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3:28for everybody else.
3:34Things are picking up everything fast.
3:39No, I didn't I went back over it once to
3:41see if I missed him. What's what's on
3:42the bottom here?
3:44Nope.
3:49And this one
3:58Oh, it's for them sending
10:11>> Unmuted. Unmuted. Okay.
10:14All right.
10:16We're going to go ahead and call this
10:17meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
10:20Um roll call for the record. All members
10:23of council are here. Our interim city
10:26manager's first meeting today, Pat
10:28Haley. Uh thank you for being with us
10:31and bearing this long past meeting or
10:33week that you had with plenty of
10:35meetings. Um and we have all um members
10:40of staff now with us um with the
10:43exception of
10:45we don't have Monica Hofstetter.
10:48She's She's online. Okay, I didn't see
10:50her. So, Monica Hofstetter is online
10:52along with our legal counsel, Julie
10:54Norton.
10:55Anybody else I missing? Corey. Corey.
10:58Corey. Is he here?
11:00No, I I gave him a message. Corey will
11:03be out. Okay. So, Corey will be out as
11:05well. Thank you.
11:07Okay. Then moving on to
11:11agenda approval. So, uh council members,
11:13there's been a lot of things happening
11:15with the agenda. You might have seen
11:17some some emails. Maybe some of you were
11:19not included in those emails.
11:21Um
11:22there we have to add a couple items to
11:24the active agenda. Actually, one item to
11:27the active agenda. Two items to the
11:28active agenda. And then we have a uh
11:32an an executive session being added at
11:34the end of the agenda. So, I'm going to
11:36go ahead and read the amendments and
11:39entertain those for a motion. So, we're
11:41requesting two executive sessions to be
11:43added today.
11:45Um first added to the beginning of the
11:47active agenda
11:48uh closed session
11:51uh discussing collective bargaining
11:53pursuant to RCW 42.30.140
11:57subsection 4.
11:59And
12:01second is at the end of the agenda. Let
12:04me see it make sure that I got them
12:05right from Julie.
12:10It's two pages. I'm sorry. RCW
12:1242.030.110
12:15subsection G subsection I and RCW 40 uh
12:2042.30.1101
12:22subsection 1G.
12:24Um to discuss pending litigation and
12:26legal counsel and reviewing
12:28qualifications of an applicant. And the
12:31last item for amendment approval
12:35uh would be the public hearing
12:38from the adopted ordinance establishing
12:40a 6-month emergency moratorium on the
12:42acceptance and processing of
12:43applications for essential public
12:46facilities including secure community
12:49transition facilities. And this was the
12:51adopted ordinance from uh council's
12:54meeting on March
12:572nd. Correct me if I'm wrong. Council
13:00member Galvan.
13:02You know, this was your item.
13:04I don't remember the date, but it sounds
13:05about
13:06>> Okay. I was I was doing some quick uh
13:09search through through my notes earlier.
13:12Um however, that um ordinance was
13:15adopted and because of that, it gives a
13:17way to a public hearing. Um it wasn't
13:20listed on the agenda, but it had been
13:21listed previously, so I know that
13:23community members are expecting that.
13:25Um anything else that you would like to
13:27add to that public hearing item, Council
13:30member Galvan? Or we think we covered
13:31it. Okay. So, um can I entertain a
13:34motion to add these amendments to the
13:38active agenda and at the end of the
13:41agenda?
13:43Can
13:44um
13:45Excuse me. Did you Madam, was there the
13:48executive session is going to be before
13:51or after the public comments?
13:53Um Julie mentioned that it's a closed
13:56session um and that will happen at the
13:58top of the active agenda. Okay. Mhm.
14:01So, right after invocation pledge of
14:02allegiance. Okay.
14:05I have one question.
14:07So, the beginning one that'll be the
14:08first the first one will be the
14:11collective bargaining one before
14:12Correct. And that has to happen at the
14:14top of the active agenda because there
14:16is action. Okay. And the second one you
14:18mentioned you stated two RCWs. Can you
14:20Can you repeat those for me, please?
14:22Yes.
14:2442.030
14:27.110 subsection G
14:30I
14:31and RCW 42.30
14:35.110 subsection 1G.
14:40Perfect. Thank you.
14:45Oh, Mr. I'm I'll make the motion to
14:47approve the uh
14:50changes to the agenda.
14:52>> [clears throat]
14:52>> Is there a motion on the table?
14:55I'll go ahead and second. Motion by
14:57Deputy Mayor Hart, second by Council
14:59member Chavez.
15:02Any other discussion?
15:05Hearing none, I'll go ahead and start a
15:06roll call. Um Council member Galvan.
15:09Yes.
15:10Council member Dolan.
15:12Yes. Council member Chavez. Yes. Council
15:16member Sesate. Yes. Council member
15:18Vasquez. Yes. Deputy Mayor Hart. Yes. I
15:22too vote yes. Motion carries. The
15:24amendments will carry into the agenda.
15:26Thanks for bearing with all of this.
15:30Um so, next up on the agenda
15:35is invocation. Do we have somebody here
15:37to provide us an invocation? Thank you.
15:39Um please stand if you're able to and
15:42remain standing for the pledge of
15:43allegiance.
15:48Father, we thank you for
15:49the opportunity to be come before you
15:51and
15:52thank you for so many things. We thank
15:54you for our great town and
15:55even the great weather that we're
15:57enjoying, flowers and the
15:59trees and everything that's in bloom.
16:00And so, we just pray that this is the
16:02beginning of blessings for our area.
16:05Father, we think now of our first
16:07responders and we certainly ask for
16:08safety for them and for their families
16:11just that you would be with each one of
16:12them on every call that they go out.
16:15We think of our city manager now,
16:16Father, and we just pray for the wisdom
16:18for him and for his family just that you
16:20be with them.
16:22Father, I think of the council members
16:24each individual one and that you would
16:25grant them with safety and wisdom. We
16:28pray for their families as well, Father,
16:29that you be with each of them.
16:32We think of our schools and all of the
16:33things that are going on in such a busy
16:35time of the year. The traveling and
16:37sports and and all of the other
16:39activities and plus the learning and we
16:41just pray for each of the teachers and
16:43the students as well.
16:45And then Father, we think of our
16:46businesses. We know that there's so many
16:49storefronts that are empty and we just
16:51ask that those could be filled and and
16:53that people could be able to shop local
16:55and just that this would be a thriving
16:57community.
16:58Most of all, Father, we thank you for
17:00your son, Jesus Christ, and for all that
17:02he's done for us. And we thank you again
17:04for everything in Jesus' name. Amen.
17:07Amen. Amen.
17:10I pledge allegiance to the flag
17:12of the United States of America and to
17:15the republic for which it stands, one
17:17nation under God, indivisible, with
17:20liberty and justice for all.
17:27Thank you. Up on our
17:30list um before we get to business is the
17:34proclamation
17:35and presentation for National
17:37Agricultural Day.
17:39Uh so,
17:41Deputy Mayor or I'm sorry, Council
17:43member Galvan.
17:44Um you uh submitted this um for um
17:49uh
17:50for approval today. Do you want to
17:52provide some commentary?
17:55So,
17:56tomorrow uh March 24th is uh National
17:59Agricultural Week. Um I think the for
18:02the most part uh between March 15th and
18:04March 21st was National Agricultural
18:07Week. And given that we are in the
18:10center of uh the valley and we're
18:13surrounded by agricultural
18:15um farms and and industries, I I figured
18:18this um
18:19it's an appropriate uh proclamation for
18:21for the city of Sunnyside to um
18:24to have. I know that the governor did
18:27something similar earlier in the month
18:28and uh
18:29I invited the the FFA members uh for
18:33tonight. Uh hopefully we could get this
18:35passed and and approved and read into
18:38the the record.
18:41Any questions?
18:42No, just thank you for bringing this up.
18:44Um this is very important and just
18:46appreciate the time and effort. Yeah.
18:48Thank you. Yeah. You're welcome. I I
18:50make a motion that we approve this
18:52resolution for the proclamation for
18:55National uh Agricultural uh
18:58Day and uh have that read into the
19:01minutes. I second or
19:04Okay. So, motion by Deputy Mayor uh Hart
19:07and I got second by Council member
19:09Vasquez.
19:11Um and so, I'll go ahead and um initiate
19:14a roll call. Um
19:17Council member Dolan. Yes. Council
19:20member Chavez.
19:21Yes. Council member Sesate. Yes. Council
19:24member Galvan. Yes. Council member
19:26Vasquez. Yes. Deputy Mayor Hart. Yes.
19:30Okay.
19:31And I too vote yes. Motion carries. So,
19:36this has now been approved by council um
19:39and I will go ahead and read the
19:41proclamation. It's a little lengthy, but
19:43I'll do my best. We'll read it into the
19:45record. And after that um the FFA
19:49members uh we're more than happy to have
19:51you all come up here and take some
19:53pictures with members of council.
19:57Okay.
19:58So, whereas the city of Sunnyside is
20:01located in the heart of the Yakima
20:02Valley, one of the most productive
20:04agricultural regions in the world, where
20:06farms and ranches contribute
20:08significantly to the cultivation of
20:10apples, grapes, hops, cherries, pears,
20:13dairy products, and a wide variety of
20:15other crops that nourish communities
20:18across the nation and around the globe.
20:20And whereas agriculture in and around
20:23Sunnyside supports thousands of local
20:25jobs and sustains families through
20:27farming, farm labor, food processing,
20:30transportation, research, equipment
20:32supply, and agricultural services that
20:35together strengthen the economic
20:37vitality of our community. And whereas
20:41the success of Washington agriculture
20:43relies on the dedication and
20:44collaboration of producers, growers,
20:47farm workers,
20:49processors, distributors, educators,
20:52researchers, agricultural business, and
20:54community partners whose hard work and
20:56innovation help maintain Sunnyside's
20:58proud agricultural heritage. And whereas
21:02the Yakima Valley is internationally
21:04recognized for its leadership in hop
21:06production, wine grapes, tree fruit, and
21:09dairy operations. And Sunnyside's
21:11agricultural community continues to play
21:13a key role in maintaining Washington's
21:15reputation as a global leader in
21:17high-quality agricultural production.
21:20And whereas recognizing March 24, 2026
21:24as National Agriculture Day provides an
21:26opportunity for the residents of
21:27Sunnyside to celebrate the essential
21:29role agriculture plays in our daily
21:31lives, to support the people and
21:33communities who make agriculture
21:34possible, and to inspire future
21:36generations to pursue careers in
21:38agriculture and related field.
21:41Fields. Now, therefore, I, Vicki Grouse,
21:45still mayor of the city of Sunnyside,
21:46Washington, by virtue of the authority
21:48vested in me by the laws of the state of
21:49Washington and on behalf of the
21:51Sunnyside City Council, do hereby
21:53proclaim Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 as
21:57National Agriculture Day.
21:59I, in testimony whereof, I have here on
22:02Tuesday at my hand and cause the seal of
22:04the city of Sunnyside to be affixed.
22:06Done at the city of Sunnyside
22:09um
22:10this 23rd day of March in the year of
22:13our Lord 2026.
22:21Okay.
22:23Congratulations.
22:31Do you want another The one? Yeah. You
22:33should probably You have a copy for
22:35them. Um, that that is their copy. Um,
22:38we They can't take that copy. We just
22:40didn't get her on the fancy paper. Um,
22:42we can do that and then get it Okay.
22:44I'll give it to you so then you can get
22:46it to them. Cool.
22:48Mhm.
22:50Okay, go thanks.
22:52>> [clears throat]
22:53>> Yeah.
22:54Okay. Uh, ca- councilors, would anybody
22:57want to go up and take a picture with
22:59FFA?
23:00>> you might and certainly Well, it's all
23:02inclusive.
23:03>> Well, we can stand behind you. Yeah, we
23:05can do that. Yeah, I'll go. That's cuz
23:07Well, first of all, let's shake your
23:08hand here while they're getting there.
23:10Hi.
23:13Hello.
23:14Hello. Again.
23:16Hello. Hello again. Are you the
23:18president of this Start everything. No,
23:21who's the president? Hey, start over.
23:24I did. I appreciate him. Okay.
23:28I'm Nattie, thank you. Tell him your
23:30dad's not up here.
23:32Tell him tell him he needs to get up
23:33here.
23:35We all just kind of squeeze together
23:37here and we can
23:37>> as council elected officials.
23:40Here, you want to
23:42Let's just put it in here.
23:45Everybody can see everybody. Shoulders.
23:54All right, so everybody got it.
23:55>> guys for being here. Yeah. Thank you
23:57guys.
24:02Madam Mayor,
24:04if I might.
24:06Um,
24:07goodies, goodies.
24:09Is it edible?
24:11Is it cookies?
24:12>> [laughter]
24:18>> Thank you very much.
24:22Thank you so much.
24:23>> Thank you.
24:25Ooh, thank you. Is there a pencil? Oh,
24:27there's a pen.
24:29Thank you.
24:30Oh, cool.
24:32Pens are nice.
24:33Thanks, Annie. Cool.
24:35We never can
24:37Um, Madam Mayor, if I just would address
24:39the FFA chapter before they take off.
24:43Um, just want to say congratulation.
24:45I've been following you on Facebook of
24:46all the things you've been up to. I
24:48understand that this little paper tells
24:51all the stuff you've been working on.
24:53And uh, so far you guys have been just
24:55really doing your high school proud in
24:57your chapter. And uh,
25:00it's it's really awesome to see you
25:01here. And when is your plant sale?
25:04I got to have the date.
25:07May 1st and 2nd. May 1st and 2nd. All
25:10right, well, that's the best place to
25:12get plants. You know that they're
25:14grown with care. So, thank you all.
25:17Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you
25:19all for coming.
25:28Cool.
25:31Okay, now moving on to uh, public
25:34comment. Is there Was there anybody who
25:36signed up?
25:40Dang it, I can't find what I'm looking
25:42for here.
25:45Thank you.
25:47Okay, I have two.
25:53Oh, I
25:54I have uh,
25:56Monica Niemeyer.
25:58Ms. Niemeyer, is your um
26:01public comment for the later part of the
26:04meeting or is
26:06General. So, you want to You want me to
26:09call you back for general public
26:10comment?
26:12There are There are two and I was going
26:13to state it into the record now.
26:16Okay, um, and the second person I can't
26:20really
26:20It's um
26:23Mar- Jennifer Martinez? Okay.
26:26So, all both general comment. Okay.
26:29Okay, so we have two uh, public
26:30comments. And um
26:36Oh, for public hearing. Yes, okay. Um,
26:39so
26:40there had to be an amendment to the
26:42agenda to include public hearing, so you
26:44won't see it on the agenda, which is
26:46actually motioned and seconded to
26:47approve that. That will be item D on the
26:50active agenda. So, I don't know if
26:52Jennifer is with us on online. Um, but
26:56just um, making sure that that she
26:58knows. And um, I will make sure I call
27:00her up and anybody else who wants to
27:02speak during public hearing. Uh, for We
27:06haven't There's been a There's been some
27:08transition, so we haven't been able to
27:10actually get the language on the agenda.
