[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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",6094911,"mediaKeyId","2841609-9c6457e64259ac4d3136e15474ce61e8","parentId",2841609,"title","Yakima County commissioners approve consent agenda with multiple solar agreements, housing and development items","audioSeconds",161,"startMs",494000,"endMs",655000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2841609-9c6457e64259ac4d3136e15474ce61e8&start=494&end=655","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2841609-9c6457e64259ac4d3136e15474ce61e8/thumbnail_494000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6094911/Yakima-County/Washington/Yakima-County-commissioners-approve-consent-agenda-with-multiple-solar-agreements-housing-and-development-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6094911-5e7d7998932e2f8f6c4a3bde47d44451/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450698&Signature=fNB4Zl2U0BzXnsSKZdq7glyo7KTjNEK9WIDP0LIeCAeQWa7FefWb623AD9cQbBZlpl1Y13QfFNSL1Bb87KQl49ZRhRL-BGvLmpa0A1azlG2ZT-Z-2cOWYWMjIQLEvrCsrvj~hH4ybwJi3aTn3Bv43uzav1FiOqUdKCObFlRxvcIzoMUBmQfdgcsJ9t0ZwKD56kVq7vKUU-KuS5-Z5eReVQbMwoo~UhIBUFbE19Zwf-kBBc-4g9Pn~IT94rIw6QYii4mslLkv9HH5~S4vopI5KKxxoFjykK96ZesiEMh~9phKVmknhvaY5lpC6ptyO-reMSJK89biBoe5O-IkGyU~nA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Yakima County, WA","date","2025-03-18T00:00:00Z","article","The Yakima County Board of Commissioners approved its consent agenda at the March 18, 2025 weekly agenda meeting, adopting several facility contracts, housing and development agreements, and a resolution to form a work group on stock-restricted areas.

Clerk Julie Lawrence read the consent agenda into the record, listing multiple agreements with Ellensburg Solar LLC to install solar projects at county facilities, identified by agreement numbers 86-20-25 through 91-20-25. Those facilities included the Yakima County Courthouse Complex, Corrections Center, Juvenile Justice Center, Resource Center, Sheriff’s Office and the Road Maintenance Shop and construction buildings.

The board approved a seed agreement with Central Washington University for development of a community economic development strategy in collaboration with Kittitas County and the Yakima-Kittitas economic development district (agreement 95-20-25, financial services). The board also approved Human Services Resolution 63-20-25 awarding the bid for a home rehabilitation program project HM20-014 to Ralph and Sons, and two agreements assigning deeds of trust to Habitat for Humanity for specified parcel numbers (Agreement 92-20-25 and Agreement 93-20-25).

Other items read into the record included a Prosecutor’s office agreement (Agreement 95-20-25) described as an agreement with \"Ron's Coin and Book or Jo Mann\" for use of 10 parking spaces and Public Services Resolution 65-20-25 establishing a stock restricted areas work group to evaluate Yakima County stock restricted areas and provide recommendations to the board.

A motion to approve the consent agenda was moved and seconded, and the board adopted the consent agenda by voice vote. A commissioner noted a personal objection to the rooftop solar panels, saying they were not in favor of panels that could become a future taxpayer remediation responsibility; that objection did not prevent approval of the consent agenda.

