Yakima City Council Regular Meeting - June 3, 2025
Yakima City Council Regular Meeting - June 3, 2025
The Yakima City Council held its regular meeting on June 3, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included public comments, several proclamations, approval of consent items, a public hearing on transportation improvements, naming of features at the new Aquatic Center, support for a pedestrian crossing grant, a city manager update on a sanctuary city listing, and a motion to review crosswalk policies. All votes were unanimous except one.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes from the May 20, 2025 regular meeting.
- Resolution R-2025-093 authorizing an agreement with Landau Associates Inc. for environmental consulting and engineering services at the I-82 Yakima City Landfill Mill Site (Project 2337).
- Ordinance 2025-019 updating the Classification and Compensation Plan for City Employees, effective July 7, 2025.
- Motion by Councilmember Deccio, second by Berg, carried 7-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Marci Gutierrez (Yakima resident): Expressed concern about the fentanyl epidemic, stating Yakima is now #1 in the state for overdoses with 51 deaths in 2025 (144 in 2024). Asked the city what plans exist for prevention and accountability.
- Tony Sandoval (Yakima resident): Urged council to form a committee focused on economic development, citing crime’s negative impact on tourism and business. He requested a formal vote on creating such a committee.
- Ron Torres (Yakima resident): Presented a critique of state housing policies (HB 1110, 5290) using a “Hegelian dialectic” framework, arguing they redistribute wealth and eliminate single-family zoning under the guise of affordable housing.
- Shelley White (Yakima resident, private citizen, not as planning commission member): Extended Torres’ comments, arguing that recent housing laws are a land grab and power grab, not genuine housing solutions. She called for repealing the laws.
- Dr. Margaret France (Yakima resident): Spoke in favor of Pride Month, noting the city does not fly the rainbow flag unlike many other cities. Mentioned personal experiences of harassment and the high rate of LGBTQ youth suicide.
- Tony Courcy (Yakima resident): Expressed frustration over lack of ADA-accessible ramps at 16th Ave and Fruitvale Blvd despite available funds.
- Josh Aman (Yakima resident, former Marine, YVC Pride Club member): Criticized the council for not issuing a Pride Month proclamation while approving proclamations for Juneteenth, Older Americans Month, and Idiopathic Hypersomnia Day. He argued the LGBTQ community is far larger and deserves recognition.
- Cindy Chartier (Yakima resident): Supported Pride Month and condemned discrimination, stating LGBTQ+ individuals are taxpayers, doctors, teachers, etc., and that domestic violence, school shootings, and homelessness are not caused by them.
Discussion Items
Proclamations & Recognitions
- Officer Frank Bowersox: Recognized for 35 years of service. Police Chief Shawn Boyle praised his community policing, especially in West Valley and downtown transit. Bowersox thanked the council and announced he is not retiring yet.
- Debra Stadler: Recognized for 20 years of service in the Police Services Division. Chief Boyle highlighted her expertise in records, evidence, and public disclosure. Stadler thanked the department.
- Juneteenth Freedom Week (June 9-19, 2025): Motion by Herrera, second by Deccio, approved 7-0. Councilmember Herrera read the proclamation. Adrienne Gardner and Carol Garza (NAACP) accepted.
- Older Americans Month (May): Motion by Deccio, second by Berg, approved 7-0. Councilmember Deccio read the proclamation. Kathy Medford (Aging & Long Term Care board) accepted and noted 27,286 Yakima residents are 55+.
- Idiopathic Hypersomnia Day (First Saturday in June): Motion by Glenn, second by Berg, approved 7-0. Councilmember Glenn read the proclamation. Melissa and Ava Christianson accepted; Ava shared her struggles with discrimination at school and work.
Public Hearing – Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Amendment
- Community Development Director Bill Preston presented eight projects to amend the 2025-2030 TIP and the Comprehensive Plan Capital Facilities Element. Projects include alley paving, sidewalk additions, green bike lane markings, and paving with water upgrades. Three projects are pending funding.