27:13We will make sure that it is on the next
27:15agenda. And this is around uh,
27:18public comment. So, last month, sometime
27:22in January, um, during our one of our
27:24council meetings, um, we adopted two
27:29public comments per our council rules
27:31and procedures. The first comment um the
27:36first comment is at the top of the
27:38agenda.
27:39And these This is for citizens wishing
27:42to address the council
27:44for regarding any item listed on the
27:47active agenda only.
27:50And they are allotted no more than 3
27:52minutes. The second public comment
27:55section at the end of the agenda is for
27:58uh
28:00the
28:01public, citizens,
28:03um,
28:03to
28:05provide general public comment on any
28:08topic. Speakers are also only allotted
28:11no more than 3 minutes.
28:13Um, so making sure I read that into the
28:15record because it still hasn't been
28:16placed on the agenda, but it has been in
28:18practice since we first adopted it back
28:21in January. Um, we will make sure we get
28:23this language on the upcoming meeting,
28:25so um, everybody has um, where we're all
28:29on the same page around expectations and
28:31agreements here.
28:33Okay.
28:35All right, so since nobody is I don't
28:38have anybody signed up for
28:41public comment related to
28:43active agenda,
28:46I will move into
28:49the consent agenda.
28:53So, the consent agenda has um, looking
28:57over
28:58pay- payroll vouchers. Approve payroll
29:01voucher numbers 2006 through 2344 and
29:06wire transfers as listed for $648,027.52
29:13for the period ending March 19, 2026.
29:17Claim vouchers. Approve claim voucher
29:19numbers 2287 through 2502
29:22and wire transfers as listed for
29:25$495,657.19
29:29for the period ending on March 19, 2026.
29:34And um,
29:36not to put you on the spot, Mr. City
29:38Manager or those from finance committee,
29:41but I know that there was um, some
29:45comments that y'all all [clears throat]
29:46to make before coming into uh,
29:49this um
29:50the consent agenda from y'all's meeting
29:53last week. Yeah. [clears throat]
29:55I don't know who wants to address that,
29:57but I can go ahead. And then if Mr. Pat
30:01would Mr. Haley would back me up on
30:03this. As we Are you kidding me? I'm not
30:06going to do that. [laughter] You can do
30:07that.
30:08Anyways,
30:10as as part part of what the finance
30:13committee is doing now is we meet with
30:15the
30:16finance director on the Thursday before
30:19Council meeting and we go over the check
30:22register and the payroll register and we
30:25examine each of the expenditures at
30:30at length. And uh
30:33we we question just like you do when you
30:36are here Council members as you are here
30:39and you go through and you look at all
30:40the different things. Trust me, we spent
30:433 hours and we looked at every single
30:46uh
30:47uh item on on the for the for the time
30:50that was uh
30:52announced here through the um
30:56Let's see, ending in March 19th. So, we
30:59did look at every single thing. So, if
31:01we we figure that if you have not
31:04checked with the
31:05finance director or talked to one of us
31:08about any concerns that you have about
31:11any of the items, I would suggest that
31:13that's how we will do it here going
31:15forward. So, we don't spend an hour and
31:17a half, you know,
31:19debating about whether or not $14 for a
31:22couple of batteries for some key fobs is
31:25a worthwhile uh
31:28expenditure of money. Um but in any
31:31case, we know now which ones are the
31:33annual amounts of money that go out for
31:36different uh
31:37um organizations that we belong to,
31:39different subscriptions that we have. We
31:41know now that there are certain certain
31:44uh expenditures that are monthly like
31:47the leases on the cars, uh
31:50the
31:50the paper uh paper copiers and
31:55telephones and cell phones and so forth.
31:58So, we have made a thorough examination
32:01of this and we find it to be in order.
32:07Want to add anything? Go ahead. Well,
32:10with that being said, I mean, I I
32:12I know we did discuss one of the
32:14particular claims um
32:16from the the attorney the defense
32:18attorney and you know, it just it still
32:21doesn't sit well with me. It's claim
32:23number 2473.
32:25And in that one I would like to pull um
32:28until we get further information. I did
32:30request from Monica a copy of the
32:32invoice and in there
32:36there's there's just no proof, right?
32:38It's just a statement or or a letter of
32:40this attorney saying that he was 58
32:43cases
32:44overload, but
32:45you know, are we supposed to take that
32:47word or that letter? I
32:49I still would like a little bit more
32:50information on on that one in
32:52particular. And the rest of them, yeah,
32:54you you are right. We we did discuss
32:57that.
32:58My initial thoughts on that is
33:00you know, I put myself on on on the
33:03shoes with the other counselors that are
33:04not on the finance
33:06you know, subcommittee and they do have
33:08the right to to ask you know, some of
33:10these questions. Um you know, they
33:14that's what we're here for.
33:16You know, if if if if there's questions
33:18that could be asked over the email, I I
33:20do
33:21recommend that they do that.
33:24You know, should a should an email to to
33:26Monica or the city or the city manager.
33:30But you know, I don't know what the rest
33:32of Council feels. I If I had questions,
33:34I would I would want these questions to
33:36be asked in public also. And the finance
33:38committee just for your edification is
33:42consists of myself
33:44and
33:46George Galvan and Letty Cesati.
33:49And as I said, we we met with the
33:53the city manager interim city manager.
33:55We met with HR Heath Anderson and
34:00trying to remember who else was in the
34:01room. Monica.
34:03And Monica, of course. Monica was there
34:05via Zoom. And we did grill her quite a
34:08lot on the on the attorneys because it
34:10doesn't seem right how they're they're
34:13how they're trying to
34:15uh get some extra money out of us and
34:17there's some argument going on. So, we
34:19did put in a request for that and we do
34:21want to pull that particular one till we
34:23have more information. I agree. Okay, so
34:25there's one item requested to be in
34:27pulled um
34:29Mr. Haley, did you want to add anything?
34:31Well, it's it's been my experience and
34:34my recommendation
34:36that the council members who sit on
34:38various committees are charged with the
34:40responsibility of using their judgment
34:44as to the items that are being referred
34:46to in that particular committee.
34:48And so out of respect for those council
34:50members who are assigned to those, you
34:52you allow them to uh
34:55you respect their judgment. And so
34:57instead of duplicating the efforts
34:59uh that we just take three council
35:01members and city manager and the finance
35:04director and trust that we have gone
35:06through every item with a fine-tooth
35:08comb and asked the questions.
35:11And in that way we
35:13efficiently use our time together and
35:15trust and respect the judgment of other
35:18council members. Committees can be
35:20rotated over time
35:21so that if a
35:23committee council member would would
35:25like to sit on that committee, that can
35:26be rotated
35:28and they can have their own opportunity.
35:30So, it's my recommendation that we trust
35:32the judgment of the council members who
35:34are sitting on that committee
35:36to um
35:37to thoroughly
35:38evaluate the criteria of what they're
35:42assigned to do in that committee.
35:46So, we don't duplicate efforts.
35:48So, so with that said, I would like to
35:50make a motion to accept the consent
35:53agenda
35:55without that particular item. With with
35:57the exception of item number 2473.
36:02I'll second.
36:04Okay.
36:05I got a motion by Deputy Mayor Hart.
36:08>> [cough]
36:09>> Seconded by Counselor Galvan.
36:14Any discussion?
36:18Hearing none.
36:20Seeing none.
36:22Excuse me. Hearing none.
36:25Did you Oh, go ahead.
36:28Be a little louder, Counselor Dolan. I
36:31I just had a question about uh
36:34>> [clears throat]
36:34>> 2311 and 2312.
36:40For the committee.
36:43And and just for future What was it
36:45again, the number?
36:46>> 2311 and 2312.
36:48>> 2311 and 2312. Let me see. Both of them
36:50with the last name McKinley.
36:53That is then when we were talking again
36:55about the lawyers, that's part of the
36:57lawyer objections. We we've got
37:00questions about all of them cuz they
37:02have all brought in this after you know,
37:05they've done their the amount of money
37:07they've that they did the amount of
37:09cases that they did and then they've
37:10thrown some extra ones as being late.
37:13So, we are questioning in that and we
37:14are investigating that. So, there may be
37:17some changes in the contracts. So,
37:19that's why
37:20that that's a husband-wife.
37:22Right. Yeah.
37:24And And they both and they both
37:26you know, They do exactly the same
37:28thing. They get exactly the same check.
37:30They get have the exact same invoices
37:33other than their initials. Uh-huh.
37:35So, it just seemed odd to me. I just
37:37curious about that. Right, there's two
37:38there we have five defense attorneys.
37:40Yeah, we have five of those.
37:41>> Five of them. And
37:43one happened to be a husband-and-wife
37:45team. No, two of them are. We have two
37:47husband-and-wife teams in this.
37:49Mhm. We have two husband-and-wife teams.
37:51Okay.
37:52>> same spelling of the last name.
37:53>> I'm sorry, but kind of threw me the
37:55McKinleys that you're referring to
37:57um
37:58uh Doug and Anastasia are
38:02individual attorneys providing services
38:04for the city of Sunnyside.
38:07And so it appears that it's a
38:08duplication of the check, but it's
38:09actually two two separate attorneys.
38:12But that's
38:13>> Yeah, it's Was it That's what I was
38:15curious about because they are both in
38:17there for the exact same amount of
38:19money. Well, then if you go to the
38:22Giesler Mhm. and they one of them has a
38:26a case overload. Mhm. Suppose The other
38:29one doesn't. Yeah. And
38:31we did if I could pull them up again, we
38:34did um
38:36um overload from 2025
38:39at our last meeting also. Yeah. So, how
38:42many
38:43>> We're we're really questioning it
38:44because they're continuing to write
38:46letters to the finance director about
38:48how they're not being paid properly,
38:50that somebody's getting more money than
38:51they're getting or something.
38:52>> Then they'd be happy to supply invoices,
38:54I guess. Yeah, I think they would be and
38:56that's our that's going to be our
38:58mission is to get those. Great. And if
39:01you need a fourth on that committee, I'd
39:03love to sit in. Well, that makes it a
39:05quorum.
39:05>> Quorum, yeah.
39:06>> [laughter]
39:06>> So, we have a quorum then. No, but it it
39:09works out. You'll get a chance in in
39:11maybe another year.
39:13>> When we rotate.
39:13>> When we rotate, you bet.
39:16Um Monica, do you have anything else to
39:18add to that before
39:20we move on with the
39:22>> um Julie might be able to speak on it a
39:24little clearer than I can, but there's a
39:26judicial rule that says you can only
39:28take so many cases. The cases last year
39:31were at 300 and that's what their
39:32contract is for. They get a
39:35a set amount every month and then at the
39:37end of the year if they go over those
39:38cases, they have a specific amount they
39:40get for each case going over. This year
39:43they've actually
39:45judicially dropped the amount that you
39:47can have in cases. So now I believe it's
39:50280
39:52Yeah. cases that they're allowed to
39:54have. So the case load actually has
39:56lessened this year. So
39:58that's something that we're going to
39:59request is that we keep a little better
40:01track of that so that we know when that
40:03case load is about to go over because we
40:05don't want to see um
40:08them having such a substantial case load
40:10going over.
40:12Mhm.
40:14You go ahead. I can echo what what
40:16Monica said. There were changes to the
40:17case load standards, but there's also a
40:21tearing option
40:23to to reduce the burden. So you weren't
40:26supposed to have to fully change your
40:29case load standards within a year. So
40:30what we need to do maybe as a team is
40:33find out what standard our court is
40:35applying if they're doing the tiered or
40:38if they are just requiring you to to go
40:41to the minimum right away
40:43because that could impact your
40:46your case load counts.
40:49And I believe that's what we're
40:51expecting to do. Okay.
40:54Council member Dolan. I
40:56would agree with you on the case load
40:58part of it, but I also if you check from
41:002022 and 2023 the amount of
41:05the scale that they're being paid jump
41:07considera
41:09jump considerably.
41:11And I'm curious about
41:13>> They get an increase a CPI increase
41:15every single year per their contract?
41:18This is much higher than a CPI.
41:20It's we went back and looked at some of
41:22those and the increase happened two city
41:26managers ago.
41:29And it was You know, I think that it's
41:31set now at a at a at level Yeah, a level
41:35up there. Well,
41:38I was curious about that. There is
41:39lawyers.
41:40Largely market driven. Yeah, it is
41:42market driven. So So you know, there's
41:44not a lot of negotiation. That's what
41:46the market rate is. And does the
41:48committee compare that to other cities
41:50and thing? Yes, we have actually. We did
41:53talk We did talk some about that at our
41:55meeting the other day when we were But
41:57it's still something that's in We have
41:59to do some more investigating on it. So
42:02that will be coming back. So y'all are
42:03meeting again and continuing the
42:05conversation. Yeah, we will probably
42:06talk about it at our next finance
42:08committee meeting. Yes. Well, thank you
42:10for your work. Finance Committee.
42:12Um any other discussion?
42:16Okay.
42:18Hearing none.
42:20Council member Dolan.
42:22Yes.
42:23Uh Council member Chavez.
42:25Yes. Council member Galvan. Yes.
42:28Council member Sesate. Yes. Council
42:31member Vasquez. Yes. Deputy Mayor Hart.
42:33Yes.
42:34Okay. So I too vote yes.
42:36Motion carries.
42:42Okay. So this moves us into the active
42:46agenda.
42:47Uh for you all walking in, we just I saw
42:50some of you just walk in, you'll see
42:52that the active agenda does not have the
42:54public hearing in place. Um we did amend
42:58um motion and had a motion passed to
43:01include the public hearing and that is
43:03item D. So right after wastewater
43:05utility improvement task. So
43:07I'm saying that now because we are about
43:09to go into close session um to go over
43:12RCW 42.30.140
43:16subsection 4 to discuss collective
43:18bargaining
43:20um and [clears throat] so as soon as we
43:22come in we'll go in through the active
43:23agenda and that is now on the list.
43:26So
43:27if we can recess to go into close
43:30session
43:32Do we think
43:32>> at 6:34. Julie, is there um a time
43:37For close session you do not have to
43:38call a time. So we'll just meet until
43:41we're done and then you'll open the
43:42doors and bring everybody back in. Okay.
43:45So
43:46just hang tight. I don't think we will
43:47take too long.
43:49Knock on wood.
43:51And Julie, who who do we need in the
43:53room for this?
43:54Um
43:57just the council, the manager, myself
44:01and Monica would be fine
44:04um if she wants to participate.
44:08If there's any questions about the
44:09finances.
44:11The chief probably shouldn't be because
44:13he's a
44:14Okay. part of the unit. Yeah, that's
44:17fine.
44:18Okay.
44:21Did you say Rob
44:23should stay? No, he should not because
44:25he's She did not say that. Yeah.
44:58We're ready? Okay.
44:59We're going to resume back into regular
45:01session at 7:19 p.m. As mentioned before
45:04when I cited the RCW into the record,
45:07there would be action. Um so Council
45:10members, I'd like to entertain a motion.
