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Record of Proceedings

Everett City Council Meeting Summary – September 18, 2025

City Council & Committees — Thursday, September 18, 2025
BodyEverett, Washington
SessionCity Council & Committees
DateThursday, September 18, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:11:10

Original source
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0:00

Residents of Everett, Washington.

0:01

I'd like to call to order the Everett City Council meeting for September 17th, 2025.

0:07

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

0:16

Thank you for all for showing up today.

0:18

I appreciate a good warm crowd.

0:21

For the record, we have Councilmember Fossey.

0:24

She'll be attending remotely.

0:25

Yep.

0:25

And there she made it on the screen.

0:27

So thank you.

0:28

So with that, Clerk, will you please take the role?

0:31

Mayor Franklin here.

0:32

Councilmember Bader.

0:33

Here.

0:33

Councilmember Ryan.

0:35

Councilmember Vogoli.

0:36

Here.

0:36

Councilmember Fossey.

0:38

Chair.

0:38

Councilmember Tui.

0:40

Here.

0:40

Vice President Zarlingo.

0:42

Excuse.

0:42

President Schwab.

0:44

Here.

0:44

And so at this time, I'd like, oh, one more thing too.

0:48

We're removing from the original agenda, consent item number four.

0:53

We'll be moving that from consent item to action.

0:59

I believe there's might be a few questions about that one.

1:02

So at this time, I'd like to ask Councilmember Ryan to lead us in the Pledge Allegiance.

1:08

Yes, please stand up, you're able.

1:11

I Pledge Allegiance of the United States of America.

1:21

Indivisible and justice for all.

1:26

Great.

1:26

Thank you.

1:26

And I'd ask Councilmember Tui to read the land acknowledgement.

1:30

Yes, definitely.

1:32

The City Council wishes to acknowledge the original inhabitants of this place, the Stohoopshi people and their successors, the Talelep tribes.

1:41

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

1:47

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

1:55

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

2:07

Thank you.

2:08

So moving to old business, um, is there a motion to approve the minutes for September 10th, 2025?

2:15

Councilmember Ryan saw moves.

2:17

Second the motion.

2:18

Motion and seconds been made.

2:20

Clerk, please take the role.

2:21

Councilmember Bader.

2:22

Yes.

2:22

Councilmember Ryan.

2:23

Yes.

2:24

Councilmember Vogelin.

2:25

Yes.

2:25

Councilmember Fossey.

2:27

Abstain.

2:28

Councilmember Twee.

2:29

Yes.

2:30

President Schwab.

2:30

Abstain.

2:32

Okay, moving on to our mayor.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Economic Development███████████████████████████████31%
Public Engagement████████████████████20%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████15%
Community Engagement██████████10%
Public Safety██████████10%
Procedural████████8%
Disability Rights████4%
Fiscal Sustainability██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Everett City Council Meeting Summary – September 18, 2025

The Everett City Council met on September 18, 2025 (per the agenda) to consider routine approvals and several significant action items, including a resolution rebuking Kroger’s closure of the South Everett Fred Meyer. The council approved the resolution 6–1, rejected all bids for the Port Gardner Storage Facility project, and passed two budget-related ordinances. Note: The meeting transcript opening refers to September 17, 2025, while the agenda lists September 18, 2025; this summary follows the agenda date.

Approval of Minutes

  • The council approved the minutes of September 10, 2025, on a roll-call vote, with Councilmembers Fossey and Schwab abstaining.

Mayor’s Comment

  • Mayor Franklin thanked Councilmember Ryan for bringing the Kroger resolution, expressed disappointment at Kroger’s decision, and reaffirmed the city’s partnership with the store. She noted the city’s public safety investments had reduced crime in the area.
  • She proclaimed September as National Service Dog Month, with representatives from Canine Companions accepting the proclamation.
  • She directed residents to everettwa.gov/southstores for grocery and transit resources.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Chris Pepler (Lead Pastor, South Everett Foursquare Church) supported the resolution, describing the Fred Meyer as vital to the Casino Road community and expressing concern about safety and lost resources.
  • Linda Warponett (Co-chair, Westmont Holly Neighborhood Association) supported the resolution and urged the city to hold Kroger accountable for maintaining the property, citing Kroger’s $2.7 billion in net earnings in 2024. She also requested city action on a neighborhood parking lot.
  • John E. Martin (Mountlake Terrace) delivered a satirical “frog report” about a downtown frog pond project.
  • Gordon McLaren (CEO, Prospect Construction) opposed rejecting all bids on the Port Gardner project, stating his company spent 1,300 man-hours and over $100,000 bidding. He argued the apparent low bidder is $15 million below others and that rejection would lead to bid shopping.
  • Tricia Warren (Fred Meyer employee, UFCW3000) supported the resolution, saying retail theft at the store has declined and accusing Kroger of corporate greed.
  • Luis Urbano (Westmont Holly resident) supported the resolution, describing the closure’s impact on bicycle access and suggesting alternatives such as city-owned grocery stores or a community farmers market.
  • John Demas (Everett, District 4) supported the resolution and stressed the need for short-, medium-, and long-term solutions to preserve food access.

