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Record of Proceedings

Everett City Council Meeting Summary - May 21, 2025

City Council & Committees — Wednesday, May 21, 2025
BodyEverett, Washington
SessionCity Council & Committees
DateWednesday, May 21, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:17:21

Original source
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0:09

Well, good evening, residents of Everett Washington.

0:11

Like to invite um call the order, the City of Everett Council meeting for May 21st, 2025.

0:16

For more information on council meetings and how to participate, please visit Everett Wad.gov slash city council.

0:24

We have a big meeting tonight.

0:26

So thank you.

0:27

I love the involvement.

0:28

So I just would like to make uh just a couple announcements before we get started.

0:33

Um if you are here to speak about um the briefing for the Everett 24 comprehensive plan, um, I would ask that you plan on speaking after the briefing has been given, because I do believe there's some new proposals that you but maybe none of all of us have seen.

0:52

So if you could wait till then.

0:54

Um also if you're out in the hall, I appreciate the overflow.

0:58

I think there might be some opportunity to maybe transfer if there's other awards are given.

1:03

You're always welcome to stay.

1:05

Um, but there may be some room here in a little bit after that mayor promote or gives her awards.

1:10

So thank you.

1:12

This is awesome be to see a great crowd.

1:14

Um, Clerk, will you please take the roll?

1:16

Mayor Franklin here.

1:17

Vice President Zarlingo.

1:19

Council Member Fossey here.

1:20

Councilmember Bader.

1:21

Here.

1:22

Councilmember Ryan.

1:22

Here, Councilmember Vogley, here.

1:24

Councilmember Tui.

1:26

Excuse.

1:26

President Schwab.

1:27

Here.

1:28

Okay, at this time, I'd like to ask Councilmember Zarlingo to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:50

Uh thank you.

1:51

And this time I'd like to ask Councilmember Bader to read the land acknowledgement.

1:55

The city council wishes to acknowledge the original inhabitants of this place, the Stahokha people and their successors, the Talelab tribes.

2:03

Since time immemorial, they have hunted fish gathered on and taken care of these lands and waters.

2:08

We respect their sovereignty, their right to self-determination, and honor their sacred spiritual connection with the land and water.

2:14

We will strive to be honest about our past mistakes and bring about a future that includes their people, stories, and voices toward a more just and equitable society.

2:24

Thank you.

2:24

Um, under our uh our agenda um to old business.

2:29

So I dear, do I hear a motion to approve the minutes for May 14th, 2025?

2:34

Councilmember Ryan, so moves.

2:36

Second.

2:36

Motion and seconds been made.

2:38

Clerk, please take the role.

2:39

Vice President Zarlingo.

2:40

Yes.

2:40

Councilmember Fossey.

2:42

Stain.

2:43

Councilmember Bader.

2:44

Yes.

2:44

Councilmember Ryan.

2:45

Yes.

2:45

Councilmember Fogley.

2:46

Yes.

2:47

President Schwab.

2:48

Yes.

2:48

Okay, moving on to Mayor's comments.

2:50

Good evening.

2:50

Uh, good evening, President Schwab and uh council and our uh robust community this evening.

2:55

I've got uh just three things tonight.

2:58

Uh first, I'm very excited to welcome Jackson High School students here tonight.

3:03

Uh these amazing students won the 2025 first robotics world championship.

3:10

And so I'd like to invite you guys up forward.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use and Zoning█████████████████████████████████████37%
Public Engagement███████████████████19%
Community Engagement██████████10%
Public Safety██████████10%
Affordable Housing███████7%
Education Funding████4%
Procedural███3%
Public Transportation███3%
Workforce Development███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Everett City Council Meeting Summary - May 21, 2025

The Everett City Council met on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting included roll call, pledge of allegiance, land acknowledgment, approval of minutes from May 14, comments from Mayor Cassie Franklin (including awards for Jackson High School robotics team and the fire department), and announcements. The council approved consent items and two action items, and received a detailed briefing on the Everett 2044 Comprehensive Plan update with extensive public testimony.

Consent Calendar

  • Adopted Resolution authorizing claims against the City of Everett in the amount of $1,180,091.28 for the period ending May 9, 2025.
  • Adopted Resolution authorizing payroll claims of $5,592,932.25 for the period ending May 3, 2025.
  • Authorized the Mayor to sign the Transformer Distribution Easement Agreement with Snohomish Public Utility District. All passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Aaron Weber (Everett resident): Proposed a partnership between Housing Hope (building a new daycare) and Everett Community College's Early Learning Center (closing) to use the existing ELC site instead of building new in his neighborhood. He noted Housing Hope has already reached out to ECC.
  • Eric Gans (Everett resident): Reported on a dangerous derelict property at 3218 Lombard (burnt in 2020). Despite fines and open permits, it attracts transients; he was attacked by individuals on the property on May 20. Called for city action.
  • Kyle Shepard (Everett resident): Questioned the city spending $6.1 million annually on two golf courses; suggested rezoning for housing and a new stadium. Expressed deep reservations about parking, emergency access, and lack of notification to neighborhoods about UR4 rezoning.
  • Gary Coker (Boulevard Bluffs): Opposed UR4 zoning in his neighborhood, citing a 21-foot retaining wall, view blockage, parking issues, and overcrowded schools. Noted that a tenant (retired police officer) may be displaced. Questioned affordability of new townhomes ($750k–$950k).
  • Karen Peterson (Everett resident): Stated that homeowners received no direct notice of proposed rezone.
  • Phil Jankowski (Everett resident): Thanked the council for listening and adjusting the Mukilteo Boulevard zoning proposal based on neighborhood feedback.
  • Gordon Benson (Boulevard Bluffs): Raised environmental and infrastructure concerns: hillside terrain (landslide hazard), single access road, insufficient sidewalks and parking, and strained services.
  • Maureen Malley (Everett resident): Supported increased housing density to create more affordable housing opportunities for all income levels.
  • Jeffrey Godfrey (Boulevard Bluffs): Emphasized safety issues on Mukilteo Boulevard (fast cars, no signage), emergency vehicle access, and potential habitat and view disruption from large buildings.