45:12I'll make a motion to accept the uh
45:15contract with the uh CBC
45:18uh excuse me, the um
45:21CBA Teamsters local 760
45:26um
45:27regarding
45:28representing the
45:29Sunnyside police chief and fire chief
45:32ratification
45:34as of uh
45:36through December through December of
45:3831st 30 2030.
45:43I'll second.
45:44I have a motion by Deputy Mayor Hart and
45:46then a second by
45:48Councilor Chavez.
45:50Um
45:51is
45:53there discussion?
45:56Okay.
45:57Hearing none, I'll initiate a roll call.
46:00Councilor Galvan. I abstain.
46:05Council member Dolan.
46:07I abstain.
46:12Uh Council member Chavez. Yes.
46:15Uh Councilor Sesate. Yes.
46:19Councilor Vasquez.
46:20I'll abstain as well.
46:23Deputy Mayor Hart. Yes.
46:28I too vote yes. Motion carries.
46:34Okay.
46:36Moving on into
46:38um further into the active agenda um
46:41what is now item B
46:44is the resolution to implement
46:46alleviation of out-of-pocket ambulance
46:49fees for Sunnyside residents. So
46:52approving a resolution. Mr. City
46:54Manager, I believe this belongs to Chief
46:57Haberk.
46:59All right. Good evening uh Mayor and
47:00Council. So this is one of the steps
47:03following
47:04um our uh amendment to our ambulance
47:06utility rate. So as one of our plans to
47:08implement um as a result of of that
47:11utility rate change um to alleviate
47:13out-of-pocket costs for ambulance
47:15transports for city of Sunnyside
47:16residents. And so what I bring to you
47:18tonight um
47:20is a resolution reflecting that as well
47:22as at the um
47:24guidance of our ambulance biller to have
47:26a departmental policy that reflects um
47:29that practice as well so they have
47:30something to go by um on their end when
47:32when billing out ambulance um fees and
47:35charges. So um
47:37I can stand for absolutely any questions
47:39or provide clarification or
47:42Council member Dolan.
47:43I had a question about uh
47:46the MS EMS study rate or rate study.
47:49Um
47:50I see on here it's
47:52$2,712.50.
47:55I was told that it should have been
47:57somewhere close to $30,000
47:59for a rate change.
48:01Uh a rate study I mean. What are you
48:03referring to, sir? I'm sorry, I don't
48:05have
48:06Well, the He's going by what's the check
48:08register.
48:09>> Well, the check register. Which has
48:11already been That's been paid. I think
48:13that's just the That's just a portion
48:15>> a reference of an amount because it I
48:18was curious um
48:20what is the total cost of the rate
48:22study?
48:23That I don't know. That was conducted by
48:25our previous interim finance uh
48:28director. Uh Ms. Zabel is one that
48:30initiated that study. I did not have any
48:32apart of the the contract or the pricing
48:34for the study whatsoever. It was
48:36presented to me as a as a done deal
48:38already.
48:38>> Correct. Oh, wow.
48:40That's good to know.
48:42Thank you.
48:43Is that correct, Monica? I'm I'm going
48:45to make sure I'm Correct. That it was
48:47That was um secured um
48:51and I I can pull it up and email it to
48:54you if you would like a copy of that,
48:56Mr. Dolan. I'd love a copy of that.
48:58Thank you.
48:59>> Okay.
49:03Deputy Mayor Hart. I was going to say
49:05the the study that he's referring to
49:07that was conducted by FCS Group. Yeah,
49:10so that they're that's what they do.
49:12Correct. Those kinds of studies. Yes,
49:14ma'am. And there wasn't anything found
49:16there that was
49:17that's their normal charge is somewhere
49:19in that neighborhood. Again, I did as
49:22far as selecting the consultant or the
49:23contract, I did not have Okay.
49:25>> that whatsoever. Okay. So I apologize I
49:28don't have any answers.
49:28>> That's all right. We can we'll get
49:30those.
49:31Um so Mr. Dolan will be satisfied with
49:34that I hope. Councilor Vasquez. Yeah, I
49:36It's It's good. It's valid. Yeah. So, I
49:38have a question on the resolution. I
49:40have a question on section six on the
49:42exceptions. Um section six, I had a
49:46question on A, the non-medically
49:49necessary transports. Um this would be
49:52something that would be excluded from
49:53the coverage with this program. So, my
49:56question was just how do you guys
49:57identify a non-medically necessary
50:00transport? And I guess I'm just kind of
50:01asking because there there can be
50:03situations where they can come against,
50:05you know, the city and say well like it
50:06wasn't medical
50:07>> Correct. And and so our practice is we
50:09we're not doctors, you know, we we
50:11assess the patient um what we can, you
50:13know,
50:14determine by, you know, from vitals and
50:16the EKG, but we go by, you know, if the
50:17if the patient has a medical complaint,
50:20then that is that necessitates or that
50:23would be a necessary transport that
50:25point till we can kind of rule out. What
50:27that's referring to there is um we have
50:30somebody who pretty much says, "Oh, I
50:31need to go to the pharmacy at the
50:32hospital to pick up my medications."
50:34Okay. There's not a medical necessity
50:37for them to go by ambulance. Just, you
50:39know, Just like a free transport.
50:41>> They're pretty much looking for a a ride
50:43at that point for people.
50:44>> you. Got you. What's that, sir? People
50:46for people ride.
50:46>> Well, exactly. That's where we suggest a
50:48ride share, you know, people for people.
50:50But no, that's what that's referred to.
50:51That's not insinuating that the the fire
50:54department EMS provider is going to say,
50:55"No, you don't need medical transport."
50:58Okay.
50:58>> That's not what that's for. Perfect. I
50:59just wanted to be clear on that. And
51:01also just for the record, I just wanted
51:03to make sure this is only going to be
51:05provided for residents who live within
51:07city limits of the city of Sunnyside,
51:09correct?
51:09>> That is correct.
51:10>> Perfect. Thank you.
51:13Any other questions for Chief Oberik?
51:15Councilor Galvan.
51:16I have a lot.
51:17Um [laughter]
51:19And and and thank you, Councilor
51:21Vasquez. I mean, that non-medical
51:23shouldn't that be defined in the
51:25definitions? Um I I think that's really
51:27important that we have that definition
51:28in there um just because, you know,
51:30somebody could come back and say
51:32didn't have it on there.
51:33Uh another one is section four
51:36uh subsection B.
51:39City of Sunnyside and city fire
51:40department and ambulance billing service
51:42provider may require proof of residency.
51:45I like where it says may
51:47and may establish administrative
51:50procedures to confirm eligibility. So,
51:54the problem with with that is is that
51:58we're not going to have a procedure. And
52:00and this doesn't say that we're going to
52:01have a procedure. It says that we're we
52:03may establish such procedure. Um you
52:07know, we we already have issues with
52:10with, you know, not to go into detail,
52:12but with the courts on on something like
52:13this.
52:14But
52:17you know, I I I really believe that we
52:18should have something in place. I'm not
52:20sure who who wrote this or who provided
52:23this um
52:25you know, this guideline or whatnot. I
52:27would say the ambulance uh the the
52:29the billing department or the billing
52:31service that provided this or who
52:33provided it. For the most part, yeah,
52:34the template. Yeah, I I I just I really
52:38believe it needs a lot more work.
52:40And then going back to the
52:42uh one of the definitions, eligible
52:44resident
52:46means an individual whose primary
52:47residence is located within the city of
52:49Sunnyside who meets eligibility
52:52requirements.
52:53So, it it's it's asking for the
52:55eligibility requirements, but we don't
52:57have those those procedures in place. Um
53:00and
53:01just so just so people do understand
53:04that there is two sections in in
53:05Sunnyside
53:06uh north of Sunnyside that do not fall
53:09within the city limits of Sunnyside. And
53:12there's another uh section of the city
53:15um just east of Mapleton-Sunnyside
53:17Highway
53:18over there by cliffs. There's a lot of
53:20homes there. They don't fall within the
53:22city of Sunnyside. They don't pay into
53:24this, so
53:25uh we just want to make sure that that
53:28we do know that. Um
53:30you know,
53:31we we just it I love the program. I love
53:33what it does, but I think we we really
53:36need to have a better procedure in place
53:39so it's not taken advantage of. Um and
53:41and you know, it could be gifting the
53:44public funds, right? We don't have such
53:46procedure in writing. Um somebody could
53:50come and say, "Hey, you know, you guys
53:51are giving
53:53free rides to non-residents and, you
53:55know, we're not really doing the
53:58our work, our job, and then there's no
54:00procedure in place."
54:02And then to kind of answer that first
54:04portion there, counselor, so a lot of
54:06those are addressed in policy. And so
54:09that's where the kind of the intent of
54:10the resolution it was to
54:13for for council's direction and and
54:15guidance in that regard. What is
54:17required and and Julie, feel free to
54:18step in if I'm if I'm going the wrong
54:20direction here, but really what we need
54:24to implement is is policy. But because
54:27this has a potential, you know, this has
54:28a financial component, I did not want to
54:30just go by departmental policy. I wanted
54:32to push a resolution um uh in tandem
54:36with it um if that makes sense. And so,
54:38as far as your concerns regarding
54:40establishing eligibility or what um
54:43criteria they'd have to meet, that would
54:44be addressed in in policy.
54:46Um and so, what we would do at that
54:48point is, you know, policies are
54:49malleable.
54:51And so, that is most something uh
54:53certainly something I actually have a
54:54note even right here
54:56um about having what criteria. So, more
54:58often than not what I've talked with
54:59other agencies that um have a similar
55:01program, usually um you know, it'd be
55:05take the address off their ID, uh a
55:07piece of mail, or more often than not
55:09what we utilize and actually what we
55:11utilize in our record management system
55:13is the what they call the hospital face
55:15sheet. And so, the hospital obtains
55:17that. We get a copy after every
55:18transport. We're legally required to
55:20have one.
55:22And that has the information that they
55:23pull, whether it be from their
55:24insurance, from where they receive their
55:26mail, um or whatever the case may be.
55:28And that's typically one of the most um
55:32consistent ways to validate
55:34uh an address being within the city
55:36limits or not. And and to back on top of
55:38those areas that, you know, might seem
55:40like they'd be in the city due to
55:41proximity, but are not, um
55:44we have a way of delineating those
55:46through GIS. Um and GIS says flat out,
55:50regardless of where it might look like
55:51on the map, it clarifies is this
55:53residence within the city limits or is
55:55this an unincorporated Yakima County?
55:58So, then in section seven um subsection
56:01A
56:02where it says city Sunnyside fire
56:04department shall administer the program
56:06and may adopt. Should shouldn't that be
56:09will adopt?
56:12If I may jump in, your agenda packet has
56:14a draft operational policy with it. So,
56:16there already is a policy drafted. And
56:18we can incorporate some of these changes
56:19into that that policy or procedure that
56:22you're talking about. Um the resolution
56:24is really just to create an exception to
56:26your existing code which says everybody
56:28gets billed. And so, this is to to
56:30alleviate billing for your your city
56:33residents.
56:34And um the the eligibility criteria are
56:36extremely minimal and they are pretty in
56:39my opinion pretty clear um as to what
56:42defines eligibility. You just have to be
56:44a city resident. And it's the policy
56:47that will spell out what proof maybe
56:50will be required to establish that
56:51you're a city resident. But if you if
56:54you look how the definitions track with
56:56eligibility in section four, it it works
56:59out. It makes sense, but it's it's a
57:00very
57:02very broad, as you would expect, a very
57:04broad policy that says residents will
57:06provide will be receiving free
57:08transports um to create the exception to
57:10your code. And then
57:12the policy that was also included in
57:14your agenda packet is is sort of a draft
57:16that'll be worked on and can add those
57:18additional what are the the standards of
57:20proof used to establish eligibility. But
57:23the idea is is not to overanalyze this
57:26and probably benefit of the doubt will
57:27be given to
57:29to the your resident status.
57:34Go ahead, Councilor Vasquez. Vasquez.
57:36Yeah, you so you actually answered one
57:38of my questions. I was about to ask like
57:39and if require proof, what proof would
57:41they be showing? So, so you did just
57:44state all of that into the record.
57:46However, I also I I do want to I I will
57:49agree with Councilor Galvan just with
57:51the words may. Um I would feel more
57:53comfortable with should or shall or
57:55will. Um just something a bit more
57:57direct because may is kind of like
57:59optional and not really like something
58:02that will be implemented or required
58:04from everyone. So, that's just one
58:07change that I would appreciate.
58:11And again, are we referring to the
58:12resolution on that part because
58:13everything that it is a reference to may
58:15is in the draft policy. Yeah. Yes, just
58:18in regards to the resolution.
58:20Okay.
58:23Any other questions?
58:27Comments?
58:29Um I'm curious why we just don't use a
58:31picture ID with your address right on
58:33it, like uh Washington driver's license.
58:36>> You you can. However, in the state in
58:37the state of Washington uh when you
58:38adjust residence, and I I can speak just
58:40from personal experience, is that you
58:42can update your uh address in the online
58:45Department of Motor Vehicles or
58:46Department of Licensing, but your
58:47physical ID will not necessarily
58:49represent your most recent address until
58:51that ID is due to renew. That's true.
58:53And you have a um transport, they're
58:56there.
58:58Um the person that had called was a city
59:01resident. The other person maybe lives
59:03in Reno and is their relative.
59:06>> Mhm. So, when they transport them
59:09does the relative get
59:12billed?
59:13>> No, because the patient at that point is
59:14not a city resident.
59:17They would be billed.
59:18>> I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I I I took your
59:20question backwards, sir. Sorry, my
59:21apologies. Yes, the patient would be
59:23billed at that point because the patient
59:25themselves is not a city resident. My
59:26apologies. And see, that's what you have
59:27to establish.
59:29You You establish it later, I would
59:31guess, and
59:32and then send them a bill for it. But uh
59:34that's that's just something that popped
59:36up. Yep.
59:39Can I can I circle back to Counselor
59:40Vasquez's question
59:42or comment? Um
59:44I don't necessarily think you need the
59:47change you're requesting because what
59:49it's saying is that the city may require
59:53proof of residency, but it doesn't have
59:56to if it adopts this language with this
59:59or if it adopts the resolution with this
1:00:01language. We are proposing through this
1:00:03policy to add additional requirements,
1:00:06but if you were to adopt it now it would
1:00:07just says we may require proof and it's
1:00:10to give them flexibility. It doesn't
1:00:13necessarily change how you implement
1:00:15this program going forward.
1:00:19Um so I guess I guess like where my
1:00:21where my confusion would enter from your
1:00:23statement is just that this is going to
1:00:25be something that's going to be
1:00:26implemented that's new and it's
1:00:28something that
1:00:30current who don't have insurance or who
1:00:33do pay a co- a co-payment from their
1:00:35insurance
1:00:36that they've always had to make a
1:00:38payment. They've always had to make a
1:00:40payment regardless if they lived in city
1:00:42limits or out of city limits, but moving
1:00:45this forward now residents who live
1:00:47within city limits will now be able to
1:00:50not they they'll get like a forgiveness
1:00:52like they won't have to pay this fee. So
1:00:55I just I just feel more comfortable if
1:00:58they are showing proof of residency that
1:01:00way it's fair all across and especially
1:01:03because you know there are people who
1:01:05live outside of city limits who do not
1:01:07contribute anything
1:01:09into the money that comes into our city
1:01:12and I just want it to be fair for
1:01:13everyone who does live within city
1:01:14limits for it to be fair all across and
1:01:17for them to be able to show proof of
1:01:18residency.
