • Approved all three comprehensive plan amendments and rezones (each 7-0).
  • Adopted consent agenda including multiple contracts and agreements (7-0).

The meeting adjourned at 8:49 p.m., with the next study session scheduled for November 12, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. I'm going to call to to order the Acima City Council member of meeting of November fourth, twenty twenty-four. So we'll start with a roll call, please. Bird? Here. Brown. Yes. Present. DCO. Here. Glenn. Here. Irena? Here. Roy. Here. Thank you. So tonight for the Pledge of Allegiance, I want to introduce who is going to lead us this evening. In two thousand and twelve, the United Nations dedicated October the eleventh as the International Day of the Girl, and is celebrated all October long. The International Day of the Girl encourages girls to tap into their own potential and to inspire change in their world and communities. Look at all those beautiful young ladies. We love it. So we will face the flag, and whoever chooses, we can all start it together. All right. So join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. On my honor. Oh, don't believe that. I don't know what that is. We got this. I don't know. And Republic for the justice for all. Thank you. I look forward to this every year. It's just fun. We thank you, girls, for being here, representing your community. She'll never forget. Now we're going to move to interpreter services. Thanks for the cookies, guys. Yes. That's a uniform thank you from the council for the lovely cookies. You're welcome. Good afternoon. Good evening. Tenemos little radius y so you keep parasitic. Thanks. Microphone up on the diet. I don't think that's on. I don't think your mic is not on. Or am I not? It doesn't sound like it.

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