Sunnyside public meetings in 2025

Climate Resilience Advisory Committee

The Climate Resilience Advisory Committee voted to approve the Climate Resilience Plan and reviewed a document from the Climate Resilience Workbook. The minutes do not record the vote tally or any other substantive decisions.

• Approved the Climate Resilience Plan
• Reviewed a document from the Climate Resilience Workbook

Climate Resilience Advisory Committee

The Climate Resilience Advisory Committee will take roll call, consider items submitted by committee members and staff, identify future agenda topics, schedule the next meeting, and then adjourn. No specific proposals or decisions are listed in the agenda.

Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Special Meeting

The committee is convening for a special meeting. The agenda contains no specific discussion topics or decision items beyond procedural boilerplate.

Community and Economics Development Commission

The Community and Economic Development Commission will review the Revolving Loan Fund, discuss a new Small Business Basics program, and explore collaboration with partner agencies.

• Review Revolving Loan Fund totals and recipient feedback form
• Discuss Small Business Basics program schedule and location
• Explore collaboration with Yakima County Development Association
• Review progress on establishing a 4-week small business course
• Update on current loan recipients and program improvements

Planning Commission Regular Meeting

The Planning Commission will meet to consider a text amendment regarding flag lots. The body will also review a periodic update to the Land Capacity Analysis and Population/Housing Allocation.

• Text Amendment – Flag Lots (SMC 16.20.104)
• Periodic Update – Land Capacity Analysis and Population/Housing Allocation

Municipal Airport Advisory Board Special Meeting

The Municipal Airport Advisory Board will convene to accept the minutes from the March 18, 2025 meeting and discuss items for the current session. The meeting will be held at City Hall in Sunnyside.

• Accept minutes from March 18, 2025 meeting
• Review active agenda items
• Review committee member items
• Review items for next meeting

Civil Service Meeting

The Civil Service Commission will meet to approve previous meeting minutes and complete a full review of Civil Service Rules/Articles. The session includes time for items from committee and staff members.

• Approval of July 16, 2025 meeting minutes
• Finalization of full review of Civil Service Rules/Articles

Civil Service Commission Regular Meeting

The Civil Service Commission will vote to approve the meeting minutes from June 25, 2025. It will also continue its review of civil service articles. Additional items submitted by committee and staff members will be considered, and a date and time for the next meeting will be set.

• Approve meeting minutes from June 25, 2025
• Continue reviewing Civil Service Articles
• Review items submitted by committee members
• Review items submitted by staff members
• Fix date and time for the next meeting

City Council Study Session

Councilors voted to split the meeting’s executive session, removing the forensic audit from the agenda, with a 5‑yes to 2‑no vote. They also voted to suspend the rules to permit additional public comment, passing 6‑yes to 1‑no. No other actions were taken during the session.

• Split executive session, pulling forensic audit from agenda (5-2)
• Suspend rules to allow public comment (6-1)

City Council Regular Meeting

The council approved a resolution declaring the 70 Ray Road property surplus, passing with six yes votes and one no vote. They also approved a resolution designating the City Clerk as the agent for tort claims and a proclamation for Municipal Clerks Week, both unanimously. The consent agenda minutes for the March 3 and March 10 meetings and the meeting agenda were approved unanimously.

• Approved 70 Ray Road property surplus resolution (6 yes, 1 no)
• Approved tort claims agent resolution (unanimous)
• Approved Municipal Clerks Week proclamation (unanimous)
• Approved consent agenda minutes for March 3 and March 10 meetings (unanimous)
• Approved agenda adoption (unanimous)
• Extended executive session by 30 minutes (twice)
• Added 30 minutes to meeting after regular limit (without objection)

City Council Special Meeting

The council convened a special meeting on April 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM. An executive session was held from 6:00 PM to 9:02 PM, during which no action was taken. The meeting was adjourned at 9:04 PM with no further business.

