Yakima Council to Consider Fining People for Using Shopping Carts in Public Areas

The Yakima City Council will discuss fines for people for using shopping carts in public and examine two permanent street closures before hearing budget presentations at its Tuesday meeting.

Council members will consider a new law that will fine people for using shopping carts on public roads, such as streets and paths, and in parks.

The new law would allow city authorities to impound shopping carts and seize abandoned or lost shopping carts in private areas.

There would be a $50 fee for people operating shopping carts in public areas. Fees for shopping carts seized in private areas would not be charged if the carts had locking devices installed. Owners would have 14 days to recover the seized carts.

Street closures

Two street closures are on the agenda.

A public hearing will be held to consider closing South 10th Avenue between Chestnut Avenue and Walnut Street. The effort is supported by the YWCA, which is trying to correct a deficiency where a portion of a building is in the public right-of-way.

In another request, Columbia Ridge Homes asked to vacate a portion of North 92nd Avenue while the company builds homes and new roads in the area.

Residents of 92nd Avenue North, which extends to the summit, raised concerns about the closure and the city’s lawsuit.

Opioid Funding and Budget

Another resolution on the council’s agenda is for a Municipal Community Court case manager partnership with People for People, a local nonprofit. The position would be funded for at least five years with funds from the state’s opioid settlement process.

The case manager would work in a community diversion program to help individuals who commit low-level crimes and need mental health or substance abuse treatment and support to get their lives back on track. The city would provide $73,700 in 2025 and $79,000 in 2026.

The council will hear a series of budget presentations from various departments, including fire, human resources, legal and several community development divisions – including planning, codes and engineering.

A budget presentation focused on public safety was held on October 8. Two more budget hearings are scheduled for October 22 and 29.

Regular council meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. at Yakima City Hall, 129 N. Second St. Meetings can be observed in person or online through the city’s website, and translation services are available.

To comment at a regular Council meeting, visit bit.ly/YHRcomment and complete the comment request form. People can also email [email protected] or call 509-575-6060.