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Downtown Yakima BID leaders press for clearer complaint routes, election of new advisory board
Summary
The Downtown Yakima Business Improvement District (DYBID) told the City Council it is modernizing its membership list, preparing an advisory-board election and seeking clearer communication with city staff about contract scope and complaints tied to downtown maintenance and homeless encampments.
Ben Hittle, chair of the Downtown Yakima Business Improvement District, told the City Council on Feb. 2025 that the advisory board is updating its membership rolls, preparing to hold an election and asking city staff for clearer complaint-routing so the district can resolve recurring problems for downtown businesses.
The petitions and election paperwork aim to replace advisory-board members whose terms have expired: nominations are due March 7, an election will be completed by March 28, and a reorganized advisory board is scheduled to meet in April, Hittle said. He also described the DYBID funding model: “Businesses within the DYBID pay an annual hundred dollars fee on their business license,” and property assessments are charged on a multiplier; for example, a building with a county assessment of about $950,000 “you would pay roughly just under $900 DYBID fee,” Hittle said.
Why it matters: Council members raised concerns that contract expectations may not match delivered…
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