Yakima City Council Regular Meeting - February 18, 2025
Yakima City Council Regular Meeting - February 18, 2025
The Yakima City Council held a regular meeting on February 18, 2025, at 5:30 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included a presentation from the Downtown Yakima Business Improvement District (DYBID) board, the Yakima Valley Tourism 2024 annual report, a public hearing on the Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program, and department items covering traffic calming policy, capital project updates, homelessness solutions, and budget outreach. Two ordinances were passed, and the council directed staff on three future actions including a vote of no confidence in the Yakima County Homeless Coalition.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (7-0) by motion: approval of minutes from February 4 and February 11, 2025; setting March 18 as date for rezone public hearing; January 2025 investment report; January disbursements; 4th Quarter 2024 Claim Report (Resolution R-2025-033); airport rates and fees amendment (R-2025-034); GIS technology agreement with ESRI (R-2025-035); Granicus SmartGov contract (R-2025-036); supplemental agreement for 72nd & Washington Roundabout (R-2025-037); right-of-way permits for Once or Twice LLC and Catholic Charities (R-2025-038, R-2025-039); AirBadge badge processing software (R-2025-040); Downtown Flower Program with Country Garden Nursery (R-2025-041); and ordinance amending Wholesail Networks/Ziply Fiber franchise (Ordinance 2025-003).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Shelly White, a lifelong Yakima resident and former realtor (also a planning commission member speaking as a private citizen), provided information on new middle housing laws (House Bills 1110 and 1337), stating that they remove much local control over zoning and allow up to four housing units per lot in cities of Yakima's size. She expressed concern that "another agenda entirely is at work" and urged council to familiarize themselves with the laws. She distributed informational packets.
- Joe Daniels, a Yakima resident, read a religious passage from the Book of Ezekiel.
- Andrew Reyes, a Yakima resident, spoke about the need for reform to public registries and requested information on climate change and evacuation orders.
- No public comment was made during the public hearing on the Transportation Improvement Program (Item 8A).
Discussion Items
- DYBID Board Presentation: Ben Hittle, DYBID Board Chair, reported on the district's operations, noting that 265 business licenses pay $100 annually plus property assessments. He discussed the upcoming board election (nominations due March 7, election by March 28, new board meeting in April). He requested improved communication between the city, DAY (Downtown Association of Yakima), and DYBID regarding complaints. Assistant Mayor Matt Brown questioned the scope of DAY's contract, suggesting it may be too broad. DAY Executive Director Curt Wilson defended the contract, stating it is cost-effective compared to other bids, and offered to review the scope with Brown.
- Yakima Valley Tourism 2024 Annual Report: John Cooper, President & CEO, reported that visitors spend approximately $397 million annually in Yakima County, generating $51 million in taxes and supporting 5,100 jobs. The Yakima Valley was named "Best Wine Region" by USA Today's Readers' Choice Awards. The convention center saw 20% more event days, 23% more future bookings, and about 76,000 attendees in 2024. A new Yakima Valley Ambassador Program will be launched in May to train front-line staff. Restaurant Week is planned for March.
- Public Hearing on Transportation Improvement Program: Acting City Engineer Bill Preston presented an amendment to add Project 2143 (E Nob Hill Blvd & Fair Ave Intersection Improvements) to the Six-Year TIP. The hearing was opened and closed with no speakers. The council unanimously adopted both resolutions (R-2025-042 and R-2025-043) on a 7-0 vote.
- Traffic Calming Policy Overview: Bill Preston explained the city's traffic calming program, including the petition process requiring 30% resident signatures to study and 66% support to implement. Data from the last three years showed 13 petitions evaluated: 7 with speeds less than 5 mph over the limit (no action), 6 with 5-10 mph over (education/enforcement), and 2 with more than 10 mph over (engineering, likely speed humps). The annual budget is $30,000 from REET. Council discussed enforcement effectiveness and the possibility of residents paying for traffic calming measures if they meet criteria.
- 2024 Capital Improvement Projects Report: Bill Preston presented completed projects including the Cowiche Canyon Trail ($2.7M), Russell Lane intersection ($584K), Nob Hill Blvd grind/overlay (4th to 15th Ave), 2nd Street sidewalks ($230K), and green paint for bike crossings ($5K). Ongoing projects include N 1st St Reconstruction (I Street, $9.4M, ahead of schedule). Planned 2025 projects include 34th Ave/Fruitvale Blvd, Division Ave/3rd Ave signal, 72nd Ave/Washington roundabout, systemic pedestrian safety improvements, and alley pavers. The 2025 construction total is $10.8M, with only $200K in local funds (a 54:1 leverage ratio).