1:01:20Um I would feel 100% just more
1:01:22comfortable knowing that they are
1:01:23showing proof.
1:01:24And that it's not something optional but
1:01:25that they will be showing proof.
1:01:29Yes, go ahead. But then when you when
1:01:31you take them to the hospital, they have
1:01:33to show all that information.
1:01:35>> That is correct and so that's all
1:01:36captured on the face sheet. Yeah, it's
1:01:37all it's all there. It's all on the
1:01:39sheet. It also they always ask about
1:01:41your insurance if you've got insurance
1:01:43and all that thing. I've been there to
1:01:45the emergency ward a couple of times
1:01:46here this year so I know what that
1:01:48involves. So I didn't have to take an
1:01:51ambulance or anything, but that the big
1:01:53thing about this is that we're allowing
1:01:55we're making it so people who live
1:01:57within the city don't have to pay
1:02:00for the ambulance ride. Correct. And And
1:02:02that really is the biggest piece of
1:02:04this. Correct, ma'am. And and I think to
1:02:05answer that kind of and again I'll have
1:02:07Julie Mhm.
1:02:09step in if I'm if I'm going wrong. The
1:02:10the may portion is that if if we pick
1:02:13somebody up in the city, we take them to
1:02:15the hospital, we get their face sheet,
1:02:17it's a city address,
1:02:19um
1:02:20there's our validation there. Where the
1:02:21may might come into is that it you know
1:02:23the burden of proof would come on the
1:02:25patient at that point if the
1:02:26documentation we have that says no
1:02:28they're not a city resident and they
1:02:29insist yes I am a city resident, the
1:02:31burden of proof would be on them to say
1:02:33hey here's the mail I receive at this
1:02:34city address or here's my ID. Um and
1:02:37that's where the may comes into play
1:02:39there because if we have everything
1:02:41right out of the shoots from the
1:02:41hospital face sheet or whatever, um we
1:02:44don't have to go above and beyond per se
1:02:46to validate it. We have
1:02:48documentation that says yes they live at
1:02:49such and such address which is in the
1:02:51city limits of Sunnyside. I don't know
1:02:53if that kind of Mhm. answers a little
1:02:55bit. Um
1:02:57but yeah the may would be pretty much as
1:02:58if we have to
1:03:01take any extra steps to validate.
1:03:04If that
1:03:05if that makes sense.
1:03:06Okay.
1:03:08Yeah. Any other questions?
1:03:11I just wanted to make a comment that I
1:03:13don't think mail
1:03:16is a good way to determine whether or
1:03:18not they live there.
1:03:20We get a lot of mail from for other
1:03:22people all the time.
1:03:24It's yeah it's just one one method. That
1:03:26was that was an example if we don't want
1:03:28to have that be as a as a a method to
1:03:30validate
1:03:31um residency then that's where your may
1:03:33comes in. You may establish that, but
1:03:35you should or will establish that would
1:03:37sound a lot more
1:03:40you know like you're actually directing
1:03:42this to happen so that
1:03:44we have proof that you do live here.
1:03:48Well, it's one of the Correct. methods
1:03:50of validating someone's residency,
1:03:52right?
1:03:53I know I usually use my passport every
1:03:55now and then when Yep. I have it handy.
1:04:00Um okay. Um what is the desire of
1:04:03council on item B resolution to
1:04:06implement alleviation out of pocket
1:04:07ambulance fees for Sunnyside residents?
1:04:10But before that just one more question.
1:04:15Would would would you be fine if table
1:04:17this item or do you need this
1:04:19I guess So I will say as of now on the
1:04:22cover sheet says so we're kind of the
1:04:24how we plan to implement this and when
1:04:26those rates go into effect is April 1st.
1:04:28Mhm. And so I can make the changes that
1:04:30we've discussed tonight can be made in
1:04:31policy, no problem have that done. But
1:04:33in order for us to have this approved so
1:04:35we can have these uh out of pocket fees
1:04:38waived by April 1st, it would have to be
1:04:40the resolution would have to be approved
1:04:41tonight. But the concerns that we have
1:04:43about uh confirming eligibility of
1:04:45thing, I can address um at any time and
1:04:48will immediately on policy which goes to
1:04:50our ambulance biller um and would be in
1:04:53effect by April 1st. Does that answer
1:04:54your question, sir? Yeah, it does.
1:04:58Well, I make [clears throat] I make a
1:04:59motion to uh adopt the resolution
1:05:03uh regarding the alleviation of out of
1:05:06pocket expenses for Sunnyside residents
1:05:09for ambulance transport services
1:05:10provided by the Sunnyside Fire
1:05:12Department. We've got a motion by Deputy
1:05:15Mayor Hart.
1:05:16Is there a second? I second.
1:05:19Uh
1:05:20Councilor Sasati?
1:05:22Um second by Councilor Sasati.
1:05:25Any further discussion?
1:05:28Hearing none, I'll initiate a roll call.
1:05:30Council member Galvan?
1:05:33Yes.
1:05:34Okay.
1:05:35Council member Dolan? Yes.
1:05:37Councilor Chavez? Yes.
1:05:40Councilor Sasati? Yes. Councilor
1:05:43Vasquez? Yes. Deputy Mayor Hart? Yes.
1:05:46I two vote yes, motion carries.
1:05:50Okay, item C on the agenda, Yakima
1:05:53County and City of Sunnyside 9th Street
1:05:55and Lincoln Lift Station replacement
1:05:58SEED contract or S I E D. Approve a
1:06:01resolution to allow the interim city
1:06:02manager to sign said contract YC 2026-2.
1:06:10Do I hand that over to you or Hector?
1:06:14I will defer to Hector to provide some
1:06:16background information. Thank you.
1:06:18Good evening. Yes.
1:06:20It's still locked.
1:06:22Oh, Jeff at the
1:06:29Okay, we'll we'll work on getting that
1:06:31up. Yeah, thank you. Now the the stream
1:06:33is live. The stream is live, but is it
1:06:36so but is the Zoom
1:06:38the Zoom is the Zoom is is locked. Yeah.
1:06:42>> [snorts]
1:06:43>> Okay.
1:06:45Okay, go ahead and proceed, Hector.
1:06:48Uh yes.
1:06:53Okay, go ahead and proceed, Hector.
1:06:56Okay, uh
1:06:58a funding application to replace the 9th
1:07:00and Lincoln uh lift station was
1:07:02submitted to the Yakima County
1:07:03Development Association for
1:07:04consideration.
1:07:06Um the Sustaining Investment in Economic
1:07:08Development Program, SEED. Um the
1:07:12application reviewed by SEED board and
1:07:14the county commissioners and after
1:07:16separate presentations, approval was
1:07:18granted to be awarded for the funds of
1:07:19the for the project.
1:07:21Um this anticipated loan will be
1:07:24$569,720
1:07:27to be repaid over 10 years at a 5.06%
1:07:31interest rate and the interest rate is
1:07:34the Yakima County's interfund loan rate.
1:07:37Um
1:07:40with a recommendation from uh
1:07:43staff is to allow the interim city
1:07:46manager to sign the SEED contract YC
1:07:502026-2.
1:07:53And I'm here to answer any questions um
1:07:54that you have.
1:07:56Any questions for Hector?
1:08:01Just for since we've been sitting here
1:08:03in my my
1:08:04this with project for this particular
1:08:07grant loan thing, in which project are
1:08:09we talking about?
1:08:10>> about the 9th and Lincoln Oh, the lift
1:08:12station.
1:08:12>> project lift station. Yes, that's in the
1:08:13middle of the road that we would be uh
1:08:17re- moving it over to uh the school
1:08:20uh property that we are um
1:08:25uh that we're paying for.
1:08:27Right. And if I can help, the council
1:08:29has already approved the application
1:08:30with this funding and loan grant um
1:08:33scenario for this project. Yes. This is
1:08:35just confirming it was awarded. So now
1:08:38we just need the approval to enter into
1:08:40the contract. But it was awarded exactly
1:08:43as applied. Yes. Yes. So we just Okay.
1:08:49All right. Well, this seems pretty cut
1:08:50and dried.
1:08:52Well,
1:08:54I make a motion to approve a resolution
1:08:56to allow the interim city manager to
1:08:57sign S I E D contract YC 2026-2.
1:09:03Thank you. I'll second that motion. by
1:09:04Councilor Vasquez, again by Councilor
1:09:06Chavez.
1:09:07Is there discussion?
1:09:09Further discussion?
1:09:12More discussion?
1:09:13Hearing none, I'll initiate a roll call.
1:09:15Council member Galvan? Yes.
1:09:18Councilor Councilor Dolan? Yes.
1:09:20Councilor Chavez? Yes. Councilor Sasati?
1:09:23Yes. Councilor Vasquez? Yes. Deputy
1:09:25Mayor Hart? Yes. I two vote yes, motion
1:09:28carries. Thank you.
1:09:32Moving on to item D, wastewater utility
1:09:35improvement task order number 20 24 11
1:09:40amendment number one, approval
1:09:41resolution to allow the interim city
1:09:43manager
1:09:44to sign the amendment number one to task
1:09:46order number 20
1:09:492024 11.
1:09:53Is this your item again? Okay. Yes, and
1:09:55I'll defer to Hector to um
1:09:58Yes, provide background information.
1:10:00So, the the item is to execute a task
1:10:03order amendment with HL Engineering and
1:10:05Land Surveying to perform construction
1:10:07engineering and administration service
1:10:10for the 9th and Lincoln project.
1:10:12Uh the cost for the services were
1:10:14included the Yakima County supporting
1:10:15investment and economic development the
1:10:17seed uh funding. Uh the agreement is
1:10:21also
1:10:22beginning consider uh during the March
1:10:2423rd council meeting. The amendment
1:10:27amends the task order 24-11
1:10:30which include only design engineering
1:10:32services for the replacement in 9th and
1:10:34Lincoln.
1:10:36And I can answer any questions if the
1:10:38council has any.
1:10:41Any questions for Hector? Just real
1:10:43quick um
1:10:44is is this construction is expected to
1:10:46start June in June? Do we know
1:10:50do we know how long the construction is
1:10:52going to last granted because it it sits
1:10:54right in front of the school and we
1:10:56don't want to
1:10:57Understandable. Um
1:10:59it's
1:11:00so the construction is supposed to start
1:11:03in June.
1:11:05Um but with the length of time of how
1:11:08we're going to get our uh materials, uh
1:11:11that will all
1:11:12uh dictate on how what time we will be
1:11:14starting in
1:11:15uh construction.
1:11:17If I may, um Stephanie can answer. Oh,
1:11:20go Oh, Stephanie's on the line. I didn't
1:11:22know that. Stephanie? Hi, uh Council
1:11:24Council member Galvan. Thank you for
1:11:25that question. Uh so, the project is a
1:11:28little involved as you can imagine
1:11:30and as Hector related to materials, we
1:11:33do have long lead items for pumps and
1:11:36control panels uh which a contractor
1:11:38will get ordered as soon as they start.
1:11:40Um
1:11:40still anticipated to be June 1.
1:11:43Uh that doesn't preclude the contractor
1:11:45from getting in the intersection
1:11:46actually putting the piping uh the
1:11:47trenching needed, you know, to get the
1:11:49improvements done. Then we'll be then
1:11:52kind of waiting for those pumps and
1:11:53control panels to show up.
1:11:55Um and when they do, uh
1:11:58the the contractor really won't need to
1:12:00get back into the roadway. Uh and so,
1:12:02that will then escalate um kind of
1:12:05construction and then
1:12:07eliminate some of the impacts that you
1:12:08would typically see during construction
1:12:10for, you know, in in road work.
1:12:13Uh the typical uh timeline is going to
1:12:15be a 90 days. So, hopefully that helps
1:12:19you.
1:12:19Yeah. Thank you, Stephanie.
1:12:22Excellent.
1:12:24Was there another hand up?
1:12:25>> No, she go went ahead and answered it.
1:12:27Okay.
1:12:30Any other questions?
1:12:34Um I just have one one back um
1:12:37when will you go out for bid on the on
1:12:38the contractor or have you already done
1:12:40that? Uh the bid is out and we will be
1:12:43having opening bids on April 1st. I um
1:12:47reserve downstairs uh so we can get
1:12:50opening bids. At city hall?
1:12:51>> Yeah, at city hall in the basement,
1:12:53correct.
1:12:56Quick question, Hector. Yes, sir. How
1:12:58are you guys planning around with the
1:12:59school being cuz I'm looking at there's
1:13:01going to be coming in. So, how are you
1:13:03guys planning with being able to
1:13:05accommodate Washington?
1:13:08So, we will I I will be talking to
1:13:11Washington and see and the contract
1:13:13contractor to make sure that we work
1:13:16with them and accommodate for their
1:13:18obviously of
1:13:19dismissal and entrance on it um to make
1:13:22sure everything works out properly.
1:13:24So, I will be talking to them.
1:13:26And that road's very hectic during the
1:13:28release.
1:13:28>> every morning, yes. Mhm. So, and I know
1:13:31it's a busy intersection.
1:13:37What is the desire of council on this
1:13:39item?
1:13:41Um move to approve the resolution
1:13:43allowing the interim city manager to
1:13:44sign the amendment number one to task
1:13:47force number
1:13:48uh 2024-11.
1:13:52I'll second.
1:13:53I'll give that to you, Roman.
1:13:55Motion by Deputy Mayor Heart, second by
1:13:59Councilor Chavez.
1:14:01Any other discussion?
1:14:04Hearing none.
1:14:06Councilor Galvan?
1:14:07Yes.
1:14:09Councilor Dolan?
1:14:10Yes.
1:14:11Councilor Chavez? Yes.
1:14:13Councilor Susati? Yes. Councilor
1:14:16Vasquez? Yes.
1:14:17Deputy Mayor Heart? Yes.
1:14:19And I too vote yes, motion carries.
1:14:22Thank you so much.
1:14:24Okay. So, then coming in to the added
1:14:28item to the agenda is
1:14:31public hearing.
1:14:35And this is comes from the adopted
1:14:38ordinance back from our previous council
1:14:41meeting March March 2nd. I hope I'm I
1:14:43have the right date. But it's around
1:14:46establishing a 6-month emergency
1:14:48moratorium on the acceptance and
1:14:51processing of applications for essential
1:14:53public facilities including secure
1:14:56community transition facilities.
1:15:00Is there anything else that I'm missing?
1:15:02Councilor Galvan, I refer to you because
1:15:04No.
1:15:05>> this was your item. Okay.
1:15:07So, at this time
1:15:08I will go ahead
1:15:10and open the public hearing on said
1:15:14item. But before we begin
1:15:18I will ask if any council member has a
1:15:20conflict of interest or an appearance of
1:15:22fairness issue with this item. If you
1:15:24do, please state that now.
