1. Call to Order

Vice Chairperson González called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. in the council chambers, Yakima City Hall; 129 N Second St.; Yakima, Washington.

2. Roll Call

Thornsbury conducted roll call and declared a quorum present.

Board members: Amanda McKinney, County Representative, Present (via video-conference)

Steven Jones, Ph.D., County Representative, Present

Juliet Potrykus, Large City Representative, Present

Hilda González, Ed.D., City Representative, Present
Ranie Haas, Member-at-Large Alternate, Present

Staff present: Marc Thornsbury, Executive Director

3. Changes to the Agenda

González asked if there were any changes to the agenda. None were requested.

4. Public Comment

González asked if there were any public comments.

Jean Mendoza stated at the previous meeting the Board voted to limit the cost of living adjustment (COLA) to two percent (2%) and according to Resolution 2026-05 the increase is three percent (3%). She added there is growing concern regarding data centers in Yakima County and noted the County Commission adopted a sixty (60) day moratorium on new data centers and researching their potential impact. Mendoza noted data centers often utilize diesel backup generators that have significant emissions and asked that the Agency provide information on potential air quality impacts if requested by the County Commission.

Nancy Lust, Friends of Rocky Top, remarked that at the previous meeting, Thornsbury had been questioned regarding air quality in the upper and lower Yakima Valley and had answered with a very technical, and likely accurate, explanation. She added the explanation would have been more comprehensible to a lay person had more common words and less technical language been used and had it included a statement concerning the causes for the greater fluctuations in the lower Yakima Valley versus the upper Yakima Valley.

5. Board Meeting Minutes for July 9, 2026

González asked if there were any corrections. Haas moved to approve the July 9, 2026, minutes. Jones seconded. Motion passed 4-0.

6. Payroll Transfer Authorization for June 2026

Hass moved to approve the June 2026 payroll transfer. Potrykus seconded. Motion passed 4-0.

7. Vouchers for June 2026

Potrykus moved to approve the July 2026 vouchers. Jones seconded. Motion passed 4-0.

he motion to amend Resolution 2026-04 setting the COLA amount at two percent (2%) passed 2-0.

(McKinney joined the meeting)

8. Executive Director’s Report

Thornsbury stated the Agency is involved primarily with permits, public records, and technical assistance to industry and particularly with new unpermitted and/or unregistered sources being brought into compliance. He added staff time across the Agency is largely being consumed in these three areas.

Thornsbury noted staff were preparing for resumption of the residential burn season anticipated to begin September 1, but now postponed to October 1 due to the Governor’s declaration . He remarked the Agency was also closely monitoring air quality impacts from the various wildfires to the north, east, and south of the region. Thornsbury added that because the air quality is so poor, the Agency is not issues allocations for agricultural burning and no burning under other burn permits is allowed during the ban. He explained that is largely the extent of what the Agency can do in the areas over which it has jurisdiction.

Jones noted the indicator on the Agency web site shows there is no burn ban in place. Thornsbury explained the Agency has not instituted one as both County and State burn restrictions are already in place. He noted the history of the indicator is somewhat cloudy and it has been a source of problems. Thornsbuty stated the Agency does not have fine-grained control over its appearance and can essentially either turn it on or off.

Thornsbury noted the indicator will be something that is changed when a new Agency web site is developed. He explained it appears to have been intended to clarify burn restrictions but has not effectively served that purpose and creating confusion rather than dispelling it. Thornsbury stated there have been discussions with the County concerning the development of an integrated solution involving the County Fire Marshal’s office and the Agency.

Potrykus asked what the Agency role is when wildfire smoke creates unhealthy air quality in the region, what monitoring and public notification it provides, and how permitting is affected. Thornsbury stated permitting, including the issuance of non-agricultural burn permits, is not affected with the latter being conditioned such that burning is not allowed when a local, county, or state burn restriction is in effect.

Thornsbury explained that for agricultural burning, the Agency rarely issues a ban since it is controlled through an allocation process where the quantity of burning allowed on a particular day is dependent upon anticipated air quality and forecast weather conditions. He added that when there is a substantial intrusion of wildfire smoke, the Agency simply allocates a quantity of zero meaning no agricultural burning is allowed—effectively a ban without calling it one. Thornsbury noted when air quality is better, more agricultural burning is allowed and when air quality is worse, less agricultural burning is allowed.

