[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6078360,"mediaKeyId","2959782-87d3b04f64daaea164877d20f6bbb81f","parentId",2959782,"title","Yakima amends long-term parking permit rules; council adopts ordinance 7–0","audioSeconds",283,"startMs",5233000,"endMs",5516000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2959782-87d3b04f64daaea164877d20f6bbb81f&start=5233&end=5516","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2959782-87d3b04f64daaea164877d20f6bbb81f/thumbnail_5233000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6078360/Yakima-City/Yakima-County/Washington/Yakima-amends-long-term-parking-permit-rules-council-adopts-ordinance-70","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078360-8fcc952bc75b761278d1e0b15830f2c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193549&Signature=n3pcS7tcGyGwnkFn5yQ27Gw0oFGTRUR4hpInmPUnGPZYZL2~xoJvzxzASK46TdWHU6Td0R-MdU~vTsbDnV-SillOKO2ilexY1P6UvRtgUld-4DqJGlBkrZPJcA1BLPa7BL824Ecq4A11omlASctoEafa0LxaI8AvGhTboYdF-lR-tnCkPynE9TuiDJvb4mDc~XysVRCs9u2~~BtT0YO2lfvARSYoPIzUnsoME1xKoMYGLR0iqFwTElEli6sAfl2Ezdi18EavLGTq19rYaNWphuUtNtX7CQF7eeHXI~B~cJdnSilnvDD5lZaTccd8lLeqk3zzQbRe7WjTkNcNm6of~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Yakima City, WA","date","2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","article","The Yakima City Council voted unanimously at its April 2025 study session to adopt changes to the long-term parking permit ordinance (YMC 9.50.22), clarifying permit term language, adding a limited city-manager discretion to issue permits above a numerical cap and establishing clearer grounds for suspension or revocation.

City attorney Sherry Watkins presented the draft amendments, saying the changes include explicit language that permits are sold on annual, semiannual or quarterly bases, a scheduling clarification so partial-period purchases are aligned with calendar quarters, and new language (subsection 13 in the draft) that allows the city to suspend or revoke a permit when an applicant provides inaccurate information or uses a permit on an unregistered vehicle. Watkins said the revocation language is intended to make enforcement clear to applicants.

The council debated a narrow refund question: Watkins proposed that revocation or suspension result in no refund; council members discussed whether the city should return any full unused months; Watkins said the city could change the draft if council wanted to authorize refunds of any full unused months.

Vote and context
Deputy Mayor Ann Brown moved to adopt the ordinance; Councilmember Janice Decio seconded. The roll-call vote was 7–0 in favor; the ordinance passed.

Why it matters: the amendments are procedural and interpretive rather than an expansion of parking policy. City staff said the changes are intended to streamline administration and improve clarity for applicants and enforcement staff.

Ending
Council members characterized the changes as housekeeping and clarity improvements; staff said they will update the online application form and administrative processes to reflect the ordinance amendments.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Yakima City Council Study Session 04-08-25","oneSentenceSummary","The council voted unanimously to amend Yakima Municipal Code section 9.50.22 to clarify payment periods, allow the city manager limited discretion to issue additional permits and add revocation language for permit misuse.","taxTitle","Yakima City, Yakima County, Washington","taxId",12681,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6078362,"Yakima council directs staff to study landlord liability for unpaid tenant utility bills",5149,62000,5211000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2959782-87d3b04f64daaea164877d20f6bbb81f&start=62&end=5211","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2959782-87d3b04f64daaea164877d20f6bbb81f/thumbnail_62000.jpg","/articles/6078362/Yakima-City/Yakima-County/Washington/Yakima-council-directs-staff-to-study-landlord-liability-for-unpaid-tenant-utility-bills","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078362-25f16b3f783dfa7a9fb234e3286db845/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193549&Signature=kVFkYeysxKuzn5Kz0mxFogKo03CW7obVmpfiiqPTETmT1zn-j83B8wHIIjzwEwxk3BdSLKO-uLVWcCNhzfk6S6zP2XwtxGnNtQ2cB9U5Kz3U4rAuXnyF4KfJqsFrbwURFrxG-7-IAUMB3KNBFtIpSIzrlYkbNMtnqNFy-~uUecg-OzZdM3TBVI1tYPGblol4mdaAmyuJtg6F9jSRMI9Whn6fZ5876EO0pUJqEqLtPmQHXt6akydVBYFH9hLWHKTl0FoMmwEVXCZfZkajP9ysf~JSkIqgqioLu0WdXMKoN3bYsjwBjK-0DRUQQO5xjYfR7olyBHA6dOo0yeI8Xeglfw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public comment and a utilities presentation at the Yakima City Council study session in April 2025 led the council to ask staff to prepare detailed information on city practice and potential changes to Yakima Municipal Code regarding landlord liability for unpaid tenant utility accounts.

