Yakima City Council Regular Meeting - April 14, 2026
Yakima City Council Regular Meeting - April 14, 2026
The Yakima City Council met on April 14, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included recognition of the Davis High School girls' basketball team, public comment, two public hearings, and several department items including a utility tax increase to fund Fire Station 92. Key actions included adoption of an endangerment ordinance, approval of an RFP for Fisher Park Golf Course operation, and a 3% utility tax with a sunset provision tied to a potential county EMS levy.
Consent Calendar
- Resolution R-2026-046: Authorized agreement with Vertex Contracting LLC for Wide Hollow Creek Pedestrian Bridge Improvement Project. Passed 7-0.
- Resolution R-2026-047 (removed from consent): Setting dates for open cruising events on Yakima Avenue for summer 2026. Passed 7-0 after Councilmember Byers' comments about potential participant contributions.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mark Peterson, a city property owner who recently won a 13-year lawsuit against the city, spoke critically of city management and alleged "lawfare." He questioned why council had not held employees accountable and asked who would pay the judgment.
- Public Hearing 8A (2810 Barge Street):
- Scott King, project contractor, spoke in support, stating the project is simply replacing a garage with a garage plus apartment.
- Todd Fisher and Jim Dobbie, neighbors, spoke in opposition, citing parking congestion, safety issues, and concerns that the accessory dwelling unit would alter the character of the R1 neighborhood.
- Public Hearing 8B (Johnston Estates):
- Bill Horton, representing the developer, spoke in support of the master planned development and subdivision.
Discussion Items
Good of the Order
Mayor Brown recognized the Davis High School girls' basketball team for winning the 4A State Championship. Principal Heather Hastie and Coach Akil White thanked the council. The team received certificates and a signed basketball.
7.B Open Cruising Resolution
Councilmember Byers requested removal from consent to discuss potential participant contributions. She stated the ordinance does not prohibit asking for contributions and intends to revisit during budget discussions. The resolution passed 7-0.
8.A Appeal of Certificate of Appropriateness for 2810 Barge Street
Associate Planner Connor Kennedy explained that the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) approved a certificate based on incomplete applications and an image of the wrong house. The city appealed to remand for proper review. The hearing was quasi-judicial. Councilmember Glenn recused himself due to ex-parte communication. After testimony, the council voted 6-0 to grant the appeal and remand to HPC.
8.B Master Planned Development – Plat of Johnston Estates
Planning Manager Trevor Martin and Senior Planner Jason Radtke presented the proposal to subdivide 4.85 acres into 29 lots (28 residential common-wall units and one commercial/retail lot) at 5405 Summitview Avenue. The development is open to all ages, not age-restricted. The developer, Eglin & Eglin LLC, indicated no specific commercial tenant yet. The hearing examiner recommended approval. Council passed Resolution R-2026-049 7-0.
9.A First Tee Expression of Interest – Fisher Park Golf Course
Assistant City Manager Gary Ballew presented 2025 operations: $246,000 revenue, $253,000 expenses. First Tee of Central Washington proposed leasing the course. Parks Manager Ken Wilkinson said the city runs the course well. Megan Nobbs, First Tee Executive Director, outlined benefits including youth programming and cost savings. Council debated proceeding with an RFP. Motion to go forward with an RFP passed 5-2 (Brown and Byers opposed).
9.B Licensing Discussion – Non-Profits and Regulatory Licenses
Gary Ballew reported 247 nonprofit endorsements, 328 regulatory licenses generating ~$16,500 revenue, with 154 licenses recommended for elimination (~$6,000 loss). Staff proposed capping business license employee count at 120. Council consensus: maintain current regulatory fees until full review complete; keep nonprofit exemption; set employee cap at 120.
9.C Endangerment with a Controlled Substance Ordinance
City Attorney Sara Watkins introduced an ordinance making it a gross misdemeanor to knowingly or recklessly expose a child to a controlled substance, with exceptions for valid prescriptions. Councilmember Glenn expressed concern about low penalties. Motion passed 7-0. Ordinance 2026-013.
9.D-9.H Proposed 3% Utility Tax
Gary Ballew presented four ordinances to raise utility tax from 21% to 24% on water, wastewater, refuse, and stormwater, generating ~$1.8 million annually to fund Fire Station 92. An initial motion by Glenn and Potrykus to pass all four failed 4-3 (Berg, Byers, Gonzalez no). After debate, an amended motion by Potrykus and Byers passed 6-1 (Gonzalez no): adopt the 3% utility taxes with a contingency that if a county-wide EMS levy of 50 cents per $1,000 passes, the city will sunset the utility tax upon receipt of those funds. Ordinances 2026-014 through 2026-017 were adopted.
