[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[4:58] Council meeting too.
[5:00] Order, clerk, roll call, please.
[5:04] Aye.
[5:04] Here.
[5:05] Brown.
[5:06] Here.
[5:07] Buyers.
[5:08] Plein.
[5:10] Here.
[5:11] Consolus.
[5:12] Present.
[5:12] Patricus.
[5:13] Here.
[5:14] Right.
[5:15] Here.
[5:17] All right.
[5:17] Stand with me for the play.
[5:23] Thank you, ladies.
[5:24] To the fire of the United States of America.
[5:27] And to the Republic for its stance.
[5:30] One nation.
[6:05] All right, and
[6:05] in championship and if you guys would come up right up here I just want to say I mean in
[6:12] council this is we have we had these we had these folks here last year and it was their
[6:18] second year in a row and now they're here again I mean in Yakima we seem to be having sports
[6:22] teams just keep one in state championships over and over again so one can we give them
[6:28] round of applause all
[6:33] right go for it I'm not a soccer player I know so I felt
[6:39] important that the community needed to recognize these high accomplishments
[6:44] I mean again who wins the championship three in a row so Mr. Vega he's been
[6:51] at it for years 20 more than 25 years that I know he's the president of the
[6:57] and before he was coaching the reds and then the sense, the sense also are coaches.
[7:07] And in fact, this just can come here because it's coaching the YDC ladies.
[7:14] First of all, thank you for the opportunity to be here.
[7:18] We are a semi pro soccer team and we've been participating in the last 12 years.
[7:24] The last three years has been successful and that's why a reason we were in black, red, and gray
[7:32] So this is for the lead. We won the lead. We won the cup and he's one of the players. He's been with us for the last
[7:40] 15 years
[7:41] Well, one of the things that I love and I like the most as seeing the kids
[7:47] Finish high school and then they go to college and when they come back they play in our program
[7:53] They go back and they say, wow, what did you do in the summer?
[7:58] Well, I play for Japan.
[8:00] And they improved.
[8:01] Now we have players playing in the one,
[8:04] D2, I lower the state and that's the reason we do it.
[8:08] We have a success and we have a lot of opportunity to play
[8:12] among everybody in the state.
[8:14] And fortunately we've been winning the last three years
[8:17] and that's so proud and thank you for letting us be here.
[8:21] And we're here to commit to do things for the city and for the young players that they want to be elite and want to move on and play in a higher level.
[8:31] Thank you for the opportunity.
[8:33] Thank you.
[8:33] Thank you.
[8:34] Come on up.
[8:35] We'll see.
[8:36] Thank you.
[8:37] Oh, around here.
[8:38] I think you guys can have that.
[8:39] Can I be able to sit through here?
[8:44] Thank you.
[8:45] Thank you.
[8:49] Thank you.
[8:50] Thank you.
[8:51] Thank you.
[8:53] Thank you.
[8:54] This is for you guys.
[8:56] City.
[8:57] View.
[8:59] View.
[9:00] Congratulations.
[9:02] See you next year.
[9:06] Thank you.
[9:10] All right.
[9:11] Well, thank you guys.
[9:13] Next is public comment.
[9:15] Tonight, we have a lot of 35 minutes for public comment.
[9:20] And everyone who is doing public comment has two and a half minutes to speak.
[9:26] If you'd like to do public comment, there are forms in the back that you can bring up here to the clerk.
[9:32] Electionary is prohibited at public comment.
[9:36] So no campaigning for against a ballot measure or for against a candidate during this time.
[9:45] And all right.
[9:47] And just so you guys know, we don't typically respond during public comment
[9:52] because it's just not our nature as for Council on the Business Meeting.
[9:57] So, next, first up, is that-
[10:16] Okay, folks, my name is Zach. I live in Yacht-Comac City, District 1. Over the weekend, here's some Fox News headlines I saw. Today, X&D and a deputy charged with felony for allegedly using plot cameras to stalk girlfriend yesterday. Jackson County deputy allegedly used plot cameras to search girlfriend's license plate, 2000 and 55 times. Fox 3 days ago, woman falsely accused of theft after police use Fox cameras.
[10:46] Fox four days ago, force of Anna officers arrested over
[10:50] Flock safety misuse.
[10:52] What does oversight look like?
[10:54] Okay, so, in Jackson County, the sheriff is charged
[10:56] with searching for his girlfriend's license plate.
[10:59] Over 2,000 times, he'd fraudulently list his searches
[11:02] as city planning and traffic analysis.
[11:05] He was caught thanks to a routine internal audit.
[11:08] Last Friday, Georgia announced the arrest of force of
[11:11] in the police department employees for accessing
[11:13] clock safety system for insidious purposes.
[11:16] Those offices were caught because VBI did a basic audit.
[11:21] So it's not like a hypothetical risk.
[11:23] It's exactly what happens when a system designed
[11:25] to track the movements of thousands of ordinary people
[11:28] is placed in the hands of institutions
[11:30] without meaningful independent oversight.
[11:33] Lock itself has now moved toward a seven-day default
[11:35] retention policy after widespread concerns about misuse.
[11:39] But if seven days is enough for the company's own recommended policy, why did we sign a contract that allows for a longer window of surveillance?
[11:47] And what are Yakimans' actual safeguards?
[11:49] During last week's town halls, Chief Boyle said himself that they're not looking actively into the possibility of misuse because he trusts the safeguards.
[11:57] have there been internal audits and how often has the department
[12:00] investigated searches that lack-delage it in the law enforcement
[12:03] purposes? Will those audit results be made public?
[12:07] Saying their guard rails is not enough.
[12:09] Savannah had procedures too and misuse was uncovered only because
[12:13] someone actually looked. We shouldn't wait for our own scandal before
[12:16] demanding proof that protections work.
[12:19] Flock is not inevitable. It's a policy choice.
[12:22] Mayor Brown, you had your own misgivings about our
[12:25] contract and voted no before switching your vote the very same session. You could keep making
[12:30] sketchy attack ads for spoken politicians and let someone else sit in your seat. Yakima
[12:35] could choose privacy, transparency, and the right of residents, including our children,
[12:40] to move through their community with opportunity being tracked. In the expansion of
[12:44] flat cameras, avoid the contracts, cancel every existing camera in policy, tell the county we don't
[12:50] want them. Establish truly independent audits to hold the misuse of the system to account
[12:55] and don't keep doing nothing until we end up in a news headline.
[12:58] All right, thank you, Zach.
[13:01] No clapping tonight.
[13:03] Thank you.
[13:04] Sue Finich,
[13:12] head up to the court.
[13:20] I'm here to talk to you tonight about the Mark Peterson case.
[13:26] And you're being handed a fact sheet that I put together.
[13:32] And many of you have probably already seen it.
[13:34] I'm going to start that fact for
[13:45] the city issued a press release through Randy Bealer that
[13:53] quote said the decision to appeal was not made by city council or city staff.
[14:00] This decision was made solely by CIAW, which is the insurance company.
[14:06] But then on August 4, Sarah Watkins, the head of City League goals in a memo to City
[14:13] Manager Vicki Baker, informing her that the response and declaration would be filed
[14:18] out afternoon in the Mark Petersen case, to summarize that Sarah and Vicki took it upon themselves
[14:29] to join with the insurance company and the appeal against Mark Petersen without the knowledge
[14:34] or consent of the Yacamocity Council.
[14:37] The Yacamoc, the city of Yacamoc's own charter
[14:42] does not authorize the city manager to do this.
[14:48] It's only the city council that may vote and direct this.
[14:54] They don't have that in your packet
[14:56] because I ran out of time, but I'm sure that.
[15:00] You can find that. And then on August 6th, I sent an email to all of you asking for clarification about the fact that this had been ignored. I got emails back from Juliette and from Patricia,
[15:24] and that
[15:27] was kind of the end of
[15:42] it.
[15:42] The city council members have taken no action against the city manager for overstepping
[15:52] her authority and
[15:57] joining with the insurance company to appeal the decision by a jury
[16:06] that Mark 1 and this needs to be taken seriously and I hope that all of you come and talk
[16:16] to me or talk to Mark and do the right thing.
[16:22] Thank you, Sue. Next is Tony Sandable.
[16:28] Before you come up, Tony, just for clarity.
[16:30] So, per our council rules and procedures we are, it was brought to my attention. We are not allowing
[16:34] clapping inside of the chambers, so that is just for the public to know.
[16:39] So, thank you.
[16:40] I was in good time.
[16:41] I know you were, but you just tell them about it.
[16:43] So, what do you got me?
[16:44] Are you ready?
[16:45] Go?
[16:47] So, I'm here to speak on, I want to talk about the two Nazi agents, the incident that happened
[16:55] at the Richesate Center, the released a person, and then the lobby, thoroughly investigated
[17:02] this situation.
[17:03] Let me start by saying I still support Chief Boyle, he is a good man, honest man.
[17:08] What YPD has corrected, corrections officers was placed in the question officer was placed
[17:16] in difficult situation, and August 26, Nazi agents have been known to intimidate who to
[17:23] get away.
