YAKIMA, Wash.-Three new members were sworn into the Yakima City Council on January 2, along with a new mayor.
Leo Roy, Rich Glenn and Reedy Berg are now representing District 1, 5 and 7, respectively. Roy beat out Dulce Gutierrez by 15% at the November 7 General Election where Glenn and Berg each replaced Soneya Lund and Holly Cozens.
District 3 Councilwoman Patricia Byers was unanimously voted by her counterparts to represent the city as Mayor. District 6’s Matt Brown was voted to serve as Mayor Pro-Tem, or Assistant Mayor.
Each of their terms will run through the end of 2026.
The new-look City Council started their terms by hearing from the Yakima community on issues they face around town. Some of the items discussed were the parking situation downtown, portions of sidewalks that are not walkable and the Yakima Valley Local Crime Lab that the city did not partake in.
“The decisions that the City Council makes directly shapes the Yakima that we get to live in,” said Brian Martinez who spoke during public comment on the lack of parking for employees who work downtown. “I hope that our new City Council is forward thinking enough upon this issue to prioritize building for people instead of cars.
Yakima County Commissioner LaDon Linde spoke to the new council offering advice and also encouragement to look into joining the crime lab.
“One of the things I’ve learned as commissioner is that we can get a lot more done when we work together than when we don’t,” said Linde. “I can tell you that we opened the crime lab in August and at this point, we have already received 100 leads on the ballistics tests that have come through our lab alone.”
The city’s Director of Finance and Budget Mark Roberts read to the council an ordinance that would create a fund to help operations at a future MLK Jr. Park Aquatic Center. The council didn’t need to take action tonight, but Mayor Pro-Tem Brown offered a resolution to host a study session with the community about the project later in January.
Brown also presented a resolution to remove City Manager Bob Harrison from his position.
“As a result of the change in councilmembers, the City Council has determined it is in the best interest of the City to seek a new city manager,” read the resolution.
The vote passed 5-2 leading to Harrison’s position ending on February 2.
“Mr. Harrison displayed strong municipal leadership skills with City staff through the COVID crisis, including distribution of CARES Act funds to local businesses and a comprehensive study of the use of ARPA funds to meet City financial needs and crucial community needs,” said Mayor Byers. ” I appreciate his efforts in our community and wish him success in future endeavors.”
Harrison will receive six months of his normal pay and healthcare coverage as part of his severance.
“I have appreciated my time in Yakima and am proud of the service I provided to the City working with our elected officials, employees, and community members,” said Harrison. “Yakima is a wonderful community and I wish the best for the new Council.”
The City Council will begin the process of finding Harrison’s replacement at the January 16th meeting.