McKinney expressed appreciation for Potrykus’ question and suggested it is based on concerns by agricultural and other businesses that feel targeted because of the emissions necessary for their operations. She remarked there is a feeling of being overregulated while forests have not been adequately managed resulting in wildfires that have an enormous effect on air quality which, in turn, negatively affects industries dependent upon some quantity of emissions in order to operate.

Jones inquired as to the firm selected by the Agency to process its credit card transactions. Thornsbury stated he did not recall the name, adding it is used by a number of other public agencies including the County. McKinney stated she did not know the name of the processor used by the county. Thornsbury stated he would follow up with Jones.

9. Other Business

González noted the presence of a resolution in the board packet and asked if it was to be addressed at this time. Thornsbury stated he had only been asked to provide the information in the packet. Haas asked for discussion of the current cost of living adjustment (COLA) on behalf of [Board Chairperson] Jon DeVaney.

Haas noted an adjustment of two percent (2%) had previously been adopted and suggested that, taking into account the current rate of inflation, the Board might wish to consider an increase, adding DeVaney had previously talked about three percent (3%). Potrykus stated the COLA was based on what the Washington State employees’ union received and the discretion granted to Thornsbury to grant bonuses to make up the potential difference.

González noted the resolution allowed for up to three percent (3%) and asked if that would allow the Agency flexibility to increase the COLA to that amount. Jones stated the budget included a three percent (3%) increase. He explained the resolution specifies more than that starting in September because the month of August would be missed. Jones expressed his belief the matter had been addressed at the prior meeting and the Board need not revisit it. He added priority should be given to filling the two vacant positions and suggested staff could be much more productive if they were filled. Thornsbury stated he did not disagree regarding the need to fill vacant positions, adding he did not see how adding staff would have a bearing on the COLA.

González asked if Agency staff were represented by a union. Thornsbury stated the positions are not represented.

Potrykus asked if the positions were technical. Thornsbury replied that some are more technical than others and noted it is more difficult to recruit for positions that are more technical in nature. He explained recruiting is a challenge for all of the clean air agencies since there is no program or degree specifically for air quality. Thornsbury stated most people hired come from a slightly different background and one looks for complementary degrees—such as chemical or mechanical engineering or environmental science—and skills. He added that, unlike hiring for an accounting position where individuals with an accounting degree and bookkeeping experience are easily found, in this context the process is more nuanced.

Potrykus asked if the open positions are posted. Thornsbury stated one position has been posted since early July and, once it is filled, another will be posted since it is likely be modified based on what occurs with the former. He added he hoped to post for a third position in the next month or so.

González asked if the recruitment was national or regional. Thornsbury stated it is regional. González asked if the Agency would consider a national recruitment process. Thornsbury explained the Agency does not exclude anyone from consideration based on their location, but has not pursued such a recruitment given the costs involved. He added candidates ask regarding how pay increases are handled as the current response is that these are decided by the board. Thornsbury expressed his belief that lagging behind in COLAs would render a national recruitment less effective.

Potrykus stated it did not seem a big disadvantage if the Agency follows the same standards as the Washington State employees’ union for a COLA. Thornsbury noted that statement would be correct if the Agency had been following that standard year after year, but it has fallen behind and this is a low year within that standard. He added prior years had higher COLAs while the Agency adopted lower ones. Thornsbury remarked people quickly figure out what the end result will be if the Agency consistently chooses the lowest percentage it can find.

González acknowledged the challenges with recruitment and remaining competitive with other agencies and asked if there were opportunities to develop a pool of qualified candidates with other agencies. Thornsbury explained they experience similar difficulties in recruitment and are often seeking to recruit Agency employees to satisfy their own needs.

Potrykus suggested the positions should be posted to sites such as Indeed.com and LinkedIn.com. Thornsbury noted the currently posted position is already on Indeed.com.

McKinney acknowledged the interest in a national recruitment and noted posting to national job boards such as Indeed.com are most cost-effective and individuals can self-screen for areas where they may want to go. She added national recruitments are very expensive and typically exceed $50,000 in cost, making them unsuitable for the positions in question.

10. Adjournment

Jones moved to adjourn. Potrykus seconded. Motion passed 5-0. González adjourned the meeting at 2:27 p.m.

Hilda González, Vice Chairperson Marc Thornsbury, Executive Director