[17:25] I am positive Chief Boyle has implemented save lives, so Nazi agents incident does not continue
[17:30] to which it says, just a center.
[17:33] Changing gears a little bit, frog cameras
[17:35] have raised concerns regarding massive and civil liberties.
[17:39] And I've heard every meeting here.
[17:43] Guardials have been put in place locally,
[17:46] so Nazi agents have the tools,
[17:51] and they don't need our frog cameras.
[17:55] Nazi agents are federal, so they have other tools.
[17:59] So in 1996, I had the opportunity to camping with President of the United States.
[18:09] I didn't provide fingerprints, data birthplace, but they knew a lot about me.
[18:17] They knew that I was awarded the State of Washington at 9th.
[18:21] I knew I was a foster care, the KC fan program, the new that I would grace because I went,
[18:27] junior high school, I went, and on and on. So if the system wants to find a Dekit Panya,
[18:34] this is 1996, and things have gone skyrocket as far as the technology that could happen.
[18:42] So, flocks is nothing. I support flocks, flocks have saved cut criminals.
[18:55] If the system, yeah, okay, I did that, so surveillance has been around long before
[19:00] 1990, I said like I said, and if you haven't done anything wrong, you shouldn't worry
[19:06] but who takes a picture, who surveillance you all of that?
[19:10] So let us work together to find a common ground and keep in our communities safe.
[19:15] That's what that's all about.
[19:17] People are going to be surprised, some of the stuff that happens in this community that
[19:23] officers can't say, but they take care of things.
[19:26] I support the police department.
[19:28] Are you telling me?
[19:30] Next is Joseph Copsick.
[19:39] Two weeks ago, I told you why people don't trust flat cameras and why I can't trust all police officers.
[19:45] The only argument left supporting Flock seems to be, we have to let people abuse the system
[19:49] because otherwise, how are we going to know who's abusing it?
[19:53] Since flight cameras take 1 billion correct in correct scans per month nationwide,
[19:58] continuing to use flight carries with it the...
[20:00] Potential for 30 million Americans to be falsely accused of stealing their own cars every single day. Even if there could somehow be no privacy concerns with regard to flock, it would still be necessary for someone to tear those cameras down, because they don't work. So whoever tore that camera down just saved the city money, and you can save even more money by letting us tear the rest of them down. At that meeting on August 18, State Representative Chris Corey said that progresses in the West Valley are trying to all that dismantle the criminal justice system.
[20:29] If we are dismantling the justice system, then we're doing it for the same reason that we are dismantling the flock cameras.
[20:35] They don't work. They're broken. Just like the proper channels the government told us about.
[20:40] And so because there are still people out there like state rep Cory who don't understand this yet, I'll walk you through it.
[20:45] Here's why people don't trust the justice system.
[20:48] Depending on how you measure it somewhere between 82 and 99 percent of all rapists never get arrested prosecuted or jail, they go free.
[20:55] 80,000 people get raped in US prisons each year.
[20:59] That's just what's reported that real numbers much higher.
[21:02] Don't you hate it when you build a nationwide network of rape rooms, and then some
[21:05] whiny progressives come in rude, because they don't even want to use it with their human rights
[21:09] and due process, it's just unpatriotic as what it is.
[21:13] Washington and 15 other states had just specifically make it illegal for police officers to
[21:17] have sex while on duty in order to stop them from letting suspects go and exchange for sexual
[21:22] favors.
[21:22] A person who is getting penetrated by a cop cannot reasonably conclude that they aren't in police custody and under arrest.
[21:29] It's impossible to have consensual sex with an on duty police officer.
[21:33] What does this mean?
[21:35] It's still legal for police officers to rape people in 34 states.
[21:42] Taxes are not the price we pay for living in the civilized society.
[21:45] The price we pay for living in the civilized society is legalized, raped by the police,
[21:50] affecting over 200 million people in this country.
[21:53] And you should pay attention to all the problems coming out of Georgia when it comes to policing,
[21:59] because that's where flux based.
[22:00] That's where Israeli cops are training cops in America.
[22:03] How to be racist.
[22:04] There's a lot of problems.
[22:05] Don't trust flux.
[22:06] And don't trust axon because it bought a company that Jeffrey Epstein started called Carbine.
[22:13] Thank you.
[22:15] Next is Troy Cunningham.
[22:27] Oh, my name is Troy Cunningham.
[22:30] I'm here to give a declaration on better conditions and safety, except that a challenge
[22:36] that might cave me several months ago.
[22:43] Excuse me, I'll get emotional or crackle a voice, I'm quite nervous.
[23:00] I made a public, a political stand for wage assignments, better conditions and safety.
[23:06] And many other things, I made a push for positive, political and social change within
[23:11] community, I suffered massive retaliation,
[23:17] I injured my whole life, but my
[23:22] sat with my sacrifice, my people made it to their finish line. Whenever my
[23:27] people asked me to advocate for them back home, it took me three days to come
[23:32] up with a conclusion on how I wanted to advance next. I thought about it. Deep and
[23:39] and hard, struggled with it for a second, back and forth, because I knew how long it was going
[23:47] to be challenging and pushing and trying to overcome obstacles to legally obtain the reckoning
[23:54] that my people deserve and wanted throughout all of this, this a couple of years into this
[24:01] challenge. I suffered so much retaliation from many that I came here to rehabilitate my life.
[24:11] and a value weight once again. Whenever I came here, my cousin didn't want me to go to the mission.
[24:17] She said, it was unsafe.
[24:23] She asked me to try camp-hoten. I agreed upon going to camp-hoten.
[24:29] I encountered a whole lot of tyrant bullying from the director of my K while I stayed there.
[24:37] I stayed to myself most of the time because I found the distance, no one can cause me pain.
[24:45] But throughout staying there, people become interested about me and wanted to hear my testimony.
[24:50] I would have felt it.
[24:52] Not to hide anything.
[24:55] But because I didn't want the attention that I had back home.
[25:00] I started engaging with them, and they were really awesome people. I connected with them on a level that I can't even put into words.
[25:08] Furthermore, I connected with one in particular. She was my best friend, my bright light.
[25:14] I'm sorry, your time is up.
[25:16] Okay, well, thank you for hearing me out.
[25:19] And all I'm doing is challenge a better conditions as safety whenever comes from Mike Kay and his camp because whenever I challenge him, I got retaliated against some massive level.
[25:32] And thank you.
[25:33] Thank you.
[25:35] Next is Brian Corsst.
[25:53] Good evening, everyone.
[25:54] Mayor.
[25:56] Not the mayor.
[25:58] No, I came tonight to talk about some verified sightings of ISAC activity inside our
[26:05] municipal warehouse, right?
[26:09] But I was able to talk to Chief Boyle and my questions were answered.
[26:14] So thank you.
[26:15] Have a good night.
[26:16] Up right.
[26:20] Next is Mark Peterson.
[26:22] First
[26:28] thing I'd like to thank Sue Finich for speaking, story is getting out, thanks to
[26:35] sky over there about what happened to me. Last time I spoke here, I think it was pretty
[26:40] memorable for some of you, and you're all still scared to talk to me because of Sarah
[26:44] Watkins. But Vicki Baker was very moved by what happened. In fact, she was so hurt by
[26:51] words and I believe you're supposed to come up here and have a chance to talk to the city.
[26:58] She filed a declaration and I had to go to court, I had to go to court, I had to bring
[27:02] all my attorneys. She wanted financial considerations because I spoke last time.
[27:09] Well the judge reminded her attorneys that there's a thing called the First Amendment
[27:13] and you can speak to your elected officials. So I was very heartened though, right after that,
[27:20] I believe it was on May 4th, May 5th, excuse me, it's a lot of dates here.
[27:27] It was on June 5th, this city council, as soon mentioned, came out with a declaration saying
[27:34] no one from the city, including council or staff were going to appeal this, which meant
[27:42] the case was over.
[27:44] I won the case, you guys weren't appealing, so any of you could have taught to me, but you
[27:49] too scared to talk to me. Still won't talk. You can look at your feet, but you still won't
[27:55] talk to me.
[27:58] But, Vicki Baker, our city manager, decided on August 4th, as Sue mentioned,
[28:07] I'm going to file another declaration. I'm Vicki Baker, I'm the city manager, and I'm appealing
[28:12] this case. So my question is, and I know you won't answer it, is, did you lie on purpose when you
[28:19] that press release out to the citizen saying we're not appealing this because it's now being
[28:25] appealed or did Rick a Vicki Baker go rogue because she did go rogue. It's article one section one
[28:32] in section four and if some of you don't follow the bylaws or care much about it but she broke them.
[28:40] Well the staff broke laws when they came after me. No staff members been held to account.
[28:45] You're taking advice from City Legal, the ones that prosecuted me, the ones that are guilty
[28:52] is hell, and you won't talk.
[28:56] And I'm here for one reason more than any other this last really bird made me laugh because
[29:03] he said he's a champion of small business.