City Council Regular Meeting

The council approved the meeting agenda without objection. It then approved the consent agenda, which authorized payroll vouchers totaling $661,139.39 and a resolution for the City Manager to enter a commissary contract with Pinnacle Correctional Services; the claim‑voucher item was removed. All motions passed unanimously.

• Approved meeting agenda (unanimous)
• Approved payroll voucher numbers 119715‑119720 and $661,139.39 wire transfers (unanimous)
• Approved resolution authorizing City Manager to contract with Pinnacle Correctional Services for commissary services (unanimous)
• Removed claim voucher numbers 111397‑111601 and $1,177,573.45 from consent agenda (unanimous)

City Council Study Session

The council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit a Public Works Board application for emergency wastewater digester repairs estimated at $150,000‑$250,000. It directed staff to inform the Recreation and Conservation Office that the city will not move forward with the grant for the proposed pump track project. The council also amended the agenda to discuss the Cinco de Mayo Festival Safety Plan and directed the city to cover officer costs for the event while exploring use of lodging tax funds.

• Agenda amendment to discuss Cinco de Mayo Safety Plan approved (unanimous)
• Resolution authorizing wastewater digester repair funding application approved (unanimous)
• City will not pursue RCO Pump Track grant; RCO to be notified
• City will cover officer costs for Cinco de Mayo Festival; manager to explore lodging tax funding

City Council Regular Meeting

The council approved a resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit a $2,000,000 Support Investment in Economic Development (SIED) application for a 50% grant and 50% loan to fund water and sewer upgrades at the Monson Property. It also approved a Pinnacle Correctional Services commissary contract (6‑1 vote) and several unanimous proclamations and contracts, and adopted payroll and claim vouchers totaling $1.38 million.

• Approved Pinnacle Correctional Services commissary contract (6 YES, 1 NO)
• Approved Women’s History Month proclamation (unanimously)
• Approved Cesar Chavez Day proclamation (unanimously)
• Approved YVCOG Technical Assistance Contract (unanimously)
• Approved renewal of Interlocal Agreement with Yakima Valley Office of Emergency Management (unanimously)
• Approved purchase of new Sewer Jet Truck using Source Well Contract #10122V (unanimously)
• Approved $2,000,000 SIED application for Monson Property water/sewer project (unanimously)
• Approved payroll vouchers $610,062.37 and claim vouchers $770,679.12 (unanimously)

Board of Parks & Recreation Special Meeting

The Board of Parks & Recreation will hold a special meeting to discuss the opening of the community pool. It will also consider matters related to the community center. No other agenda items are listed beyond standard procedural items.

• Pool Opening Discussion
• Community Center Discussion
• Set a time and date for the next meeting

City Council Regular Meeting

The Sunnyside City Council appointed Theresa Hancock to fill the District 1 vacancy, with a 6-1 vote (Councilor Vazquez dissenting), and she was sworn in. The council also approved several resolutions, including temporary legal services, an interim public works director agreement, a state of emergency for Well 7 rehabilitation, surplus firearms disposition, event sponsorship, and a code amendment consolidating study sessions. All other motions were unanimous.

• Appointed Theresa Hancock to District 1 vacancy (6-1)
• Approved temporary legal services agreement with Quinn N. Plant for 60 days (unanimous)
• Approved interim public works director agreement with Cus Arteaga (unanimous)
• Declared state of emergency for Well 7 rehabilitation (unanimous)
• Declared surplus firearms and authorized disposition (unanimous)
• Approved sponsorship of Spirit of Sunnyside Awards Dinner and Auction (unanimous)
• Adopted ordinance consolidating study sessions to once per month (unanimous)
• Approved consent agenda including payroll and claim vouchers (unanimous)

City Council Study Session

The Sunnyside City Council held a study session with no formal votes. They received a presentation from SURF Soccer League requesting free use of city fields, reviewed a proposed ordinance amending study session rules, and heard updates from police and finance departments. The council directed that the marijuana prohibition amendment discussion be referred to the Community and Economic Development Subcommittee for further recommendations.

