Don’t Show Up For a Meeting? Council Calling for Accountability

The Yakima City Council on Tuesday was joined by council member Jason White after not attending meetings in more than a year. He was at Yakima City Hall during the first in person council meeting at city hall in more than a year because of the pandemic. During the meeting the council made a unanimous decision to direct staff to develop a resolution to place a charter amendment on the November ballot. The amendment would allow the city to remove council members who don't attend council meetings. The city is looking for a way to hold council members accountable for not attending meetings like Jason White who hadn't been at a council meeting since June of last year. He's decided not to run for reelection. He supported the decision to ask staff to develop a resolution on the issue.
The amendment in the charter if approved by voters would give the council the power to say a seat was vacant on the council if three consecutive meetings or more than six unexcused meetings during the year.
The council also talked about cruising and the cruising dates the city has sponsored this summer. The summer cruise nights sponsored by the city of Yakima are set for July 10 and 17, August 14 and 21 and September 11 and 18. During the discussion Yakima Police will gave a presentation and answered questions from council members.
As a way to help battle local crime at the June 15, 2021 Council meeting, staff was directed to bring back a recommendation on police technology investments and hiring crime analysts.  The crime analyst positions and the police technology investments will be funded through existing general fund savings.