[29:06] Well, I was from a group that I had for four years and the meeting bird was foolish enough
[29:10] to put down that I have no say in you going to court mark.
[29:14] Yes, you do, really, bird. And yes, you do counsel. You can stop this at any time.
[29:22] You're the client. Say, there's no appeal. Get your staff person.
[29:27] You're in moral staff person under control.
[29:30] All right. Thank you, Mr. Peterson.
[29:34] All right.
[29:35] All right. Thank you.
[29:38] All right. That's enough.
[29:39] Uh, the next is a Drenna Rangel.
[29:52] Name's Andrea Narengel, I'm Yakima County resident.
[29:55] Um, I was happy to see some of you at Wednesday's Town Hall, and I hope you got some good insight.
[30:00] What we saw from YPD were the usual flock PR talking points and success stories, but let's remember these devices are used to react to crime after they happened.
[30:10] After Tuesday's town hall, I asked Chief Boyle about the flock Raven gunshot detections, how many there were and which contract they were from. He said he didn't know. I asked him why they were still up and he asked me where they were located.
[30:24] He did get back to me at Wednesday's Town Hall and let me know there are 16 to 23
[30:28] Ravens from the initial contract from 2022.
[30:32] Again, why are they still up and what proof do we have that they are truly off?
[30:37] Questions about the Lifeheed cameras facing Franklin Park in District 3 and Chesterly Park
[30:42] in District 5 were brought up by YPD brush them off because those devices come from
[30:47] the county and not the city.
[30:49] Because their life-eat cameras and not ALPR's Senate Bill 60202, the law that restricts how ALPR data can be collected, used, retained, and shared, including restrictions to sensitive areas does not apply.
[31:03] These cameras and devices are in our city and recording our neighbors and friends.
[31:08] There are questions about YPD collaborating with ICE and officers misusing Flock and their responses were dismissive and obfuscating.
[31:15] Many questions were answered with I don't know.
[31:17] These so-called town halls did not leave a lot of opportunity for the public to ask questions.
[31:22] I spoke with several community members who could not be there in person and wanted to attend virtually or watch online, but we did not have that option.
[31:30] Some residents are misinformed and some don't even know this technology exists, how or what it looks like.
[31:35] I would urge the Yakima Police Department and the county to collaborate to arrange a
[31:41] flux-specific meeting where our community members can lead voice their concerns and ask
[31:46] questions, keeping public information accessible to all allows us to maintain a healthy
[31:51] democracy and hold governments accountable.
[31:54] Thank you.
[31:54] Thank you.
[31:56] Next is Amanda.
[32:11] Hi.
[32:11] I'm Amanda.
[32:13] I live in Ceila.
[32:15] It has always been clear to me and he's even more so after speaking with Councilman Glenn after the August 18th meeting that you all have written me and others like me off, but me specifically because I chose to call out Mayor Brown and Councilman Roy's lack of integrity in the July 16th meeting, or whatever other reasons you may have.
[32:41] Since y'all refuse to listen, I won't speak to you.
[32:45] Today, I would like to address my fellow citizens.
[32:49] I urge you to ask yourselves if you trust people who are willing
[32:52] and proud to lie to your face and vote to violate your rights
[32:57] as soon as you turn your back.
[32:59] Do you really trust that kind of person to keep you safe
[33:02] to make honest decisions in your best interest?
[33:06] I am asking you to acknowledge that these flawed cameras are not just watching those who
[33:11] you deem to be dangerous, violent criminals. They are watching you and your families, your
[33:18] children, your grandchildren, your friends, and your neighbors. They are watching you and if
[33:25] their AI system flags you or your family incorrectly, the police will come and treat you like
[33:30] criminal too. Even if you have done nothing wrong, I don't want any of us to experience that.
[33:38] I want us all to be free from constant surveillance, free from fear of being wrongfully stopped,
[33:45] profiled, arrested, or even killed. That is the bare minimum for us as Americans. To live free
[33:54] from overreaching government and the right to privacy. Don't believe them when they tell you it's
[34:00] to keep us safe because the reality is at best that they have no control over who uses this
[34:07] tech and how it is used and at worst are intentionally using this technology to find and track
[34:13] you. Your family, your neighbors, to make sure that we all comply in advance. There is no love
[34:22] by neighbor in a world of mass surveillance. Only fear your neighbor, your family, your friends.
[34:28] There is no innocent until proven guilty, and a world of mass surveillance, only guilty until proven innocent.
[34:40] Ask yourselves if that is the kind of world you want to live in and leave to your children.
[34:47] And if I have a moment, I do want to speak to Council.
[34:52] If you guys can't take a bit of mild criticism and actually value what we have to say,
[34:57] You shouldn't hold office.
[35:00] Thank you, Amanda.
[35:03] Next is Tony Corsi.
[35:15] Tony Corsi, where I live in my head, is where I'm at. There's a 2002 US federal law designed to protect investors from corporate account accounting fraud,
[35:30] and they go back a little bit further than that people.
[35:37] But let's go up to 2024 we
[35:44] got a mayor here now got a mayor from then and then there was a person that was in Yakima moved over to Trice City and came back
[35:54] Dave's a bell
[35:56] So you guys yeah
[35:59] We're informed what I told you about the power company
[36:04] Back then before all these fires now
[36:08] So back then you were alerted and you guys want to keep lying to me.
[36:16] Section two subsection two point two zero one one zero b of the city of Yakinov municipal cold is here by a minute to read as follows
[36:27] be general and public safety management
[36:31] Union except
[36:33] Supervisors and confidential classes
[36:35] I don't understand that. I have to register confidential. So that means you don't get
[36:42] to know
[36:47] a class
[36:51] called called class title ABCDE. Whatever. Now I told you guys my wife
[37:00] then only came to one to meetings. One here in Yakma and one in Sila. Both meetings
[37:09] turned in documents a paper on the issues that I was doing.
[37:16] Why does it City of Yakima lose that paper?
[37:20] Why does it City of Sita lose that document?
[37:23] Because I did a public request form.
[37:25] And new guys don't have it.
[37:27] But wait a minute.
[37:30] Why did you guys hire my wife?
[37:33] Her business is executive secretary.
[37:37] She's had that for years.
[37:39] and she's good at what she does and she was shocked that what I do.
[37:45] Yeah, because I got the accountant, I got the business name, I got the car, not, I got the second hand store and she was shocked.
[37:54] Yeah, I know, and you still haven't answered the question that was asked here or even outside.
[38:02] So your excuse is a what?
[38:03] We don't respond.
[38:05] There's nothing.
[38:06] Thank you, Mr. Corsi.
[38:07] All
[38:11] right, we are going to move on to, yes, Mr. Beehord is anyone online.
[38:18] No, may your brand do not.
[38:20] Okay.
[38:21] We'll move on to, it doesn't look like we have anything in council reports, unless anyone in council
[38:26] has a report.
[38:28] Nope.
[38:29] Okay.
[38:30] We'll move to consent agenda.
[38:32] Item's on the consent agenda.
[38:34] to be approved with one motion, and there's also can be struck off the consent agenda.
[38:42] Is there anything that Council would like to remove off the consent agenda?
[38:47] Nope.
[38:49] All right.
[38:50] Clerk, would you read the consent agenda?
[38:52] Item 7A is approval of minutes from the August 18, 2026 City Council regular meeting,
[38:57] and August 25, 2026 City Council special meeting.
[39:00] Adam B is set date of October 6, 2026 for a closed record public hearing to consider the hearing
[39:06] examines recommendation regarding the preliminary plaid of plaid of the orchards.
[39:11] Adam C is a set date of October 6, 2026 for a public hearing regarding secure community
[39:16] transition facilities.
[39:18] Adam D is a resolution awarding bid 1, 2, 6, 0, 6 to Ferguson waterworks for the purchase
[39:24] and delivery of fire hydrants.
[39:26] Adam E is a resolution authorizing a professional services agreement with Parametric's Inc to provide
[39:31] engineering services for Goodwin Tracks and a to a sewer list station improvements.
[39:36] I'm going to approve the consent agenda.
[39:39] I'm going to approve the consent agenda by Deputy Mayor Berg.
[39:42] Seconded by Councilwoman Buyers.
[39:46] There are resolutions on here. So clerk, would you do a roll call, please?
[39:49] Fert.
[39:51] Yes.
[39:51] Brown.
[39:52] Yes.
[39:53] Fires.
[39:54] Glenn.
[39:55] Yes.
[39:56] Gonzalez.
[39:57] Patricus.
[39:58] Yes.
[39:59] Roy.
[40:00] Yes. All right, consent to agenda is been approved. We do not have any public hearings tonight. So we will move to Department items 9A, which is our Yakima County team. Welcome. Commissioner Curtis and a whole slew of other people. Yes.
[40:19] Any more tears?
[40:21] Is it on?
[40:25] Is it on?
[40:25] Double tap it.
[40:27] Messing it up, guys.
[40:28] All right.
