Yakima Scrubs Interim City Manager Contract

The Yakima City Council Tuesday voted to stop negotiations with David Mercier, the man who the city was hoping would sign a contract to fill the job of City Manager for up to a year. Apparently timing was a problem. The Council voted last night 6-0 to withdraw the offer to Mercier and continue the search for an interim Yakima City Manager. Yakima City Manager Dick Zais continues to recover at home from a serious blood clotting illness. He's expected to retire sometime this summer. The council is also waiting on the outcome of the February 8th election to determine if a change will be made in city government. Voters are being asked if they want to keep the current council manager or a strong mayor form of government.