9.I City Council Code of Ethics
Motion by Byers to table discussion to May passed unanimously.
Council Open Discussion
- Motion by Glenn and Brown to have a future discussion about utility billing practices passed unanimously.
- Motion by Byers and Berg to add National Day of Prayer proclamation to May 5 meeting passed unanimously.
- Motion by Byers and Brown to read and approve KIMA-TV appreciation letter at April 21 meeting passed unanimously.
- Mayor Brown reported positive feedback from developers and business owners on the city's economic development efforts and a recent letter.
- Councilmember Gonzalez acknowledged the city clerk's work.
City Manager Update
City Manager Vicki Baker reported:
- Lions Pool opened April 15 as requested, thanks to staff.
- Franklin Pool leak detection underway; a company hired to find the leak.
- Budget transparency: 2025 surplus due to conservative projections and unfilled positions; funds are one-time and have been used to bridge Station 92 operations.
- Upcoming topics: YPD Police Explorers, public safety update, master fee schedule, municipal code amendments.
Other Business
- Franklin Pool Leak Repair: Councilmember Berg moved to direct the city manager to immediately initiate procurement using the small works roster, with a goal of the pool being open and operational by June 15, and reporting back within 7-21 days with contractor, scope, cost, and timeline. Motion passed 5-2 (Byers and Glenn no).
- Mayor Brown requested an update on solutions for park bathrooms; City Manager said a report would be brought back next week.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Items 7A and 7B approved (7-0 each).
- Appeal of Certificate of Appropriateness (2810 Barge St): Granted, remanded to HPC (6-0, Glenn recused).
- Johnston Estates Master Planned Development: Approved (7-0).
- Fisher Park Golf Course: Council directed staff to proceed with an RFP for private operation (5-2).
- Licensing: Maintain regulatory fees, keep nonprofit exemption, cap employees at 120 (consensus, no formal vote).
- Endangerment Ordinance: Passed (7-0).
- Utility Tax Increase (3%): Adopted with sunset contingency tied to successful county EMS levy (6-1).
- Ethics Code: Tabled to May (7-0).
- Franklin Pool: Direct staff to expedite repair and report back (5-2).
- Future Discussions: Utility billing practices, National Day of Prayer proclamation, KIMA-TV appreciation letter, park bathrooms.
The meeting adjourned at 9:21 p.m. The next regular meeting is April 21, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Brown here. Hi ears. Present. Glenn? Here. Gonzalez. Here. Patrick is here. Roy. Here. All right. Join me with in the Pledge of Allegiance. Ready to begin. I pledge allegiance to the side of the United States of America. And to the Republic for my stands. One nation. All right. Interpreter services. Good evening. If somebody needs uh interpreting services, I have my system and everything ready. See alguien necessity uninterprete, tengo los radios. Me ven aquí afuera sale la puerta. Gracias. Thank you. All right. Next is item four. Go to the order, and we're gonna recognize the Davis High School girls basketball team. They uh yeah. I feel like that's most of the audience tonight. Um if I could have uh Tony and the crew come on up here. Um Davis High School girls, they they want back-to-back four-a-state championship in girls' basketball. Uh, and uh take it away, Tony. That's an amazing accomplishment. I mean, uh I play sports, uh uh Congressman Bird coming. Soon, okay. Congress Birds soon uh plays sports, and we all achieved to become state champions and win the championship. Never did. I don't know if you did, but I we I didn't. So this is so awesome. The the city of Yakima should be proud of these ladies uh for accomplishing um probably defeated all-star teams, actually, because on the West side uh they do some recruiting in some of the private schools, and uh these are homegrown ladies, and um they did it. They they got two state championships. So with that, I'd like to turn it back to uh the principal. Yes, uh Principal Hasty. I really appreciate you recognizing the girls' basketball team today, Davis High School. I'm proud principal over there, and our girls, they're they're amazing. It's two right now, it'll be three next year, so we'll see you again. Um and not only not only are they just superstar athletes, they are smart, they are kind, they are everything you would want them to be as citizens. They're incredible. And um, not just them, the families. It's also huge to recognize their families, the parents that I'm I'm a parent of two soccer goalies who not in high school yet, but they will be.
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