[40:29] Mayor Brown, Deputy Mayor Burr, council member, city staff.
[40:31] If it's okay with you'd like to make a quick introduction before we dive into
[40:35] tonight's program.
[40:36] All right.
[40:37] So after two months of an extensive search for our new human services director, I'm excited
[40:41] to announce tonight that Mr. Matthew McKay has been selected by the Board of
[40:45] Yakima County Commissioners.
[40:46] Our selection process was pretty aggressive.
[40:48] We went through two months. We had a review committee of five individuals. Thank you Mayor Brown for serving on that that review committee interview nine candidates all candidates had local ties or came for our community
[40:59] From that review committee. They recommended three individuals and the Board of County Commissioners ended up selecting Mr. McKay here
[41:06] So if it's okay, we're like to allow him to introduce himself to council. Absolutely.
[41:09] for better or worse. Good evening, City Council. My name is Matthew McKay. I was born and raised here
[41:14] in the Yakmo Valley. I went away for a little bit for service in the military. I served as an army officer
[41:19] and deployed to Iraq and I'm very honored and privileged to continue that service now to the public
[41:24] in human services here for the county. I just wanted to say that I'm really looking forward to learning
[41:29] from and relying on the experience and knowledge that our cities and our partner providers have
[41:34] in doing the work of human services throughout our valley.
[41:39] And as we continually evolve our plans and strategies
[41:42] to meet Yakima's needs and effectively and efficiently
[41:46] as possible serve our populace as good stewards
[41:51] of our precious and limited tax dollars.
[41:53] So really looking forward to learning from the cities
[41:55] and working hand in hand to make sure that all of our thoughts
[41:58] and needs are met by the Kelly.
[42:01] Thanks.
[42:01] Thank you, sir.
[42:02] that technically he starts tomorrow, but starting early, so thank you.
[42:07] Thank you.
[42:08] All right. Before we dive into the program, I'd like to just do some
[42:13] quick introductions, Council, so you know who's before you, Kyle Curtis, Yakima County Commissioner.
[42:18] Hi, I'm Dr. Jamie Simmons.
[42:20] Chief Medical Officer for trying treatment services.
[42:24] Yeah, and my name is...
[42:26] There's one right there.
[42:28] It's a red button, okay. There it is. Hi, my name is Duane Cida. I'm the CEO of
[42:35] Toronto and services.
[42:37] All right, Council, so you are recall that stakeholder group was formed through a group
[42:43] through a grant from the Yakima Valley Community Foundation conducted an evaluation on the feasibility
[42:48] of establishing a medically monitored withdrawal management facility. That feasibility study
[42:54] ended up providing key findings, showed the need and a proposed model.
[42:59] Last year in the fall of 2025, Yakima County put out a medical detoxification requests
[43:04] for proposal. That proposal through our Human Services Department was awarded to
[43:09] Trient Treatment Services. So tonight, with my partners here, we're going to cover what
[43:13] is medical detox and why the project is needed. I will close this up with talking about the
[43:19] project status, the funding picture, and an opportunity for the city of Yakima.
[43:23] everything that we talk about tonight has been provided you beforehand as a one-page document.
[43:28] So with that, I will turn it over to the Trient team, take a look at what is medical detox
[43:33] and why this project is needed.
[43:35] I'll go ahead and begin and just talk a little bit about why the project is needed.
[43:41] Commissioner Curtis mentioned a feasibility study.
[43:43] That feasibility study was very clear in the need for these services here in Yakima County.
[43:50] The closest medical detox facility is 100 miles away.
[43:56] When you talk with individuals doing the work, within that journey of 100 miles, you're
[44:02] going to lose them.
[44:03] There's a good possibility you're going to lose them.
[44:05] You want to get people into treatment when they are ready, having a local facility that provides
[44:11] medication-assisted detoxification is key to the beginning stages of recovery and the recovery
[44:19] journey.
[44:19] So, when you listen to the people out there,
[44:24] administering Narcan, our first responders, our emergency department,
[44:29] busiest in the state, this is a needed service.
[44:32] It's very clear, and it's a barrier to getting people
[44:37] into treatment not having the service here locally.
[44:40] I'm going to have Dr. Simmons talk a little bit about
[44:43] what the detox facility is and how it ties with
[44:47] another program that we're currently in partnership with with the EMS services.
[44:52] Well, thank you, Jolene.
[44:53] Yeah, for sure.
[44:55] This is a program that the community asks.
[45:02] This is something that the community has been desiring for a long time. We have what is colloquially known as a social detox, that is a non-medical facility for people to go and detoxify, but we don't have something that can monitor and support people medically.
[45:26] It's known as a 3.7 and a Sam Lingo.
[45:31] You don't need to remember that.
[45:33] There won't be a test afterwards.
[45:36] But for you, Matt, there will be.
[45:39] But really, when we're thinking about this,
[45:41] this is the highest level of residential care that we can provide.
[45:45] The next step up would be hospitalization.
[45:47] So this is a residential facility that can provide medical support
[45:51] for people who are undergoing withdrawal.
[45:55] That can be from fentanyl, alcohol,
[46:00] methamphetamines, not so much.
[46:01] Most people feel that that can be managed
[46:03] at a different level of care,
[46:04] because mostly they sleep that off.
[46:07] But any other substance dispenser days,
[46:10] it means people say that they don't want
[46:13] to go through that without some form of medical support
[46:16] and monitoring from a medical provider.
[46:19] And when they're ready, they're ready.
[46:22] They want to go now.
[46:23] They won't want to wait.
[46:25] Because if they're going to wait,
[46:26] they go back to the streets and start using again.
[46:29] And so what is available is 24-7 on-site nursing support
[46:34] and 24-7 availability from a medical provider that could be a physician
[46:40] or a trained nurse practitioner.
[46:43] And what's really cool is that we can have an ambulance
[46:46] that can drop off straight to the detox facility.
[46:50] And that is something that Dr. Hodges,
[46:51] and I have been talked about,
[46:53] and having that to be available.
[46:55] Dr. Hodges is the medical director
[46:57] for emergency medical services in Yakuma County.
[47:01] And he is very much looking forward to be able to send
[47:04] ambulances straight to the facility.
[47:07] The other opportunity is that this is really low barrier.
[47:11] This is before people who voluntarily want
[47:15] these services so we really want it to be no wrong door so that anybody can it can be a
[47:23] friend a family member person themselves can drive themselves or it can be closed to a bus station
[47:31] a bus stop so that they can bring themselves for services they don't have to be detained there
[47:38] their will. People are asking for this. They want this service. And it can be co-occurring
[47:45] capable. So they can have co-occurring psychiatric and biomedical needs. That can be managed,
[47:52] because people have SUD disorders. They have deferred taking care of both their mental health
[47:58] and their medical needs. And those have to be addressed before they go into residential or
[48:04] outpatient as you do treatment. Oftentimes, that's a barrier for them to go into treatment.
[48:09] And so, a medical detox oftentimes needs to treat those issues. And it involves an
[48:15] interdisciplinary care team of medical providers, nursing substance use disorder clinicians,
[48:21] mental health providers, peer support specialists, and then your discharge and transition
[48:26] coordinators that help them then to make that next step into that continuum of care for
[48:34] on COVID support and treatment, but I do want to talk about another program that is coherent
[48:42] with this medical detox that we are partnering with the county on, and that is our sprint program,
[48:50] and there is also not going to be a test on what's sprint stands for.
[48:55] It stands for strengthening pathways for rapid integration into treatment, and this is a really
[49:02] exciting program that we have multiple partners, but our main partner is Yakima County Emergency
[49:08] Medical Services. And we did our soft launch last month in August. And this is our partnership
[49:16] with EMS, where they are actively and have trained all of their paramedics, provide biopinorphin,
[49:24] at the time of overdose. After a person in Yakima County receives Narcan. Traditionally,
[49:32] When someone receives Narcan, they're in precipitated withdrawal, and they don't feel well.
[49:38] They fact they feel horrific.
[49:40] They're in a state of precipitated withdrawal.
[49:42] They're panicking, and the first thing they want to do is leave the scene and go and use.
[49:47] Because they feel so terrible, and we're losing people.
[49:50] Not only were we losing them back to the streets, back to use, but people were dying.
[49:55] So we have partnered with E.M.S. provide training on how to administer fupinore.
[50:00] And we have also provided a partnership where when MS response to an overdose, our peer support specialist, also respond to the overdose, to connect with that person, as they've received, be open orphan, so that that peer support specialist can say, okay, now that you're feeling better, let me talk to you about a different path.
[50:22] Let's get you engaged with a nurse practitioner who can talk to you about options for treatment on going
[50:29] Connection to Pupinorthin and treatment.
[50:32] We started this program a soft launch in August.
[50:36] It wasn't a perfect launch.
[50:37] There was some technology issues and communication challenges were still working through.
[50:42] But we have responded.
[50:44] We have treated three people.
[50:46] We've had a hundred percent response.
[50:49] Two people are still in services.
