Yakima City Council Regular Meeting – May 5, 2026
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Yakima City Council Regular Meeting – May 5, 2026
The Yakima City Council held its regular meeting on May 5, 2026, starting at 5:46 PM (following a 5:15 PM executive session) and adjourning at 7:51 PM. The meeting included public comment, recognition, consent agenda actions, presentations on affordable housing and airport services, an update on community center RFI, discussion on ethics rules, and a report on Franklin Pool repairs.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (7-0) the consent agenda as read, which included: minutes from April 7, 14, and 21 meetings; project acceptance for N 1st Street Phase 3; resolutions for asset forfeiture MOU with DOJ; interlocal agreements with Selah and Ellensburg for the Yakima Ellensburg Commuter; agreement with J-U-B Engineers for airport overflow parking lot construction management; amendments to agreements with Dept. of Commerce and BERK Consulting for Comprehensive Plan updates; and an ordinance amending Chronic Nuisance Properties definitions.
- Item F (contract with Granite Construction for airport overflow parking lot) was removed from the consent agenda and approved separately (7-0) after discussion. Airport Director Christopher Hopkins thanked Representative Chris Corry for $750,000 state funding; no city funds used. The contract amount is $531,756.33. Construction will start after Aviation Day.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Zachary Galland (City resident) and Andreina Rangel (County resident) urged the council not to renew contracts for ALPR/Flock cameras, citing privacy concerns and arguing that funds should be invested in community programs (youth, housing, parks). Galland noted 87 cameras in the city; Rangel said data can be stored up to 30 days. They requested cameras be removed and contracts allowed to expire.
- Will Chichenoff (City resident) spoke about the mental health toll on police officers, citing more than 10 police-involved shootings in recent years. He called for integrated trauma responders, proactive mental health support, shift reform, and crisis stabilization centers.
- Margarita Reyna, Vicki Rodgers, Luis Moreno, Roy Beck-Hernandez, and Nathan Hedengren (all City residents) spoke in support of keeping the Washington Fruit Community Center open, emphasizing its role in senior exercise, meals, childcare, free Taekwondo classes, and community connection. Several mentioned they would be heartbroken if it closed.
- Tony Courcy (City resident) raised personal property matters and dissatisfaction with city response.
- Thomas McCormick (City resident) provided a news article about the 2026 Central Washington State Fair celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
- Assistant City Manager Gary Ballew promoted a fundraiser for the YPD Memorial Garden (May 9, 2026) where he will be bitten by a canine.
Discussion Items
- National Day of Prayer Proclamation (Item 5.A): Councilmember Byers read and moved to approve the proclamation designating May 7, 2026 as National Day of Prayer. Motion carried unanimously. Terry accepted the proclamation.
- Recognition of John Fannin (Item 5.B): Communications Director Randy Beehler honored retiring Community Outreach Specialist John Fannin for eight years of service. Mayor Brown presented a retirement certificate and clock. Fannin thanked the council.
- Affordable Housing Fund (Fund 185) (Item 9.A): City Attorney Sara Watkins presented on the sales tax retention (HB 1406). As of October 2025, $887,219.93 had been collected, none spent. State uses: acquire/rehab/construct affordable housing; operations/maintenance of supportive housing; rental assistance. Eligibility: income at or below 60% of Yakima median household income ($59,228 in 2025, so 60% = $35,536.80). Current ordinance (YMC 7.92) limits use to water/sewer connection fees for projects with 10+ units (50% affordable) and a 50-year affordability period. Council discussed reducing the unit minimum (to 2-4) and affordability period (to 25 years) and expanding uses to home repair programs (e.g., ONDS). Staff will prepare a proposal for June council meeting to accelerate spending.
- Air Service Development Contract (Item 9.B): Airport Director Hopkins presented resolution to award contract to InterVistas Consulting Inc. for air service development (leakage study, route analysis) at $50,000–75,000 first year with four one-year renewal options. Council noted the cost is lower than prior contracts. Resolution adopted 7-0.