1:15:30I will also ask if anyone in the
1:15:31audience has any objection to any
1:15:33council member including myself
1:15:34participating in this hearing. If so if
1:15:37so, please state that at this time.
1:15:43Seeing none, I will move forward and
1:15:45open public hearing at 7:50 p.m. I do
1:15:49have someone on the list for public
1:15:51hearing around this item and that is
1:15:53Jennifer Martinez.
1:15:55Is Jennifer still here?
1:15:59I need to ask if I can be stepping for
1:16:02Jennifer Martinez. She has a family
1:16:04emergency. Is there any objection?
1:16:06That's fine. Go ahead and step up
1:16:08forward.
1:16:12Vicky Ripley, deputy in for Jennifer
1:16:14Martinez.
1:16:18I think that mic's on. Good evening,
1:16:20council members. I'm here to speak speak
1:16:23about less restrictive alternative
1:16:25homes, LRAs, and why we need to take
1:16:27precaution before it's too late.
1:16:29At the last city council meeting, there
1:16:32was a discussion about a about a 6-month
1:16:34pause on SCTFs.
1:16:37But the reality is SCTFs, secure
1:16:40community transition facilities, are
1:16:43locked state-run facilities
1:16:45similar to men's prisons.
1:16:48There's one on McNeil Island and another
1:16:50on Pierce County in Pierce County.
1:16:53They're expensive and rare. The
1:16:55likelihood of one coming to Sunnyside is
1:16:58extremely low. What we need to focus on
1:17:01are LRAs.
1:17:02These are court-ordered placements for
1:17:05sexually violent predators
1:17:07in regular homes or apartments often in
1:17:10residential neighborhoods. There is no
1:17:126-month pause for LRAs and the city
1:17:15cannot block them.
1:17:17These are determined by the courts, not
1:17:19by local zoning.
1:17:21When LRAs are placed, we get only 30
1:17:24days notice which is not enough time to
1:17:26react if the zoning isn't already set up
1:17:28to protect that community.
1:17:30That's why I'm urging the council to act
1:17:33now
1:17:34before we are forced to respond to a
1:17:36placement after the fact.
1:17:38Zoning is the tool we have. We need to
1:17:40require that any future LRA homes be
1:17:43located in lighter industrial areas away
1:17:47from schools, parks, and homes.
1:17:49This is about protecting our children,
1:17:51our families, and our neighborhoods.
1:17:54Please don't wait until we're reacting
1:17:57to a placement.
1:17:59Take the precautions now.
1:18:01Safe neighborhoods aren't optional and
1:18:03our community deserves this protection.
1:18:06Thank you.
1:18:10We have a Thank you. Um is there anybody
1:18:13else in the audience that would like to
1:18:14step forward and provide public comment
1:18:16on this item?
1:18:24Hearing none.
1:18:26We will go ahead and close
1:18:29We have some some say in that. Oh,
1:18:31actually, yes. Sorry.
1:18:33Going back to council for council
1:18:36comments. And um Mr. Galvan, you you
1:18:39brought this forward, but can you kind
1:18:41of just refresh our memory of what we
1:18:43were what what the purpose was?
1:18:47I'm [clears throat] going to refer that
1:18:47Julie. Julie, um that's my one of my
1:18:49questions is
1:18:51LRAs
1:18:53it's included, right, in this
1:18:54moratorium? Yeah.
1:18:56Yeah, and just to be clear, you can
1:18:58close the public hearing portion and and
1:19:01this is discussion just on your record
1:19:03now. This doesn't need to be part of the
1:19:05hearing. So, we can go ahead and close
1:19:07it at 7:53 p.m.
1:19:09And um
1:19:11But yes, going back to your your
1:19:12question,
1:19:13um the the 6-month emergency moratorium
1:19:15that you adopted does restrict both
1:19:17types of sightings.
1:19:20And and
1:19:21um so, applications for either the S the
1:19:24the essential facilities or the LRA's
1:19:26are included in in the pause.
1:19:28Now that you've had this public hearing
1:19:30at the next meeting we will bring back
1:19:32the ordinance that continues the
1:19:34moratorium for the full 6-month period.
1:19:38But yes, it is a those are included in
1:19:40in what you've already
1:19:42frozen.
1:19:43Does that answer your question?
1:19:45>> Sorry sorry if I haven't can I have a
1:19:47part two to that question?
1:19:49Because the part two of that question is
1:19:51when
1:19:52Miss
1:19:53is it Martinez?
1:19:54>> Marti yes. Mrs. Martinez talked about
1:19:58different places rather than in
1:20:00residential areas. She talked about in
1:20:03slight industrial. But isn't that a
1:20:06zoning issue to put housing those kinds
1:20:09of facilities
1:20:10into because these are what are these
1:20:13are they going to be facilities or are
1:20:15they going to be houses or they
1:20:17you know, is it going to violate any of
1:20:19our zoning residential zoning? So so
1:20:22that's the purpose of this is is so
1:20:25a city can go through and and look at
1:20:27the zoning regulations so we could set
1:20:29and define
1:20:30rules and procedures for
1:20:33like
1:20:35Miss Ripley said
1:20:36we can't ban them all together but we
1:20:39can definitely set rules as to where
1:20:43they can go in in the city and that's
1:20:46something that I would like to see if if
1:20:48if we have to allow it then let's you
1:20:51know, allow it in lighter. And make it
1:20:53harder for them to
1:20:55be able to set residence um
1:21:00basically
1:21:01the reason we got this brought up to us
1:21:03was we want to be proactive instead of
1:21:07reactive. Obviously everybody seen what
1:21:09happens in Kennewick with the reaction
1:21:12of what's going on with them when they
1:21:14allowed uh
1:21:16a a similar case over there.
1:21:19So when this was brought up obviously
1:21:22yes
1:21:23it's a zoning but that's why when myself
1:21:27Councilor Gavaldon, Councilor Dolan,
1:21:29Councilor Chavez um Mr. Taylor
1:21:33Miss Norton and Mr. Calhoun from HLA
1:21:36planning all met and we wanted to make
1:21:38sure that we were on the right path. Um
1:21:42it is structured for the state to
1:21:43mandate but like I stated we want to
1:21:46make it that much harder for people to
1:21:48be able to society here.
1:21:50And let me be proactive. We we want to
1:21:53protect our community and this is why
1:21:55we're doing this.
1:22:00Thank you.
1:22:02So this is going to be going back to is
1:22:04it the public safety? Planning planning
1:22:06commission. Committee.
1:22:08This this will go back once we get the
1:22:11ordinance and correct me if I'm wrong
1:22:13Miss Norton this would have to go to
1:22:15planning
1:22:16and we want to make sure because this is
1:22:18zoning.
1:22:19Once we take it to planning and discuss
1:22:21it there then we'll bring everything
1:22:24back to
1:22:25the council for
1:22:28last
1:22:29hurrah. Yeah, so you'll you'll see this
1:22:31probably twice
1:22:33more. So next meeting you'll get the
1:22:36ordinance that continues the moratorium.
1:22:38There won't be any regulations attached
1:22:40with that. It's just going to keep the
1:22:41pause in place that you've got going on
1:22:43now. Eventually when we get through the
1:22:45planning process you will see proposed
1:22:48changes to your code which will probably
1:22:50just be text amendments because we're
1:22:51not going to create any new zones or or
1:22:53map changes but we will probably see
1:22:55some text amendments that talk about how
1:22:58these facilities can be located within
1:23:01certain existing zones and whether it's
1:23:03under a conditional use permit or what
1:23:05other types of parameters are going to
1:23:07apply. That will come probably closer to
1:23:09the end of the 6 months um
1:23:13as in the form of an actual zoning
1:23:15regulation.
1:23:17And I believe at this very moment we are
1:23:20working on the planning the zoning
1:23:22comprehension plan so that's why we're
1:23:25working on it right now so we can get it
1:23:27adopted in to the planning zone and then
1:23:29bring it to council.
1:23:32Thank you.
1:23:35Okay.
1:23:37Okay.
1:23:39Hearing no further discussion around
1:23:41this we will and since we've already
1:23:44closed public hearing we'll move on to
1:23:46the next item. Items from council
1:23:49members.
1:23:50Um A mayor's appointments for boards and
1:23:53commissions.
1:23:56>> [snorts]
1:23:56>> The rules committee is meeting
1:24:00hopefully this week to look over any I
1:24:03don't know if there's been any
1:24:05submission of newer applications but we
1:24:07haven't convened in over maybe a couple
1:24:10weeks so be a good idea to come together
1:24:13and figure out where we are with our
1:24:15boards and commissions and what seats
1:24:17are still vacant
1:24:18and what still needs to be filled and
1:24:20what applications are still out there
1:24:22for review
1:24:24and council consideration.
1:24:27Do do we have a date yet? Uh no I think
1:24:29you were you were waiting for one more
1:24:31response.
1:24:33So I will circle back.
1:24:37Other reports announcements and or
1:24:39questions by council. I will go ahead
1:24:42and start at the end with a councilor
1:24:43Chavez.
1:24:45Um
1:24:47where they sent us an email I think you
1:24:50received also from the Boys and Girls
1:24:53Club up in Prosser. Um they wanted to
1:24:56meet with us now that we're kind of a
1:24:59little more set where where we want to
1:25:01make he asked me to make the motion to
1:25:03see when we are able to meet and just
1:25:06let him know and we'd get together.
1:25:10Need a date?
1:25:10>> Yeah, we Yeah, we need a date he
1:25:13I
1:25:14I've been a part of that email thread
1:25:17Mhm.
1:25:18and I believe the conversation left off
1:25:21at trying to schedule and I think it was
1:25:24during the week that I was in Washington
1:25:26D.C. so I couldn't attend but it seems
1:25:28like that meeting didn't happen. It
1:25:30didn't. Um I know they're asking for the
1:25:32interim city manager to also be present
1:25:35so I believe we're also going to have
1:25:37some individuals from the school board.
1:25:40School district. As a school board that
1:25:42will also school district also be part
1:25:44of that.
1:25:45So I
1:25:46I don't want to
1:25:48um monopolize this or take this over but
1:25:51if
1:25:52my two cents around this is if you want
1:25:54to open it up to council members again
1:25:56and see who wants to join in that way
1:25:58maybe you can take initiative to include
1:26:01now Pat Haley in these conversations and
1:26:03try to solidify a date for when
1:26:06is it Brian?
1:26:07For when Brian returns from vacation
1:26:09because I believe he's going to be on
1:26:10vacation from the 21st through the 1st.
1:26:13So that would give us an indication of
1:26:17when he'd be back.
1:26:19Um so I'm thinking maybe sometime around
1:26:21April 6th or the week of April 6th.
1:26:25If anybody on council would like to know
1:26:28would like to attend um send me an email
1:26:31and
1:26:32we can see where we can get together on
1:26:34that.
1:26:36So please email councilor Chavez
1:26:38directly. Mhm. Um and this is for the
1:26:42tour of the Boys and Girls Club in
1:26:43Prosser. Yes.
1:26:46Thank you. Thank you.
1:26:49Councilor Sati?
1:26:51Um
1:26:52nothing comes to mind nothing to report.
1:26:57Councilor Vasquez?
1:26:58Yeah, so
1:27:00>> [clears throat]
1:27:00>> um on Facebook today a
1:27:02organization that's located here in
1:27:04Sunnyside is called MRJN Associates. Um
1:27:07they just recently had a ribbon cutting
1:27:09ceremony if you guys remember and so
1:27:11they just announced that they will be
1:27:12opening up an indoor arcade and game
1:27:14room here in the city of Sunnyside and
1:27:16it's going to be specifically for youth
1:27:18so they have a safe space to just hang
1:27:20out and play. So it's going to be
1:27:22something pretty exciting. They just
1:27:23announced it on Facebook so something
1:27:26extra for you to do. Um it's very much
1:27:29needed so I'm looking forward to that
1:27:31opening up here soon. Um they're also
1:27:34tied with 70 * 7 which is a local thrift
1:27:36store that help give back to those who
1:27:39are in need.
1:27:41Um Lions Club we actually have some
1:27:43cookbooks that we worked on throughout
1:27:45the holidays last year. Um each Lion
1:27:48member had to create or bring recipes of
1:27:51their favorite dish or favorite desserts
1:27:54and the books have finally come in and I
1:27:57have several and we are selling them.
1:27:59They are $10 each. So if you guys want
1:28:02to support the Lions Club if you guys
1:28:04have also attended the the school
1:28:08district meetings
1:28:10the Lions Club is always giving and
1:28:11pouring back into the community. So
1:28:14every purchase of a cookbook it's $10
1:28:17and you get 100 recipes and when you
1:28:20purchase this cookbook you're not only
1:28:22supporting the Lions Club but you're
1:28:23literally pouring it back into the
1:28:25community and it's just a full circle
1:28:27where you get to purchase something for
1:28:29your own benefit where you get to cook
1:28:31or try something delicious or new
1:28:34and challenge yourself, right? Um
1:28:36sometimes we get stuck with cooking the
1:28:37same thing and um just kind of like
1:28:39cooking something different. Um I
1:28:41encourage you guys to purchase a book
1:28:42just so that we can support and sell all
1:28:44the books that we have and I know that
1:28:46it'll make the club very very happy. So
1:28:49if you're interested please reach out. I
1:28:50have a book and I can sell it to you
1:28:52guys and it goes back to the Lions Club.
1:28:56So don't forget and
1:28:58um community and economic development
1:28:59commission um we will be talking about
1:29:02the wayfinding signs so I just wanted to
1:29:03extend an invitation to all the council
1:29:05members. Um if you guys have any ideas
1:29:08on where some signs would be like an
1:29:11ideal place to kind of like point an
1:29:13arrow to an example city hall or
1:29:16public parking Um, the community center
1:29:18is this direction. Um, we have, you
1:29:21know, like what are some of the hot
1:29:24spots in Sunnyside that we would like to
1:29:27introduce to new people who come into
1:29:30our town.
1:29:31So, if you guys could kind of like help
1:29:32me think about hot spots, think about
1:29:35places that um, would really represent
1:29:37Sunnyside very well. The museum. Right,
1:29:40the museum. So, if you guys can kind of
1:29:42like just all shoot me a email and kind
1:29:45of just kind of giving me some direction
1:29:47as to where you guys would like to see
1:29:48some signs. And maybe even if you guys
1:29:51are more a little more on the creative
1:29:52side, send me an idea or some pictures
1:29:55on how you guys would like it to look,
1:29:56what colors you guys would like. Um,
1:29:58just so that we have something to start
1:29:59off with and I could present this to to
1:30:02the community and economic development
1:30:04and we will be brainstorming and
1:30:05bringing all these ideas together. It
1:30:07will be a process, but I would really
1:30:09appreciate your guys' input and
1:30:11direction. And that would be it for me.
1:30:14When are y'all meeting? Um, we will be
1:30:16meeting in April.
1:30:18Yeah, so you guys have some time. Just
1:30:19as long as I get that before the month
1:30:21of April. Is the first Tuesday at noon?
1:30:24Correct. At uh, City Hall. Correct.
