Yakima City Council Special Meeting on Utility Billing - August 25, 2026

The Yakima City Council held a special meeting on August 25, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. to discuss utility billing practices. No votes or formal actions were taken; the session was informational, with staff presenting current practices, challenges, and potential improvements. Public comments were heard from two speakers, and council members provided feedback and direction for future staff work.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tony Corsi – Expressed frustration with the city's lack of response to his questions about utility billing and stormwater. He claimed he paid 100% of a utility project and alleged the city mishandled funds, referencing past council raises. He stated he has not received answers despite multiple appearances.
• Avery Gray (President, Yakima Valley Landlords Association) – Asked the city to stop treating property owners as a backup collections department. Cited that roughly 30% of non-owner accounts are delinquent versus about 15% of owner accounts. He noted the 60-day billing cycle means owners may not learn of tenant delinquency for months, and collections recovery is only about 60%. He supported auto-pay, third-party billing, better notice, prompt-pay discounts, and actual 45-day cutoff enforcement. He stated that the current system transfers risk to owners, which is not a partnership.

Discussion Items

• Utility Billing Overview (Craig Warner, Finance & Budget Director) – The city bills 33,000 accounts for five utilities (water, wastewater, refuse, irrigation, stormwater) on a bi-monthly cycle. About 930 accounts (2.8%) were eligible for shutoff, with 525 late on just the most recent bill. Staff have improved collections using old-fashioned door hangers after automated phone calls were ineffective. The billing software (Cayenta) is over 30 years old, requires costly custom modifications, and has frequent bugs. The city spends $200,000 annually mailing 200,000 pieces of paper bills; only about 10% of customers use auto-pay.
• Owner/Tenant Responsibility – Council members and staff discussed the challenge of delinquent tenant accounts. Currently, city code makes owners jointly liable. Councilmember Glenn proposed a hybrid model: require deposits from tenants to limit owner exposure, then close the account if unpaid and notify the owner. Councilmember Byers noted that property managers face difficulties when the city requires exact documentation for each tenant change. Staff clarified the city never denies service to a new tenant based on prior unpaid bills (unlike Knob Hill Water District).
• Stormwater Billing Change – The county informed the city it will likely stop billing stormwater fees on property tax bills after 2027. This will require the city to bill stormwater directly. Staff recommended adding stormwater to existing bi-monthly irrigation bills (dividing annual fee into six payments). Council discussed the need for clear communication that this is not a new fee, just a new payment method. About 7,000 irrigation customers will receive a stormwater bill for the first time.
• Software & Future Improvements – Staff plan to conduct a community survey on billing frequency (monthly vs. bi-monthly), payment options, and other preferences. Council supported making electronic billing the default to reduce mailing costs. Staff will evaluate new utility billing software that can support monthly billing, app access, and better security. A full software replacement is a multimillion-dollar project likely to start next year.
• Other Topics – Council discussed garbage collection opt-out (possible for long absences but not short-term), penny elimination difficulties due to old software, and the need to include stormwater billing in new software considerations. Councilmember Glenn also raised the idea of advocating for exempting water and sewer from state utility taxes.

Key Outcomes

• No votes or formal decisions were taken. The meeting was informational only.
• Staff will develop and distribute a community survey (in English and Spanish) to gather input on billing frequency, electronic billing, and other preferences.
• Staff will bring back a specific stormwater billing proposal for council action, likely recommending inclusion in existing bi-monthly bills. This is time-sensitive for 2027 implementation.
• Staff will continue to evaluate new utility billing software, starting with a needs analysis. Council emphasized that new software should meet future needs, not just replicate current functions.
• Staff will further refine policies on tenant deposits, owner notification, and shutoff timelines, with the goal of limiting owner exposure to unpaid tenant bills.
• The next regular city council meeting is scheduled for September 1, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.