[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6320257,"mediaKeyId","2357554-2e57cf1524257b4e8f67136063a9aa1d","parentId",2357554,"title","Park commissioner urges council not to rely solely on 2% tax for pool operations, asks for professional management","audioSeconds",173,"startMs",167000,"endMs",340000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2357554-2e57cf1524257b4e8f67136063a9aa1d&start=167&end=340","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2357554-2e57cf1524257b4e8f67136063a9aa1d/thumbnail_167000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6320257/Sunnyside-City/Yakima-County/Washington/Park-commissioner-urges-council-not-to-rely-solely-on-2-tax-for-pool-operations-asks-for-professional-management","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6320257-8423fb020bd3c574430aa6d3a63a0cb7/orig.mp4?Expires=1776686982&Signature=nzgAAabs5xQ9u1EqGOp7i~Zq8rsJXdPy2b389WZBHyhMJZf0PdFJWO4JyDMO5K8a7x6Yu0hEYiYAnW3WikpS02EId8Udyim1K2sw94Rwa8z8HxptGn8TuZOAOrHBNkdiCLxM~k24tZ1tp6tur880PjylTQSDaTxgI9QwNu1yoke4pmBqfe4bE9jvjqz8ZHIFz~FZve4uzvT6lBrlJa5DVSCZ2X8eNIzEiY68a1cb0KivJJ0zdOwb1AGIyO8AtaiPRi-JKLCtWOqKoJdmv00frLppfUxRKwYG1p46L9S~02rdUEorw5h6gnkFywwXfalud7ekX9qJGsrrOTvK2~87OQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Sunnyside Washington","date","2025-02-19T14:31:50Z","article","During the public comment period at the Feb. 18 Sunnyside City Council study session, a resident and Park and Recreation Commission member urged the council to ensure professional management for the municipal pool rather than relying only on a recent 2% tax increase.

\"We all want this to be successful. Correct?\" Kennard said, identifying themself as a member of the Park and Recreation Commission and noting personal circumstances as a senior. Kennard said the commission discussed the pool at a recent meeting and that the council had \"discussed and passed the proposal for a 2% tax.\" Kennard said they were concerned that Raul Sanchez would be assigned responsibility for operation: \"I'm just really concerned because Raul Sanchez already has a big plate.\"

Kennard urged separating pool operations from general Parks and Recreation oversight and asked the council not to assume the tax alone will ensure long-term financial and operational success. They recommended the city secure expertise on hours, lifeguard staffing and training to keep the pool sustainable year to year. Kennard said they will continue to support the commission and its work.

The council moved on to its agenda after public comment; no action on the pool operations was taken at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","02/18/2025 - Sunnyside City Council Study Session","oneSentenceSummary","A Sunnyside resident and Park and Recreation Commission member warned the council against assuming a recent 2% tax will fully solve pool-operating needs and urged the city to assign experienced management rather than add duties to an already busy staff member.","taxTitle","Sunnyside City, Yakima County, Washington","taxId",71678,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6320262,"City manager outlines grant progress for wells and Munson site; explains loan/grant mechanics",0,808000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2357554-2e57cf1524257b4e8f67136063a9aa1d&start=808&end=808","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2357554-2e57cf1524257b4e8f67136063a9aa1d/thumbnail_808000.jpg","/articles/6320262/Sunnyside-City/Yakima-County/Washington/City-manager-outlines-grant-progress-for-wells-and-Munson-site-explains-loangrant-mechanics","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6320262-ac14928ed89da90e3066889dfded1a32/orig.mp4?Expires=1776686982&Signature=G5vw-bATSAK7osw1sJ~rIefcscl-GPq1UZ8NSOqQ5T3pN1SA5pNTmad3IZx-ZOgoz2hqC25XeDn1n9NKuBzTz-DA44KzGf2WA3mO3Hq1GPP6PAl98uDg5TNaAF9Wzl-FqbSlWjdX0TgYjrAe6tYgcmWVvyUB-hck3Kg6CaA2iOnuHnP7N7Re~VsEe4kX~wYjswymREw55EZvPjRoeQT-IBSOim-CgPO9VuDWizW6YOlwrrxfewyhTUQJzT5ij1V9uoU9Vei2-8g6TCJgKmDxMv6seDyzOdcMlzgkP~4mgB~u52LOxawD5fDnqYI2ZdjwLtPE3-0It58BwTTPVbsKUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Feb. 18 Sunnyside City Council study session, the city manager reported recent lobbying and grant activity in Olympia and outlined progress on multiple infrastructure priorities.

The city manager said the council and staff recently met with state lawmakers and consultants to pursue capital funding for municipal needs, including rehabilitation of Well 6 and Well 7. He said the city has a $1.6 million award/loan scenario through a state program and expects documentation in the coming months. \"We are still probably a couple months out before we actually get the funding,\" the city manager said.