[50:52] that's pretty impressive. Those numbers are powerful because it tells us this is going to be a successful program.
[51:01] I'm very excited about it. I'm very excited to be able to tell you all about this happening right here in Yakima.
[51:08] Any questions about that?
[51:10] Before we move on any questions on the sprint program, it is relatively new and I was excited to hear at the overdose awareness event yesterday of the
[51:17] relatively quick success we're already seeing with this program that just launched.
[51:22] And so that the medication following the Narcan is going to be distributed or given by someone
[51:31] with a medical knowledge procedures or education.
[51:36] It is being given by the paramedics who are on the ambulance and trying to partner with Yak Makani
[51:45] MS provide this training, not only to the paramedics, but also to the fire at AMPs, although
[51:53] they can't yet give that the Pupin orphan. There's a path in the future. So I'm putting a pin in
[52:01] that. They are trained into the whole program so that they can partner with the peers and they
[52:09] have learned language and how to discuss the buprenorphin and how to provide the leave behind
[52:18] materials.
[52:19] So even though our program right now is only 8 to 5 because of funding and staffing, if they
[52:26] get buprenorphin after hours to AM, you know, more peak overdose hours, they give leave behind
[52:34] materials, they put in a referral to our peers, and when we do our stand-up at 8am, we get
[52:40] that referral and our peers are jetting out, our sprinting out, so to speak. And finding
[52:46] that person, because they know we're that overdose occurred, finding them, and then engaging
[52:53] with them to bring them back to our rapid recovery room.
[52:58] So how long does this take to be a few, profanant?
[53:01] You've been open. You've been open. Thank you. How long does it take to take effect?
[53:06] It can take effect within 20 to 30 minutes. Really what they're instructed to say is
[53:15] that it will take effect about as quickly as taking an ibuprofen.
[53:20] And how long will it last? It can last 24 to 48 hours. So if it
[53:26] Patents on the weekend, that person can still feel well enough to last until Monday when we can connect with them.
[53:35] Thank you.
[53:36] There are questions, council.
[53:39] All right, I'll just keep going through quickly here.
[53:41] I thought it was important to highlight the sprint program because the sprint program is essentially a feeder into the medical detox facility when it is up and running.
[53:49] And so just hearing in a short amount of time that there is need and interest with medical detox, I think is important.
[53:55] So go ahead, Councilmember Glenn.
[53:57] I know they stuff I've seen with people using drugs is a lot of times they will just say whatever.
[54:05] They think you want to hear to get out of your hair.
[54:09] But I'm thinking that if this is going to be some kind of a successful program,
[54:14] making it totally voluntary isn't really a good solution.
[54:18] I'd like to see as find a way to coerce them.
[54:23] To do something, you know, I talked with the guy over on the west side about this
[54:31] extension lady, he says that it can take up to a week to get somebody far enough
[54:38] out of it that you can have a rational conversation about staying out of it.
[54:43] I think that's why it's important to hear about our successes, the people that we've
[54:49] engaged with are still in treatment with us.
[54:54] So although the numbers are small,
[54:57] it's showing that they are still working the...
[55:00] Program. One lady was very pregnant so she couldn't stay in our services. She went to the start program, not multi-care, which is a specific program for women who are pregnant and she's going to be transitioning to a pregnant and parenting women's program.
[55:18] So she's still engaged. She's still working with us and the other person is engaged and are currently still engaged in our outpatient services and working with our peers.
[55:27] and this is all voluntary.
[55:31] So I think the power is that when you give people access
[55:36] right at the time when they need it,
[55:40] they can still retain engagement
[55:42] because we're treating that withdrawal.
[55:48] That is so powerful.
[55:51] I do hear what you're saying.
[55:53] And I think there is a piece of truth there for some people
[55:56] that I think for a lot of people when we give them what they need, we can keep them engaged.
[56:05] Thank you, Jolyne.
[56:06] Thank you, Dr. Simmons for really highlighting what is medical detox and why the project
[56:09] is needed.
[56:10] So, Council members, if you look at the middle of our sheet that we provided you, you'll
[56:14] see the former Yakima County Correction Facility Highlighted.
[56:17] During the preliminary site selection, it became evident in order to provide this type of
[56:23] program.
[56:24] The Department of Health requires your facility to be medically leveled, it has to have
[56:28] the things hospital-wise and so low and behold, the county has its correction facility over
[56:34] at the fairgrounds. Most folks don't realize this, but it has four quadrants. One quadrant
[56:38] has been used. Still is being used as the kitchen to service the jail, but the rest of the facility
[56:43] really, it's open for business. And so one of the pods was identified having all of the medical
[56:48] things in it that it could be a feasible option. So where are we at? Last fall, the county awarded
[56:53] six million of your mental health sales tax dollars to try and treatment to provide the services
[56:58] component of this project, where we've conducted a preliminary concept plan. We are currently
[57:05] submitted a land use change to the city of Yakima, and hopefully by the end of September,
[57:10] through your hearing examiner that the facility will have the blessing to perform this type of
[57:15] service there. We have this project listed on our state and federal capital request and we're moving forward.
[57:23] If you look forward on the right side funding picture, 8.3 million, that number should stand out to you because it is a large number.
[57:31] That 8.3 million reflects what it would cost us to basically do all the things necessary to bring the facility into compliance by the year by the end of the year, 2028.
[57:42] So there are escalating factors that are put into this.
[57:45] What I mean by escalating factors is we know that if you build something today, it's going to be cheaper than building it two years out.
[57:51] And so there's a lot of unknowns in the marketplace that really pushed this number a little
[57:55] higher than I would like to see it.
[57:57] Where we currently are at with the Capital Stack.
[57:59] We were awarded through our local legislators, 309,000 in the most recent Washington State
[58:06] Capital Budget.
[58:07] That 309,000 allows us to start doing the work to build out the architectural design components
[58:13] of this project.
[58:14] The county has submitted a $4 million request through Congressman New House and Senator Murray
[58:21] through their Department of Health and Human Services, health facilities,
[58:28] special
[58:28] appropriations portal there.
[58:31] I'm hopeful that we'll hear by the end of the year if we get that, because of the large
[58:35] dollar ask, it's not uncommon for you to have to ask for a second year.
[58:40] So if we don't get it this year, I'm very hopeful that by the end of 2024, that we've secured some additional funding.
[58:46] But nonetheless, council members, you will notice that that's not going to get us all the way across the finish line.
[58:53] And you, you know better than anyone that when you're asking the state and the feds to help step in, they like to see local support,
[58:59] they like to see multiple layers of funding.
[59:02] And so tonight was really twofold, excuse me, one, to just really make sure you're aware what medical detox is,
[59:09] but also to potentially keep your eyes open
[59:12] if there are any opportunities in the future
[59:13] at the city for you to participate
[59:15] and help throw in some dollars to make our project here,
[59:19] your project, a more applicable application
[59:22] for federal and state dollars.
[59:24] So before I turn it back over to you, Mayor,
[59:26] I would like to ask our triumfoces to just highlight
[59:29] the difference between what was published in the Yakma
[59:32] Herald today, which was the comprehensive medical detox
[59:34] and the medical detox program that this project would be
[59:38] because I think it's at a high level.
[59:43] Absolutely, absolutely.
[59:46] And there is some very clear distinctions
[59:48] between what we're doing and what comprehensive is doing.
[59:53] What we're doing is a low barrier, no wrong door.
[1:00:00] Voluntary medical detox that anybody can ask to come in, barn, you know, some medical comorbidity that we can't navigate, and we would welcome them.
[1:00:15] Comprehensive is specifically advertising their detox as an involuntary unit for people like you spoke to Rick, that mean that extra bit of coercion,
[1:00:29] that are not willing to engage in voluntary treatment, but their illness is so severe that it's
[1:00:36] impairing their ability to make wise decisions for themselves, and they actually meet criteria
[1:00:43] for detention under 71.05, meaning that they are either danger to self, danger to others,
[1:00:50] or gravely disabled. Probably most likely gravely disabled due to their substance use disorder,
[1:00:56] and meeting that really, really high level of disability.
[1:01:02] And so that is, it's really absolutely necessary to have that law in place.
[1:01:08] It's called Reggie's Law.
[1:01:10] Because some people are so disabled by their substance use disorder
[1:01:13] that they absolutely need that level of support
[1:01:17] while they pursue recovery.
[1:01:21] Many people don't even meet that level of meeting of the attention criteria and also given
[1:01:29] the right, I'd say, secret sauce of support, including the support of knowing they're going
[1:01:37] to be monitored and given supportive medications, are willing to engage in voluntary services.
[1:01:45] And that's the wide funnel that we provide.
[1:01:48] We're providing additional beds and resources for Yacomac County and, and Comprehensive is also providing that other additional
[1:01:59] Service for those folks that absolutely need that detention to help them because they've become so ill that they need that detention
[1:02:08] So it's their coherent services
[1:02:12] All right, thank you Mayor. So any questions from council again tonight was just to bring you up to speed and again
[1:02:17] Hopefully there's some funding opportunities that this project can secure before the start of the
[1:02:21] 2027 legislative session.