Discussion Items

  • Council Bill 2505-29 (Police Firing Range Renovations) – 2nd Reading: Ordinance to create a special construction project with $127,000 in Fund 342, Program 50. Final reading scheduled for May 28.
  • Council Bill 2504-27 (Edgewater Creek Bridge Replacement) – 3rd Reading: Ordinance creating a special improvement project (Fund 303, Program 115). Approved unanimously.
  • Council Bill 2504-28 (Apprentice Utilization on Public Works) – 3rd Reading: Ordinance adding a new section to EMC Chapter 3.80. Councilmember Fossey noted a future amendment to align with state HB 1549. Approved unanimously. Councilmember Ryan: "A major step forward for our workforce and local economy."
  • Everett 2044 Comprehensive Plan Briefing:
    • Presentation by Planning Director Yorick Stevens and Long-Range Planning Manager Alice Ann Wetzel.
    • Zoning map changes: Boulevard Bluffs and Legion Park Division 2/Mount Baker View areas revised from UR4 (urban residential 4 floors) to Neighborhood Residential, with some parcels eligible for Neighborhood Commercial.
    • Neighborhood Commercial: Allowed on corner lots citywide; council subcommittee (Zarlingo, Ryan, Bader) working on use limitations and locations. Councilmember Zarlingo expressed support for letting the market decide, with possible restrictions on undesirable businesses.
    • Middle housing: New Neighborhood Residential zone to accommodate duplexes, triplexes, ADUs, and small courtyard apartments. Staff emphasized "do no harm" for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) – same development standards, no frontage improvements for two ADUs, parking only outside transit half-mile.
    • Mobile home park preservation: Added policy HO550 and an action item to develop a zoning overlay.
    • Schedule: Final draft package released May 30; Planning Commission public hearing June 3; Council public hearing June 11; Council vote expected June 18.
    • Councilmember Vogley noted that even areas not upzoned (like Southwest Everett) will see changes due to higher lot coverage and reduced setbacks under state law.
    • Councilmember Zarlingo highlighted trade-offs: increased density may reduce tree canopy and green space, requiring careful tree management.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent items and action items (Edgewater Creek Bridge, Apprentice Ordinance) approved unanimously.
  • Police Firing Range Ordinance advanced to final reading.
  • Comprehensive plan briefing received; formal comment period open until May 26, 2025.
  • Council subcommittee on neighborhood commercial will continue refining use allowances.
  • No final decisions on the comprehensive plan; adoption expected by June 18, 2025.

Meeting Transcript

Well, good evening, residents of Everett Washington. Like to invite um call the order, the City of Everett Council meeting for May 21st, 2025. For more information on council meetings and how to participate, please visit Everett Wad.gov slash city council. We have a big meeting tonight. So thank you. I love the involvement. So I just would like to make uh just a couple announcements before we get started. Um if you are here to speak about um the briefing for the Everett 24 comprehensive plan, um, I would ask that you plan on speaking after the briefing has been given, because I do believe there's some new proposals that you but maybe none of all of us have seen. So if you could wait till then. Um also if you're out in the hall, I appreciate the overflow. I think there might be some opportunity to maybe transfer if there's other awards are given. You're always welcome to stay. Um, but there may be some room here in a little bit after that mayor promote or gives her awards. So thank you. This is awesome be to see a great crowd. Um, Clerk, will you please take the roll? Mayor Franklin here. Vice President Zarlingo. Council Member Fossey here. Councilmember Bader. Here. Councilmember Ryan. Here, Councilmember Vogley, here. Councilmember Tui. Excuse. President Schwab. Here. Okay, at this time, I'd like to ask Councilmember Zarlingo to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Uh thank you. And this time I'd like to ask Councilmember Bader to read the land acknowledgement. The city council wishes to acknowledge the original inhabitants of this place, the Stahokha people and their successors, the Talelab tribes. Since time immemorial, they have hunted fish gathered on and taken care of these lands and waters. We respect their sovereignty, their right to self-determination, and honor their sacred spiritual connection with the land and water. We will strive to be honest about our past mistakes and bring about a future that includes their people, stories, and voices toward a more just and equitable society. Thank you. Um, under our uh our agenda um to old business. So I dear, do I hear a motion to approve the minutes for May 14th, 2025? Councilmember Ryan, so moves. Second. Motion and seconds been made. Clerk, please take the role. Vice President Zarlingo. Yes. Councilmember Fossey. Stain. Councilmember Bader. Yes. Councilmember Ryan. Yes. Councilmember Fogley.

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