Yakima City Council Study Session – February 10, 2026

The Yakima City Council held a study session on February 10, 2026, beginning at 5:03 p.m. and adjourning at 6:49 p.m. The meeting focused on the annual Chronic Nuisance Property report and a comprehensive review of proposed fee changes across the Community Development Department (Planning, Code Administration, and Engineering). Public comment was heard, and no formal votes were taken on the fee proposals; staff will return with a resolution.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Greg Johnsen (non-City resident) expressed strong support for the Yakima Valley Trolleys. He argued that a previous chart presented to the council was misleading, noting that 92% of survey respondents favored concepts that included the trolley, public engagement was high, and a post about the operating agreement received over 2,500 likes on Facebook. He urged the council to treat the trolley as a last resort for cuts.
• Tony Courcy (City resident) questioned the city’s budget spending, referencing what he characterized as hidden money and a lack of accountability. He did not address the specific agenda items.

Discussion Items

Chronic Nuisance Property Report (Item 3A)

• Yakima Police Chief Shawn Boyle and Senior Assistant City Attorney Brooke Hargreaves presented the annual report required by YMC 11.45. Two properties were identified:
  • 1022 North First Street – After entering a declaration in August 2025, total incidents dropped from 132 to 26 (an 80% decrease) and nuisance-related issues fell by 84% (from 25 to 4). The owner passed away, and the family is cooperating.
  • 1107 South Third Street (El Asidero) – A letter was sent, and the city is working on an agreement with the owner to reduce calls for service.
• Chief Boyle noted the program’s success depends on staffing and legal capacity. City Attorney Sara Watkins stated legal is over capacity but committed to continued partnership.
• Councilmember Glenn asked about property owner liability. Staff explained that fines can reach $500 per day, up to $25,000, and courts can revoke business licenses. Councilmember Rick Glenn emphasized the importance of trespass letters and proactive reporting by owners.

Review of Community Development Proposed Fee Changes (Item 3B)

• Overview: Assistant City Manager Gary Ballew framed the fee review as part of making Yakima more business-friendly. He noted that historically, fee recovery has been low, subsidized by the general fund. The goal is to close the gap while improving process transparency and key performance indicators (e.g., average days to issue a permit, currently ~35 days).
• Planning Division (Trevor Martin):
  • The division processed 193 land use applications over two years with 2.5 FTE staff.
  • Proposed changes include:
    • New site plan review fee for middle housing (mandated by state law).
    • Re-review fees for applications that languish.
    • Critical area review fee (currently $0).
    • Long-plat fee: flat rate plus $150 per lot for scalability.
    • Special event permit fee: from $50 to $250; late fee from $100 to $1,000 (with advance notice to applicants).
• Code Administration Division (Julia Rosales and Glenn Denman):
  • Over 3,300 permits entered in 2025. Proposed changes:
    • Update minimum permit fees (currently $43 for a $500 valuation job; proposed $162).
    • Adjust building valuation data table to a local cost‑of‑service rate (2.5% increase effective Jan 1, 2027).
    • Revert plumbing permit fees from a valuation method to a per‑fixture structure (e.g., a 2,000 sq ft home with 14 fixtures would see a ~$200 increase).
    • Miscellaneous corrections: remove duplicate fireworks fee, clarify re‑inspection/re‑review fees, eliminate $10 change‑of‑ownership fee, create a fee for permit extensions.
• Engineering Division (Robert Washabaugh):
  • Processed permits for excavation, right‑of‑way use, and private construction of public improvements.
  • Proposed increases:
    • Excavation permit base fee + inspection: from $160 to $328 (example: driveway approach).
    • Short‑term right‑of‑way use permit: from $50 to $230.
    • Long‑term right‑of‑way use permit: for council‑approved uses, from $363–$550; for signs, from $214–$386.
    • Engineering permit for private improvements: change $250 deposit to a non‑refundable $500 application fee (plan review and inspection fees separate).
    • Renewal fee for long‑term permits: from $100 to $109.
• Councilmembers raised concerns about consistency, upfront cost transparency, and the burden on homeowners. Staff emphasized that the changes aim to recover actual costs, not generate profit, and that continuous process improvements (e.g., development services team meetings, transparency portal) are ongoing.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken on the fee proposals. Staff will return with a resolution for council consideration at a future meeting (anticipated within a month).
• The council received the chronic nuisance report for information; no action was required.
• A motion to adjourn to the next regular City Council meeting on February 17, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. passed unanimously.