- Homelessness Issues and Positive Solutions: City Attorney Sara Watkins presented data from the 2024 Point-in-Time Count and described four community models: (1) Walla Walla's Conestoga huts (37 huts on city-owned property, $150K city investment, 16,500 nights of care, 221 individuals served, operated by volunteers with nighttime security); (2) Milwaukee's Housing First approach (permanent supportive housing, 92% decrease in unsheltered population 2015-2023, 24 one-bedroom units for chronically homeless with round-the-clock services); (3) Olympia's three tiny home villages (50, 29, and 40 units, each with a different nonprofit operator focusing on workforce development or medical care, plus a crisis response unit and peer specialist program); (4) Spokane's scatter shelter model (20-30 bed sites, navigation center, pilot project saw 23 of 39 people exit to transitional housing). Councilmembers expressed interest in the models.
- Community Outreach, Budget Committee, and Survey: City Manager Vicki Baker reported that outreach events with YVCOG will occur in March and April. Communications Manager Randy Beehler stated a community survey is nearly complete, asking residents to prioritize general fund programs (police, fire, parks, streets) and indicate willingness to support higher taxes or face service reductions. Interim Finance Director Mike Bailey reported on the first Citizens Budget Committee meeting (February 13), which will meet weekly through April to provide feedback on priority-based budgeting and financial alternatives.
- Ordinance Amending YMC 7.92.040 (Water/Wastewater Connection Incentive): City Attorney Watkins explained the amendment makes use of 1406 funds for the incentive program optional, allowing the funds to be used for other allowable purposes under state law. Passed 7-0 (Ordinance 2025-004).
- Ordinance Amending YMC 1.09.010 (Office Hours): City Manager Baker presented an amendment allowing the City Manager to adjust departmental business hours as needed due to staffing shortages or other reasons, without changing general city operations or Clerk's counter hours. Passed 7-0 (Ordinance 2025-005).
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda approved 7-0, including 14 routine items.
- Resolutions R-2025-042 and R-2025-043 (Transportation Improvement Program and Capital Facilities Element amendments) adopted 7-0.
- Ordinance 2025-004 (water/wastewater connection incentive) passed 7-0.
- Ordinance 2025-005 (office hours flexibility) passed 7-0.
- Motion to place resolution of no confidence in the Yakima County Homeless Coalition on the March 4, 2025 agenda; passed 7-0. Deputy Mayor Matt Brown cited frustration with lack of measurable outcomes and requested an independent audit and performance benchmarks.
- Motion to invite Commander Davis to present on the city jail's status at a future study session (March or April); passed 7-0.
- Motion to draft an amendment requiring proclamations to have endorsements from at least three councilmembers before a vote, to be discussed on March 4, 2025; passed 7-0.
- Meeting adjourned at 8:04 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Fire sheep is there in the morning. Good evening, welcome. I will call to order the Acima City Council of Business Meeting for February the eighteenth, twenty twenty-five. We'll start with roll call, please. Berg. Brown. Here. Present. DCO. Here. Glenn. Here. Her era. Here. Roy. Here. Thank you. Please rise and join me for the palatial legions. Thank you. Um, I'm going to ask Maruffy Vasquez to come forward, please, for interpreter services. All right. Next on the agenda is public comment. There will be 35 minutes allowed for public comment this evening with each person receiving two and a half minutes. When you come to the if you want to make public comment, you haven't done this yet. You need to pick up form in the lobby and turn it into our city clerk. When you come to the podium, please give us your name and the city in which you live. Okay. The first person I have for this evening is Shelly White. Good evening. I'm Shelley White, a lifelong Yakima resident, a mostly retired realtor, and um uh before John, a former director of sales for the convention bureau under Kathy Coffee. And although I am a member of the planning commission, I am appearing tonight as a private citizen. Last week, Trevor Martin, senior planner, came to do a study session with you concerning land use and zoning, and he briefly touched on the new middle housing laws. I'm here to begin to give you more information on those laws, and in the future, I will return to share a series of educated opinions based on deeper research dives that I've done into those new laws and what I have come to believe are the real reasons behind them. So tonight let me start by saying that the state has declared an official housing crisis and has set a goal of building one million homes by 2044. The state cites affordable and fair housing as primary motivations for these new laws. Which, and who can argue with that? Um, but they are the most sweeping land use and zoning reform laws in Washington state history. But I believe that another agenda entirely is at work here, and I feel it is imperative to wake us up. These new laws remove much local control over zoning and land use from cities and counties and seriously diminish and disregard the rights of existing landowners. Although these laws cannot be altered by this council, it is my opinion that you need to be thoroughly aware of them and their implications. The Yakima City Council previously voted to allow, and so did the state, up to two ADUs to be built on any city lot that could accommodate them, considering normal building codes. However, House Bills 1110 and 1337 blow past your earlier decision and now a low f allow four housing units per city lot in cities of Yacima's size and only partially apply current building codes and permit oversight. This means that instead of an average of five homes per acre, you now have 20 homes per acre. In fact, the new housing bills completely eliminate most single family zoning in the majority of Washington cities and urban growth boundaries. So tonight, if you'd like one, I'm gonna hand out packets for each of you containing the MRSC easy to read versions of 1110 and 1337, and I sincerely ask you to please take the time to familiarize yourself with them before I come back next week. So, Miss White, your time is up, but we will gladly receive the packets. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for your time and consideration. Thank you.
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