• Referred cannabis retail discussion to Community and Economic Development Subcommittee
• Agenda amended to add executive session (no action taken)
• Council to consider study session ordinance on March 10, 2025

City Council Regular Meeting

The Sunnyside City Council approved a resolution authorizing the City Manager to spend $100,000 in lodging tax funds on a marketing plan. They also directed staff to revise the municipal code to establish three council meetings per month and to continue exploring a dog breeding ban, with action expected by April. The consent agenda, including payroll and claim vouchers totaling over $2.5 million, was approved unanimously.

• Approved $100,000 lodging tax funds for marketing plan (unanimous)
• Directed municipal code revision for three council meetings per month
• Directed continued exploration of dog breeding ban, action by April
• Approved consent agenda including payroll and claim vouchers (unanimous)

City Council Study Session

The Sunnyside City Council approved a resolution authorizing the City Manager to accept bid results and execute documents for Schedule 1 of the Waste Water Treatment Plant digester heating system upgrades, awarding the project to SCI Industrial Services LLC. The motion carried unanimously. The council also received updates on lobbying efforts and grants, but no other substantive decisions were made.

• Approved resolution authorizing City Manager to accept bid and execute documents for WWTP digester heating upgrades, awarded to SCI Industrial Services LLC (unanimous)

City Council Special Meeting

The Sunnyside City Council approved a 2% utility tax increase to fund the 2025 swimming pool season, with a 3-1 vote (Councilor Ripley opposed). The council also approved several resolutions, including a $100,000 lodging tax request for marketing, a contract amendment for airport environmental investigation, re-implementation of a Medical Services Officer position, an interlocal agreement with Yakima County Fire District 5, and the purchase of two police vehicles. All other agenda items were approved unanimously.

• Approved 2% utility tax increase for 2025 pool season (3-1)
• Approved $100,000 lodging tax request for marketing plan (unanimous)
• Approved contract amendment with Mott MacDonald for airport environmental investigation (unanimous)
• Approved re-implementation of Medical Services Officer position (unanimous)
• Approved interlocal agreement with Yakima County Fire District 5 for equipment maintenance (unanimous)
• Approved surplus and purchase of two police vehicles (unanimous)
• Approved consent agenda including claim vouchers for $395,778.35 (unanimous)
• Approved proclamation for American Heart Health Month (unanimous)

Board of Parks and Recreation Special Meeting

The Sunnyside Board of Parks & Recreation will hold a special meeting to review the 2025 mission statement and consider several program topics. Items include the upcoming pool opening, use of the community center by the Boys & Girls Club, other non‑profits, and plans for new youth sports programs. No formal decisions are indicated in the agenda.

• Pool Opening
• Community Center Use
• Boys & Girls Club activities
• Non‑profits utilizing Community Center
• Youth Sports Creation

City Council Regular Meeting

The Sunnyside City Council approved a resolution amending and adopting its Rules of Procedure, removing supermajority requirements in sections 9.6.6 and 9.6.7 (5-2) but failing to remove them in section 10.1 (3-4). The council also authorized the City Manager to enter into an animal sheltering agreement with the Yakima Humane Society (5-2). Additionally, the council directed staff to prepare agenda materials for a February 10, 2025 public hearing on a utility tax increase to fund the 2025 pool season. The consent agenda, including payroll and claim vouchers totaling over $3 million, was approved unanimously.

