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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Yakima City Council Regular Meeting - November 19, 2024

City Council — Tuesday, November 19, 2024
BodyYakima, Washington
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, November 19, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:57:48

Original source
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2:11

Good evening and welcome.

2:12

I will call the uh November 19th, 2024 Yakima City Council regular meetings order.

2:17

We'll start with roll call, please.

2:19

Bird.

2:19

Here.

2:20

Brown.

2:21

Here.

2:22

Myers.

2:22

Present.

2:23

DCO.

2:24

Here.

2:25

Glenn.

2:26

Here.

2:26

Herrera.

2:27

Here.

2:28

Roy.

2:29

Here.

2:30

Thank you.

2:31

Please rise.

2:33

And join me for the Planet of Allegiance.

2:36

Again.

2:37

I pledge allegiance to the United States of America.

2:42

And to the republic of the religious sense.

2:47

Indivisible with energy and just all.

2:53

Now we'll invite our interpreter forward.

2:59

Good evening.

3:11

Thank you.

3:13

Next on the agenda is public comment.

3:15

There will be thirty-five minutes allowed for public comment this evening with two and a half minutes per speaker in order to allow as much community opportunity as possible.

3:23

When you come to the podium, please give us your name and the city in which you're located.

3:41

I'd like to read you a couple of verses out of the Bible.

3:43

Revelations, this is the revelation of John of Jesus Christ.

3:47

God gave it to him to show those who serve God what will happen soon.

3:51

God made it known by sending her angel to our servant John.

3:54

John is a witness to everything he saw.

3:56

What he saw is the word and of the word of God and what Jesus Christ has said.

4:00

Blessed is the one who reads out loud the words of this prophecy.

4:22

He is the faithful witness, so what he has shown can be trusted.

4:25

He was the first to rise from the dead.

5:01

I'm the God who is and will who will come, I'm the mighty one.

5:04

Palms 1, Psalms 1.

5:06

Blessed the man who walks not in the council of the ungodly, will stand in the path of sinners, la set in the seat of scornful.

5:13

But his delight is in the law of the Lord.

5:15

And his law is he meditates day and night.

5:18

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its seasons, whose leaves also shall not wither.

5:25

And whatever he does shall prosper.

5:27

The ungodly are not so but are like the shaft which the wind drives away.

5:31

Therefore, the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

5:36

For the Lord knows the way of righteousness, but the way of ungodly shall perish.

5:41

Thank you very much.

5:41

Thank you, Mr.

5:42

Daniels.

5:46

Next is Norma Harrow and Rosalba Mendoza.

6:03

Buenas tardes a todos.

6:07

Soy voluntario de las clases de ciudadanía de la Casa Up.

6:12

My nombre Rosalba Mendoza.

6:19

Buenas tardes.

6:20

My nombre is Normaro, soy voluntaria de las clases de la ciudadanía in Español.

6:26

Um me gusta, bueno, estoy interesada in conocer más lo que es el proceso o lo del gobierno local.

6:36

Para conocer a todos como mi representante.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use Planning█████████████████████████25%
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Affordable Housing███████████11%
Housing and Home Repair███████7%
Community Engagement██████6%
Budget Equity Analysis██████6%
Public Engagement█████5%
Public Safety█████5%
Economic Development███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Yakima City Council Regular Meeting - November 19, 2024

The Yakima City Council held a regular meeting on November 19, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers, with all seven council members present. The meeting included public comment, a proclamation for Small Business Saturday, consent agenda approval, four public hearings, several department items, and council motions regarding future discussions.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes from November 4 and 12, 2024, third quarter financial report, October investment report, disbursements for October, project completion for Kissel Park Well Motor Replacement, third quarter claim report, a supplemental agreement for utility areas project, a contract for Pacific Power for the Aquatic Center at MLK Jr. Park, a contract with NEOGOV for payroll/benefits, and a second reading of the 2024 budget amendment ordinance. All passed 7-0.
  • Items H and I (lease agreements with Makito Aviation, LLC for Fixed Base Operator and Fuel Farm at Yakima Air Terminal) were initially removed from consent but later approved separately 7-0 after presentation by Airport Director Rob Hodgman. The leases cover nearly 188,000 square feet and will bring an FAA Part 145 repair station (MRO) and aircraft refueling station, with annual revenue just under $47,000.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Joe Daniels, city resident, read a religious passage from Revelation and Psalms.
  • Norma Haro and Rosalba Mendoza, volunteers from La Casa Hogar citizenship class, introduced the class and expressed interest in learning about local government and voting.
  • Neil Hauff, a resident of N. 92nd Avenue, spoke about the withdrawn right-of-way vacation petition for Columbia Ridge development. He expressed concerns about transparency, the piecemeal approval of phases, and questioned the integrity of the planning process given the vacation withdrawal.
  • Reed Pell, representing Mr. and Mrs. Hauff, reiterated concerns about the right-of-way vacation being a condition of earlier phases and argued that approval of Phase 5 should be withheld until the vacation issue is resolved. He noted thousands of dollars spent in attorney fees.

