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Votes at a glance: Yakima City Council actions on appointments, proclamations, consent agenda and next steps
Summary
At its March 4 meeting the Yakima City Council approved a set of routine and policy items, including nominating-committee appointments, a multi-item consent agenda, amendments to the proclamation policy, and motions directing staff on animal licensing and backyard chickens.
The Yakima City Council on March 4 recorded several formal actions: it accepted nominations to city advisory bodies, adopted a multi-item consent agenda, directed staff to analyze animal-licensing fees, asked for a code review on backyard chickens, and approved a revision to the city’s proclamation policy. Below are the actions, outcomes and key details.
Nominating committee appointments: The council unanimously adopted the nominating committee’s recommendations. Councilmember Decio moved to adopt the nominating-committee recommendations and Deputy Mayor Matt Brown seconded; the roll call was unanimous. The committee recommended (1) Emica Udenze to the Henry Beauchamp Community Center advisory board and (2) Audrey Rutherford and Erica Keller to the Hotel and Motel Commission (Tourism Promotion Area). The appointments became formal on adoption.
Consent agenda: The council adopted the consent agenda by motion (Deputy Mayor Matt Brown moved; Councilmember Decio seconded). The roll-call vote was 7–0. Items approved on the consent agenda included approval of minutes from the Feb. 18, 2025 regular meeting; acceptance of procurement for snow-removal equipment (AIP number stated on the agenda); resolutions authorizing write-offs of certain uncollectible central accounts receivable and utility receivables; a resolution to write off certain uncollectible parking citations and penalties; a contract authorization with KDA Architecture, Inc. for architectural design and space planning; a sole-source purchase authorization with Howden USA for wastewater aeration blower parts and repair; a mutual-aid agreement with the Department of the Army for emergency aid response services; and an ordinance amending municipal code chapter 9.25 (cruising control). The agenda text contained specific item descriptions as read into the record.
Proclamation policy amendment: By a 7–0 vote, the council directed staff to update the City of Yakima proclamation issuance policy to require council procedural steps (motions and votes) before staff drafts and schedules proclamations on the council agenda. A motion to amend the policy was made and seconded on the floor; council members voted unanimously to adopt the change and directed staff to return the revised policy language at the next meeting.
Directives to staff (study requests): Council directed staff to bring a cost–benefit analysis of animal-licensing fees and animal-control contributions to a future study session (motion by Councilmember Vergheen; second by Deputy Mayor Matt Brown). The council also directed staff to review the municipal code and return recommendations on increasing the number of permitted backyard chickens (motion introduced by Mayor Byers; second by Councilmember Decio). Both motions passed without recorded opposition.
Meeting close and next steps: The council moved to adjourn and reconvene at the next study session on March 11 at 5 p.m. (motion by Deputy Mayor Matt Brown; second by Councilmember Decio).