Ann Knapp, a Yakima resident speaking during the public-comment period, urged the city to review whether its lien and billing practices comply with state law. She cited a state statute in shorthand—“RCW 35 21 2 and 7 4” and “subsection 2”—and told the council she thought city practice might allow liens or charges beyond the four-month period she said the state allows. \"The property owner is ultimately responsible,\" she said, arguing the city should ensure tenants receive timely notices and available payment-help information.

Municipal presentation and key numbers
Utilities manager Annabelle Chavez gave the council a summary of the city’s utility-billing operations and collection stream. She said the city bills about 33,000 accounts on a bi-monthly schedule (26 cycles) and that the utilities billing group sends roughly 16,500 bills and receives about 16,000 payments each cycle. Chavez said roughly 860 accounts (about 2.7% of accounts) were eligible for shutoff at the time of her report, and that roughly 220 of those delinquencies were for the most recent bill only. She said the meter shutoff and shutoff-notice schedule in city practice results in shutoffs for accounts more than 41 days past due.

Chavez described rules for tenant accounts: the city will open a tenant account only after the owner or owner’s designee provides a written authorization form; that form can opt the owner in to receive late notices (and, optionally, full bills); and tenant accounts are subject to a security deposit (the transcript lists a deposit amount in unclear form, so that amount is not reported here). She also described payment-arrangement rules and said a customer who breaks two arrangements within a 12‑month period becomes ineligible for further arrangements.

Nob Hill and other complications
Chavez and council members discussed accounts tied to private water providers such as Nob Hill Water. Chavez said Nob Hill customers’ water balances can grow large because the city cannot shut off water the private provider controls; Nob Hill bills water separately while the city bills sewer and refuse. The city manager noted that COVID-era moratoria and changes in customer behavior contributed to a backlog of delinquencies, a problem common to many utilities.

Council action
After discussion, Councilman Glenn moved and Councilman Roy seconded a motion directing staff to prepare a report and bring the issue back for discussion at a later meeting. The council voted in favor 7–0. City staff said they will prepare a memo that outlines relevant state-law considerations, current municipal practice (YMC citations), collections impacts and comparative approaches used by other jurisdictions; staff proposed presenting that material before the council considers any resolution or ordinance.

Why it matters: the question cuts to how municipal utilities balance recoveries, tenant protections, and property-owner responsibilities. Council members asked for legal analysis and financial impact information before they proceed to draft any change.

Ending
Staff committed to deliver the requested information in a memo ahead of a future business meeting (staff suggested the second business meeting in May so councilors would have time to review the materials).","After public comment raised questions about state statute and municipal practice, the Yakima City Council directed staff to prepare a report and bring the matter back for discussion about whether property owners should be liable for unpaid tenant utility accounts.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6078363,"Yakima City officials cite staffing shortages, mental-health strains at city jail",4505,762000,5267000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2959782-87d3b04f64daaea164877d20f6bbb81f&start=762&end=5267","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2959782-87d3b04f64daaea164877d20f6bbb81f/thumbnail_762000.jpg","/articles/6078363/Yakima-City/Yakima-County/Washington/Yakima-City-officials-cite-staffing-shortages-mental-health-strains-at-city-jail","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078363-d4a45e2b268479e5e95aea1739e07c87/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193549&Signature=JghtQLTxwWiUbaAs4pk1dyC8fMe0PQRV3crRuzg34cGZ7KzEJA5YjT3LWEwX9d9HJ9Z13a-hdwgWqhXC-WMucKUB850w97GejrpUR8-MBr3D5FX5Ui6dDikiaj61PGocF-HldYHA1CrfDypNqToTxeh7oFUv66c~KmUN0Rwp70HjgEZOEFP3Bje6lEdgRCC9jWT4yDCZ3cQwIa08cfUB6jnCH3pAUXW5K5ZZr4BatbfSBSTKvkNVKxnhJ9b-ZBFzm2YLKPzxDEtTDCoxBiw6hPksG6lVZbgOdXjhgr~iBGkOO20MVhhgl-FsppFpU-k07W-zxV~Bi8PCVwTqg2Nk0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commander Maritza Davis, who oversees the Yakima City Jail, told the City Council at a study session in April 2025 that the 72-bed, male-only facility is operating with roughly half its corrections staff and depends on a contracted block of county beds for some people arrested by Yakima Police Department.

