Luke Cussins

The City Council Study Session included discussions on the city wireless code and a franchise agreement with Advances High Speed Internet. Key agenda items involved reviewing resolutions for a professional engineering services contract for test wells, the adoption of a climate element and community asset list, and the approval of council rules of procedure. The council also discussed a utility billing ordinance, rental arrangements for city-owned properties including a church and a facility with the Greater Mabton Association, and a policy regarding the rounding of cash transactions. The meeting also featured an executive session to discuss potential litigation.

The meeting agenda included the Call to Order, Pledge of Allegiance, and voting on the agenda itself. The Consent Agenda covered the approval of multiple payroll warrants from late 2025 and early 2026, as well as the approval of various City Council and Study Session minutes from June through December 2025. New Business items included the selection of the Mayor Pro Tem for 2026, and the approval of several resolutions and an ordinance. Specific resolutions concern updating bank account signatories, delegating voting members for YVCOG, approving a successor collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local Union No. 760, and adopting a Mayoral Stipend ordinance. An amendment to the Professional Engineering Services Contract with Gray & Osborne, Inc. was also slated for approval.

The City Council meeting agenda includes consideration of several resolutions. Key new business items involve authorizing the unbudgeted purchase of a police vehicle following a competitive bid process (Resolution 2026-04), authorizing investment of monies in the Local Government Investment Pool (Resolution 2026-05), authorizing a Letter of Tribal Engagement to the Yakama Nation (Resolution 2026-06), expressing intent to adopt the Yakima County Critical Areas Ordinance by reference (Resolution 2026-07), authorizing a Grant Agreement with the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board for a Fog Seal Project (Resolution 2026-08), authorizing an Engineering Services Contract with Gray & Osborne, Inc. for the Fog Seal Project (Resolution 2026-09), and approving a policy regarding the shortage of pennies and cash transaction handling (Resolution 2026-10). The consent agenda includes approval of payroll warrants and claim vouchers, as well as minutes from two previous special meetings held in January 2026.

The agenda for the City Council meeting included voting on the meeting agenda and addressing the Consent Agenda items, which involved approving payroll warrants for December 20, 2025, and January 5, 2026, as well as approving several previous meeting minutes from June, September, November, and December 2025. New Business items include the selection of the Mayor Pro Tem for 2026, approval of resolutions updating authorized signers for the City's bank account, delegating voting members for YVCOG, approving a successor collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local Union No. 760, adopting an ordinance establishing a Mayoral Stipend, and approving an amendment to the Professional Engineering Services Contract with Gray & Osborne, Inc.

The City Council meeting commenced after a brief delay. The council approved the meeting agenda and the consent agenda items A through D. During the visitors comments section, a resident expressed appreciation for recent community events, including a trunk or treat, a fiesta, and the upcoming unveiling of Mel Staughter Meer. Under new business, the council voted to table Resolution 2025-26 regarding the approval of a facility use policy and application for city-owned property at 406 Washington Street to gather more information. The council then approved the city's periodic update grant contract with the Washington State Department of Commerce for updating the comprehensive plan, zoning ordinance, subdivision ordinance, and critical areas ordinance, administered by the Yakimma Valley Conference of Governments. Staff reports included updates on several financial refunds and ongoing work to reconcile 2023 financial numbers, noting that 2025 appears to be a cleaner year. Additionally, clarification was provided regarding the council's decision concerning the location of a test well. The Mayor provided a report thanking volunteers and sponsors for the successful fall festival and announced details for the Millmire unveiling event and a future grand opening event for a gas station.