Everett City Council Meeting Summary – July 23, 2025
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Everett City Council Meeting – July 23, 2025
The Everett City Council met at 12:30 PM on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in City Council Chambers. The meeting included presentations on a fire engine theft incident, police staffing updates, a South Everett economic development strategy, and a permit process briefing. Several routine items were approved on the consent calendar, and a settlement agreement was authorized after an executive session.
Consent Calendar
- Adopted a resolution authorizing claims against the city in the amount of $5,332,463.40 for the period ending July 11, 2025.
- Authorized the Mayor to sign Amendment #1 to the Professional Services Agreement with HDR Engineering, Inc. for the Lexington-Broadway Stormwater Improvements Phase 1 project in the amount of $399,610.
- Awarded and authorized approximately $400,000 to be spent annually with various awarded suppliers for illumination, traffic signal, and intelligent transportation systems equipment (Washington State Department of Enterprise Services contract #29023/City of Everett contract #2025-026).
Public Comments & Testimony
- No written comments were submitted, and no members of the public signed up to speak.
Fire Department Incident Report
- Fire Chief Dave DeMarco reported on the theft of a fire engine on Friday, July 18, 2025, while it was idling at an emergency incident. The perpetrator accessed the engine and drove it away. No gaps in emergency services occurred. The damaged engine is being evaluated, and replacement engines already ordered will arrive in August 2025. Temporary fleet security measures have been implemented. Chief DeMarco expressed confidence in the police department’s investigation.
Police Staffing Update
- Police Chief DeRoush reported that the Everett Police Department currently has 19 sworn FTE vacancies, but against a pre-grant baseline of 206 officers (2016–2021), the department is 97% staffed. Patrol staffing is at a 10-year high with 81 officers assigned to patrol. Since 2015, 182 officers have been hired. Diversity statistics showed nearly 40% of 2023-2024 applicants were BIPOC, and 56% of hires in 2024 were BIPOC. The department’s sworn staffing rate is 1.96 per 1,000 residents, higher than peer cities (e.g., Tacoma at 1.64, Bellingham at 1.37). A new regional training academy has improved recruitment pipeline. Signing bonuses were eliminated; the focus is on department culture.
South Everett Economic Development Strategy
- Economic Development Director Dan Ernesty, along with consultants Morgan Shook (Eco Northwest) and Tina Floste (LISC), presented a strategy for South Everett (area bounded by I-5, Airport Road, 128th St, and SR 526). The area represents 44% of the city’s population, is younger and more diverse, has a higher proportion of renters (63%), and experiences income/employment mismatches with long commutes. Key recommendations include: strengthening local business ecosystems, promoting for-sale housing, stabilizing small business space (e.g., Casino Square), and connecting residents to jobs via workforce development and apprenticeships. A four-year work plan will be developed by January 2026. Light Rail investment from Sound Transit is seen as a catalyst.
Permit Process Informational Briefing
- Permit Services Manager Sabrina Good and Building Official Tony Lee provided an overview of the five-step permitting process. In 2024, the department performed over 20,000 plan reviews, issued over 7,600 permits (including 420 housing units), and conducted over 21,000 inspections. 70% of permits require no plan review and are processed in 1–3 business days. The remaining 30% are tiered by complexity: Tier 1 (2-week goal), Tier 2 (4-week), Tier 3 (6-week first review). Current average turnaround for new construction first review is 8 weeks (range 6–10), comparable to regional jurisdictions. Staff highlighted free resources, concierge services, and the importance of hiring qualified professionals. AI tools are being explored to improve customer service.
Council Comments
- Councilmember Zarlingo reported on a Snohomish County Cities Organization meeting discussing FEMA’s potential dissolution, emergency preparedness, and a wheelchair ramp building event. Councilmember Ryan mentioned the historic commission meeting, an Everett Transit survey (open until July 31), and a reminder for neighborhood association grant proposals due by end of July. Councilmember Vogley attended a Unidos event on policing and white supremacy. Councilmember Bader had no comments. Councilmember Tui had no comments.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes Approved: The minutes of the July 16, 2025 meeting were approved unanimously.
- Consent Calendar (3 items): Approved unanimously by roll call vote (7-0).
- CB 2507-40 (Lion’s Park Skate Dot): First reading held; third and final reading scheduled for August 13, 2025. The ordinance creates a special improvement project, Fund 354, Program 098, with $360,000 for design, permitting, and construction.
- Hearing Examiner Reappointment: Concurred with the Mayor’s reappointment of Sharon Rice as Land Use and Code Enforcement Hearing Examiner for a four-year term beginning August 1, 2025, and authorized the Mayor to sign Amendment #2 to the Personal Services Contract. Approved unanimously.
- Settlement Agreement: After a 5-minute executive session (under RCW 42.30.110(1)(i)), the Council authorized the Mayor to sign a settlement agreement with Two Thousand Grand Condo Association for a total payment of $197,739.90. Motion passed unanimously.
- Next Meeting: No meeting on July 30; next meeting will be August 13, 2025. National Night Out is August 5, 2025.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, residents of I should say good afternoon, residents of Everett. I'd like to welcome you all to the and call the order, the Everett City Council meeting of July 23rd, 2025. For information on council meetings and how to participate, please visit our website at Everwa slash city council. Clerk, please take the roll. Mayor Franklin here. Councilmember Zarlingo? Here. Councilmember Fossey. Excuse. Councilmember Bader. Yes. Councilmember Ryan here. Councilmember Vogley here. Councilmember Tui here. President Schwab. Here. At this time, I'd like to ask Vice President Zarlingo to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. And this time I'd like to ask Councilmember Bader to read the land acknowledgement. Yes. The City Council wishes to acknowledge the original original inhabitants of this place, the Stahoshit people and their successors, the Taleb tribes. Since time immemorial, they have hunted fish gathered on and taking care of these lands and waters. We respect their sovereignty, their right to self-determination, and honor their sacred spiritual connection with 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 to form more just and equitable society. Thank you very much. So on to old business. Do I hear a motion for approval of the minutes for July 16th, 2025? Council Ryan Samoes. Second. Motion and seconds were made. Clerk, please take the roll. Vice President Zarlingo? Yes. Councilmember Bader? Yes. Councilmember Ryan? Yes. Councilmember Vogley. Yes. Councilmember Tui? Yes. President Schwab. Yes. And well, good afternoon, Mayor. Good afternoon. To start things off, I'd like to invite Chief DeMarco forward to share a little bit about the very unusual and unfortunate incident of our fire engine being stolen over the last weekend. Thank you, Mayor. Council, Dave DeMarco, Everett's Fire Chief. I have a few written comments I'd like to share with you. The sight and sounds of a fire engine in a community of the same meaning all around the world.
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