The Yakima City Council held its regular meeting on October 21, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers. The meeting covered a range of topics including appointments to boards, approval of routine consent agenda items, a presentation on the city's drought response, and an extensive discussion on the future of the Yakima Valley Trolleys, including SEPA review and a new operating agreement. The council also approved a memorandum of understanding for a veterans notification program and an interlocal agreement for traffic safety patrols.
Good evening and welcome. I will call the uh Yakima City Council of Business meeting of October 24th, 2025 to order. We'll start with roll call. Bird? Here. Brown. Here. Buyers. President. DCO. Here. Glenn. Here. Herrera? Here. Roy. Here. Thank you. Please stand and join us for the police allegiance. Again. We will have interpreter services. Thank you. Gracias. Process. Item four is public comment. There will be 35 minutes allotted for public comment this evening with each person receiving two and a half minutes. If you wish to make a public comment, please make sure you fill out a form in the lobby and give it to our city clerk. When you come to the podium, introduce yourself and tell us the city where you live. Please remember that state law prohibits electioneering in city facilities. During public comment, speakers cannot campaign for or against candidates or support or opposed to any ballot measures in the upcoming election. Okay. The first person I have is Ann Knapp. Good afternoon. Thank you for letting me make comments. My name is Ann Knapp. I live in the city of Yacima. I support the trolley. I put a handout in front of everybody. It has my speaking points, 14 points, which I may not get through, a list of potential relevant documents, which I have a large stack. I'm sure there are more deck documents elsewhere. But um I support the trolley. So this is a very critical issue, and it resulted in uh utilities and transportation commission order to the city and to Yakima Valley trolleys. The City Council, your decision makers need to have good and accurate information to make money decisions, and I just don't have energy and time to give you all the information. And I hate coming and talking to you. But my 14 points. People and a dog were trying to get across the bridges. And I was concerned they would not make it safely, but I didn't think the trolley was running, and I don't know Burlington Northern schedule. The UTC order on pedestrian diverter is legally binding on the city, BNSF and the Yakima Valley trolleys. The city's contract structural engineer designed pedestrian bridge access that exceeds all. I am so sorry about your two happen as well.