Council Comments

  • Councilmembers shared updates from neighborhood association meetings, the library board, and the Everett AquaSox championship. President Schwab announced a town hall on September 29 at 5:30–7:00 p.m. to discuss city budget solutions.

Administrative Update

  • Staff announced the Budget Financial Solutions Open House on September 29 at 5:30 p.m. at the Everett Station Warehouse Room. The park restroom lock/light/sound project is expected to begin this fall and be completed by spring 2026.

Consent Calendar

  • Items 1, 2, 3, and 5 were approved unanimously on a roll-call vote. They were: (1) Authorizing claims against the city totaling $5,226,521.40 for the period ending September 5, 2025; (2) Authorizing application for a $120,000 Municipal Stormwater Capacity Grant; (3) Authorizing the Mayor to sign the WSDOT 2025–2027 Commute Trip Reduction grant agreement; and (5) Authorizing application for a $300,000 Defense Community Infrastructure Program Grant for the boathouse. Item 4 was moved to action.

Proposed Action Item

  • CB 2508-48 (2nd reading) – Ordinance creating a Special Improvement Project for the “North Broadway Pedestrian Bridge” (Fund 303, Program 133). No questions were raised; the third and final reading is set for September 24, 2025.

Action Item: Port Gardner Storage Facility Site Construction (Item 4)

  • The council voted unanimously to reject all bids and authorize a new call for bids. Public Works Director Tom Hood explained that bidder qualification language was ambiguous, creating risk of protest and litigation. The city is under a Department of Ecology agreed order with no schedule float. He stated the rebid will have a short 2–3 week bid period and will consolidate eight prior addenda into a single package.

Action Item: Riverpoint Outfalls Replacement (CB 2508-46)

  • The council unanimously passed the third-reading ordinance creating a Special Improvement Project for “Riverpoint Outfalls Replacement” (Fund 336, Program 049).

Action Item: 2025 Revised Budget Appropriations (CB 2508-47)

  • The council unanimously passed the third-reading ordinance approving the 2025 revised City of Everett budget and amending Ordinance No. 4099-25.

Action Item: Resolution Rebuking Kroger’s Closure of SW Everett Fred Meyer

  • Councilmember Ryan, the resolution sponsor, said the city delivered on public safety improvements requested by Kroger and that crime numbers show a different trend than Kroger cited. Councilmembers Vogley, Fossey, and others spoke in support. Councilmember Bader, the sole dissenting vote, said he agreed with many sentiments but believed corporations owe a duty to shareholders and would not second-guess the decision. The resolution passed 6–1, with Mayor Franklin, Councilmembers Ryan, Vogley, Fossey, Tui, and President Schwab voting yes, and Councilmember Bader voting no. The resolution declares the closure a betrayal of community trust, stands with UFCW 3000, and calls on Kroger to work with the city and community to repurpose the site.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved minutes and consent items.
  • Scheduled final reading of CB 2508-48 for September 24, 2025.
  • Approved Port Gardner rebid (unanimous).
  • Approved CB 2508-46 and CB 2508-47 (unanimous).
  • Approved Kroger resolution 6–1.
  • Town hall on September 29, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

Residents of Everett, Washington. I'd like to call to order the Everett City Council meeting for September 17th, 2025. For information on council meetings and how to participate, please visit EverettWah.gov slash city council. Thank you for all for showing up today. I appreciate a good warm crowd. For the record, we have Councilmember Fossey. She'll be attending remotely. Yep. And there she made it on the screen. So thank you. So with that, Clerk, will you please take the role? Mayor Franklin here. Councilmember Bader. Here. Councilmember Ryan. Councilmember Vogoli. Here. Councilmember Fossey. Chair. Councilmember Tui. Here. Vice President Zarlingo. Excuse. President Schwab. Here. And so at this time, I'd like, oh, one more thing too. We're removing from the original agenda, consent item number four. We'll be moving that from consent item to action. I believe there's might be a few questions about that one. So at this time, I'd like to ask Councilmember Ryan to lead us in the Pledge Allegiance. Yes, please stand up, you're able. I Pledge Allegiance of the United States of America. Indivisible and justice for all. Great. Thank you. And I'd ask Councilmember Tui to read the land acknowledgement. Yes, definitely. The City Council wishes to acknowledge the original inhabitants of this place, the Stohoopshi people and their successors, the Talelep tribes. Since time immemorial, they have hunted, fished, gathered on, and taken care of these lands and waters. We will 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 to form a more just and equitable society. Thank you. So moving to old business, um, is there a motion to approve the minutes for September 10th, 2025? Councilmember Ryan saw moves. Second the motion. Motion and seconds been made. Clerk, please take the role. Councilmember Bader. Yes. Councilmember Ryan.

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