OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Yakima City Council Regular Meeting - December 9, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, December 9, 2025
BodyYakima, Washington
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, December 9, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:23:46

Transcript — Verbatim
1:56

Good evening and welcome.

1:58

I will call the Yakima City Council business meeting of December the ninth, twenty twenty-five to order.

2:03

We'll start with the roll call, please.

2:05

Here.

2:06

Brown.

2:06

Here.

2:08

Present DCO.

2:09

Here.

2:09

Glenn.

2:10

Here.

2:11

Herrena?

2:11

Here.

2:12

Roy.

2:13

Here.

2:14

Thank you.

2:14

Please stand and join us for the Pledge of Allegiance.

2:19

Again.

2:20

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

2:35

Then we'll have interpreter services.

2:42

Language connection.

2:43

Uh the alien necessity, are you an interpreter?

2:46

And I'm going to see stem.

2:50

Ratha, thank you.

2:51

All right.

2:52

Next on the agenda is public comment.

2:55

There would be 35 minutes alighted for public comment with two and a half minutes per speaker in order to allow as much opportunity as possible for audience participation.

3:03

Written comments and email messages are strongly encouraged that you can send them to all council.

3:08

When you come to the podium, please identify yourself in the city in which you look.

3:13

Tonight we will start with Forbes Mercy, Adam Tobin, Tobia, Toby, I'm sorry.

3:21

Yeah.

3:22

And Ken Mulkinson are a director of parks and recreation.

3:28

Thank you, Mayor, and good evening, Council.

3:31

I always love bringing you great news.

3:33

And certainly this holiday time of year.

3:36

So many things to be grateful for, and uh always grateful for gifts.

3:41

So it in your packets under consent, we have a resolution for the acceptance of a donation of a hundred and fifteen thousand dollars from Mr.

3:49

Forbes Mercy for the installation purchase of an outdoor calisthetics gym.

3:56

Uh the Chester Lee Park, and then some other items as well.

3:59

I'm going to invite Forbes to come up and let him talk about it, and also Adam Tobia, and let them share with you the great things, but I just want to say so much gratefulness and thanks to Forbes and for Adam for for all the things that you have done for this community and continue to do.

4:15

So Forbes, if you'll join me, and Adam, too.

4:19

I'll stay right here.

4:34

But so yeah, come on, it's had a tough uh year, a three million dollar cutback followed by the levy failure with six, missing by only three hundred and sixty-four votes.

4:43

In my view, that happened because the public didn't fully understand how deeply the loss would affect them.

4:49

The city's limited to one percent revenue growth while facing wage increases of three to seven percent.

4:54

Eventually those lines collide, and we're seeing that now.

5:00

I believe the levy should be run again, personally, now that residents clearly understand the consequences.

5:05

While we wait, we're facing cuts that uh hit the core of Yakima's quality of life, especially in parks and recreation.

5:13

Even if funding is restored later, many programs won't return for years.

5:17

So I've asked the community to join me in stepping up with tag um donations to support the programs they care about.

5:25

My contribution today is part of that effort.

5:28

And I hope it uh continues a year round until these services are stable and able to be applied again.

5:34

After 34 years of the internet industry, I've been fortunate with a comfortable retirement thanks to the people of the city.

5:41

By the way, I'm Forbes Mercy City of Yakima.

5:43

I forgot that part.

5:44

Okay.

5:45

I also plan to advocate nationally for Congress to recognize gifts to municipal governments as fully tax deductible.

5:52

That change uh alone would motivate many more business owners to support their hometowns directly.

5:59

So rather than just being a 23% return on your taxes, they would be able to write a whole lot more because they're directly responsible too.

6:07

That um to cities to their programs for their own town.