[1:02:24] Yes.
[1:02:24] Just a, I'm sorry.
[1:02:25] Go ahead.
[1:02:27] So, I was not on the professional for 22 years.
[1:02:31] I work with many, many, many clients with substance abuse disorder.
[1:02:36] And I will tell you that the deterrence of having to wait to go into treatment is one of
[1:02:41] the most significant factors that are prevented success.
[1:02:45] because they could be referred to them.
[1:02:47] I'd be two weeks before they got a bed date.
[1:02:49] And in the meantime, they reversed the decision
[1:02:51] and went out back into the community.
[1:02:53] So this is such a vibrant, critical service.
[1:02:58] Whether it is volunteer, your ITI, either way,
[1:03:01] it's going to really enhance the ability of individuals
[1:03:06] to get the immediate step in the door
[1:03:08] and help.
[1:03:09] So I just want to thank you for that.
[1:03:18] You're always the last one, so we're getting around.
[1:03:22] First of all, I want to say I do support this project.
[1:03:24] I think it'd be great to have something like this in Yakima.
[1:03:27] My concern is with the state budget being such a deficit.
[1:03:32] How optimistic are you going forward to get those state dollars?
[1:03:36] And as they're a plan, if that doesn't come through.
[1:03:39] There's always a plan B, C, and D, as you know.
[1:03:41] But no, I feel pretty comfortable right now it's a $2 million ask at the state level that the 2 million that we're specifically asking for would come out of the behavior of health facility program of the state's budget and so those are dedicated dollars that commerce has already allocated.
[1:03:57] So it's capital funds for new behavior health facilities the state caveat is when the state gives you those dollars, they want to see this facility operational for 15 years.
[1:04:05] So it is a, you have to have both sides of it, both sides of the commitment, but to your
[1:04:11] member, to your question, Deputy Mayor, I feel comfortable that this would be a very
[1:04:15] prime application that could potentially get some of those dollars.
[1:04:19] Okay.
[1:04:19] Thank you.
[1:04:21] All right.
[1:04:22] Go ahead.
[1:04:23] Okay.
[1:04:24] I think it's wonderful.
[1:04:26] Any time we can offer people the hope of getting out of a bad situation, some of them are going
[1:04:30] to succeed and we should do everything we can to help those people.
[1:04:33] I just see 100 miles, the closest comparable facility, and I'm a little bit concerned about attracting people to come here voluntarily, and then maybe they don't complete the course of treatment, and then they're here in Yakima.
[1:04:46] So how can we make sure that they get back where they came from?
[1:04:51] Currently, we operate residential treatment facilities, and while most of those that come in there treat...
[1:05:01] We do serve all 39 counties. We actually, when we when we're graduating and completing services, we care
[1:05:10] coordinate. So we ensure that they have going back to housing. We buy in bus tickets. So we're ensuring that they're going back home to
[1:05:22] to their wherever they came from.
[1:05:25] A lot of them's west side, spoken in county.
[1:05:29] Thank you.
[1:05:30] All right, Rick.
[1:05:30] Now you can.
[1:05:31] Thank you.
[1:05:33] A lot of the addiction issues that we're wrestling with tend to be
[1:05:37] with the homeless and low income.
[1:05:40] But I'm wondering, is the drug problem more prevalent?
[1:05:45] Are there functional people that are outworking that are having drug issues?
[1:05:48] So what kind of a percentage are you seeing in our society of people who are still basically
[1:05:56] functioning, but are addicted to drugs?
[1:06:01] So I'll answer that in two parts, Council Member.
[1:06:03] First, I would say there is a misconception in our community that a majority of the folks
[1:06:06] that are experiencing overdose are actually homeless.
[1:06:09] When you look over the past two years through the ODE mapping that Safe Yakima Valley
[1:06:13] helps spearhead, you soon realize I think it's close to 60, 65% of the folks experiencing
[1:06:18] and overdoses are actually housed, you know, and so there, you know, while this medical detox plan was a pivotal component of your five-year homeless and housing plan, I do believe that there is a larger majority that are actually going to start utilizing this facility other than the unhoused.
[1:06:35] It's the unseen overdosing that I think is the part that I don't think we'll have trouble feeling 12 beds.
[1:06:43] Can I ask them if I'm following up with Council on Dr. August, I know that you, you know,
[1:06:49] when you have state funding government, I find any kind, you know, they have certain rules
[1:06:54] that you have to abide by, and I don't think you can limit people, but can you get preference?
[1:07:04] That is a...
[1:07:04] Do you?
[1:07:05] The Akima County residents.
[1:07:06] That is a great question.
[1:07:08] Council members, not something that's been all my mind over the last two years as we thought
[1:07:11] about this because to the points made earlier, we don't want to be a magnet to attract, right?
[1:07:16] We want to be able to, first and primarily, if we're using local medical sales text
[1:07:20] dollars that have generated here, we want to serve our clients.
[1:07:23] As I understand, when you use federal dollars, you're not able to specifically refuse out
[1:07:29] of county clients.
[1:07:31] However, in our contracts, we could put preference, preference, you know, but that doesn't
[1:07:35] mean that we wouldn't serve, or let me reframe it, it doesn't mean that we could prevent
[1:07:39] anyone from the outside, I don't, this is, this is your world, so.
[1:07:43] I'll add to that. It goes to your partnerships.
[1:07:46] So we've already been in conversations with the emergency department here, and, you know,
[1:07:53] they're looking at us saying, yeah, we're going to fill you up tomorrow. Can you please get it
[1:07:56] open? So again, it goes to that care coordination in those warm hand-offs, working with
[1:08:02] them local first responders, working with the local emergency departments. That's where we can
[1:08:09] our capacity. So, now we'll tell you that 20 years ago there were no warm
[1:08:14] hand-offs. People on the community have not partnered together, had not
[1:08:17] coalition and made me really significant ways to provide the needed services that you
[1:08:22] are. So, you know, having those warm hand-offs, warm hand-offs, the partnerships
[1:08:27] are critical part of the process. We're not, we're not perfect, but we're building it
[1:08:32] in, in we're getting there. And I think this, Brent program is, is evidence of that.
[1:08:37] question on so you're telling us that you're going to need almost eight and a half million
[1:08:42] dollars to get this thing going.
[1:08:48] I feel like every time we talk about that facility
[1:08:49] over there at the jail or whatever it's called. We call it the Yak. I just feel like
[1:08:56] it's always a five to twenty million dollar ask on trying to get that place renovated
[1:09:02] for some sort of project, and I'm just wondering,
[1:09:06] is there not a way to get this quicker?
[1:09:10] Yeah, we're thinking the same thing, Mayor Brown.
[1:09:13] I mean, that eight million, I've been sleeping
[1:09:15] on it a lot, thinking, OK, how do we cost?
[1:09:17] How do we make this thing more turn key
[1:09:19] that we can build this thing with local dollars
[1:09:22] and not needing federal and state assistance?
[1:09:24] There was a lot of due diligence early on looking
[1:09:26] at various facilities.
[1:09:28] And again, it's because of this medical component that really
[1:09:31] makes it a complex facility.
[1:09:33] The reality is to do a ground up new build.
[1:09:36] It's going to cost more to find a facility that maybe it doesn't have the medical
[1:09:40] components and make it up into building codes so that the health department, excuse me,
[1:09:45] the state of Department of Health will certify it to do this type of program is very costly.
[1:09:50] So for me, at this time, this is the quickest cheapest way for this program.
[1:09:55] But I think, I mean, all of you will, you know, reckon this as electors, we always
[1:09:59] have to.
[1:10:00] To look out for the taxpayer dollars, so should an opportunity arise or should a pivot arise
[1:10:05] where we can do this program cheaper somewhere else? I don't think that that would be off the table.
[1:10:11] Any other questions? Councilman Roy, Councilman Gonzalez?
[1:10:16] I'd like to just comment to Mr. McKay. You know that the last two years, the city council, there's given a vote of no confidence for how the homeless situation's been handled.
[1:10:26] And we're hoping that one of the things that I was
[1:10:30] saking about is that we were talking with the previous director
[1:10:34] and she said, my job isn't to get homeless people
[1:10:38] off the streets.
[1:10:39] It's to disperse the funds that I'm given in the way
[1:10:41] that they're supposed to be dispersed.
[1:10:44] And as a city council, the thing that we look at more
[1:10:47] than anything is if there's people all over on the streets
[1:10:50] that don't have a place to stay at night, that's a problem.
[1:10:53] And we're not going to be happy
[1:10:55] and tell those people have some where to go and they're not out on the streets.
[1:11:00] And so we had a different expectation than what she was trying to deliver.
[1:11:06] One of the things that really shocked me was in the last month or so,
[1:11:10] I have been seeing a lot more people out on the streets in wheelchairs,
[1:11:14] you know, people that are double amputees, and it just wasn't that way.
