Welcome to Downtown Yakima
Organization
Downtown Yakima is a National Main Street Community, part of a historical preservation-based economic development tool enabling traditional commercial districts to revitalize using local historic, cultural, and architectural assets. The goal is to create and nurture sustainable and vibrant downtown places and enterprises. Downtown Association of Yakima is an affiliate of The Washington State Main Street Network. Its Four Point Approach exists to provide access to resources and networking opportunities for the express purpose of revitalizing our Downtown:
- Organization- All stakeholders, public and private, participate to achieve the goals
- Promotion- Highlight customer traffic using vibrant images of Downtown events
- Design- Enhance the appearance of the Downtown core encouraging capital
- Economic Restructuring- Recruit new businesses, convert unused spaces and sharpen competitiveness of traditional merchants
Other partner agencies identified throughout this toolkit additionally may have a pathway to some financial solutions for qualifying operations.
Mission Statement
Our vision of Downtown Yakima is of a unique, vital and vibrant district – a safe, clean, walkable neighborhood that invites one to linger. We envision a district that continues to draw investment both financial and creative by becoming the premier gathering space in Eastern Washington.
Officers
President-Joe Mann, Ron’s Coin and Collectibles, Mann Properties
Vice President- Nancy Raynor, Downtown building owner
Secretary- Rhonda Ostriem, Gress-Kinney-Parrish Insurance
Treasurer- John Baule, Yakima Valley Museum
Board Members
Kristi Foster, Wheatland Bank
Maria Fabara, Community Member
Todd Hodges, Community Member
Lori Fisk, John L. Scott Real Estate
Trevor Greene, Yakima School District
Committees
Outreach - Co-Chair- Rhonda Ostriem, Lori Fisk
Promotion - Chair- Open
Design - Chair- Ben Hittle
Economic Vitality - Chair- Raquel Alcala
Events
Check our DAY Events
Direct participation, sponsorship, or volunteering time, can be effective ways to contribute to your downtown, while promoting Downtown to residents and visitors.
Downtown Yakima Farmers Market
The Downtown Association of Yakima proudly manages the Downtown Yakima Farmers Market at The Rotary Pavilion, 15 W. Yakima Avenue, every Sunday between Mother's Day Weekend and the end of October. A thriving Farmers Market is critical to downtown revitalization and to our local small farmers who are an integral part of the Yakima community. Join us every Sunday as Downtown Yakima comes alive with fresh produce, value added agriculture products, arts and crafts, music, and local food vendors. The Downtown Yakima Farmers Market is a proud member of the Washington State Farmers Market Association which guarantees that all products offered at the market come directly from the grower and producer – resale is not allowed. It also means that most food programs are offered.
A GREAT PLACE TO WORK, TO PLAY, TO LIVE
Programs
Check our DAY Programs
Facade Improvement Grant
Each year, businesses and building owners in the district are invited to apply to DAY by the grant deadline. Grants are awarded by the DAY Design Committee based on a number of criteria. Funds come directly from DAY's operating budget. The Grant is a 50/50 matching grant with the funds being disbursed upon completion of the project. The program is designed to assist Downtown Yakima district business and building owners in upgrading their historic buildings while also enhancing economic vitality.
Monthly Breakfast Meeting
Downtown Association of Yakima organizes a lively, relaxed, one hour monthly breakfast meeting, normally on the first Tuesday of every month. Everyone is welcome. You can expect a guest speaker highlighting an item of community interest in a brief format. Downtown Association of Yakima officers update the group on upcoming events, ongoing projects and other news. The rest of the time is open for attendees to make announcements of community interest, and there is time to linger and visit with friends, neighbors and new acquaintances. Breakfast service is available.
Please join us as often as you can, at Second Street Grill, 28 N. 2nd Street, 8 AM, the first Tuesday of every month.
A complete listing of events and scheduling updates can be found by visiting downtownyakima.com.
Ongoing
Maintenance & Beautification
In 2008, more than 60% of property owners and business owners in a proposed “Downtown Yakima Business Improvement District” (DYBID) voted in favor of forming the district and paying assessments to fund beautification and ongoing maintenance in the downtown area. The City of Yakima, which collects the assessments, contracts with the Downtown Association of Yakima (DAY) to provide maintenance and beautification services and pays DAY with the money generated by the DYBID assessments. Beautification and Maintenance items partial list:
- Daily Trash/Liter removal
- Graffiti removal
- Landscaping
- Snow removal at intersections
The DYBID Advisory Board, whose members are elected by property owners in the district, is a valuable link between the City and the district’s members. The board meets regularly and serves as a resource for the district’s members. For more information about DYBID contact:
Rosylen Oglesby
Yakima Assistant City Manager
Phone: 509.575.6008 | Email: rosylen.oglesby@yakimawa.gov
Jennifer Ferrer– Santa Ines
City of Yakima Finance Director
Phone: 509.576.6644 | Email: Jennifer.ferrer@yakimawa.gov
Flower Program
Downtown Association of Yakima manages a spring season flower planting program in partnership with City of Yakima. Accordingly, you will see hanging flower baskets at the light posts along the street, together with planted flower pots at the street corners in the Downtown core area. The color and the plant vigor are visually stunning from the very first day. There is nothing more inviting throughout the Downtown than the presence of these flowers. Local and visiting passersby can be heard praising the beauty and expressing gratitude for Downtown Association's hard work on this treasure. Contact Downtown Association of Yakima to request any basket and pot repair or maintenance item you may deem necessary.
