city government

The three in opposition were Funk, Hill and Cousens in districts 4, 6 and 7. Between them they received 5,402 total votes to get into office...2,023 more votes than the other four combined, 60% MORE than the other four!

Plans for a new boutique hotel downtown, news about a super majority tax issue, and the latest on Yakima's downtown were all discussed when Yakima City Manager Tony O'Roarke recently visited Newstalk KIT. The funding mechanism for the hotel proposal by a local developer provided fuel for a lot of conversation...

Union Gap voters have decided to change their form of government from a strong mayor to a city manager. It is still a close race with Proposition 1 approved by 55 percent of the voters as of Tuesday night. It means Mayor Jim Lemon would lose his power and become the eighth council member...

The Yakima City Council approved the city manager contract May 8, offering Tony O'Rourke $175,000 a year. This is the highest salary ever for a city manager. The council also talked about the terms of the severance package in case Yakima ever changes to a strong mayor form of government...

The strong mayor issue is likely to be back on the ballot in the near future...despite the fact that the city is now in the process of hiring a new manager...Bruce Smith with the group citizens for safe streets and lower taxes says they're meeting again...

The “State of the City “ is on the menu for today’s Yakima Chamber of Commerce lunch.  Each of seven elected city councilpersons will give their take on how things look at the midpoint of 2011.