| | | | | | | | BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT |
| | | | | | | | Item No. 12.
For Meeting of: July 5, 2022 |
| | | | | | | | | ITEM TITLE: | Ordinance amending Section 6.44.020 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code by adopting RCW 9.41.305 which prohibits the open carry of firearms or other weapons in a local government building | | SUBMITTED BY: | Amanda Brusic, Assistant City Attorney |
| SUMMARY EXPLANATION: | | The legislature recently amended RCW 9.41.305, currently titled “Open carry of weapons prohibited on state capitol grounds,” by adding a prohibition against the open carry of firearms or other weapons by individuals, unless specifically exempted in the statute, in “[c]ity, town, county, or other municipality buildings used in connection with meetings of the governing body of the city, town, county, or other municipality, or any location of a public meeting or hearing of the governing body of a city, town, county, or other municipality during the hearing or meeting.” Because this is a state law it has general applicability across the state. The city has not yet adopted this statute in the Yakima Municipal Code. Unless the city adopts the statute, it will be unable to prosecute in Yakima Municipal Court any violations of RCW 9.41.305 which occur in the city limits. Without adopting the statute violations would be prosecuted in Yakima County District Court by the County Prosecutor’s Office at a cost to the City. By adopting this RCW, Council action will allow for violations to be prosecuted in Yakima Municipal Court by City Legal Department prosecutors. |
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| | | | | | | | | ITEM BUDGETED: | NA | | STRATEGIC PRIORITY: | Public Safety |
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| | | | | | | | APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER
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| | | | | | | | | RECOMMENDATION: | | Pass ordinance |
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