Davis said the jail’s design limits what it can house, that average daily population has been about 40 inmates this year, and that average length of stay has risen to about eight days. “We are working with 50% staff,” she said, noting the department is relying on overtime and help from police officers to keep the facility open.

The shortage has financial and operational consequences. Davis told council members the city pays a fixed block rate to the Yakima County Jail under a contract for additional beds and related medical costs; the city pays for a block of beds whether the beds are filled and pays a per-inmate rate for any beds beyond the block. The city manager and corrections staff described past contract terms that have varied (the transcript records a per-bed figure of $136.48), and said the block arrangements have changed over several contract cycles.

Why it matters: municipal jails are a hub for local criminal processing and court operations. Judge Aaron Masters told council members, “The jail and the court work very closely together,” and described how the city jail’s proximity and security simplify transporting in-custody defendants to arraignment dockets and status hearings. Masters and Commander Davis both said remote (Zoom) appearances that became common during COVID have largely given way to in-person appearances in the municipal courtroom because of case law and the need for private attorney-client conferences; Masters said, “Zoom can have a way of dehumanizing someone.”

Operational details and limits
- Facility: 72 beds (about 68 for general population), male-only; four general-population pods plus segregated cells and an 8-bed inmate-worker unit used for kitchen and cleaning duties.
- Average population: roughly 40 inmates this year; average length of stay: about eight days (up from seven the prior year).
- Hours and court duties: staff and management said the jail is staffed 24/7 and provides court security and inmate transport for the municipal court’s morning and afternoon dockets.
- Health services: the jail operates under a part-time medical contract (one doctor and registered nurses on-site part time and on call 24/7). Staff reported a rise in medical and behavioral-health needs: the jail averaged 53 inmates on suicide watch in 2024, up from 40 the year before. The jail has a medication-for-opioid-use-disorder (MOUD) protocol and supplies Narcan.

County housing, special management and costs
Davis and chief-level staff described how the county jail houses people who require higher-level medical or mental-health care — so-called intensive management inmates (IMI) — and how past per-day distinctions between IMI and general-population rates made billing and auditing difficult. The command staff said the city now pays a flat block rate that includes special-housing cases to reduce the complexity of fractionalized charges among multiple agencies.

Programming and recruitment
City officials said the short average stays and high turnover make in-jail programming difficult, and that staffing shortages — a statewide phenomenon — have driven the department to recruit aggressively and to offer hiring incentives. Officials described training requirements, a 10-week corrections academy and a field-training period that makes officers deployable in several months. Commander Davis described ongoing recruitment steps (incentives, elimination of some hurdles for lateral hires) but said retention remains a challenge.

Council context and next steps
Council members and staff discussed long-term options including a prior architect study that examined expansion. Davis said an expansion to house females and provide more local capacity has been studied in the past and would require construction and additional female correctional staff. The commander also said achieving voluntary accreditation through the Washington association (WASBIC, referenced in her presentation) remains a department goal.

Ending
Officials asked council to consider staffing, funding and space options and to weigh the trade-offs of sending more inmates to the county versus expanding local capacity. The chief and commander said they would follow up with additional details on costs and timelines as requested by the council.","City correction officials told the Yakima City Council study session in April 2025 the 72-bed Yakima City Jail is operating at roughly half staffing, relies on a county bed block and faces rising medical and mental-health service needs that drive transfers and costs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Yakima amends long-term parking permit rules; council adopts ordinance 7–0

Yakima council directs staff to study landlord liability for unpaid tenant utility bills

Yakima City officials cite staffing shortages, mental-health strains at city jail