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The City of Yakima is the largest city in Yakima County. With a
population of more than 80,000, Yakima also ranks among the top ten
largest cities in the State of Washington.
The City
generally presents its preliminary budget in mid-to-late October
each year. Budget hearings run through the month of November and the
Yakima City Council formally votes on a budget in December.
The City of Yakima operates under a City Council - Manager form of
government. That means the City Council sets a broad policy agenda and
hires a City Manager to carry out those policies on a day-to-day basis.
City voters adopted the City Council - Manager form of government in 1959.
There are 7 members of the Yakima City Council. Terms on the City Council
last 4 years. 4 positions on the City Council are district specific
positions, meaning Council members occupying the district specific positions
represent certain areas of the City. 3 positions on the City Council are
at-large positions, meaning Council members occupying the at-large positions
do not represent any specific district of the City. All voters in the City
vote on each City Council position in a November general election despite
the district specific/at-large distinctions.
The City's Mayor is elected by the City Council from among its members, not
by the City's voters. The Mayor serves as the "chairperson" of the City's
"board of directors," the City Council. The Mayor presides at formal
meetings of the City Council and serves as the City Council's primary
representative to the media, before other governmental bodies, on various
boards and commissions, in welcoming conventions to the City, etc. While
the Mayor may be more high profile than other City Council members, the
Mayor's vote counts no more nor no less than the vote of any other City
Council member. The Mayor's term lasts two years.
The City Council holds its regular agenda meetings on
the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 6:00 pm in
the City Council Chambers at Yakima City Hall. Various boards, commissions
and committees of the City meet at various other times. Many of those
boards, commissions and committees are good sources of news stories.
The Mayor also holds a media briefing each Monday before a regular agenda
City Council meeting at 10:00 am in the City Council Chambers at Yakima
City Hall. Items on the next day's City Council agenda and other important
issues are discussed during the media briefing.
The City of Yakima is organized into 8 departments, each with a department
director. Within each department are divisions, headed by division managers.
Generally speaking, members of the news media should contact Community
Relations Manager, Randy Beehler (see contact info below) regarding a news
story. Randy will put members of the news media in contact with the
appropriate department. If need be, the department director can then put
you in touch with the appropriate division manager. Following are several
general areas of interest and the appropriate contact people.
Areas of Interest Contact
General Media Questions
Community Relations Manager
Randy Beehler – 575-6092(office), 901-1142(cell)
City Council Decisions and/or Issues
Mayor Dave Edler– 575-6040
Other Council Members – 575-6040
City Administration
City Manager Dick Zais - 575-6040
Asst. City Mgr. Dave Zabell - 575-6040
Budget Issues, other Finance Issues, etc.
Finance Director Rita DeBord– 575-6053
City Manager Dick Zais – 575-6040
Law Enforcement/Public Safety
Police Chief
Sam Granato– 575-6178
Deputy Chief Kelly Rosenow - 575-6210
Fire/Emergency Services
Fire Chief Charlie Hines – 576-6747
Municipal Court
Judge Susan Woodard – 575-3050
Judge Kelly Olwell - 575-3050
Economic/Community Development, Director of Community/Economic
Land use (rezones, etc.), Building Codes, Development
Bill Cook – 575-6113
Parks, Streets, Transit, Refuse
Public Works Director
Chris Waarvick – 575-6005
Legal Issues City Attorney
575-6030
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