Yakima City Council Meeting July 1, 2025

The Yakima City Council held a regular meeting on July 1, 2025, at 5:30 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting focused on the city's $9 million budget deficit, proposed cuts to police, fire, parks, streets, and clean city programs, and potential revenue measures. After extensive public comment and department presentations, the council voted 4-3 to direct staff to bring back a resolution for a $0.50 per $1,000 property tax levy (estimated to generate just over $6 million) for the November 2025 ballot. The council also voted 6-1 to direct staff to explore a regional fire authority or fire district.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of minutes from the June 17, 2025 City Council regular meeting
• Set date of August 4, 2025 for a closed record public hearing to consider proposed amendments to Yakima Municipal Code Title 14 Subdivisions and Title 15 Urban Area Zoning Ordinance
• Resolution authorizing Department of Ecology Grant Amendment 3 for environmental cleanup of the former Tiger Oil site at 1808 N 1st Street (Resolution R-2025-105)

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tony Sandoval (Yakima resident): Expressed concern that YPD is issuing citations for food vendor permit issues, arguing that should be the health district's role, and urged YPD to focus on violent crime and reckless driving.
• Nicole Berg (Yakima resident): Opposed the proposed property tax levy, noting recent tax increases at state and county levels. She argued the levy would burden renters and discourage businesses and healthcare providers from Yakima. Asked that if a levy goes to voters, the language be clear.
• James Parks (District 1 resident): Thanked the council for pool improvements and road work, praised YPD's youth engagement program, and urged against police budget cuts.
• David Elofson (Yakima resident, retired judge): Expressed support for raising revenue rather than cutting services, stating that cuts to police, fire, pools, and senior center would make Yakima less attractive for recruiting medical professionals and businesses.
• Tony Courcy (Yakima resident): Spoke about property matters and alleged mistreatment by the city regarding a public-private partnership.
• John Gorman (Yakima resident, reserve police officer): Asked council members if they had toured YPD/jail, urged against police cuts, and called for reallocating funds or finding new revenue to maintain public safety.
• Ryan Bleek (County resident): Argued the deficit is not due to fiscal irresponsibility but to 24 years of the 1% property tax cap and inflation (82% cumulative inflation vs 27% cumulative tax increase). Urged council to put a levy to voters.
• Patty Maggard Prediletto (District 6 resident): Opposed cuts to parks, pools, and fire station 92. Urged council to let voters decide on a levy and suggested the county contribute to parks funding.
• Samantha Reyes (written comment, Yakima resident): Raised concerns about farmworker rights and working conditions in extreme heat/cold, asking about city protocols and resources for workers.
• Alicia Tobin Stromme (written comment, Yakima resident): Emphasized the need for transparency on budget cuts and their consequences. Listed potential impacts including increased youth gang involvement, senior isolation, elimination of animal control, gang unit, property crime investigation, and fire department cuts leading to higher overdose deaths.
• Carter Heald (non-City resident, Kent): Representing the cardroom industry, expressed concern about Washington State Gambling Commission restrictions driving cardrooms out of business. Suggested that allowing higher bet limits and sports betting could generate seven figures in tax revenue for Yakima.
• Natalie Keister (non-City resident): Spoke about 30 years in the cardroom industry, noted five cardrooms closed statewide in nine months, and asked council to engage with the Gambling Commission.
• Kristi Foster (President and CEO of Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce): Argued that cuts to police, fire, and pools would harm business investment and increase youth crime. Urged council to let voters decide on a property tax increase.

Discussion Items

9.A Clean City Program 2025 Year-to-Date Presentation Solid Waste Manager Trace Bradburn and Code Compliance Officer John O'Rourke presented YTD data: 1,900 graffiti incidents, 1,200 homeless contacts, 226 shopping carts removed, 1,000 illegal dumps cleared, 183 encampments cleared, 600 tires removed, 83 tons of garbage removed. A new shopping cart ordinance reduced carts in rights-of-way by encouraging businesses to secure carts. Bulky waste collection program was launched. Community cleanup at YVC removed 25.5 tons with partners. Three greenway cleanups were conducted with Wildland Fire Services. Councilmember Glenn asked about discouraging repeat homeless encampments; Bradburn noted that is a law enforcement/legal issue.