- 2026 Master Fee Schedule (Item 9.C): Finance Director Craig Warner presented the updated fee schedule effective June 1, 2026, consolidating previously approved fees with 14 minor changes (housekeeping). Adopted 7-0.
- Washington Fruit Community Center and Harman Center RFI Update (Item 9.D): Parks Manager Ken Wilkinson reported three letters of interest received for WFCC (On Fire Ministries, Hope Bridge Adult Care Services, Art Awareness Project) and two for Harman Center (People for People, The Terraces). Staff will develop RFPs. Council discussed funding to keep WFCC open through December 31, 2026 due to upcoming June 30 closure and ongoing RFP process. Estimated cost $150,000. After debate on funding availability, a motion by Councilman Glenn and seconded by Councilwoman Byers passed 6-1 (Berg opposed) to keep WFCC open through end of year using one-time funds from utility tax savings.
- City Council Code of Ethics and Principles of Conduct (Item 9.E): City Attorney Watkins presented revisions. Mayor Brown proposed amendments, including a ban on personal attacks unrelated to official conduct and clarified gift definitions. Council discussed gift acceptance and public funds gifting. Staff will review existing administrative policy and return with updates; no action taken.
City Manager Update
- Franklin Pool Repairs (Item 10.A): City Manager Vicki Baker reported progress: leak detection completed May 1; quote for drain/crack repair pending; deck panel settling being investigated; chemicals ordered; lifeguard classes planned; recertification of current lifeguards underway. Operational funding of ~$120,000 may be requested next meeting. Council noted funds are available in the Yakima Valley Community Foundation account for Lyons Pool.
- Preview of upcoming topics (Item 10.B): Mill site discussion planned for next meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved 7-0, with Item F (Granite Construction contract) approved separately 7-0.
- Resolution for InterVistas consulting contract adopted 7-0.
- Resolution adopting 2026 Master Fee Schedule adopted 7-0.
- Motion to keep Washington Fruit Community Center open through December 31, 2026 passed 6-1 (Berg voting no).
- Council directed staff to prepare a proposal on Affordable Housing Fund spending (reducing unit minimum and affordability period) for June meeting.
- No action on ethics code; staff to revisit gift policy.
- Next regular meeting: May 12, 2026 at 5:30 PM.
Meeting Transcript
All right. We'll call this regular meeting of the city council back to order. Uh clerk roll call, please. Berg. Here. Brown. Here. Hi, ears. Present. Blen. Here. Gonzalez. Here. Patrickus? Here. Roy? Here. All right. Thank you. Uh, Stan for the Pledge of Allegiance. Ready to begin. And to the Republic or which is one nation library for the justice. All right. Uh, interpreter services. Uh, Jorge, language connection. If somebody needs interpreting services, we have the system. All right, thank you. Next is public comment. Uh, if you would like to do public comment, there are forms in the back that you can hand up here to our clerk. Uh, each person participate in public comment will have two and a half minutes. Uh, Deputy Mayor Byrne here has a little red card when you get close to your time to give you a heads up. Uh, when you come up, if you could please state your first and last name in the city that you reside in, and then uh we'll get started here. So first up is Zachary Gallahan. Um, hello. Zachary Galland. I live in the city of Yakima, District One. Good evening, council members. Um, I'm here to ask you a question before the contracts for Flock A LPRs come up for renewal. What does safety actually mean to you? To me and many of my neighbors, safety doesn't mean being tracked, it means having a stable place to live, a job with dignity, health care when you're sick, parks, uh, or trust that our officials have our best interests at heart. Real safety is when people have what they need, not when every car they travel in is logged, like where they're going and how they got there. Um we have at least 87 flock cameras right now, and that's not to mention the literal hundreds that the county is adding. So in our city, the data is supposed to be stored for no longer than 21 days. That includes uh where you worship, where you work, who you visit, where you get medical care, and how you get there. In Yakima, where public transit is barely holding on. Your car is like a map of your life. Uh no one should have the right to that data, especially not I mean without cause, especially not like uh tech companies whose servers that data is stored on. Um the cameras don't solve crime. Uh they've flock itself has been caught forging their own statistics, and researchers have all walked back their endorsements. Cities everywhere are catching on.
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