Yakima City Council Regular Meeting - October 6, 2026

The Yakima City Council met in regular session in person and via Zoom on October 6, 2026, from 5:33 p.m. to 9:03 p.m. The council heard a proclamation and a healthcare presentation, took public comment, approved routine consent items, held two public hearings, and adopted resolutions and ordinances. A record discrepancy is noted: the transcript shows the two public hearings were called at about 6:02 p.m. before public comment, while the agenda and minutes place public comment before Council Reports and the public hearings after the Consent Agenda; the minutes also list the Behavioral Health Hub at 402 S. 4th Ave., whereas the transcript identifies that address as the existing Opioid Treatment Program and the proposed hub as a nearby building just off S. Fifth Ave.

Recognition, Proclamation, and Opioid Treatment Program Presentation

• Refuse Manager Michael Slack recognized Randy Layman for 45 years of service to the City of Yakima.
• Council unanimously approved and Councilmember Byers read a proclamation designating October 17, 2026 as 'Harvest Marching Band Festival Day.' Steven Kessler, festival facilities coordinator, accepted the proclamation and said the festival has 22 bands, with proceeds split evenly between Eisenhower and Davis high school bands.
• Dr. Gillian Zuckerman and Jose Lopez of Comprehensive Healthcare presented a proposed 'Behavioral Health Hub' that would expand the Opioid Treatment Program (OTP), include a Hub & Spoke substance-use treatment connection program, and add a 24/7 Crisis Relief Center - a behavioral health emergency room with a no-turn-away policy for law-enforcement drop-offs. Current OTP serves about 600 clients, up from about 200 in 2022; Hub & Spoke saw 817 clients in the past year, including 107 contingency-management clients. A dosing robot named R2D2 pours about 400 doses per hour versus about 90 per hour for a nurse. Licensure and community relations could take about two years, with construction expected in summer 2027.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Zachary Galland, Andreina Rangel, Joseph Kopsick, Drew Toop, Cristina Gonzalez-Torres, Amanda G., and Brian Korst spoke against live video surveillance and asked the council to cancel Flock contracts. Several cited privacy and Fourth Amendment concerns, and Brian Korst asked for a motion to ban live-stream Flock cameras.
• Thomas Dittmar, a retired law-enforcement officer and YPD cold case volunteer, spoke in support of Flock cameras, saying they help patrol officers investigate serious crime.
• Lucina Navarro, Jessica Dominguez, Erika Villa, and Vanessa Jimenez spoke against ICE enforcement and its effects on families and the local economy. Erika Villa cited figures including a 54.6% Hispanic/Latino and 37.4% white population, business revenue losses of 40-75%, about 600 detentions since January, 70% of arrested people without criminal charges, Yakima producing more than 24% of U.S. apples, and $1.4 billion in annual income to Yakima County.
• Tony Sandoval requested a change in Parks and Recreation management, saying northeast-side parks had locked bathrooms and an inactive splash pad.
• Tony Courcy expressed frustration with staff responsiveness and said his paperwork was hidden.