• Approved amended Rules of Procedure, removing supermajority wording in sections 9.6.6 and 9.6.7 (5-2)
• Failed to remove supermajority wording in section 10.1 (3-4)
• Approved resolution authorizing animal sheltering agreement with Yakima Humane Society (5-2)
• Directed staff to prepare agenda materials for utility tax increase public hearing on February 10, 2025
• Approved consent agenda including payroll vouchers ($708,469.20 and $620,067.40) and claim vouchers ($1,755,443.29) unanimously

City Council Study Session (with action)

The Sunnyside City Council unanimously rescinded Ordinance 2022-03, which had appointed Judge Troy Lee as Municipal Court Judge, and approved a resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend an independent consultant agreement with Judge Lee and set pro-tempore pay. The council also approved $1,449,390.48 in final 2024 vouchers, reassigned Councilor Hart to the Climate Resilience Advisory Team, and added new priorities including industry diversification and Spanish-language business meetings.

• Approved $1,449,390.48 in final 2024 vouchers (unanimous)
• Rescinded Ordinance 2022-03 regarding Judge Troy Lee appointment (unanimous)
• Approved resolution to amend Judge Troy Lee independent consultant agreement (unanimous)
• Reassigned Councilor Hart to Climate Resilience Advisory Team (without objection)

Planning Commission

The Sunnyside Planning Commission will meet to discuss the roles of the commission and introduce a new CED Director. The agenda includes approving previous meeting minutes and setting a date for the next meeting.

• Approve minutes from previous meetings
• Introduction to new CED Director
• Review Periodic Update Work Plan
• Discuss role of the Planning Commission
• Set date for next meeting

City Council Regular Meeting

The Sunnyside City Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a funding agreement for city-wide pedestrian improvements, and a second resolution authorizing a task order with HLA Engineering for the TIB Complete Streets project. The council also approved the consent agenda, including payroll and claim vouchers totaling over $3.5 million, and appointed members to boards and commissions.

• Approved resolution authorizing City Manager to execute pedestrian improvement funding agreement (unanimous)
• Approved resolution authorizing City Manager to execute TIB Complete Streets task order with HLA Engineering (unanimous)
• Approved consent agenda including payroll vouchers totaling $2,121,138.63 (unanimous)
• Approved consent agenda including claim vouchers totaling $1,381,747.57 (unanimous)
• Approved consent agenda including Municipal Court claim vouchers totaling $6,286.65 (unanimous)
• Approved agenda with amended order (unanimous)
• Excused Councilor Beeler from the meeting (without objection)
• Appointed members to Council subcommittees, boards, and commissions

Civil Service Commission Monthly Meeting

The Civil Service Commission will review the city's Council Rules of Procedure. It will also consider items submitted by committee members and staff members, and set the date and time for the next meeting. The meeting will conclude with adjournment.

• Review current Council Rules of Procedure
• Consider items from committee members
• Consider items from staff members
• Set date and time for next meeting

Community and Economic Development Commission Special Meeting

The Community and Economic Development Commission will review and update its Goals and Vision work. Members will also discuss the creation of specific sub-committees and lead roles for commissioners regarding city subjects.

• Review and update of Goals and Vision work
• Discussion on creating specific sub-committees and commissioner lead roles

City Council Study Session/Swearing-in Ceremony

The Sunnyside City Council held a study session combined with a swearing‑in ceremony on January 6, 2025. The ceremony included the oath of Mayor Dean Broersma, City Manager Mike Gonzalez, City Clerk Jacqueline Renteria, and senior fire and police officers. A firefighter pinning ceremony and a police pinning ceremony were conducted, followed by an award presentation and refreshments. No policy decisions or votes were scheduled for this meeting.

• Swearing‑in of Mayor Dean Broersma, City Manager Mike Gonzalez, and City Clerk Jacqueline Renteria
• Firefighter pinning ceremony led by Fire Chief Cameron Haubrich
• Police pinning ceremony led by Police Chief Robert Layman
• Award presentation and refreshments for attendees
• City Council study session held at Sunnyside Community Center, 1521 S. 1st St.

The Sunnyside City Council held a study session that consisted solely of a Police and Fire Department Swearing-In Ceremony. No substantive decisions were made; the council attended the ceremony and adjourned.

• No action taken at Police and Fire Department Swearing-In Ceremony