Raul Sanchez explained the grant/loan mechanics: \"Yes. So this loan is through the DWSRF, which is the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. ... It's all on a reimbursement basis.\" Sanchez said the application specifies the expenditures and that the agency rates projects; invoices must be submitted and approved before reimbursement, and the award will indicate the portion granted versus loaned.

Staff told the council that initial engineering for Well 7 reduced an early $880,000 estimate to roughly $120,000 for the work they have identified so far, though other well work remains under study. Funding for other projects is still being pursued; staff listed Tina Knopf Park soccer-field improvements, gazebo enhancements and seed money for a Boys & Girls Club as additional grant targets.

Officials also described ongoing work with the Yakima County Development Association (YCDA) on a seed (SIED) infrastructure grant that staff said could provide up to $2 million for the Munson property to make the site more marketable for developers. Staff described multiple consulting relationships—Colton Consulting, Casa Arteaga and outside grant writers such as RGI—and said those partnerships have helped the city refine cost estimates and pursue different funding buckets.

Councilors asked for clarification about whether grant funds could be repurposed; staff explained that most awards are project-specific, include match or loan components and are reimbursed after invoiced expenses are approved. Staff noted the loan portions are typically low-interest (staff cited examples around 1%) and that capital funding could be used to pay or offset loan components.","City officials updated the council on pursuit of grants and loans for Well 6 and Well 7 rehabilitation, a $1.6 million Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) award/loan application, and development funding options for the Munson property with Yakima County Development Association support.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6320266,"Council approves award for wastewater digester boiler replacement",433,380000,813000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2357554-2e57cf1524257b4e8f67136063a9aa1d&start=380&end=813","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2357554-2e57cf1524257b4e8f67136063a9aa1d/thumbnail_380000.jpg","/articles/6320266/Sunnyside-City/Yakima-County/Washington/Council-approves-award-for-wastewater-digester-boiler-replacement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6320266-bc1ac1eae6778afd93a1c760c432cfe1/orig.mp4?Expires=1776686982&Signature=On7RObHk2trA2Y4hV6mbDyiwfvcoDXcl1kDGZ0NXkwoJ~hZ19Ah7R~xD0gnDyJ3J-D0PURHHDV-vOWm3do3LkeSsb5MhfOH17nkPDx6DBoQbbXIXVLprk3oPqtS8XjK~HY8KZCJ2Glb7G9L4dN~cjOz1cYxMKLn5Sbie6G2sdoI32B10pZ6QPacIVLVuCLul2tHbZZNe~qY5gwyIEpUQUeI0WTW4eSkFN1zk4NcgWnxu6E3WOfhTI8k68P7HJWic~It9hh-NXLMbpCF-5Tis1EYG7~SjN0U-z8Pr7jhJ-JNA3leKPxn4EmsIOkwhOe32d1EdOGL8VrIDv7zTUAzaTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On Feb. 18, the Sunnyside City Council voted to award a construction contract to replace a failing digester boiler at the city wastewater treatment plant.

The council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to accept the bid results and execute documents awarding Schedule 1 of the digester heating system upgrade to SCI Industry Services, LLC for $332,174. The motion was made by Councilor Whitley and seconded by Councilor Foster; the council voted in favor and the motion passed.

City staff told the council the existing boiler has been in service since the mid-1990s, has required repeated repairs over the last three years and has been leaking. Raul Sanchez, city staff, said the new boiler has already been ordered and the contract covers removing the old unit and installing the replacement. \"The digester is a piece of equipment out there that needs to constantly keep the sludge at a certain temperature for the microorganisms to work properly,\" Sanchez said, describing the boiler’s role in maintaining treatment conditions that allow sludge to be converted to biosolids.

Council members asked whether the work had been budgeted and how the project would be funded. Staff said the design work and equipment purchase were started in 2024 and that construction will be paid from the sewer fund. The city reported four bids were received; the $332,174 award was the lowest.

Staff did not give a completion date at the meeting. Council members were told the old boiler will remain in operation until the new unit is installed and the contractor performs a short switch-over intended to avoid significant disruption to treatment operations.

The council approved the resolution on the motion from Councilor Whitley and second from Councilor Foster.","Sunnyside City Council voted to award a $332,174 contract to replace a failing digester boiler at the wastewater treatment plant; project will be paid from the sewer fund and the new boiler has already been ordered.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Park commissioner urges council not to rely solely on 2% tax for pool operations, asks for professional management

City manager outlines grant progress for wells and Munson site; explains loan/grant mechanics

Council approves award for wastewater digester boiler replacement