- No public testimony. Motion by Deccio, second by Roy, adopted both resolutions (R-2025-094 and R-2025-095) by 7-0.
Department Items
- Aquatic Center Feature Naming (Resolution R-2025-096): Parks and Recreation Manager Ken Wilkinson listed nine named features (e.g., OIC of Washington Waterslide, Harvest Auto Lobby, Senator Curtis King Ninja Course, Esther Huey Community Room). Noted community fundraising of over $3 million. Councilmember Herrera thanked Esther Huey for her years of advocacy. Motion by Deccio, second by Berg, adopted 7-0. Expected opening around June 19, 2025.
- Mead Avenue Pedestrian Crossing Signal (Resolution R-2025-097): Assistant City Manager Gary Ballew outlined support for a Yakima County SIED grant/loan application for a mid-block crossing at 5 West Mead Ave for G.S. Long Company (agricultural services). The crossing would allow safe passage for employees and forklifts. G.S. Long will cover the local match and loan portion, resulting in no city fiscal impact. Motion by Berg, second by Roy, adopted 7-0.
City Manager Update
- City Manager Vicki Baker reported that on May 30, 2025, the City of Yakima was listed on a U.S. Department of Homeland Security list of sanctuary cities, but the list was later removed with no explanation. Staff are working with lobbyists and federal delegates to determine why Yakima was included and whether it affects city programs. Baker reiterated that Yakima complies with all state and federal immigration laws.
Other Business
- Councilmember Berg moved to direct staff to place a review of the community crosswalk policy on a future agenda (likely July) for potential ordinance updates to align with national traffic safety standards. Motion by Berg, second by Roy, passed 6-1; Councilmember Glenn voted no.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda approved (7-0).
- TIP amendment resolutions adopted (7-0).
- Aquatic Center feature naming resolution adopted (7-0).
- Mead Avenue pedestrian crossing support resolution adopted (7-0).
- Crosswalk policy review motion passed (6-1; Glenn opposed).
- Meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m. Next meeting: City Council study session on June 10, 2025, with Executive Session at 4:00 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Hey, we're on. Like, oh. Yeah, it is a seven five thirty. Good evening, and welcome. I'm going to call to order the Ackima City Council business meeting of June the third, twenty twenty-five. We will start with roll call, please. Here. Frown. Assistant Mayor Brown. Buyers. Present. DC. Here. Glenn. Here. Herrera? Here. Roy. Here. Thank you. Please stand and join us at the Pledge of Allegiance. Now, yes, good evening. All right. Next is public comment. There'll be 35 minutes allowed for public comment. If you wish to make a comment, you may sign a form in the uh lobby and bring it up to the city clerk. Each person will have two and a half minutes. When you come to the podium, please identify yourself with your name and the city in which you live. Also, um, state law prohibits electioneering at city facilities. During public comment, speakers cannot campaign for or against candidates or support or opposed any ballot measure in the upcoming election. All right. Hey Mayor, I'm here now. Thank you, Deputy Mayor Brown. The first we have is um Marcia Gutierrez. Sorry, give me one second. Okay. Okay. Ready? Hi, my name is Marcy Guterres. I'm born and raised in the city of Yakima. I'm here today because of the impact that fentanyl is having on our community, and to ask for help from you and other community members. Did you know fentanyl is purely synthetic, meaning it can be made easily and cheaply anywhere? Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and a hundred times stronger than morphine. Fentanyl can be laced into anything, vapes, cannabis, cocaine, meth, fake pills, molly, etc. Yakima has gone from number three in the state to number one in the state for overdoses. Last year, overdoses killed 144 Yakima community members. Today, June 3rd, Yakima is at 51 overdose deaths this year. Now Yakima has a new fentanyl called carfentanol, which is a hundred times stronger than regular fentanyl, 10,000 times stronger than morphine. This is a drug not safe for humans. It's a deadly in even the smallest amounts.
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