6:11

Last year, a family friend, Adam Tobin, approached me with an idea to bring a calisthenics park to Yacima.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety███████████████████████████27%
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Fire Safety█████████9%
Nonprofit Organization█████████9%
Fiscal Sustainability████████8%
Community Engagement█████5%
Public Engagement████4%
Parks and Recreation███3%
Public Health██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Yakima City Council Regular Meeting - December 9, 2025

The Yakima City Council met on December 9, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included public comments, recognition of outgoing council members, administration of oaths, council reports, a consent agenda, department presentations, and significant actions on utility taxes and the Yakima Valley Trolley operating agreement.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes from December 2, 2025 regular meeting.
  • Approved November 2025 Investment Transaction Report and payment of disbursements for November 1-30, 2025.
  • Adopted Ordinance No. 2025-037 updating the Classification and Compensation Plan for City Employees effective January 12, 2026.
  • Adopted Resolution No. 2025-181 accepting an anonymous $50,000 donation for Harman Center general operations.
  • Adopted Resolution No. R-2025-182 authorizing contract amendment with Transportation Demand Management LLC for senior tours transportation.
  • Adopted Resolution No. R-2025-183 amending McAllister Museum Lease with updated in-kind contributions for 2026.
  • Adopted Resolution No. R-2025-184 amending 2026 Airport rates and fees.
  • Adopted Resolution No. R-2025-185 authorizing Change Order #1 for fire alarm system replacement at Yakima Air Terminal.
  • Adopted Resolution No. R-2025-186 accepting a WSDOT grant for airport overflow parking lot design and construction.
  • Adopted Resolution No. R-2025-187 authorizing Interlocal Agreement with Yakima County for Phase 1 of Shaw and Wide Hollow Creeks Flood Control Project.
  • Adopted Resolution No. R-2025-188 authorizing Fire Services Agreement with Yakima County Fire District #11.
  • Adopted Resolution No. R-2025-189 ratifying grant agreement with Washington State Office of Public Defense for 2026-2027.
  • Item 7E (Resolution authorizing acceptance of $115,000 donation from Forbes Mercy) was removed from consent agenda and later adopted separately as Resolution No. 2025-180 in a 7-0 roll call vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Forbes Mercy and Adam Tobia spoke about the $115,000 donation for an outdoor calisthenics gym at Chesterley Park and additional donations: $61,000 to fully fund the 2026 youth parks program and $32,000 for animal control services for three months. Mercy expressed full support for city programs and encouraged other community members to contribute.
  • Leslie Rodriguez, city resident, thanked Forbes Mercy and expressed personal support for the Harman Center, noting its importance to quality of life.
  • Anne Knapp, city resident, voiced opposition to renewing the Yakima Valley Trolley operating agreement, citing costs, legal risks, and a desire to end subsidies.
  • Maria Ramos, city resident, spoke in support of renewing the trolley agreement, highlighting its historical value, tourism, and economic ripple effects.
  • Tony Courcy, city resident, made critical remarks about government financial spending.

Discussion Items

  • Recognition of Council Members and Oaths of Office: Mayor Byers and City Manager Vicki Baker recognized outgoing Councilmembers Janice Deccio and Danny Herrera for their service. The oath of office was administered to newly elected Municipal Court Judges Aryn Masters and Troy Clements.
  • Council Nominating Committee Recommendations: Councilmember Herrera reported the committee's appointments: Arts Commission – appoint Brandon Dean and change Sylvia Merczel to Working Artist; Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee – reappoint Jennifer Gindt and Frank Purdy; Lodging Tax Advisory Committee – reappoint Sarah Davila and Kathy Kramer. Motion adopted 7-0.
  • 2026 State and Federal Legislative Priorities: Communications Manager Randy Beehler presented proposed capital requests, including $2 million for airport modernization, $1.5 million for a children's advocacy center, $3 million for Shaw Creek reroute, and funds for Franklin Pool repairs. Councilmembers added suggestions on sales tax revenue sharing, unfunded mandates, immigration, drug control, and criminal justice reform. Staff will bring a draft resolution in January.
  • Municipal Court Indigency Screening Presentation: Judges Masters and Clements detailed state laws on indigency, noting that 80-90% of Washington defendants are indigent and that 28% of Yakima County residents receive SNAP benefits. They explained current screening processes and cost-benefit challenges of more in-depth verification. No formal action taken.
  • Fire Department Master Plan Presentation: Chief Aaron Markham and Zach Ratkai of Sageland Strategic presented the 2025-2030 master plan, identifying short-, medium-, and long-term recommendations for facilities, staffing, equipment, and training. Discussion emphasized preserving the ISO Class 3 rating and low-cost improvements. No vote.
  • CAPER Resolution: Community Development Director Bill Preston presented the 2024 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) for HUD-funded programs. No public comments received. Resolution No. R-2025-190 adopting the report was approved 7-0.
  • Yakima Valley Trolley Operation License Agreement: Preston presented a revised agreement for 2026-2030. Councilmember Glenn moved not to approve; motion died for lack of a second. Councilmember Berg moved to postpone discussion to January 20, 2026; motion carried 5-2 (Glenn and Herrera voting no).
  • Inmate Housing Agreements: Police Chief Shawn Boyle presented interlocal agreements with Selah and Moxee for jail services at $90/day (significantly lower than county rate). Both resolutions (R-2025-191 and R-2025-192) approved 7-0.
  • City Manager Update: Vicki Baker reported the 2024 accountability audit had no findings. Noted flooding rescues (16 people) and water main breaks due to aging infrastructure. Council directed staff (motion carried) to schedule a future study session on infrastructure needs.
  • Other Business: Council directed staff to prepare a Martin Luther King Jr. Day proclamation for a January meeting (7-0). Council also directed staff to increase the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee by two members (7-0).