[1:11:19] It had really been trending downward,
[1:11:21] And I noticed a difference the first to July and I'm not even sure what happened that made
[1:11:27] that change, but I'm on the streets every day and I see that our homeless situation is
[1:11:33] worse.
[1:11:34] So as a city council, we will be happy if you can find a way to get those people off the
[1:11:38] streets and trust you to use the programs that you're disposal to make it happen.
[1:11:42] I appreciate that if I can respond real quick.
[1:11:45] Sure.
[1:11:45] I think that the love is wanting the best for someone else and then doing something to
[1:11:50] to make it happen. And I think that compassion goes both ways. I think it's very reasonable for
[1:11:55] the city to want to have access to and feel safe using the areas that it has in common.
[1:12:00] And I think also it's very reasonable to want to do the best that we can for those people.
[1:12:04] So I think in both ways that's a very reasonable ask. And absolutely what we need to do is work
[1:12:09] together to find a way to make that happen. And I'm always available.
[1:12:15] We accept miracles from you.
[1:12:18] Yeah, well, I'm not a miracle worker, but any time you have an idea, you want to
[1:12:21] sit on a talk, we can grab coffee.
[1:12:23] I got a curing in the office now, so.
[1:12:25] And Costco muffins.
[1:12:28] Thank you, guys.
[1:12:29] Well, Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Council.
[1:12:30] I just wanted to ask, so in the process of somebody being there, what is
[1:12:36] general expected the length of time?
[1:12:39] And what kind of, I know you have peer navigators there, so what kind of warm
[1:12:44] hand up to the next thing, do you have going?
[1:12:46] So our length of stay is somewhat dependent on our insurance companies.
[1:12:54] So if you'd like to go negotiate our next, you know, for the Crest Blue Shield contract.
[1:13:00] But you generally, depending on the substance, you know, four to five days if you can get
[1:13:05] extension, of course. And then, yes, we do have peer navigators and the warm hand up, of course,
[1:13:15] we hopefully be into a residential program because if you need detox, you probably need to go
[1:13:21] into a 28 day program if you're pregnant or parenting, maybe the P.P.W. program.
[1:13:27] And we will, of course,
[1:13:29] you know, of course we preferentially would love for them to go into one of our triumph programs,
[1:13:33] but we also believe in partnership and so we will work with our community and state partners
[1:13:38] to help someone land safely into any number of residential programs that we partnership with.
[1:13:45] I was just, what must comment is, you know, I am familiar with trying to treatments that are
[1:13:52] in the multiple facilities and services you provide and I just want to thank you for the
[1:14:01] council member staff. Thank you for having us tonight. And again my ask is just keep us in consideration as the year closes out should there be some dollars laying around which I know there's
[1:14:08] Slim
[1:14:10] Any any dollars and all seriousness what will help this project along. Thank you
[1:14:14] All right, we will move on to item nine B
[1:14:21] This is
[1:14:22] Mr. Gary blue
[1:14:34] Thank you, Mr. Chair and members of council. I'm Gary blue. I'm your assistant city manager and I'm here with
[1:14:40] Jesse Mooney, who is a program supervisor for the office of neighborhood and development services.
[1:14:47] We're here to talk to you tonight about two grant applications. We're looking to submit.
[1:14:51] Those grant applications are to HUD, the Housing and Urban Development.
[1:14:59] They're both...
[1:15:00] With an lead-based paint program of lead, lead statement program, hazard, hazard, but he said yes.
[1:15:11] And make sure you're talking to your mic. Don't want to, don't want to give him cold out.
[1:15:18] So part of the reason we put this under department items is as we were talking about the annual action plan for CVG.
[1:15:26] Council member Glenn brought up, led based paint or led and haven't we kind of taken care of all that.
[1:15:37] So based on the program, something along those lines, right?
[1:15:43] So based on the program, Mike, why don't you bring up that map for me if you could?
[1:15:48] So, anything with the colored dot is a potential property with lead.
[1:15:54] It was developed before 1977.
[1:15:57] There's somewhere around 20,000 houses within or units within the city of Yakima that meet that criteria.
[1:16:06] So, we actually rank we're one of 10 counties in Washington State that can apply for these dollars.
[1:16:13] We're planning to apply for $4 million over four years.
[1:16:18] We would utilize that within our existing,
[1:16:21] we would expand the capabilities of our emergency repair
[1:16:27] program, which just manages and runs.
[1:16:31] And if you have questions on how would we expand that,
[1:16:34] he would be the appropriate person to answer that.
[1:16:38] And then we would, what we have to match it
[1:16:40] some of our existing CDBG funds, so we're applying for a second grant, this one a senior
[1:16:49] mobility.
[1:16:51] Older adult home modification.
[1:16:52] That sounds better.
[1:16:53] Okay, so older adults home modification grant for $2 million over three years, which
[1:16:59] that program, like we do ramps and things like that, but it's basically to keep older adults
[1:17:04] in their homes.
[1:17:05] and we're redoing some of those.
[1:17:06] So we'd be able to utilize those funds to backfill the 10%
[1:17:10] but also increase the amount of that program we do.
[1:17:14] It's a successful program.
[1:17:16] We often have, I think we may have you
[1:17:18] and have a letter tonight in your packet from some of you.
[1:17:23] They're very excited about that program.
[1:17:25] It keeps them in their house and it will make it happen.
[1:17:30] So without, like I said, I have Jesse here
[1:17:31] if you have any hard questions,
[1:17:34] But more than willing to answer any questions.
[1:17:36] How do you mitigate the lead paint?
[1:17:37] What does that look like?
[1:17:39] That's a good question.
[1:17:41] The, there's different options.
[1:17:43] It kind of depends on how much, and what the paint is in.
[1:17:47] If it's in windows, doors, if it's interior, if it's exterior,
[1:17:51] obviously exterior is a little easier,
[1:17:53] because you're not relocating people probably.
[1:17:55] So that's a part of it too.
[1:17:56] If you're doing interior work, you're relocating people like at least
[1:17:59] for 24 hours after the work is done to make sure it's all,
[1:18:03] like passes what they call a clearance.
[1:18:06] So usually with a statement, like if it's inciting,
[1:18:08] which is the most common,
[1:18:09] you're just gonna pull all that sighting off.
[1:18:11] You have to double wrap it in six-mill plastic.
[1:18:14] You have to dump it in a special area
[1:18:16] with a special permit.
[1:18:18] And then you just replace the sighting
[1:18:21] and you don't paint the new sighting.
[1:18:22] So that's usually the best way is just
[1:18:25] full component replacements that they call it
[1:18:27] because then you're completely getting rid of,
[1:18:29] you know, whatever has a leather base paint.
[1:18:31] You can also remove it.
[1:18:32] like there's different ways you can remove it safely,
[1:18:35] you know, it's safely as possible.
[1:18:37] If like the sighting is, you know,
[1:18:39] it's still good shape.
[1:18:40] You might just want to remove the paint.
[1:18:42] Usually the lead is in the paint
[1:18:43] that's like on the very inside layer, right?
[1:18:45] So we paint over it, paint over it.
[1:18:47] So the newer layers don't have any,
[1:18:49] you know, lead base paint since 1978.
[1:18:52] But it's those old layers all the way in there
[1:18:54] that cause the problem.
[1:18:56] So there's different ways you can also encapsulate,
[1:18:58] like old sighting, you can put just like vinyl sighting over it.
[1:19:02] And then it's what it's called, you know, and closed or encapsulated.
[1:19:06] So there's different forms. It just depends kind of on if the sightings are really bad shape.
[1:19:10] We would recommend just removing it and replacing it. But mostly in sighting it's not like inside your house.
[1:19:16] It's mostly in sighting, but I was working for the county as a consultant for their program back in the day.
[1:19:22] And there was actually a lot inside as well in the homes throughout the year.
[1:19:26] and versus I think it's easy to see how you mitigate the exterior walls, how do you mitigate the
[1:19:32] interior walls? Similar so if it's in like you know sheet rock or plaster it was in old
[1:19:37] plaster walls a lot of times like inside used like x-ray machines to test this just to see
[1:19:42] all the way through with all the layers and then yeah you're pretty much moving people out for
[1:19:47] at least a week and then just tearing those walls out. Are we moving the wall back?
[1:19:51] So whatever is necessary we try to do the most cost effective but also the one that's going to
[1:19:56] eliminate the hazard, that's why they call it abatement, like
[1:20:00] Completely. That's the ideal.
[1:20:02] And two things that we can't do with our current program is citing and windows. Right. And so with this, we hope to be able to expand into that area as we help and assist people and keep them in their households.
[1:20:16] Is there a, is there a system that people can like go to to check to see if their house has this, like, or is there something they can do to find out this?
[1:20:27] Not that I know of, I mean, it costs usually 1,500 to 2,000 for the inspection.
[1:20:32] The machine itself is about 25 grand.
[1:20:35] Obviously all these costs, if we got the grant would be included in that grant.