1:30:28Okay. Counselor Dolan.
1:30:31Well, we had the pleasure of uh,
1:30:32inviting
1:30:34our new uh, interim city manager over to
1:30:36the museum and he met with uh, Leroy
1:30:40Werkoven
1:30:41and they did a uh,
1:30:44interview with uh, KIMA about all the
1:30:48kids that helped to restore an ice cream
1:30:51wagon from the early 1900s.
1:30:54Maybe it was the late 1800s, I don't
1:30:56remember the dates.
1:30:58But uh, it went very well. I think uh,
1:31:01they got to look at what we're doing
1:31:03over there and turn and turn into
1:31:04somewhat of a
1:31:06display in the new building over there
1:31:08and uh,
1:31:09every Thursday from 3:00 to 5:00 we have
1:31:11work
1:31:13sessions and uh, it's it turned out real
1:31:15well. I think uh,
1:31:17I think I
1:31:19heard back from everybody that they had
1:31:21a good time there for the short period
1:31:22that we had it.
1:31:25That's great.
1:31:27Councilor Goodman. Yeah.
1:31:29So, the public works subcommittee met
1:31:31last week um, and we're just kind of
1:31:35finalizing that for the mobile vendors,
1:31:37the new wording. And uh, Counselor Dolan
1:31:40and myself had
1:31:42some
1:31:44recommendations and and some feedback
1:31:46for for both Hector and Corey. Um, so
1:31:49hopefully we could get those um, in
1:31:51place and bring it back to council for
1:31:53for approval here soon.
1:31:57Um,
1:31:59and then I I had a question and and for
1:32:01the climate resilience. My understanding
1:32:04is that climate resilience took action
1:32:07um, not necessarily pertains to climate
1:32:11resilience, but it should be brought
1:32:13before council as a whole um,
1:32:15removing a a member.
1:32:17So, I don't know if if if We we haven't
1:32:20I I didn't bring that up. We talk about
1:32:23it at rules and then we'll bring it
1:32:24back.
1:32:25Okay. So, no member has been removed.
1:32:28>> Not yet. Okay. We've talked about it.
1:32:31Okay. That was just my question.
1:32:34Thank you.
1:32:35So, so speaking about uh, climate
1:32:37resiliency, uh, we've been working on
1:32:40our survey which should be coming up on
1:32:42the uh,
1:32:44the city's website. I think it's
1:32:47supposed to be coming up probably in the
1:32:48next week or so, isn't that right,
1:32:50Hector? I'm working on it, yes.
1:32:51>> Yeah, so it's going to be coming up.
1:32:53We've also set a date in May, I believe,
1:32:56for the
1:32:58uh, open forum that we're going to have
1:33:00an open house to talk about climate
1:33:02resiliency. We'll probably uh, it'll
1:33:06um,
1:33:06talk a little bit about what kinds of
1:33:08things fall into that climate, you know,
1:33:11the wind, uh,
1:33:12uh, heat, the changes in heat, all the
1:33:15different things that we we know are uh,
1:33:18affecting affecting the uh, climate. So,
1:33:21we'll be be having some more information
1:33:23on that. We'll be putting out some
1:33:25public uh,
1:33:26uh,
1:33:27information on that. But this the cli-
1:33:29the uh, survey should be coming up. I
1:33:32think we we want to have all the surveys
1:33:34back in by was it May 6th? Correct. May
1:33:386th. And so, we may take a few more
1:33:42um, at the open open house on I believe
1:33:46it's the 18th or is it the 19th, Hector?
1:33:48>> it's the 19th. 19th. Yeah, he said in
1:33:50April. Yeah. And we'll have that at the
1:33:52community center. But we're also going
1:33:54to have a table at Cinco de Mayo um,
1:33:57downtown with uh, some doing some
1:34:00surveys for the climate resiliency.
1:34:02We're also going to be having a room uh,
1:34:05probably in the planning commission
1:34:07office to have the surveys to have
1:34:09somebody there help
1:34:11uh, people who may have difficulty doing
1:34:13those kind of computerized surveys. And
1:34:16we we are going to do paper uh, surveys
1:34:19at the Cinco de Mayo
1:34:21um, unless we figure out a different way
1:34:22to do it.
1:34:24Um, but it is going to be in English and
1:34:25in Spanish. So, the survey is pretty
1:34:28extensive. It's what, about
1:34:31I I believe
1:34:32>> to think about seven pages.
1:34:36Is it more than that?
1:34:37>> Off my head, I can't remember how many
1:34:38pages.
1:34:38>> It goes real fast. It goes real fast.
1:34:40But anyway, so we have been making some
1:34:42progress there. Um,
1:34:45on the uh, climate resiliency. The uh,
1:34:48arts commission has also been having
1:34:50some I met these these all met last
1:34:53week, so um, so the art commission yeah,
1:34:57we met on Friday and we are working
1:35:00towards having our um,
1:35:02our spring break project. We talked
1:35:05about having a movie and doing some rock
1:35:07painting over at community center and
1:35:10we're kind of got some of our logistics
1:35:12figured out with the help of
1:35:14our new uh,
1:35:16interim city manager over here, Mr. Mr.
1:35:18Haley and he was very helpful with us
1:35:21with that. Also, I wanted to commend him
1:35:23for his help with the climate resiliency
1:35:26meeting as well. And then also with when
1:35:29we met for finance committee again, we
1:35:31met that was on on Thursday and again, I
1:35:35really appreciated Monica being there
1:35:38via Zoom and just like having her in the
1:35:41room, you know. It was very good and we
1:35:44got I thought we got quite a lot done
1:35:47and we're getting closer to knowing, you
1:35:49know, where are the
1:35:51every every month bills and and then so
1:35:54we know which ones are out of, you know,
1:35:57just necessities or come up as a
1:35:59accident. But anyway, we had um,
1:36:02so the the uh, arts commission
1:36:06project is still looking for some
1:36:07donations if anybody wants to uh,
1:36:10uh,
1:36:11uh, drop us a check um, for uh, for the
1:36:15the arts commission's uh,
1:36:18spring break program. We have some other
1:36:20things we want to do during Cinco de
1:36:21Mayo including doing some murals
1:36:24downtown. So, we'll going to need some
1:36:26more paint. Um, in any case, so we're
1:36:29they're really working hard on those
1:36:31things and I just wanted to say that I
1:36:33appreciated um,
1:36:35the uh, attention of our city manager
1:36:38coming in and checking checking what
1:36:40seeing what seeing what we're doing.
1:36:42Seeing what the volunteer leaders in
1:36:43this town are doing as far as those who
1:36:45are serving on the different
1:36:46commissions. And I really commend them
1:36:48for their time and uh, their volun-
1:36:51their spirit of let's let's make
1:36:54Sunnyside a better place to live in. So,
1:36:56thank you. That's what I have.
1:37:00So, I have nothing to report.
1:37:03Madam Chair.
1:37:04Um,
1:37:06I forgot one thing if if you allow me.
1:37:09So, I was talking to
1:37:11um,
1:37:12Sandra Sesati and she works for the the
1:37:15the Grandview Community College.
1:37:17>> Oh, I thought she was here to do public
1:37:18comment, so And and and you know, she
1:37:21has a she has a good idea. Um, you know,
1:37:23if the city,
1:37:26you know, if we could work with them,
1:37:29they want to bring
1:37:31I guess an event to the community
1:37:33center. And this event would be for
1:37:35those um, high schoolers that maybe took
1:37:38a break, a off, didn't necessarily go to
1:37:41college and and now, you know, after a
1:37:44year they, you know, they they might
1:37:45want to go to college or maybe even
1:37:47other um, individuals and
1:37:50uh, her plan and her mission is is to
1:37:52bring I think she said she has at least
1:37:54seven colleges that she has talked to in
1:37:57providing information about scholarships
1:37:59and and how they can apply to
1:38:01scholarships and how um, you know, you
1:38:03know, they can provide resources for
1:38:04that. So,
1:38:06um, at you know, at she it looks like
1:38:08she has they have everything in order
1:38:10and and all they need is um, you know,
1:38:12maybe if the if the city is willing to
1:38:14uh, sponsor those those hours and and
1:38:17that way it could be a an event for the
1:38:19the whole community, the whole, you
1:38:21know, surrounding community. It's just
1:38:23not Sunnyside. Um,
1:38:25so, you know, I know there's a process
1:38:28and I know we have to that that event
1:38:30um,
1:38:31I don't have all the information in
1:38:33front of me as to how much I would cost.
1:38:34I think they want to be in the community
1:38:36center for
1:38:37correct me if I'm wrong, Sandra, if it
1:38:40three to four [clears throat] hours um,
1:38:41and you know, providing those those
1:38:43services for for our our youth that want
1:38:46to go back to college.
1:38:50Okay. I I thought you were, so I was
1:38:51going to give the time to you. But thank
1:38:53you for bringing it up because I guess
1:38:55I'll I'll reclaim some of my time.
1:38:57Um, this Sandra is asking um, is this on
1:39:00behalf of the this the Sunnyside School
1:39:02District or is this just you trying to
1:39:05collaborate?
1:39:07Okay. So, um, I just wanted So,
1:39:10the process we we I know there's a
1:39:12process to follow so all of those pieces
1:39:14of information are going to be
1:39:15important. I know that we've we've had
1:39:17discussion too with somebody um else
1:39:20from um the community um wanted to do a
1:39:23collaboration with Second Harvest. So
1:39:25it's a mobile wagon that um just really
1:39:28needs a spot to locate and then um
1:39:32Counselor Chavez, your wife has done it
1:39:33at um
1:39:35at the school.
1:39:35>> at Sun Valley and um uh the they wanted
1:39:40they want to collaborate with the city
1:39:41and host it at the parking lot of the
1:39:43community center.
1:39:45And so they Second Harvest gives away um
1:39:49free fresh produce. And every time it
1:39:53seems
1:39:54>> it seems to um
1:39:56always run out of food and I think you
1:39:58were a part Counselor Valenzuela cuz you
1:40:00you attended the work source when that
1:40:02just happened not too long ago. So
1:40:04there's a couple of folks that have
1:40:06reached out one of them being Sandra um
1:40:09that want to collaborate with the city
1:40:10and I know there's a process for it. So
1:40:13um
1:40:14my question is now what is that process
1:40:17and I'll allow Sandra to do public
1:40:19comment so she can provide some more
1:40:21information because um
1:40:23fr- from my recollection if council
1:40:25approves a collaboration then some of
1:40:28those fees are waived and they don't
1:40:30have to bring forth insurance. I'm not
1:40:32entirely sure so I did want to ask how
1:40:35that worked.
1:40:37Um if since it does both uh projects um
1:40:43significantly benefit the city.
1:40:46Okay.
1:40:48Well Hector and I have talked about this
1:40:50if we're talking about Second Harvest
1:40:52and that uh it's not my understanding
1:40:54that it's necessary to have a fee
1:40:55structure because it's not necessarily
1:40:57an event.
1:40:58It's just usage of a parking lot. And it
1:41:00will incorporate some support from the
1:41:03police department because yeah some
1:41:04traffic issues that usually need to be
1:41:07addressed because you have got a big
1:41:08long line of vehicles in the in the
1:41:10street. And so there's some traffic flow
1:41:14whether that's cones or something that
1:41:16needs to be set up but it's usually a
1:41:17two or three hour event because you have
1:41:19only cer- certain quantity of food and
1:41:21when that's
1:41:22distributed that's the end of it.
1:41:24So it's not my understanding if there's
1:41:26any fee or insurance it's just uh giving
1:41:28them permission to be in a particular
1:41:30lot or location
1:41:31on behalf of the city.
1:41:33Correct. Uh if they're n-
1:41:36not going to be in the community center
1:41:38um
1:41:39that is something as Mr. Haley states
1:41:42that we don't
1:41:43It's not an event. That yeah.
1:41:46Okay.
1:41:47Uh
1:41:48Ch- Chief, did you I know you you were
1:41:51trying to No, I'm
1:41:53No, I'm good.
1:41:54>> Okay. Okay, I saw you leaning into your
1:41:55microphone.
1:41:56Okay.
1:41:57Yeah.
1:41:58And so um I'll wait for the public
1:42:01comment to come forth and we can make a
1:42:03determination later how how it works out
1:42:05for the for the community center.
1:42:08Yes and I've been in contact
1:42:10I've been in contact with Mrs. Zatia. I
1:42:12I would think I was talking to a
1:42:13counselor but I I found out I'm talking
1:42:14to her sister so
1:42:16>> [laughter]
1:42:16>> Yes uh so but I have been in contact
1:42:19with her and
1:42:20I've sent uh
1:42:22it it confused me a little.
1:42:24It confused me.
1:42:26So I I have been in contact with them
1:42:28and I have uh actually sent the
1:42:30application and uh that way we can get
1:42:32start the process. Okay. Um and
1:42:35we can
1:42:36certainly talk about it. Okay.
1:42:40All right.
1:42:41Sounds good.
1:42:42Thank you for that. Thanks for bringing
1:42:44that up Counselor Gavin.
1:42:45Um
1:42:46Okay. So going moving into upcoming
1:42:48council meetings the next meeting that
1:42:50we have is on Monday April 6th and that
1:42:52is a study session.
1:42:54The meeting after that is Monday April
1:42:5613th which is a regular meeting.
1:42:59And these these these dates can be found
1:43:01on the agenda.
1:43:03Um then it goes into city manager
1:43:05reports. This is your time and your
1:43:08staff's time to your report to to the
1:43:10council and the public.
1:43:13Well I would like to thank you for
1:43:15making me feel so welcome. This is my
1:43:17second week and I've really enjoyed
1:43:19meeting people and having discussions as
1:43:21to uh how we can work together as a
1:43:24team.
1:43:25Um
1:43:26essentially to
1:43:28um
1:43:28>> [clears throat]
1:43:29>> fix some things or or normalize some
1:43:31things so that there's some stability.
1:43:33Uh we've got some vacant positions that
1:43:36are really a high priority and that's
1:43:38something that I'm working on with our
1:43:40human resource director.
1:43:42Um specifically [clears throat] for a
1:43:43clerk. You you really can't have a city
1:43:46without a clerk.
1:43:47And then commonly you might see small
1:43:49cities that have clerk treasurer or
1:43:52clerk whatever finance director. But you
1:43:54got to have a clerk and the type of
1:43:57position that we're looking at is
1:44:00generally somebody who's already doing
1:44:01this somewhere else. Because you want
1:44:04them to be certified and you want them
1:44:05to be familiar with public records
1:44:08requests.
1:44:09And that's also a certification so
1:44:12I'm working with as I said our human
1:44:14resource director and
1:44:16um
1:44:18originally the position was listed as
1:44:20com- communication director {slash}
1:44:22clerk.
1:44:23And those two positions are are
1:44:25specialty of sorts that uh really need
1:44:28to be separated. So we're going back to
1:44:31our uh recruitment efforts and just
1:44:34specify for a clerk position.
1:44:36Uh we've done some com- comparable city
1:44:39analysis to see how other cities what
1:44:41the rate is what the wage structure is
1:44:44for uh just a clerk position.