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda: Approved 7-0 with item 7E removed and later separately adopted 7-0.
  • Council Nominations: Approved 7-0.
  • CAPER Report: Adopted 7-0.
  • Yakima Valley Trolley Agreement: Postponed to January 20, 2026 meeting (5-2).
  • Inmate Housing with Selah and Moxee: Both approved 7-0.
  • Infrastructure Presentation: Motion carried to schedule future study session.
  • MLK Day Proclamation: Directed staff to prepare.
  • LTAC Committee Expansion: Directed staff to add two members.
  • Utility Tax Increases (after suspending rules):
    • Ordinance No. 2025-038: Amends water and wastewater tax (increase 1% for three years), revenue directed to Police Department. Passed 7-0.
    • Ordinance No. 2025-039: Amends stormwater tax (increase 1% for three years), revenue directed to Police Department. Passed 7-0.
    • Ordinance No. 2025-040: Amends refuse tax (increase 1% for three years), revenue directed to Police Department. Passed 7-0.
    • The three ordinances each include a three-year sunset clause (added by motion 7-0). The approximate combined annual revenue is $600,000, which will help retain police positions.

The meeting adjourned at 8:53 p.m. with the next regular meeting scheduled for January 6, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome. I will call the Yakima City Council business meeting of December the ninth, twenty twenty-five to order. We'll start with the roll call, please. Here. Brown. Here. Present DCO. Here. Glenn. Here. Herrena? Here. Roy. Here. Thank you. Please stand and join us for the Pledge of Allegiance. Again. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. Then we'll have interpreter services. Language connection. Uh the alien necessity, are you an interpreter? And I'm going to see stem. Ratha, thank you. All right. Next on the agenda is public comment. There would be 35 minutes alighted for public comment with two and a half minutes per speaker in order to allow as much opportunity as possible for audience participation. Written comments and email messages are strongly encouraged that you can send them to all council. When you come to the podium, please identify yourself in the city in which you look. Tonight we will start with Forbes Mercy, Adam Tobin, Tobia, Toby, I'm sorry. Yeah. And Ken Mulkinson are a director of parks and recreation. Thank you, Mayor, and good evening, Council. I always love bringing you great news. And certainly this holiday time of year. So many things to be grateful for, and uh always grateful for gifts. So it in your packets under consent, we have a resolution for the acceptance of a donation of a hundred and fifteen thousand dollars from Mr. Forbes Mercy for the installation purchase of an outdoor calisthetics gym. Uh the Chester Lee Park, and then some other items as well. I'm going to invite Forbes to come up and let him talk about it, and also Adam Tobia, and let them share with you the great things, but I just want to say so much gratefulness and thanks to Forbes and for Adam for for all the things that you have done for this community and continue to do. So Forbes, if you'll join me, and Adam, too. I'll stay right here. But so yeah, come on, it's had a tough uh year, a three million dollar cutback followed by the levy failure with six, missing by only three hundred and sixty-four votes. In my view, that happened because the public didn't fully understand how deeply the loss would affect them. The city's limited to one percent revenue growth while facing wage increases of three to seven percent. Eventually those lines collide, and we're seeing that now. I believe the levy should be run again, personally, now that residents clearly understand the consequences. While we wait, we're facing cuts that uh hit the core of Yakima's quality of life, especially in parks and recreation. Even if funding is restored later, many programs won't return for years. So I've asked the community to join me in stepping up with tag um donations to support the programs they care about. My contribution today is part of that effort.

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