[1:20:39] But yeah, I don't think there's someone you can call.
[1:20:41] I mean, there's some environmental companies locally,
[1:20:45] but you're probably talking to a grant to get a test like that done.
[1:20:48] So you're just going to put the information out there,
[1:20:51] and I like people say, hey, maybe that's me,
[1:20:52] or we have a number of houses we're aware of,
[1:20:56] going to approach them? Well, if we apply, we would see first if we get it. It is highly competitive,
[1:21:01] so I mean it's the whole United States. So there's a big chance we wouldn't get it. But if we were
[1:21:07] to get it, then we would figure out those details. I think we would start with our current clients
[1:21:12] through the single family emergency home repair program, because a lot of them would qualify like
[1:21:17] automatically. It's the same qualification process, which helps. It's like the same application and
[1:21:21] everything. And then, yeah, we would see about getting the word out, because we would definitely
[1:21:26] want people to be aware of it. But I think a lot of times people find out because their children
[1:21:31] have elevated lead levels, and in some parts of the country, children are routinely checked
[1:21:36] for that. And so I don't know if we have anyone locally here, if we're if our youth are at risk
[1:21:45] for having elevated lead, there's a lot of other parts of the country that are much older than
[1:21:54] I don't know how it affects that, yeah.
[1:21:57] I know that Washington State has about 2%
[1:22:01] It's not something they bring children to the check, but if they're in for something else,
[1:22:04] and they're checking their blood for something else, they usually check it for a lead as well.
[1:22:08] And out of like 28,000 children in Washington State, about 490 did test positive for high blood level.
[1:22:16] So I mean, it's like 2% a little less than 2% so it's not a lot, that's almost 500 kids in the states.
[1:22:23] So I don't know how many are within Yakima of those kids, but we are one of the highest risk counties in the nation.
[1:22:30] We're on the HUD list, so that gives us extra points for the application.
[1:22:37] On the bad list, we are on the bad list.
[1:22:39] It's just because of the age of the home and then you can find that with low income, people don't have the, you don't can afford either the test.
[1:22:46] or sometimes the replacement of sighting and things like that.
[1:22:49] So I don't know if you can answer this or not,
[1:22:51] because it's a good point that children can be tested for live poisoning.
[1:22:59] And so I would think it's a matter of our local family doctors and pediatricians
[1:23:05] to routinely check for that.
[1:23:09] Yeah, I believe there are local clinics that do.
[1:23:11] And the Department of Health would be the one to ask about that for more detail.
[1:23:18] All right.
[1:23:19] I haven't really changed my mind, but then I'd like it half-hearted.
[1:23:22] And we have been cleaning that up for over a century, and we're still not even close.
[1:23:27] So, government has a unique ability to make a project last forever.
[1:23:32] It hasn't quite been a century any effort, but...
[1:23:34] No.
[1:23:35] I'm close.
[1:23:36] So, 1940.
[1:23:37] It feels like a century.
[1:23:39] It's been a long time, yeah.
[1:23:42] Any other questions, Council?
[1:23:44] Looks like we do have a resolution on here.
[1:23:49] All right.
[1:23:49] At this point, we're just authorizing you to apply for the grant.
[1:23:53] We have to, if we are awarded the grant, then we would come back for back to Council.
[1:24:00] All right.
[1:24:00] Clarke, would you read the resolution?
[1:24:03] This is a resolution authorizing the city manager to apply for two US Department of Housing
[1:24:08] and Urban Development grant programs.
[1:24:10] The Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program and the older adults home modification grant program
[1:24:15] I moved to adopt the resolution
[1:24:17] Second
[1:24:18] I was moved by Deputy Mayor Bird to adopt the resolution and second by Councilwoman Biers
[1:24:24] roll call please
[1:24:26] Yes, fires. Yes, blend
[1:24:30] Yes, one Salas. Yes, Patricus. Yes, Roy. Yes, sir. Yes
[1:24:36] All right motion passes resolutions adopted
[1:24:39] see if we can get some lead out.
[1:24:49] All right.
[1:24:50] Well, that was so funny.
[1:24:51] I don't know.
[1:24:53] All right, move it on.
[1:24:55] I'm 10.
[1:24:56] City manager update.
[1:24:57] Do you have anything?
[1:24:58] I do not have a report tonight.
[1:25:00] Well, all right, no report. Good for me. Any other, yeah? Yes?
[1:25:09] I had a conversation yesterday with a tenant that is undocumented. She's been here for 22 years.
[1:25:19] She's raised her kids here, their citizens, and she says, how come we don't have a way that I can become a citizen?
[1:25:26] And you know, we have all this noise and turmoil about not deporting criminals that get out
[1:25:36] of jail, but yes, she's just at the same risk of being deported.
[1:25:41] And I said, you know, there is something about the system.
[1:25:45] We should try to find a way that people who are working and paying taxes and participating
[1:25:52] in our society, and have been here for many, many years, we need to find a way to address that.
[1:26:03] And I said, how many people in Yakima do you think are in that situation?
[1:26:07] Because I know there's a lot of people here who don't even speak English.
[1:26:11] And she says that she thinks that at least half the population of Yakima might be undocumented.
[1:26:17] And she thinks it's a huge number, which shocked me.
[1:26:21] But I do know that I have lived in the Yakma Valley my whole life.
[1:26:24] And I have dealt with a lot of people who've
[1:26:27] come up and worked without proper documentation.
[1:26:31] And the thing that I've seen watching these people struggle
[1:26:35] to become legal after they're here is that the government
[1:26:37] is very unfriendly if you try to do it legally.
[1:26:41] And yet I still feel like there ought to be something done.
[1:26:47] And then I know it has to technically be done on a national level, but it's an issue that
[1:26:52] I think bears consideration, and I would like to see if there's anything that we could
[1:26:58] do to take that into consideration, because I have seen people who have been in this country
[1:27:04] for decades that have gotten deported, and then I see people who are committing crimes and
[1:27:12] getting away with it, and then they get put back out on the streets, and I think that's a problem.
[1:27:16] And we need to find some way to address that.
[1:27:20] Just in my little soap box for you.
[1:27:23] I like it.
[1:27:24] This is a federal issue, not a city council issue, but do we know that?
[1:27:30] One of the things that kind of brought it to my mind was because apparently it made national news
[1:27:35] that there were some criminals who were being led out of jail and ICE managed to pick
[1:27:41] them up.
[1:27:43] And they were saying, oh, this is awful because Washington State says you can't do that, but then they did that, and I'm like, and she addressed that issue as well.
[1:27:53] She says, why do they make all this issue of criminals?
[1:27:56] I criminals were breaking the law.
[1:27:58] Yeah, send them home.
[1:27:59] We don't need them here, but to put the criminals back on the street, and then I go to work every day, and then I might get tossed tomorrow, and I don't have a thing to say about it.
[1:28:09] You know there's a problem there that I'd like to see us by the way to address as a as a as a government and I realize we're not the proper
[1:28:18] Part of government to address it. But you can run for office, Rick. Yeah, I
[1:28:24] Can solve all the problems if you don't me. Yeah
[1:28:27] Well, I'm not gonna just to go with you in terms of
[1:28:32] Having known for a long time and talked to a lot of people about it. It really is a federal issue
[1:28:37] It's an issue with the Senate, it's an issue with making it easier for people that are here
[1:28:45] and committed to being here paying taxes to your raising their kids you're having a life
[1:28:48] here to become citizens.
[1:28:52] All right, any other business for us to do?
[1:28:58] So I do know, I do have something, I was going to ask the council, so there was a proclamation
[1:29:04] that was sent in to us, I'm trying to find it here, over to Awareness. So we actually
[1:29:13] missed it because we didn't have a meeting, but it was August 31st, was over to Awareness.
[1:29:19] It was, and I was there. Yes. And they asked me to read it.
[1:29:22] It abbreviated version of the Proclamation, that day, to be a part of represent the city there.
[1:29:32] And I've done that for several years in a row, so I agreed to do that, and I simply read an abbreviation.
[1:29:40] Right.
[1:29:41] So they asked if we could pass one, and maybe or put it on the agenda for the next meeting,
[1:29:48] because obviously they're not here, and retroactively.
[1:29:53] Yep, there was a kind of a two or three email back and forth discussion about that.
[1:29:57] At this point, I don't think that there would be...
[1:30:00] I'm sorry to do that. I encourage them next year or two to make sure they get their proclamation.
[1:30:04] What's in it, like? Okay, cool. I just want to make sure that they didn't get back to me past that point.
[1:30:12] So, awesome. Any other business? I don't have anything.
[1:30:19] Okay, then I will introduce a motion.
[1:30:22] I make a motion to adjourn to the next city council, regular meeting on September 8, 2021, 530 PM here at City Hall.
[1:30:29] Second, there's going to be a motion to adjourn by council on buyers and second by
[1:30:33] TIP Mayor Verk, all those in favour? Say aye. Aye. Aye. All opposed?
[1:30:39] Here are your adjourn. Good night.