Public Hearings

  • Item 8A – Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Rezone (2300 E. Birch Street): Senior Planner Eric Crowell presented a proposal to change the future land use map from low-density residential to commercial mixed use and rezone to General Commercial (GC) for a 0.43-acre parcel leased by Comprehensive Health Care for a mental health clinic adjacent to Camp Hope. The Planning Commission recommended limiting the change to that parcel. Public comment: James Carmody, representing RWC trucking, expressed future process concerns but did not oppose the amendment/rezone. City Attorney clarified use is not part of this hearing. Council directed staff to prepare legislation approving the amendment and rezone; motion carried 7-0.
  • Item 8B – Rainier Court Phase 5 Preliminary Plat (406 N. 92nd Avenue): Closed record hearing on a 22-lot subdivision by Columbia Ridge Homes LLC. Staff recommendation was approval. Public testimony: Reed Pell opposed, citing condition precedent involving right-of-way vacation for earlier phases; Jeff Peters of PLSA Engineering supported approval on behalf of developer Justin Hellem. Council affirmed the Planning Commission’s recommendation and adopted the resolution approving the preliminary plat; motion carried 7-0.
  • Item 8C – Text Amendments to Land Use Appeals Process: City Attorney Sara Watkins proposed amending YMC Titles 14, 15, and 16 to require appeals of Hearing Examiner decisions go directly to Superior Court rather than first to City Council, saving time and money. Public comment: Jeanna Hernandez urged passage. Council approved the ordinance 7-0.
  • Item 8D – Second Public Hearing on 2025-2026 Preliminary Biennial Budget: Finance Director Viren Mayani presented updated forecasts showing a $6.8 million general fund deficit for 2025 and $8.6 million for 2026, with citywide deficits of $8.4 million and $11.9 million respectively. No public comment was received; no action was taken.

Discussion Items

  • 9A – 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan Process: Community Development Director Bill Preston introduced consultants Elizabeth McNannay and Loren McNeely of Resource Consultants LLC. They outlined the HUD-required process for CDBG and HOME funds, including stakeholder meetings, public forums, and a target council approval by July/August 2025. A video testimonial highlighted home repair benefits. Council discussed spending rates and eligible uses.
  • 9C – First Reading: Opioid Settlement Revenue Fund: Ordinance to create Fund 155 for opioid settlement money to ensure accountability and avoid inflating the general fund. Approximately $900,000 received so far. No action taken (first reading).
  • 9D – First Reading: Yakima Police Department Pension Fund: Ordinance to create Fund 613 for LEOFF 1 Police Pension, restricted funds. No action taken (first reading).

Key Outcomes

  • Approved Consent Agenda Items (7-0): As listed above, including minutes, financial reports, disbursements, project completion, claim report, supplemental agreement, Pacific Power contract, NEOGOV contract, and budget amendment.
  • Approved Makito Aviation Leases (7-0): Resolutions R-2024-205 and R-2024-206.
  • Approved Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Rezone (7-0): Directed staff to prepare legislation for the 2300 E. Birch Street parcel.
  • Approved Rainier Court Phase 5 Preliminary Plat (7-0): Resolution R-2024-209.
  • Approved Text Amendments for Land Use Appeals (7-0): Ordinance 2024-035.
  • Approved WATPA Grant for Police Grapplers (7-0): Resolution R-2024-210 for three grappler systems at $23,250.
  • Approved Ambulance Services Ordinance Amendment (7-0): Ordinance 2024-036 modifying exemptions for non-emergency transports.
  • Set Budget Workshop: November 26, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. at Yakima Convention Center (motion carried unanimously).
  • Future Agenda Items: Council directed adding discussion of SHB 1406 affordable housing sales tax dollars to a future agenda (motion carried unanimously). Also directed staff to plan a 2025 study session on speed bump policies and application process (motion carried unanimously).
  • Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 7:26 p.m. to next special meeting on November 26, 2024.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome. I will call the uh November 19th, 2024 Yakima City Council regular meetings order. We'll start with roll call, please. Bird. Here. Brown. Here. Myers. Present. DCO. Here. Glenn. Here. Herrera. Here. Roy. Here. Thank you. Please rise. And join me for the Planet of Allegiance. Again. I pledge allegiance to the United States of America. And to the republic of the religious sense. Indivisible with energy and just all. Now we'll invite our interpreter forward. Good evening. Thank you. Next on the agenda is public comment. There will be thirty-five minutes allowed for public comment this evening with two and a half minutes per speaker in order to allow as much community opportunity as possible. When you come to the podium, please give us your name and the city in which you're located. I'd like to read you a couple of verses out of the Bible. Revelations, this is the revelation of John of Jesus Christ. God gave it to him to show those who serve God what will happen soon. God made it known by sending her angel to our servant John. John is a witness to everything he saw. What he saw is the word and of the word of God and what Jesus Christ has said. Blessed is the one who reads out loud the words of this prophecy. He is the faithful witness, so what he has shown can be trusted. He was the first to rise from the dead. I'm the God who is and will who will come, I'm the mighty one. Palms 1, Psalms 1. Blessed the man who walks not in the council of the ungodly, will stand in the path of sinners, la set in the seat of scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord. And his law is he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its seasons, whose leaves also shall not wither. And whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so but are like the shaft which the wind drives away. Therefore, the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of righteousness, but the way of ungodly shall perish. Thank you very much.

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