Yakima City Council Regular Meeting - January 21, 2025

The Yakima City Council met on January 21, 2025, at City Hall (129 N 2nd Street, Yakima, WA) in a regular meeting that began at 5:30 p.m. after a 60-minute executive session on pending litigation. The meeting included public comments, approval of the consent agenda, departmental discussions on community service and aquatic facility funding, and a city manager update. Councilmember Rick Glenn was absent and excused.

Executive Session

• Council voted unanimously to adjourn to executive session for 60 minutes to discuss pending litigation pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i). The session ran from 4:35 p.m. to 5:25 p.m., and the regular meeting was called back to order at 5:32 p.m.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Dori Peralta Baker (Yakima resident, District 5; MLK Junior Aquatic Fundraising Committee) expressed donors' concerns about the ARPA funding for aquatic pool maintenance and operations. She stated that donors were told $719,000 in ARPA funds would cover maintenance for three years, and she urged the council not to jeopardize donor trust.
• Esther Huey (Yakima resident, 1311 S 75th Ave) also spoke on aquatic center funding. She recounted raising $11 million over 21 years and expressed disappointment that promises were not kept. She asked why a proposed tax increase would be spread across all pools when money was already allocated for the older pools, and she criticized the city for not using its own tax money for the pools.
• Rhonda Hauff (Yakima resident; Neighborhood Health) spoke in support of permanent supportive housing, sharing that her organization has provided housing and health care services for the homeless since 2005. She cited 2024 preliminary numbers: over 2,800 patients served in their Health Care for the Homeless program, plus medical respite and supportive housing services.
• Joe Daniels (Yakima resident) read from the Mayflower Compact and discussed historical slavery, asserting that 27 states had slavery and that over four million Black slaves built America. He questioned why the country owes them nothing.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the consent agenda by a 6-0 roll call vote (Glenn absent). Items included:
  • Approval of minutes from January 7, 2025 regular meeting and January 14, 2025 study session
  • Approval of disbursements for December 1-31, 2024
  • 2024 4th Quarter Treasury Report
  • Resolution R-2025-020 setting a February 4, 2025 hearing on the amended Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program and Capital Facilities Element
  • Resolution R-2025-021 authorizing a Professional Services Agreement with Gray & Osborne, Inc. for general civil engineering services

Discussion Items

• Community Service Program (Item 9A): Municipal Court Judges Aryn Masters and Troy Clements presented on the court's community service program. Community service hours are assigned in three areas: the Community Diversion Program (soon to be Community Diversion Court), as a sentencing alternative to jail for non-violent offenses, and for juvenile infractions (ages 16-17, first-time, high school). They noted no formal partnerships with nonprofits exist; defendants must find their own nonprofit within city limits. Barriers include screening requirements, lack of ID, liability, and supervision costs. Judges reported that community diversion participants completed over 400 hours year-to-date (January 2025), and each judge sentences roughly 3-5 people to community service per docket. Council members discussed ideas such as directing service to city parks, downtown cleanups, and using the court's website to list providers. A councilmember suggested making sentencing options equally burdensome to avoid easy outs.
• Aquatics Facilities Revenue Fund (Item 9B): Finance Director Viren Mayani presented the first reading of an ordinance creating Special Revenue Fund 133 for aquatics facilities. The fund would be financed by a 5% increase in stormwater fees, estimated to generate just over $200,000 annually. Mayani assured that the $719,000 ARPA set-aside for the MLK pool and existing allocations for other pools would not be touched. Councilmembers discussed long-term pool maintenance costs, potential admission fee increases (current rates estimated at $2-$3 per swim), and the upcoming 2030 city responsibility for the YMCA/rotary pool. No action was taken; the ordinance received first reading only.

City Manager Update

• City Manager Vicki Baker provided an update on the budget committee. A survey with QR code access and a presentation PowerPoint are being developed for community outreach. Three district-based focus groups will be held. Councilmembers have selected community members for the budget committee; staff will contact them and schedule meetings expected to total 10 sessions of 2-3 hours each over the next three months.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved 6-0.
• Motion (Brown/Berg) to schedule a future study session on ordinances related to closing Yakima Avenue and special event permits passed unanimously 6-0.
• Motion (Brown/Deccio) to adjourn to the next regular meeting on February 4, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. passed unanimously; meeting adjourned at 6:26 p.m.

Council General Information

• Distributed preliminary agendas for the February 4 meeting, and complete records for two preliminary long plats (PLP#002-24 by WM Real Property Holdings LLC for 3.69 acres into 15 lots in R-1 district; PLP#001-24 by Summit Crest Construction for 12 common-wall lots in R-3 district) and a proposal to vacate a portion of N 68th Ave between Englewood Ave and Scenic Drive (RWV#003-24 by Ted Palmatier).