Everett City Council Meeting – June 18, 2025

The Everett City Council met on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 6:30 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting covered consent items, two briefings, and action on the Everett 2044 Comprehensive Plan and associated Development Regulations. After extensive public comment and debate, the council approved the Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations with multiple amendments, including a revised neighborhood commercial framework, new SODA zone boundaries, and a gateway to study inclusionary zoning impacts.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes from June 11, 2025 (unanimous vote).
• Adopted resolution authorizing claims against the city for $8,479,392.18 (period ending June 6, 2025).
• Adopted resolution for payroll claims of $1,707,742.48 (period ending May 31, 2025).
• Accepted the Portal 4 Project as complete and authorized the Mayor to sign the Certificate of Completion.
• Declared three street sweepers (2013 Freightliner, 2016 Peterbilt, 2017 Peterbilt) as surplus and authorized public auction.
• Authorized the Mayor to sign an interlocal agreement with Diking Improvement District No. 5 for a levy improvement project under Highway 529.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Leo (Everett resident): Made a rambling statement questioning the city’s finances, suggested renaming Everett back to Port Gardner, and criticized city leadership.
• Russell Joe (Master Builders, Bellevue): Opposed inclusionary zoning (EMC 19.09) in the Comprehensive Plan, arguing it would reduce housing supply and raise prices. Asked for a three-year review or five-year sunset if adopted.
• Daniel Dodson (Everett resident): Requested more time to provide documents; council granted permission to speak at the next meeting.
• Bobby Thompson (Executive Director, Housing Consortium of Everett & Snohomish County): Supported inclusionary zoning as an anti-displacement strategy. Cited national research showing well-designed programs do not reduce housing production or raise rents, and that early action gives the city flexibility over state mandates (HB 1491) in 2029.
• Madeline Shepard (Everett resident): Urged council to keep parcels north of 19th Street and east of Rockefeller as neighborhood residential (not UR4) to allow time for a historic overlay.
• Sabrina (Everett resident): Thanked council for the neighborhood commercial overlay and supported the proposed definition as aligned with the Growth Management Act’s goal of reducing sprawl.

Discussion Items

Briefing: SODA Zone Update (Item 8)

• Lacey Offitt (City Attorney’s Office) and Sergeant Bennett (ACT team) presented data on drug overdoses, narcotic arrests, and substance-related calls from 2021–2024.
• Overdoses: In 2023 total overdoses rose, fatalities increased slightly; in 2024 fatal overdose numbers dropped significantly. Most incidents remain within existing SODA (Stay Out of Drug Areas) zones.
• Arrests total (2023–2024): 1,784 narcotic violation arrests, concentrated along Broadway, Evergreen Way, Everett Mall Way, and West Casino Road.
• Recommendation: Keep most current SODA zones; add the 1000 block of North Broadway to East Marine based on increased complaints and enforcement activity; remove Wiggams Hollow Park due to low activity.
• Councilmember Bader expressed concern about clusters south of downtown and along 3rd Avenue SE, asking for potential expansions. Staff agreed to review the data before action on June 25.

Briefing: Riverfront Property Disposition Agreement Amendment (Item 9)

• York Stevens (Planning Director) and Eric Evans (Shelter Holdings) requested a five-year extension (to July 1, 2030) for completing a grocery store in the Riverfront development. The original deadline was July 1, 2025.
• Current development: 300 residential units built; 1,250 units approved. Additional 160 units under permit, 150 more pending – all on the west side of Riverfront Boulevard.
• Council questioned the likelihood of attracting a grocery store given retail trends. Shelter acknowledged challenges but committed to working with the city to bring in food service options, including a food truck program and marketing for smaller retailers.
• Staff recommended approval; action scheduled for June 25.

Action Items: Everett 2044 Comprehensive Plan (Item 10) and Development Regulations (Item 11)

• These two items consumed most of the meeting. The council considered numerous amendments, debated neighborhood commercial locations, inclusionary zoning, and historic preservation.

