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 community members could vary depending on how services and charges change during annexation.
If the council moves forward, additional discussions would occur in October. If approved then, the city would need signatures from the owners of 60% of the assessed property value in the annexation area. Yakima City council members will consider adding stay out of drug areas to the municipal code.
The ordinance would establish two stay out of drug areas in the city, one on North First Street and one on Naches Avenue south of Yakima Avenue that Yakima police say have a high level of illegal drug activity. Yakima Municipal Court judges could bar people from entering those areas as a condition of pretrial release or a suspension of their sentences. Violating that order could result in arrest, a fine of $5,000 or 364 days in jail.
Seattle City Council is considering a similar rule that would affect two zones in the city’s downtown. According to the Seattle Times, the stay out of drug areas are allowed under state law and have withstood legal challenges in Auburn, Everett and Monroe. The new law is proposed by the Seattle City Attorney.
In Seattle, people can take public transportation through an area as long as they don't de-board, and can request modifications through a judge if they have family or a job there. Regular council meetings begin at 5:30 p.m.
at Yakima City Hall at 129 N. Second St. The meetings can be observed in person or online via the city website and translation services are available.
To comment at the regular council meeting, visit bit.ly/YHRcomment and fill out the comment request form. People also can email ccouncil2@yakimawa.
gov or call 509-575-6060..