Votes at a glance (consent agenda items noted as read into the record):
- Agreement 86-20-25: Ellensburg Solar LLC — solar project at Yakima County Courthouse Complex — approved (consent agenda).
- Agreement 87-20-25: Ellensburg Solar LLC — Yakima County Corrections Center — approved (consent agenda).
- Agreement 88-20-25: Ellensburg Solar LLC — Yakima County Juvenile Justice Center — approved (consent agenda).
- Agreement 89-20-25: Ellensburg Solar LLC — Yakima County Resource Center — approved (consent agenda).
- Agreement 90-20-25: Ellensburg Solar LLC — Yakima County Sheriff's Office — approved (consent agenda).
- Agreement 91-20-25: Ellensburg Solar LLC — Yakima County Road Maintenance Shop and construction buildings — approved (consent agenda).
- Financial Services Agreement (seed) — Central Washington University — community economic development strategy with Kittitas County — approved (consent agenda).
- Resolution 63-20-25 — Human Services: award of home rehabilitation program HM20-014 to Ralph and Sons — approved (consent agenda).
- Agreement 92-20-25 — assignment of deed of trust to Habitat for Humanity (parcel 181336-41538) — approved (consent agenda).
- Agreement 93-20-25 — assignment of deed of trust to Habitat for Humanity (parcel 19111512455) — approved (consent agenda).
- Agreement 95-20-25 — Prosecutor: agreement with Ron's Coin and Book or Jo Mann for 10 parking spaces — approved (consent agenda).
- Resolution 65-20-25 — Public Services: establish stock restricted areas work group — approved (consent agenda).

The items were read into the record and adopted as part of the consent agenda. The meeting record shows the items were reviewed by the board in a prior work session and that full agenda materials are posted on the Yakima County website.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Yakima County Commission 03-18-25","oneSentenceSummary","The Yakima County Board of Commissioners approved its consent agenda at the March 18, 2025 meeting, including multiple solar contracts, housing rehabilitation awards and resolutions to form advisory work groups.","taxTitle","Yakima County, Washington","taxId",12680,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6094906,"Residents press Yakima County on out-of-county waste; others deliver 'assembly' notice in public comment",252,105000,357000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2841609-9c6457e64259ac4d3136e15474ce61e8&start=105&end=357","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2841609-9c6457e64259ac4d3136e15474ce61e8/thumbnail_105000.jpg","/articles/6094906/Yakima-County/Washington/Residents-press-Yakima-County-on-out-of-county-waste-others-deliver-assembly-notice-in-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6094906-e7dfa5c107a7fa0fa4fdd764946341b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450698&Signature=nGOakiBFaEHMKoN7910omknVC5B5EWLb2LUq3iKRkEqHOw~OuoEdzcp36R3eP9QVU5mYdMtWjX~hrjSlC-UIGeO51V5LhZHqGZhfbFCp1fQwo-bkmjHvbORaHwetuPFX9phi1EbljX9c9xbZ9g4B5viTbIvlAXAIaMenOS2qF2pHqGA8AQatGl4oqswsDAY7rN5f28pw5h64vq6YvQxxUsKu-RqUevB0O-JV1ReFeBVZzNL5ENMseBsso3KIm5SYznUfNc3yn4tsnN707IpjhLxL4-9dJDEXmjyvmVK9L1MtCCZBrivKXQaWNu7GWPWjKpZ7egb62JntnI2Lkod2QQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several members of the public addressed the Yakima County Board of Commissioners during the March 18, 2025 public comment period, urging the county to act on out-of-county waste and delivering a separate notice about a self-declared local assembly.

Pam Wickersham, who identified herself as a Yakima County resident, urged the board to adopt a \"no out of county waste\" ordinance. Wickersham said she was \"speaking for the second time in support of a no out of county waste ordinance\" and told commissioners that Department of Ecology (DOE) officials had suggested the ordinance as an option.

Wickersham told the board she reviewed an annual report for the county's limited purpose landfill (a DOE-regulated document labeled 2022 in her remarks) and said the landfill's total intake was 462,557 cubic yards, of which she said 410,900 cubic yards came from Canada. \"Remember my premise is Canadian waste is a problem, a large problem,\" Wickersham said. She also said the original permit allowed 50,000 cubic yards and that she had a photograph showing truck staging patterns.