Key Amendments to the Comprehensive Plan (Item 10):

1. Transportation policies: Adopted staff-suggested amendments to policies TR8, TR15, TR51, and TR37. TR37 now reads: “Design and operate streets to be inherently safe for all users in the goal of eventually eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries…” – Councilmember Bader expressed skepticism about feasibility, but staff noted alignment with the city’s Safety Action Plan. (Passed 5-0-2? Actually vote was 7-0? Check: Vote on TR8,TR15,TR51,TR37: Councilmember Bader voted yes with skepticism; all others yes. So 7-0.)
2. New action DD2: Added a work program to “work with the historic commission and planning commission to develop recommendations for design requirements for new construction of large buildings abutting historic overlays.” (Passed 7-0.)
3. Housing element policy: Replaced the placeholder “preserve affordable housing” with “collaborate with local partners to preserve and maintain affordable housing units.” (Passed 7-0.)

Key Amendments to the Development Regulations (Item 11):

1. Neighborhood Commercial (NC) location: Councilmember Ryan moved to allow NC on corner lots throughout the city in residential zones (removing the map). After debate, Vice President Zarlingo argued for a more targeted approach based on neighborhood needs and infrastructure. The motion failed (2 yes (Fosse, Ryan), 5 no). The original map-based approach was retained.
2. Hours of operation for NC uses: Councilmember Tui moved to set hours 6 AM to 10 PM with a provision allowing the Planning Director to modify hours if compatible with surrounding properties. The amendment passed (7-0).
3. Zoning map amendments:
   • Parcels abutting the Norton Grand Historic Overlay rezoned from MU7 to UR7, and height measurement for parcels within 50 feet of a historic overlay changed from base elevation to sidewalk. (Passed 7-0.)
   • Parcels east of Terrace Drive from 42nd to 44th rezoned from MU15 to UR4. (Passed 7-0.)
   • Parcels north of 19th Street and east of Rockefeller (except existing neighborhood business zones) rezoned from UR4 to neighborhood residential. (Passed 7-0.)
   • Legion Park Division II, Mount Baker subdivision, and part of Bridgeway plat rezoned to neighborhood residential constrained, except parcels that had racially restrictive covenants (per state law, those must allow middle housing). The motion passed (6-0-1, Vice President Zarlingo abstained).
4. Clinic prohibition near Providence: Added language to the NC allowed uses: “Clinic, except in the area bounded by Hoyt, Lombard, 10th and 14th.” (Passed 7-0.)
5. Non-conforming structures: Councilmember Fosse moved to allow demolition of a detached accessory structure with non-conforming setbacks and rebuilding a dwelling unit in the same location, certified by the planning department. (Passed 7-0.)
6. Inclusionary zoning study: Councilmember Bader made a motion to “study reporting on the impacts of inclusionary zoning on affordable housing and housing affordability by July 2027.” The motion passed (7-0).

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: All seven items approved unanimously.
• SODA Zones: Briefing concluded; action to adopt the resolution set for June 25, 2025. The recommended changes include adding the 1000 block of North Broadway and removing Wiggams Hollow Park. Councilmember Bader requested further review of expanded zones.
• Riverfront Amendment: Briefing completed; action scheduled for June 25, 2025 to authorize the Mayor to sign the third amendment extending the grocery store deadline to July 1, 2030.
• Comprehensive Plan (CB 2505-36): After amendments, the ordinance was adopted on third and final reading. The vote was unanimous (7-0) after all amendments were incorporated.
• Development Regulations (CB 2505-37): After amendments, the ordinance was adopted on third and final reading. The vote was unanimous (7-0) following each amendment.
• Inclusionary Zoning Study: The council passed a separate motion requiring a report on the impacts of inclusionary zoning by July 2027.
• Neighborhood Commercial Framework: Adopted with the map-based approach (not citywide), hours 6 AM–10 PM with Planning Director flexibility, and a clinic exception near Providence Medical Center.
• Zoning Changes: Multiple parcel rezonings approved as noted above, including the historic overlay height adjustment and the constrained residential designation for parts of North Everett.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:15 PM.

Note: The council recognized the Planning Department staff for their extraordinary work on the periodic update. The meeting also included a proclamation declaring June as Pride Month, presented to Everett Pride representatives.