During its regular meeting tonight, the Yakima City Council announced Vicki Baker will be the next Yakima city manager.
Baker was one of three finalists for the city manager job. The other finalists were Franklin County, Washington County Administrator Mike Gonzalez and Wellton, Arizona Town Manager Richard Marsh, Jr.
The finalists were interviewed by the Council on July 1st. At its July 2nd regular meeting, the Council directed City staff to complete background checks and enter into negotiations with Baker. That process has been ongoing since then and was concluded this evening.
“The Council is excited to welcome Vicki Baker as the next Yakima city manager,” said Mayor Patricia Byers. “We are confident Vicki is the right person for the job. She knows the Yakima community. She has a broad range of professional experience that makes her a good fit as city manager,” said Byers. “She’s enthusiastic to get started and so is the Council.”
Baker first day on the job as Yakima city manager is scheduled to be August 8th.
Baker became the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments deputy director in April 2021. Before that, Baker served as a Yakima County commissioner from January 2020 through November 2020. From 2006 to 2009, Baker operated Vicki Baker Public Relations in Yakima. Since 1999, Baker has owned and operated a Grocery Outlet store in Yakima.
In January of this year, the City Council terminated the contract of Bob Harrison, who had served as Yakima city manager since September 2020. The City Council appointed Dave Zabell as interim city manager in January of 2024. He will continue to serve until Baker begins her tenure.
Yakima operates under the council-manager form of municipal government. In the council-manager form, the Council serves as the board of directors of the municipal corporation and is responsible for setting overall City policy. The city manager, the only employee of the Council, serves as CEO of the municipal corporation, is responsible for day-to-day operations of the City, and oversees all City departments, divisions, and offices.