1:44:46And so we're actually going to be
1:44:47re-advertising the position at a a new
1:44:51wage structure that's lower than the
1:44:52existing rate that's out there. So the
1:44:55existing applicants can you know also
1:44:57apply
1:44:59but we didn't want to interview them and
1:45:01then change the wage right after we
1:45:03selected somebody. We just thought that
1:45:05was inappropriate. So we do have in our
1:45:09um
1:45:10city code we have a clerk position so
1:45:12it's already defined as something
1:45:15somebody that's official part of the
1:45:17city administration structure.
1:45:20And um
1:45:22assuming that the council would be
1:45:23acceptable to a lower wage for just a
1:45:26specific clerk position then issues as
1:45:29it relates to communication can be
1:45:31either subcontracted out with a third
1:45:33party or some other contracted entity so
1:45:36that we're not committing to a full-time
1:45:38employee at this time.
1:45:40Those are my
1:45:41essential priorities is to get that
1:45:44position filled.
1:45:47Thank you. Any questions? Oh and again
1:45:49uh thank you to the staff. They really
1:45:52worked great together so far and
1:45:55you know what
1:45:56it's nice to feel welcome and I really
1:45:57appreciate that.
1:46:00Okay.
1:46:01Okay. Board Does staff Do staff have
1:46:04reports? Um I have two quick things. Uh
1:46:07one maybe not so quick but the um So we
1:46:10our goal was to raise $50,000 for the
1:46:12canine. Um we're just over 10 so far.
1:46:15And the officers that select all the
1:46:18canines for Yakima County were going
1:46:19down to Alabama where they get the dogs
1:46:21for getting two dogs for the Yakima
1:46:23Police Department.
1:46:25So rather than have them go back down
1:46:26there when we raise the funds the canine
1:46:28foundation said we'll we'll go ahead and
1:46:30take care of the dog. Let's get it
1:46:31coming. So the dog came two days ago.
1:46:33It's at the handler's house. Um Friday I
1:46:37in my personal truck I he doesn't have a
1:46:38truck so we I drove him around get all
1:46:40the stuff for the kennel so he could
1:46:41build it this weekend. That's done.
1:46:43Um he had a company uh do the prep work
1:46:46for the concrete. They donated all their
1:46:47time. The concrete company donated the
1:46:50concrete and then um a concrete
1:46:52contractor poured it all and donated
1:46:54their time.
1:46:55So um that that was probably six or
1:46:57seven thousand dollars worth of worth of
1:46:59work that was done at his house so that
1:47:01the the kennel is set on that concrete
1:47:03and then screwed down to it so that the
1:47:05dog can't lift it or anything like that.
1:47:07So the dog's name is Joker. That was the
1:47:09name it came with. It's all black. And
1:47:11uh there's some question whether it's a
1:47:13a Malinois or a German Shepherd because
1:47:16all his paperwork's in Czech. So uh the
1:47:19handler's trying to translate it all
1:47:20because the dog's come out of the Czech
1:47:21Republic.
1:47:22Um
1:47:23So that that's the update on the canine.
1:47:25We've we've gotten uh some more
1:47:27donations and they're continuing to roll
1:47:28in so we're working on that.
1:47:30And then at the YVCOG dinner last
1:47:33Wednesday I uh was there with the
1:47:36sheriff and Union Gap's police chief. We
1:47:38did a small presentation and uh
1:47:40deputy mayor Hart asked me to give a
1:47:43little update on that. So right now the
1:47:45the Yakima Valley the crime lab is in
1:47:48500 square feet in the sheriff's office
1:47:50precinct three which is in Zillah.
1:47:53And the plan was always to either expand
1:47:56it or move it to a new location so that
1:47:57we could increase services.
1:47:59So right now there's there's basically
1:48:01four things the lab provides and options
1:48:03are we want to add one or two things and
1:48:05as time goes on maybe more.
1:48:07And so
1:48:09as we've gotten into this there's a lot
1:48:10of things going on so the radio tax
1:48:12passed so we're all going to there's
1:48:14going to be a radio upgrade for all
1:48:15police fire and ambulance in Yakima
1:48:17County.
1:48:18With that the the consolidation of
1:48:20dispatch talk has has been happening and
1:48:22so where that's going to happen. And
1:48:24then also in that has been a real-time
1:48:27crime center which is kind of the next
1:48:29wave of the future for law enforcement
1:48:30where uh we have access to a lot of
1:48:32technology but we're driving to calls
1:48:34and dispatchers are dispatching so who's
1:48:35taking all that technology and feeding
1:48:37it live to units in the field whether
1:48:39that's police fire on a brush fire um or
1:48:43information that an ambulance is going
1:48:45to a house where maybe they're going to
1:48:46encounter somebody that's hostile or
1:48:47something like that based on previous
1:48:49contacts. So
1:48:51the building um there's a building in
1:48:53Union Gap that's owned by the county and
1:48:54right now SunComm is in there who
1:48:56dispatches some police and fire. The
1:48:58plan is to consolidate county-wide all
1:49:00dispatch to that location.
1:49:03There's also a plan to move the crime
1:49:05lab there uh to go from 500 square feet
1:49:08to about 3,000.
1:49:10And then there's also a plan to put a
1:49:12real-time crime center in there
1:49:14as well as emergency operations center
1:49:16for the county. Right now when there's
1:49:19an emergency at the emergency operations
1:49:20center which is in that building it's
1:49:22just a used as a training room most of
1:49:24the time. They have to wheel in the
1:49:25computers and all of that kind of stuff.
1:49:27It's not set up. So when there's an
1:49:28emergency it takes them a couple hours
1:49:30to set up.
1:49:31And so they got some federal funding
1:49:33last year to set up a
1:49:36a emergency operations center that's
1:49:37active all the time. So this real-time
1:49:39crime center would be able to not only
1:49:42get information from the lab, relay it
1:49:44straight to dispatch, relay it straight
1:49:45to the emergency operations center if
1:49:47there's a large event, but we're trying
1:49:49to get everything consolidated under one
1:49:51roof countywide and it's going to it'll
1:49:52really increase public service police,
1:49:55fire, everybody. So that was the
1:49:57presentation we gave last Wednesday and
1:49:59and Miss Hart asked me to give you guys
1:50:00a little bit of information on it
1:50:01tonight. So that's the the wave of the
1:50:04future probably most of that'll happen
1:50:06our goal is within the next 2 years.
1:50:08So
1:50:10Thank you. That's all I have. Thank you.
1:50:11Chief, do you want to or the mayor want
1:50:14to give any update on the DC trip?
1:50:17We can. Yeah.
1:50:18>> Um so we went to DC and and we met with
1:50:23Senator Cantwell, Senator Murray and uh
1:50:26Newhouse's office. So their requests
1:50:30for the the senators was over 700 from
1:50:33their district.
1:50:34So obviously the senators aren't going
1:50:35to meet with 700 people. So you meet
1:50:37with their staffers. And so they have
1:50:40large staffs. So 10, 12 people on their
1:50:43staff. So
1:50:45this person might be in charge of their
1:50:47criminal justice budget, this person
1:50:48might be in charge of their roadway
1:50:49budget, this person might be in charge
1:50:51of their treatment you know like water
1:50:52works budget. So what you would meet
1:50:54with with your request with the person
1:50:56that pertains to that part of the
1:50:57federal budget. And you would give them
1:50:59the presentation on what you were trying
1:51:01to do. So we presented on two things.
1:51:03One was the bridge on Edison at 241. Um
1:51:07Department of Transportation wants to
1:51:08put a roundabout in there. I think you
1:51:09guys are we've talked about this. But
1:51:11anyway they want to put in the
1:51:11roundabout. We need to improve the
1:51:13bridge to make that happen or or they
1:51:14can't do their part of the project. So
1:51:16that was one presentation and the other
1:51:18one was upgrades at the sewer treatment
1:51:19plant. Um
1:51:21we did get one question on which one was
1:51:24a higher priority and and we said the
1:51:26sewer treatment plant because of the
1:51:27potential for leak and getting into the
1:51:29aquifer in the Yakima River basin and
1:51:31what that could do to fish and
1:51:32everything else. So that was that was
1:51:33our presentation.
1:51:35I don't know if you want to add anything
1:51:36but Yeah. No, but you you covered
1:51:38everything.
1:51:40It was I think we got some really good
1:51:42feedback.
1:51:44And
1:51:45they were very receptive.
1:51:47Um the consultant
1:51:49definitely reaffirmed that too. So it
1:51:52made it's making us believe that
1:51:54we are in and we're manifesting this for
1:51:56some some good news
1:51:59pretty soon. Yeah, in the next month or
1:52:01two he said it. I think he said yeah. So
1:52:03it's not too far away.
1:52:05Um We won't see those funds until
1:52:07the middle of next year, 27. Mhm.
1:52:10Yeah.
1:52:11And um I think just the other thing
1:52:13that's kind of
1:52:15combined in there is like trying to
1:52:16figure out where the 2.1 million dollars
1:52:18did is that came in from Senator Patty
1:52:21Murray's office back in January.
1:52:24I think that's going to be part of the
1:52:25conversation that we continue having
1:52:27with John. Right. Yeah.
1:52:29So it's all good stuff.
1:52:33>> [snorts]
1:52:34>> Um so
1:52:35sent out my weekly report earlier today
1:52:37but as a quick recap
1:52:40as of this morning we've responded to
1:52:421,050 emergencies um Okay. to date with
1:52:47last week being 78 of those. Um we've
1:52:51had some trainings pop up. So last week
1:52:53we logged 130 and 1/2 training hours
1:52:56which brings our annual year-to-date
1:52:58total to 1,126.5
1:53:01training hours. So busy week
1:53:05got a lot of good things done.
1:53:08Thank End of report.
1:53:12Uh for myself it's been a fairly busy
1:53:14week also.
1:53:16Setting up interviews for this Wednesday
1:53:19for a WSDOT project so we can get a
1:53:21consultant in
1:53:23on those projects. We have three who we
1:53:25will be interviewing.
1:53:27HLA is one. Uh
1:53:30Gray & Osborne is one more and a
1:53:34Fuller Designs. Now this is for projects
1:53:37that are on First and YV H um safety
1:53:42pedestrian um
1:53:45I-82 and the roundabout. So there's
1:53:49there's projects out there that we'll be
1:53:51working on interviewing trying to get a
1:53:52consolidation.
1:53:53Um
1:53:55I had was in a meeting last week with
1:53:57OFM. That's the census. Um
1:54:02A lot of information. It's something
1:54:04that I will be working on. I found out
1:54:07that Miss Gardner from Yakamaw is our
1:54:09point of contact for this. Um she was
1:54:12very receptive. She was very she was on
1:54:14the meeting and knowing that it's my
1:54:16first time doing the census
1:54:18she's more than willing to help out and
1:54:21get it done and correctly.
1:54:23Um
1:54:24We'll be meeting with F FAA about the
1:54:27fencing project
1:54:29that we hope to proceed with or we're
1:54:31proceeding with.
1:54:33Um
1:54:34obviously working with Miss Noren on the
1:54:36swim team contract. I think we're all
1:54:37done. She I reviewed it. I sent it to
1:54:40her for review.
1:54:41She sent it back. Miss Aguirre has been
1:54:44sent the contract and she said it's
1:54:46okay. So that's one thing I'll be
1:54:48bringing up to the council for uh
1:54:50to be able to
1:54:51proceed with.
1:54:53Um working on
1:54:54with Department of Ecology stormwater
1:54:56capacity grant.
1:54:58It's water it's money that we get fully
1:55:00funded for 150,000
1:55:03for wages, materials
1:55:06and
1:55:08stuff there for the stormwaters for our
1:55:10MS4.
1:55:11Um
1:55:13like Miss like the mayor has said trying
1:55:16to find that 2.1 million.
1:55:19Um
1:55:19talking to
1:55:20the Commerce
1:55:22see who we need to talk to to get that
1:55:23money coming.
1:55:26I've I've been talking with Mr. Colton.
1:55:29He gave me some
1:55:30person to contact. I did reach out to
1:55:32them.
1:55:33Obviously they were up in DC with you
1:55:36guys. So I I left a message and
1:55:38hopefully they'd be getting back to me
1:55:40as soon as possible.
1:55:41So we can get that money and start using
1:55:45it to proceed with those some of the
1:55:46projects that we want to use.
1:55:49Um
1:55:51and then working with my public works
1:55:52department. They've been great. We've
1:55:54been very busy
1:55:56and trying to get some tasks completed.
1:55:59So
1:56:02that's that's the end of my my days. Um
1:56:04thank you. Um when you said the the
1:56:07federal is that the Federal Aviation?
1:56:10Yes, ma'am. Um you're talking about
1:56:12fencing then at the airport.
1:56:13>> Yes, ma'am. What what where is that
1:56:15fencing going to be located?
1:56:16>> That will be around the whole airport
1:56:19of the
1:56:21to be Around the runway as well?
1:56:23>> Yes, ma'am. Okay.
1:56:26Okay.
1:56:27Thank you.
1:56:29I don't want to take up much much time
1:56:31but
1:56:32I don't want to lose this this train of
1:56:34thought that I have here because
1:56:35sometimes it doesn't make it to email um
1:56:38till like a couple days later when I
1:56:39remember again. But there
1:56:41Chief Layman was in conversations when
1:56:43he was still sitting in as interim with
1:56:45um Pioneer Elementary um
1:56:49vice principal Rose is it Lobos Doll and
1:56:53Julie Perez.
1:56:55There was conversations around a
1:56:57grant that the school district had
1:56:59received and that it could potentially
1:57:01help us expand our pool hours for the
1:57:04summer. I wasn't a part of their initial
1:57:06meeting but I know this is something
1:57:08that you're going to want to connect
1:57:09with Chief Layman about. I I don't know
1:57:12where it was left off but I also wanted
1:57:14to let council know that this
1:57:16conversation is underway.
1:57:18Just a real quick thing. I don't think
1:57:20it was going to be able to expand the
1:57:21pool hours. They were going to probably
1:57:23take over the entire pool and rent it
1:57:24for hours that it wasn't going to be
1:57:25open. Oh. So but [clears throat]
1:57:29they need to get numbers before they can
1:57:30come back to us. So they were going to
1:57:32have their sign-up period and when that
1:57:33closed they were going to come back. So
1:57:34we're waiting on that to happen I think.
1:57:37It might be like the first week or two
1:57:39of April they they closed their
1:57:40application period so they can say hey
1:57:42we got 500 kids or 400 but they expect
1:57:44numbers somewhere in that area for their
1:57:45summer program.
1:57:46Okay.
1:57:48Just just say um mayor is that
1:57:52for
1:57:53lessons at the pool or So it's an
1:57:56education summer education program. They
1:57:58would have to provide some type of
1:58:00education to the kids at the pool. So
1:58:01they were thinking like swim lessons.