Two other speakers, Donna Nurse and Diana Eissinger, used their time to deliver a notice they described as a \"notice of covenant of resettlement and reclamation\" on behalf of a group calling itself the Yakima County Assembly. Their remarks recited a lengthy preamble and asserted a reclaimed \"republican form of government,\" citing foundational U.S. documents and portions of the Washington State Constitution; they concluded by stating they had \"completed our process of claim and settlement according to our founding documents.\"

The board did not take action on the public comments during the meeting. The public comment period was closed before the board moved on to the consent agenda and regular business.","During public comment at the March 18, 2025 Yakima County Board of Commissioners meeting, a resident urged adoption of a ban on out-of-county waste and two others delivered a notice from a self-described Yakima County Assembly.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6094915,"Yakima County adopts moratorium on large battery energy storage systems in unincorporated areas",193,688000,881000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2841609-9c6457e64259ac4d3136e15474ce61e8&start=688&end=881","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2841609-9c6457e64259ac4d3136e15474ce61e8/thumbnail_688000.jpg","/articles/6094915/Yakima-County/Washington/Yakima-County-adopts-moratorium-on-large-battery-energy-storage-systems-in-unincorporated-areas","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6094915-43b330496719fe67968d559473da9c48/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450698&Signature=CpkJP3tZIT~em9gUPqZ9JiSB~WLnl2frJfoCeCy26DscxzkJZkL3D~J02Z6R7ha5FfV3BwGX4a4VlWbsCaOCUDcnFpYDLavxFaMn3DO1Pv2IeygJC7x0ewO3SwBxxslQo0G16opBkEbtd~EbVzjMVfDUPp0gKgGw8vDHzkxEhJOnDpmggOFzYN5kkh2eO6Pi4udsbWhT0fTTvdwSRMOK1sJSX7lJglrTqymr7-rVrOtIuiLYz5AfZDXfwHQVLeJFpwwmnaJ1eWs48Pjzj4uEymVzCX6bCA~Upww1mugijnuEz6FCPbPAA4X0PxKKPzVuhMC3w3Mqrh2APnFEQvAorQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Yakima County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt Resolution 64-20-25 on March 18, 2025, declaring a moratorium on zoning and building permits for battery energy storage systems within the county's unincorporated areas.

The resolution places a temporary halt on permitting for large-scale battery storage while county staff and the planning commission develop zoning designations and ordinance changes. Commissioners said the pause is intended to give planners time to designate appropriate locations and consider impacts to agricultural land and other local concerns.

Tommy, a county planning staff member, told commissioners the moratorium targets large-scale, standalone storage facilities rather than accessory batteries. \"This is for large scale industrial storage. So it would be, you know, potentially, you know, anything exceeding 1 acre, which would not be an accessory to the original use, for the zoning allowed for that parcel,\" Tommy said.

Tommy also reported the county had received one standalone battery energy storage application in 2023 near White Swan that has not progressed through permitting. He said most proposals to date have been paired with solar projects, and the standalone proposal remained under review as the Yakima nation and others raised concerns about fire risk, cultural resources, wildlife habitat and groundwater use. \"We've received 1 that was submitted back in 2023 prior to the moratorium,\" Tommy said. \"It's a standalone battery energy storage system, near White Swan on the Yakima Reservation. Okay, most of most of the ones that have come through or that have been proposed are associated directly with solar facilities. This was the only standalone 1 that the county has. And it has not progressed in the permit process.\"

Commissioners discussed whether the moratorium would be short-term or similar to the county's previous solar moratorium while ordinance updates were prepared. One commissioner described the planning commission's work on site designations as similar to the county's work on agrivoltaics and solar siting, saying that permitted storage would need to avoid removing agricultural land from production.

A motion to approve Resolution 64-20-25 was moved and seconded; the board adopted the resolution by voice vote.

The moratorium does not itself ban battery systems permanently; it temporarily halts permitting while staff and the planning commission draft and recommend ordinance changes and siting designations. Future permitting will depend on the outcome of that process and any ordinance amendments the board adopts.","The Yakima County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt Resolution 64-20-25, imposing a zoning and building permit moratorium on large battery energy storage systems in unincorporated county areas while staff and the planning commission study appropriate siting and ordinance updates.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Yakima County commissioners approve consent agenda with multiple solar agreements, housing and development items

Residents press Yakima County on out-of-county waste; others deliver 'assembly' notice in public comment

Yakima County adopts moratorium on large battery energy storage systems in unincorporated areas