Sunnyside Government
City Council
City Council Meetings:
Workshops - 6:00 p.m., 2nd & 4th Mondays
Regular Meetings - 7:00 p.m., 2nd & 4th Mondays
Law & Justice Center
401 Homer Street, Sunnyside
Per SMC 2.08, the City Council does not meet the 4th Monday in December.
The City operates under the Council/Manager form of government with a seven member Council elected to four year terms. The Council adopts ordinances, sets the annual budget and directs the city through the City Manager.
The Mayor serves a two year term and is elected to the position by the Council. The City Council positions are non-partisan and Council members are elected to their respective positions by all of the voters within the City at the General Election. Members of the City Council serve part-time and do not maintain office hours at City Hall but can be reached by clicking the email link following their bio.
Mayor
James (Jim) Restucci
Mayor James (Jim) A. Restucci was elected to the Sunnyside City Council in 2003 and is currently serving his second term. Mayor Restucci has twice served as Mayor Pro Tem from 2006-2008 and again in 2009 and in January 2010 was selected by the Council to serve as Mayor.
Mayor Restucci currently serves on the following boards and commissions:
- Sunnyside Municipal Airport Advisory Board
- Sunnyside Industrial Development Corporation
- Sunnyside Volunteer Firefighters’ and Reserve Police Officers’ Relief and Compensation Fund (Chair)
- Yakima Valley Conference of Governments Executive Committee (Vice Chair)
- Yakima Valley Regional Transportation Projects Organization Executive Board (Vice Chair)
- Yakima Valley Municipal Projects Organization Executive Board (Vice Chair)
- Yakima Valley Mayor’s Association (Vice Chair)
- Yakima County EMS & Trauma Care Council
- Yakima County Information Technology and Communications Committee
- Yakima County Law & Justice Committee
- Yakima County 911 Administrative Board
- Yakima County Disability Board
- Yakima County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Operations Board
- Yakima County Gang Commission
- Yakima County HOME Consortium Executive Board
- Yakima County Regional Stormwater Policy Group
- Yakima County Integrated Public Safety System Executive Committee
- Washington State South Central Region EMS & Trauma Care Council
- Association of Washington Cities Legislative Committee
- National League of Cities Information Technology and Communications Committee
In 2009, Mayor Restucci was awarded the Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership from the Association of Washington Cities.
Mayor Restucci served as a member of the U.S. Army and Washington Army National Guard from 1984 to 2004. He is a lifetime member of the Sunnyside VFW and a recipient of the State of Washington Guardsman's Medal for Heroism.
Mayor Restucci received degrees in Information Systems and Computer Science from Texas State Technical College and the University of Maryland respectively, as well as a Master of Science degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Connecticut, School of Engineering.
In his professional life Mayor Restucci is the Chief Technical Officer of Axcess Internet Services, Inc.® - he is married to DeLeesa Restucci (Hochhalter) and they have two sons, Dylan and Alex.
His current term (Position 6) expires December 31, 2011
Deputy Mayor Nick Paulakis
Deputy Mayor Nick Paulakis was appointed to Position 4 and sworn into office June 22, 2009. He was appointed as Deputy Mayor on January 11, 2010.
His current term (Position 4) expires December 31, 2013.
Council Member
Theresa Hancock
Council member Theresa Hancock was appointed to the City Council on June 13, 2005 to fill an unexpired term. Prior to her appointment to the City Council, she served on the Sunnyside Planning Commission working on various annexations, the update of the Comprehensive Plan, and the proposed sign ordinance.
Council member Hancock is the currently serving as the Alternate Representative to the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments and Chair for the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. Council member Hancock was awarded the Certificate of Municipal Leadership from the Association of Washington Cities in 2008.
Her current term (Position 1) expires December 31, 2013.
Council Member Michael Farmer
Council member Michael "Mike" Farmer was sworn in as a Sunnyside City Council member December 2, 2009.
His term (Position 2) will expire December 31, 2013.
Council Member Don Vlieger
Council member Don Vlieger was elected to the City Council and began serving on January 1, 2010
His current term (Position 3) expires December 31, 2013.
Council Member
Pablo Garcia
Pablo Garcia was appointed to the City Council on August 4, 2004 to fill an unexpired term and was elected in November 2007. He served the City Council as Mayor 2008-2009.
Council member Garcia served on the Sunnyside Planning Commission for four and half years before being appointed to the City Council. He currently serves as the President of the Sunnyside Industrial Development Corporation and is also part of the City/School Gang Committee. Council member Garcia was awarded the Certificate of Municipal Leadership by the Association of Washington Cities in 2008.
His current term (Position 5) expires December 31, 2011.
Council Member Tom Gehlen
Council member Tom Gehlen was elected to the City Council in November 2007 and is serving his first term.
His current term (Position 7) expires December 31, 2011.