1:58:03Okay. So how we're going to accommodate
1:58:05that it's really going to depend on how
1:58:06many kids they have. So we're trying to
1:58:07find that out first. And and it might
1:58:09say the older kids go on Monday and
1:58:11Wednesday, the younger kids go Tuesday,
1:58:13Thursday or whatever. So we're just
1:58:14trying to get all that uh number of kids
1:58:16and how we can break them up because
1:58:18we're
1:58:18if they have 200 kids in the fifth and
1:58:20sixth grade and they bring them all to
1:58:22the pool there's no way we have enough
1:58:23lifeguards for that many. Probably only
1:58:25be able to take a quarter of those at
1:58:26most. And so they would maybe have to
1:58:28have the kids out in the park playing
1:58:30and then rotate into their swim lesson
1:58:33time or something to that effect. This
1:58:35is only going to be during summer school
1:58:36isn't Yes, only for like a month and a
1:58:38half.
1:58:39Yeah.
1:58:40I I think it's June and half of July.
1:58:43It's really great. And then I don't know
1:58:44if you've been a part of these
1:58:46conversations like that but
1:58:47No, I I I was there with
1:58:49>> okay perfect. Yes, I was there.
1:58:51And like the chief stated
1:58:53we're going to have to figure out how
1:58:54we're going to separate. I believe I
1:58:56think the talks were 2 weeks the young
1:58:58ones and then the final 2 weeks were the
1:59:00older older kids.
1:59:02So but yeah, so I am working on getting
1:59:04a pool manager, assistant, and
1:59:06lifeguards.
1:59:07Um, um
1:59:09So, and I've I've been in con- uh
1:59:11actually got contact today by our old
1:59:13pool manager from last year. So, she put
1:59:15in application to uh wanting to come
1:59:17back. So, be nice. Great. Okay. Awesome.
1:59:20Thank you. Thank you for reporting back
1:59:22on that.
1:59:23Okay. Um, next up, we do have an
1:59:26executive session. Public comment is at
1:59:27the very end. I asked about this
1:59:30earlier, and um quite frankly, I think
1:59:32this is a conversation that we probably
1:59:33need to have in in work study. If we
1:59:35continue having it like this, or if we
1:59:38revert back to how it used to be.
1:59:40Um, this is going to be a council of the
1:59:42whole decision. So, um
1:59:45I'm proposing we bring it up in work
1:59:46study.
1:59:47Um, and the rules committee is going to
1:59:49meet, so maybe we can talk about it
1:59:51during this time. But, um in the case
1:59:54that some folks need to go home because
1:59:56it is almost 9:00, is there any
1:59:59objection with moving public comment
2:00:01now, and um and then following with our
2:00:04last item, which is executive session?
2:00:06Is there any going to be any action
2:00:08on the uh
2:00:11I
2:00:11>> executive session. Do we expect any?
2:00:13I No, I don't think so. So, then that
2:00:16makes sense then to go ahead and have
2:00:18public comment now for just Yeah, I
2:00:20agree. No objection. So, um there is
2:00:23somebody else that came in that didn't
2:00:24get to um sign up. I think in in if this
2:00:28continues, we should leave the sign-up
2:00:30sheet, or at least have two separate
2:00:32ones. So, people are coming in later
2:00:33because they know that public comment
2:00:35for general topics is at the end, then
2:00:37they can sign up. So, I'll go ahead and
2:00:39include you in here.
2:00:40Um, Sandra. The The first on the list is
2:00:43Monica Niemeyer.
2:00:57The microphone's not on.
2:01:00How does it uh it
2:01:05Wiggle it.
2:01:05>> Where's the And where's the button?
2:01:07>> [clears throat]
2:01:07>> There I go. Okay.
2:01:09Um, Monica Niemeyer, Sunnyside,
2:01:11Washington.
2:01:12And um I wanted to kind of talk I'm just
2:01:15a little confused. I'm hoping you can
2:01:18give the public some answers on what
2:01:20happened
2:01:21on the events around March 7th. And
2:01:24um that's in regards to the
2:01:26conversations, of course, that were out
2:01:28in the new in the newspaper that
2:01:30involved the city of Sunnyside, uh the
2:01:32council, the city attorney, Ms. Julie
2:01:34Norton, Mike Gonzalez, and his attorney,
2:01:36Mr. Zach Cummer, and uh
2:01:38the line of thread started from David
2:01:40Cortinas.
2:01:41And so, we know that we had a special
2:01:44meeting on January 29th, and we know the
2:01:47council went in executive session. We
2:01:49know that council came out of executive
2:01:50session, and council member Chavez made
2:01:53a motion for Mike Gonzalez. Council
2:01:55member Cesati seconded it, and Mayor
2:01:57Frias voted to bring it back.
2:01:59Bring him back. Um, we then know Deputy
2:02:02Mayor Hart uh voted no. Council member
2:02:04Galvan voted no. Council member Vasquez
2:02:06voted no, and Council member Dolan voted
2:02:09no.
2:02:10Stopping the vote. To you for Thank you.
2:02:14Um, and then after that, it gets a
2:02:15little confusing for the public. So, you
2:02:18know
2:02:19why did David
2:02:20um Cortinas report on behalf of Mike
2:02:23Gonzalez that his attorney, Zach Cummer,
2:02:25um that Mike got his job back? How did
2:02:27that happen? And they're referring to an
2:02:29offer.
2:02:30What offer are they referring to?
2:02:32So, you know, how can there be
2:02:34discussion of employment if the vote to
2:02:37bring Mike back was taken off the table?
2:02:40If the council of the whole voted no,
2:02:42how was there just still discussion of
2:02:44employment?
2:02:46Um, and did Ms. Norton reach out to Zach
2:02:48Cummer? If so, how?
2:02:50That's That's an action.
2:02:52Um, that would have had to been decided
2:02:53in public.
2:02:55And if it's the other way around, if Mr.
2:02:57Cummer reached out, well, you know,
2:02:59that's a little bit of a queenky-dinky
2:03:00there.
2:03:01You know, um based on the voting of the
2:03:04council and what was on the agenda and
2:03:06the action taken, Mike was just
2:03:09discussed in executive session. And then
2:03:11all of a sudden, Mr. Cummer happens to
2:03:13reach out. Well, how did that happen?
2:03:15You know, what conversation did Mike
2:03:17have to his attorney to tell him to
2:03:20call? If If it did go that way.
2:03:23And still, you know, what about this
2:03:24agreement um that is being reviewed,
2:03:26that's being considered? How did that
2:03:28happen? Well, if Mr. Cummer did indeed
2:03:31reach out to Ms. Norton about an
2:03:32agreement, he reaches out to talk to Ms.
2:03:35Norton, and they just happen to have
2:03:37conditions of agreement available?
2:03:39How How did that happen? And so, either
2:03:42way, the point I'm getting to is I I
2:03:44worry that an OPMA violation and
2:03:47violations are happening.
2:03:49And my example to support that is I did
2:03:51a public records request on February
2:03:5322nd, and I asked for all copies of
2:03:56lawsuits and tort claims.
2:03:58There were 13 during that time that were
2:04:01filed.
2:04:02And none of these items have been
2:04:04discussed publicly. So, then that means
2:04:06to tell me
2:04:08we're not responding to them? I mean, if
2:04:10any action has to come, there has to
2:04:11come before the public on what they're
2:04:13going to do. I'm sure some are still
2:04:15pending. I actually don't know. I'd have
2:04:17to take a guess.
2:04:19The only item I've ever heard discussed
2:04:22is a tort claim filed by Maria
2:04:24Fernandez.
2:04:26And we we need to stop. Is that okay?
2:04:28Oh, okay, thank you.
2:04:31Thanks for letting me know.
2:04:37I usually get like the little music
2:04:39going on.
2:04:40Uh next on the list is Sandra Cesati.
2:04:48Good evening, everyone. Sandra Cesati,
2:04:50Sunnyside. And so, um
2:04:53Mayor Frias and Council member Galvan,
2:04:56they did mention about a collaboration
2:04:57if we could work on. Um, and this
2:05:00collaboration would be between YVC, so
2:05:03Yakima Valley College, and Grandview,
2:05:05and also City of Sunnyside, and also uh
2:05:09the Sunnyside School District. And so,
2:05:11what I'm proposing is if the City of
2:05:14Sunnyside would provide the space, which
2:05:15is the community center, where our
2:05:17seniors, current seniors, and also other
2:05:20graduating years to come, where they
2:05:22could apply to um colleges since we do
2:05:25have seven confirmed, um and also help
2:05:28them with their financial aid, right?
2:05:30So, I do want to help our community uh
2:05:33make education higher education more
2:05:35accessible in meeting our students and
2:05:37families where they're at. So, our
2:05:39current seniors do receive um support in
2:05:42their schools, but then also we are left
2:05:45with certain steps that we're still
2:05:47missing, you know, to get them into like
2:05:49fall uh quarter um or semester ready.
2:05:53Um, myself as a first-generation college
2:05:55student, I struggled, and I didn't know
2:05:58my next steps after applying and what I
2:06:01needed to do. So, this is the
2:06:02opportunity where students can come that
2:06:04have already applied and check in on
2:06:07their next steps with the colleges and
2:06:08universities that have um said that
2:06:10they're they are available on that date,
2:06:13which I'm requesting April 22nd, which
2:06:16is a Wednesday, from 3:00 to 7:00. So,
2:06:18that gives us a time frame of 4 hours.
2:06:22Um of course, with setup and takedown,
2:06:24so I was thinking 1:30 to 8:30, right?
2:06:27For um that setup.
2:06:30Um and we're also partnering with Yakima
2:06:32Valley Partners of Education because
2:06:34they have
2:06:36um given us funds to secure even dinner,
2:06:38free dinner for students that um go
2:06:41through any steps with any of the
2:06:42colleges.
2:06:44So, this is also for students to come
2:06:46through that have are graduating this
2:06:48year, but then those that maybe took a
2:06:50year off and don't know what the process
2:06:52is to go to any of their any of the
2:06:55other colleges that are there or
2:06:58YVC, wherever, you know, they decide to
2:07:00go to. Um so, this is more of like us
2:07:05meeting our students where they're at
2:07:06because our students that have already
2:07:07graduated, who do they go to? They don't
2:07:10go to the high school no more, right?
2:07:11So, this is also tailored to not just
2:07:13our seniors, but um previous graduating
2:07:16classes.
2:07:17And so, YVC would provide the staff
2:07:20uh with that admissions, um financial
2:07:22aid. Sunnyside School District, I have
2:07:25already talked to um our superintendent,
2:07:27Ryan Maxwell, and he's providing uh 15
2:07:31laptops for technology, so that way
2:07:33students can either apply, pull up their
2:07:35financial aid, get help with financial
2:07:37aid, whatever that may look like. And
2:07:39then also was thinking of having our
2:07:41other colleges and universities table
2:07:43with their information and help the
2:07:45students with their next steps. But
2:07:47also, Sunnyside could have a table,
2:07:49right? And promote the vacancies that we
2:07:51have in our committees since we're going
2:07:53to have our younger students there and
2:07:55possibly with their families. So, this
2:07:57is an opportunity to take also to
2:08:00provide committees with vacancies, that
2:08:02way we can fill those up.
2:08:04Um I don't know if you all have any
2:08:05questions. I did include Council member
2:08:08Galvan, um Mayor Frias, Hector, and our
2:08:12interim city manager in that email. Um
2:08:15and I know that Hector provided me with
2:08:18an application, and yes, YVC does have
2:08:21our um insurance through the Department
2:08:24of um
2:08:27Enterprise Services. Time is up.
2:08:30Sorry.
2:08:30>> Time is up. Yes. You'll need to ping me.
2:08:34Thank you.
2:08:35>> um
2:08:36do y'all want to
2:08:37allow I don't know if this is going to
2:08:39help make the decision, whatever she's I
2:08:41don't I I think we're
2:08:43>> Or Or I think we're good. I think we're
2:08:44good.
2:08:44>> We're good? Okay. Okay. Just wanted to
2:08:46make sure we have all of the
2:08:47information. Just Just also trade
2:08:49schools. Ask them trade schools if
2:08:50Correct. Yes. Carrying all Yes, so not
2:08:53just college, you know, university, but
2:08:55technical schools as well. Good. Okay.
2:08:57>> Thank you.
2:08:57>> Thank you. Okay.
2:08:59Thank you.
2:09:02Um Jen for general public comment.
2:09:05You weren't listed on here.
2:09:08Is there any objection for Council
2:09:10Ripley? No, sorry. No objection.
2:09:13>> [laughter]
2:09:14>> I I I still call him Deputy Mayor.
2:09:17All right. No objection. I have no
2:09:19objection.
2:09:20Okay.
2:09:22Go ahead and approach the podium.
2:09:28And her 3 minutes My name is Vicki
2:09:30Ripley. I live in Sunnyside.
2:09:32And I appreciate interim city manager
2:09:37Pat Haley for keeping things about
2:09:39finance in council hands. That's you
2:09:42know, not just in the committee. That's
2:09:44where it should be because the city, you
2:09:46know, the citizens have a lot of
2:09:48questions, too.
2:09:50And it would be nice to hear from Monica
2:09:53about the finance.
2:09:56And I appreciate Julia bringing it up,
2:09:59but I would like to hear from Monica.
2:10:01And on the reconciliation of 2024, how's
2:10:05it going?
2:10:06Haven't heard anything about that. Is
2:10:08there any time frame on when that's
2:10:10going to be done?
2:10:12Okay. Thank you. Bye.
2:10:15Bye.
2:10:16>> [laughter]
2:10:22>> Okay.
2:10:23Hey.
2:10:25So
2:10:27That is the end of our public comment
2:10:29list.
2:10:30And now
2:10:32we will move into the final item here on
2:10:34the agenda, which is executive session.
2:10:38And I will list the RCWs that were
2:10:40provided to me, um and then we can
2:10:42figure out who stays and
2:10:44who goes.
2:10:46What time is it? 8:45. Okay. So
2:10:49um we're going to move into executive
2:10:52session
2:10:54to go over RCW 42. 030.110
2:11:00subsection GI and RCW 42.30.110
2:11:05subsection 1G to discuss pending
2:11:08litigation with legal counsel and
2:11:10reviewing qualifications of an
2:11:12applicant.
2:11:15So we will be
2:11:18asking everybody to please leave the
2:11:20council chambers.
2:11:21Uh do we have any time on this that we
2:11:24want to start with?
2:11:26Uh 15 minutes. 15 minutes. Okay. So
2:11:30we'll go ahead and start with 15
2:11:31minutes.
2:11:32Um
2:11:34Mhm. Yeah.
2:11:35Ready? I mean sheesh. Did you bring
2:11:38dinner?
2:11:39Or will we need like whole lunch breaks?
2:11:40No, I don't think there's any need for
2:11:42staff to return. So if you guys wanted
2:11:43to go Mhm.
2:11:45We should order pizza ahead of time.
2:11:48Yes. I really doubt it would be. Oscar,
2:11:50should we
2:11:51order pizza?
2:11:54These are restaurant quality.
2:11:59Going to take this.
2:12:01Okay, thank you.
2:12:04Let me know when we're good.
2:12:07Okay.
2:12:09So we're back in open session.
2:12:13No action
2:12:14is taken
2:12:16in public and it's now 9:32.

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