Council Reports, Lodging Tax, and AVAS Debate

• Councilmember Glenn presented medals from the 52nd Annual Sunfair Cross Country Invitational held October 3, 2026 at Franklin Park, with over 1,000 runners.
• The council unanimously approved Nominating Committee appointments: Leanne Liddicoat to the Yakima Planning Commission, Jennifer Harrison to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, and Dan Ferguson to the Yakima Housing Authority.
• The council adopted Resolution R-2026-144 on a 7-0 roll call, approving the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee's 2027 allocations. The minutes state the allocations were based on projected 2027 lodging tax revenue of $1,800,000. Allocations included: $490,000 debt service; $4,723 city administrative fees; $150,000 Capitol Theatre operations; $10,000 Sozo Sports Complex Yak Attack event; $2,500 Yakima Valley Museum WWII exhibit; $80,000 Sundome operations; $300,000 YVVCB Convention Center capital; $230,500 convention center professional services; $235,000 management fee; $225,000 operations; $65,000 visitor center operations; and $95,000 sports commission operations. Councilmember Glenn questioned the large convention center allocation; Mayor Brown noted LTAC funds are primarily intended for city facilities and said he recommended setting aside funds to explore new revenue-generating projects.
• Staff presented two proposed ordinances (Option A and Option B) extending RCW 10.130 safeguards to automated video analytics systems (AVAS); Option B would also prohibit such cameras within 150 feet of city parks. Police Chief Sean Boyle said ALPRs have been valuable, citing reductions in stolen cars, about 1,100 arrests, and use in seven homicide investigations; he described live-feed cameras as still in the implementation phase.
• Mayor Brown moved to permanently remove the county's Flock live cameras within city limits. The motion failed 2-5; per the minutes, Brown and Gonzalez voted yes and Berg, Byers, Glenn, Potrykus, and Roy voted no. The transcript's voice tally says 5-2, but the minutes record 2-5.
• A motion to table both AVAS ordinances until next May passed 4-3, with Brown, Gonzalez, and Roy opposed. An earlier amendment to table only until a public hearing had failed 3-4. Item 6D was not separately acted on.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the consent agenda 7-0 after removing items 7N and 7P for separate consideration. The consent agenda included: approval of September 8 and September 15, 2026 minutes; setting November 2, 2026 for a Comprehensive Plan Update public hearing; project completion and acceptance for the Arboretum Force Main Rehabilitation, wastewater pipeline condition assessment, and unit-price electrical services; and resolutions for Lisa Wallace Consulting, Yakima Humane Society sheltering, Washington Traffic Safety Commission grants (Regional Crash Team, Make It Home Safe Yakima, High Visibility Enforcement), a Washington State Patrol Police Services Lead position, a $3,000,000 Bureau of Reclamation grant for Nelson Phase 2 Pipeline, a T-Mobile tower and ground space lease amendment, and the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce lease fourth amendment.
• Item 7N, a $150,000 Community Development Block Grant award for public services to low-income residents, primarily youth and children, was adopted 7-0 as Resolution R-2026-153. Staff said the RFP process would return around February-March. Councilmember Glenn said he pulled the item to highlight youth programs needing funds.
• Item 7P, a revocable license agreement allowing Jeff and Julie Ann Wilske to use about 1.3 acres of city right-of-way near Wide Hollow Road, was adopted 6-1 as Resolution R-2026-155; Glenn voted no. Glenn questioned whether the city had clear title to the old trolley right-of-way; a motion to table failed for lack of a second.

Public Hearings

• The Orchards preliminary plat: The council conducted a closed-record hearing on the Hearing Examiner's recommendation for a 135-lot subdivision at 2206 S. 96th Ave. and 9905 Occidental Rd. Staff said the project includes full urban services and the developer prepared a traffic memo rather than a full traffic impact analysis. Ben Annen of HLA Engineering said the development would add about 80 peak-hour trips; existing PM peak trips are 75 westbound on Coolidge and 187 westbound on Occidental, and even with the development the totals would remain below the 800 vehicles-per-hour-per-lane Level of Service D threshold. Neighbors Debra Fauth, Ivette Aguilera, and Tony Courcy asked for a comprehensive traffic study before construction, citing access, congestion, and safety concerns. Councilmember Berg disclosed an ex-parte meeting with neighbors. The council adopted Resolution R-2026-158 by a 4-3 roll call, affirming the Hearing Examiner's approval; Brown, Berg, and Roy voted no.
• Secure Community Transition Facilities ordinance: Planning Manager Trevor Martin presented the ordinance developed during a six-month moratorium. The Planning Commission held a study session and public hearing, recommending definitions and siting standards including a 2,000-foot distance from schools, libraries, parks, sports fields, playgrounds, and churches. The city attorney noted that this was the last day of the moratorium; tabling the ordinance would leave no specific regulations. No public testimony was offered. The council adopted Ordinance 2026-031 by a 6-1 roll call; Glenn voted no. Staff said halfway-house definitions would be addressed separately after the Comprehensive Plan update.

Department Item and Other Business

• Police Chief Boyle recognized Police Services Specialist Debra Stadler for securing a grant related to consent item 7K. The council then adopted Resolution R-2026-156 on a 7-0 vote, accepting Comprehensive Healthcare funding for an Officer Wellness and Resiliency Program. The program funds about $75,000 per year for confidential two-hour wellness debriefs for YPD employees.
• City Manager Vicki Baker reported on water and sewer infrastructure tours and said she would present a balanced budget at the next meeting, with a Harman Center update the following week.
• Councilmember Gonzalez asked to organize a public forum or town hall about ICE enforcement and the city's legal limits; she agreed to meet with the city manager and staff and report back. The council also requested a future review of council rules, procedures, and code of conduct.

Key Outcomes

• The council adopted 7-0 resolutions for lodging tax allocations, CDBG funds, officer wellness, and the consent agenda.
• The Orchards preliminary plat was approved 4-3.
• The secure community transition facilities ordinance was adopted 6-1.
• The permanent removal of county Flock live cameras failed 2-5, and the AVAS ordinances were tabled until May 2027 after the state legislative session.
• Next regular meeting: October 13, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers.