Yakima City Council will discuss a proposed annexation in Terrace Heights and a new law creating Stay Out of Drug Areas in the city’s municipal code during its Tuesday council meeting. City officials will also discuss and vote on grant funding for several city projects, including the aquatic center at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, the Yakima Air Terminal and funding for a city attorney to work on cases in DUI court.
Petitions from property owners in a portion of Terrace Heights between Terrace Heights Drive and State Route 24 have started potential annexation of 1,000 acres east of the Yakima River. The annexation area would include Yakima Sportsman State Park, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences and industrial areas, like a new Amazon warehouse on Keys Road. According to agenda materials, the council will decide whether to accept the petition and whether it will modify the proposed area of annexation.
The council will need to go through additional steps before an annexation would occur. City officials are presenting four different maps which vary slightly. The largest proposed area includes 1,586 people while the smallest includes 1,218 people, but all cover a similar area.
City officials will also present options for altered city council districts – adding people and land to Yakima means the 1st and 2nd city council districts would need to be redrawn. The council will also decide if the annexed area should be subject to city fees and taxes. Impacts to communi.