Hanging Baskets
Pots
Planters
A list of our
Resources
Business Resources
Electric Service
- Pacific Power (business and information) 888.221.7070
- Pacific Power (outages and emergencies) 866.870.3419
Natural Gas Service
- Cascade Natural Gas (customer service and emergency) 888.522.1130
Public Saftey
- Fire Department (business and information) 509.575.6060
- Police Department (business and information) 509.575.6200
City Services Directory
- Animal Control 509.575.6038
- Business Licenses 509.575.6126
- Code Administration 509.575.6126
- Parking Enforcement 509.575.6080
- Public Works, Garbage 509.575.6005
- Public Works, Streets and Traffic 509.575.6005
- Public Works, Wastewater Collections 509.575.6118
- Public Works, Water Division 509.575.6154
- Yakima Transit (public transportation) 509.575.6175
Map of city council districts for Downtown
Area served by Downtown Association of Yakima
www.yakimawa.gov/council/city-council-districts/
City Council districts having jurisdiction in Downtown Yakima are districts 4, 2, and 1
Public Meeting Schedule
Council meetings are 5:30 PM on the first and third Tuesday each month, City Hall Council Chambers. Community members can comment on agenda items during the public comment portion of the meeting. Register for public comment by visiting https://www.yakimawa.gov/council/public-comment.
City Hall directory of services website
www.yakimawa.gov/services/Business license new/update/renewal. Contact information city. Contact information state department of revenue, secretary of state.
For new businesses in Yakima, your business activity and location must be deemed to comply with the uses allowed in the zoning district. In order to apply for a City of Yakima Business License, a Tax Identification Number or UBI number issued by Washington Department of Revenue is necessary. With your 9-digit tax ID/UBI number, you are eligible to apply for a City business license, and begin the permitting process, which is matching your business's activity and location with existing City zoning regulations. The City permitting staff will assist with this.All businesses are required to comply with the annual license renewal process. Below are the agencies with solutions to the business licensing and permitting process:
- City of Yakima | https://yakimawa.gov/services/codes/licenses | 509.575.6126
- State of Washington Department of Revenue | https://dor.wa.gov, https://bls.dor.wa.gov | 800.451.7985
- State of Washington Office of the Secretary of State | https://dor.wa.gov, 360.725.0377 | 800.647.7706
Connect with Partner Agencies
Downtown Yakima Business Improvement District (DYBID)
- Yakima Assistant City Manager Rosylen Oglesby at 509.575.6008 or by email at rosylen.oglesby@yakimawa.gov
- City of Yakima Finance Director Jennifer Ferrer-Santa Ines at 509.576.6644 or by email at jennifer.ferrer@yakimawa.gov
- Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce www.yakima.org
- Yakima Hispanic Chamber of Commerce www.yakimahispanicchamber.com
- Yakima County Development Association www.chooseyakimavalley.com
- Supporting Investments in Economic Development (SIED) Board www.yakimacounty.us/1063/SIED-Board
- Yakima Historic Preservation Commission Call 509.575.6162, or visit www.yakimawa.gov/services/historic-preservation-commission
- Capitol Theatre https://capitoltheatre.org/
- Rural Community Development Resources http://www.rcdr.biz/
- Seasons Performance Hall https://www.theseasonsyakima.com/
- Yakima valley Tourism https://www.visityakima.com/
- Yakima Family YMCA https://yakimaymca.org/
Report Nuisance Items
Some examples are trash, street lighting, graffiti, street surface, animal complaints. Call 509.575.3535, or visit https://www.yakimawa.gov/apps/yak-back/.
Unauthorized Visitors
Trespass
In order to discourage criminal activity from occurring at your Downtown business, City of Yakima has an enforceable City Trespass Ordinance which allows Yakima Police Department to interact with and request persons to leave the property under certain circumstances. You are encouraged to execute and file the Police Department consent and authorization form found at https://yakimapolice.org/assets/YPD-Business-Trespass-Letter.pdf.
The Experience of Homelessness
This section aims to offer basic information for businesses and property owners interacting with individuals who may be experiencing homelessness. Homelessness is not illegal. A respectful and dignified manner toward everyone is a kindness that tends to uplift the entire community.
Disruptive or Illegal Behavior
If you witness disruptive or illegal behavior, immediately call the appropriate number below to report the situation and to request a timely response. If someone is being disruptive at your premises, politely ask them to leave.
Behaviors or observations when 509.575.6200 (non-emergency police dispatch) should be called, partial list:
Littering, public drinking or display of open alcohol containers, public urinating, person blocking sidewalk foot traffic or entrance to your business.
Behaviors or observations when 911 should be called, partial list:
Criminal Trespass: Entry or Remain after asked to leave. Criminal Mischief: Property damage or destruction. Disorderly Conduct: Fighting or challenging to fight, threatening or abusive language. Assault or aggression toward somebody.
Behaviors or observations when not to call either number. Police cannot intervene:
Person sitting or lying on a bench or sidewalk, panhandling, dirty or foul smelling
Helpful Community Resources
There are several local service providers which can assist with a meal, a shower, shelter, or other personal care. Below is a partial list of organizations and a partial list of their services.
- Camp Hope. Emergency shelter for men, women, young adults, veterans, domestic violence victims, families with children. Clothing, showers, laundry. Call 509.424.1228 (24-hour hotline), or visit https://www.camphopeyakima.com.
- Rod’s House. Emergency shelter for young people and young adults. Laundry, showers, hygiene, food, street outreach services. Call 509.895.2665, or visit https://rodshouse.org
- Union Gospel Mission. Emergency shelter for adults and families with children. Food, clothing, hygiene, medical and dental care. Call 509.248.4510, or visit https://yugm.org
Contact
Contact Us
Location:
14 S. 1st Street, Yakima, Washington 98901