9.B Discuss budget reduction impacts related to Police, Fire, Streets, Parks, and Clean City City Manager Vicki Baker and Finance Director Craig Warner introduced the discussion, noting that after months of community outreach, the council needed to decide on revenue or cuts. Department heads presented impacts of potential reductions:

• Clean City: Proposed $360,500 reduction (43% of budget), eliminating one code compliance officer, one code compliance assistant (graffiti), and reducing an attorney position to 50%. Response times would slow, graffiti and trash would increase.
• Streets and Traffic: Proposed $905,000 reduction (12% of budget). Would eliminate two street specialist positions, reduce equipment replacement, cut snow removal from residential areas (affecting emergency response), eliminate sidewalk tree removal, and end alley maintenance. Director Scott Schafer said streets are a public safety function and further cuts would decimate the division.
• Parks and Recreation: Proposed $2 million reduction (29.5% of budget). Would close Washington Fruit Community Center, Franklin Pool, Lions Pool, and Harman Center; eliminate youth sports, summer programs, adult sports, community recreation; reduce park maintenance (fewer trash pickups, reduced mowing/irrigation, slower graffiti response). Park maintenance staff has dropped from 13 to 7 full-time employees since 2004 despite population and acreage growth.
• Yakima Fire Department: Proposed $1.7 million reduction, requiring elimination of 12 firefighters (one company/station closure) and reducing daily staffing from 23 to 20. Chief Markham noted 90% of budget is salaries, and response times to areas served by Station 92 would increase to 9-10 minutes, delaying fire and EMS response, reducing cardiac arrest survival chances from 76-80% to significantly lower.
• Yakima Police Department: Proposed cuts would reduce or eliminate property crimes unit, gang unit, narcotics unit, crime analysis, traffic unit, animal control, parking enforcement, and crime-free rental housing program. Chief Boyle noted YPD has lost positions over time, and the officer-per-thousand ratio would drop to 1.25, below the Washington state average of 1.31. Property crime investigations would cease, gang and drug enforcement would decline, and traffic fatalities could rise. He emphasized that cuts affect the entire criminal justice system, including courts and prosecutors.

After presentations, council discussed revenue options. Warner outlined possible sources: property tax (5 cents/$1,000 generates ~$600,000), EMS levy (up to 25 cents, 60% supermajority, ~$2.9 million), public safety sales tax (0.1%, ~$2.7 million), and utility tax (1%, ~$500,000).

Councilmembers expressed varying positions. Mayor Byers leaned toward a full $9 million property tax levy, citing the need for services and economic development. Deputy Mayor Brown proposed a 50-50 split ($4.5M cuts/$4.5M revenue). Councilmember Glenn moved for a $10 million levy to provide a cushion. After several amendments, a motion by Councilmember Roy to set a $0.50 per $1,000 levy (just over $6 million) passed 4-3 (Byers, Deccio, Glenn, Herrera in favor; Berg, Brown, Roy opposed).

9.C Ordinance amending the 2025-2026 Biennial Budget (First Reading) Finance Director Warner presented the first reading of the budget amendment, totaling nearly $14 million, including $7.5 million in grant revenues and adjustments for capital reserves and equipment. The ordinance was read by title only.

Key Outcomes

• Motion on property tax levy: Council voted 4-3 to direct staff to bring back a resolution for a $0.50 per $1,000 property tax levy (estimated just over $6 million) for the November 2025 ballot. The final decision on placing it on the ballot will occur at a subsequent meeting.
• Motion to explore regional fire authority/district: Council voted 6-1 (Glenn opposed) to direct staff to approach entities that could be part of a regional fire authority or fire district and prepare financial information on operational costs and funding streams.
• Proclamation for National Health Center Week: Council unanimously approved adding a proclamation for National Health Center Week (August 3-9) to a future agenda.
• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (7-0).
• Next meeting: City Council study session on July 8, 2025, at 5:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers.