Yakima City Council October 20, 2026

The October 20, 2026, Yakima City Council meeting included several funding and contracting actions. Council unanimously approved the consent agenda, including the month’s disbursements, a $68,140 U.S. Department of Justice Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant application, an agreement with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission to fund a law-enforcement liaison, and an extension and amendment to City contract 2021-184 with Kite Med Consultants LLC for inmate healthcare services. Council also unanimously approved a WSDOT grant resolution providing $320,000, with no city match, for design of a roundabout at 6th Avenue and Fruitvale; the grant does not fund trolley features or construction. Staff said further public engagement is required and the design grant may support later applications for construction funding.

Council unanimously amended the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee rules to ease quorum requirements while maintaining representation balance. It also unanimously adopted a resolution correcting a procedural error related to the transportation improvement plan and comprehensive plan; discussion indicated the change leaves intact the trolley’s stated $8.4 million fundraising requirement. On surveillance cameras, the council suspended its rules to discuss fixed live-feed cameras, while a council member proposed removing those cameras but retaining license-plate readers and limited mobile event use. A motion to place the proposal on the November 2 agenda was made and seconded, but the transcript ends before its outcome is clear; no final camera-related action is recorded.