Yakima council adopts amended six‑year transportation plan, approves two plats and denies north 60‑8th vacation

Yakima City Council on Feb. 4 adopted multiple transportation and land‑use measures, approved its consent agenda and passed an ordinance creating a dedicated aquatics facilities fund.

At a public hearing the council adopted two resolutions to amend the city’s six‑year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for 2025–2030, adding a $228,000 pedestrian/safety project at East Nob Hill Boulevard and South 18th Street. Deputy Mayor Brown moved to adopt the resolutions; Councilmember Decio seconded. The roll call vote was 7–0 in favor.

The council also held two closed, quasi‑judicial public hearings on preliminary plats. The council affirmed the hearing examiner’s recommendation and approved the preliminary long plat for Aspen Estates Phase 3, a 15‑lot subdivision at 5903 Walla Walla Street. Deputy Mayor Brown moved to affirm the examiner’s decision; Councilmember Decio seconded. The vote was 7–0.

Separately, the council approved Occidental Place, a preliminary long plat creating 12 common‑wall lots at 9206 Occidental Road, adopting the examiner’s recommendation with one modification (removal of condition B). The motion was moved by Deputy Mayor Brown and seconded by Councilmember Decio; the vote was 7–0.

On a contested right‑of‑way vacation petition to vacate a portion of North 60 Eighth Avenue between Inglewood Avenue and Scenic Drive, the council voted to deny the petition. After public testimony both for and against the vacation, Councilmember Glenn moved to adopt the hearing examiner’s recommendation to deny; Councilmember Berg seconded. The roll call vote was 5–2 (yes: Glenn, Herrera, Roy, Berg, Byers; no: Decio, Brown). The hearing record and staff analysis cited concerns that vacating the right of way would create nonconforming lots, remove public access, and reduce the city’s developable‑land inventory used under the Growth Management Act.

The council approved its consent agenda (including contract and grant items) by a 7–0 vote. The clerk read a set of routine items that included authorizations for contracts, task orders with engineering firms, and acceptance of state transportation grants for intersection and roundabout projects. The council also passed an ordinance creating a special revenue fund for aquatics operations: the council voted 6–1 to adopt the ordinance establishing the Aquatics Facilities Fund and allocating a 5% stormwater utility allocation to that fund; Deputy Mayor Brown moved the ordinance and it passed on roll call (Brown, Byers, Decio, Glenn, Herrera, Roy voted yes; Councilmember Berg voted no).

Votes at a glance - Amended 6‑year TIP (Resolutions a & b): Motion to adopt by Deputy Mayor Brown; second by Councilmember Decio. Outcome: adopted, 7–0. Justification: adds pedestrian and striping safety work at East Nob Hill and S. 18th (grant award $228,000). - Aspen Estates Phase 3 (preliminary plat, 5903 Walla Walla St., 15 lots): Motion to affirm hearing examiner and adopt resolution by Deputy Mayor Brown; second Councilmember Decio. Outcome: approved, 7–0. - Occidental Place (preliminary plat, 9206 Occidental Rd., 12 common‑wall lots): Motion to affirm hearing examiner with modification (eliminate condition B) by Deputy Mayor Brown; second Councilmember Decio. Outcome: approved with modification, 7–0. - Right‑of‑way petition to vacate portion of N. 60 Eighth Ave. (between Inglewood and Scenic): Motion to adopt hearing examiner recommendation to deny by Councilmember Glenn; second Councilmember Berg. Outcome: denied, 5–2 (yes: Glenn, Herrera, Roy, Berg, Byers; no: Decio, Brown). Staff cited effects on access, emergency response, and the city’s vacant‑land inventory under the Growth Management Act. - Consent agenda (contracts, grants, task orders, set hearings): Motion to approve by Deputy Mayor Brown; second Councilmember Decio. Outcome: approved, 7–0. - Ordinance establishing Aquatics Facilities Fund (special revenue fund; allocates 5% stormwater utility allocation): Motion to pass ordinance by Deputy Mayor Brown; second Councilmember Decio. Outcome: passed, 6–1 (Berg opposed). The council and staff said the new fund will receive an estimated $220,000 annually from the utility allocation and will be used to support city pool operations alongside previously designated ARPA funds for the new MLK Aquatic Center.

What the council directed next - Planning and staff follow‑up: The council directed staff to return items related to home occupation code changes to the Planning Commission for review (motion moved and approved 7–0).

Why it matters The TIP amendment brings state grant money into an active pedestrian safety project in a busy corridor. The plats approvals move two subdivisions forward in Yakima’s development process. Denial of the vacation petition preserves public right of way and maintains access that staff said is important for future subdivision potential and emergency access. The newly created aquatics fund sets aside dedicated revenues for pool operations and repairs; councilmembers said this will create a predictable funding stream for maintenance and operations of city pools.

Key speakers (excerpt) - Deputy Mayor Brown (council) — mover on multiple motions. - Councilmember Decio (council) — second on several motions. - Councilmember Glenn (council) — mover on right‑of‑way denial. - Bill Preston (Community Development director / acting city engineer) — presented the TIP amendment and project funding. - Eric (Senior Planner) — presented hearing examiner items and staff recommendations. - Joseph Calhoun (HLA Engineering & Land Surveying) — representative for plat applicants. - Trevor Martin (Planning Division) — presented right‑of‑way analysis and staff concerns. - Jeff Peters (PLSA Engineering & Surveying) and Ted Palmatera (petitioner) — spoke during the N. 60 Eighth Ave. public hearing.

Authorities and documents on record (selected) - Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan; Transportation Systems Plan 2040 (referenced in TIP and TIP amendment). - Hearing examiner written recommendations and open‑record hearings for Aspen Estates Phase 3 and Occidental Place (application files). - Growth Management Act vacant‑land inventory guidance (referenced by staff in the N. 60 Eighth Ave. discussion).