Everett City Council Meeting - October 8, 2025

The Everett City Council met on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 6:30 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting covered a first reading to extend the service facility buffer zone ordinance to December 31, 2027, a briefing on a new Stay Out of Drug Areas (SODA) zone along Colby Avenue, and the mayor announced a temporary free Route 12 shuttle to address the impending closure of Fred Meyer on Casino Road.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of October 1, 2025 (6 yes, 2 abstentions: Bader and Vogeli).
• Adopted resolutions authorizing claims ($4,832,328.83 for period ending Sep 26, 2025; $5,757,772.19 payroll for period ending Sep 20, 2025).
• Authorized a professional services agreement with Osborn Consulting Inc. for fish passage barrier inventory ($100,000).
• Waived public bidding for sole source purchase of ambulance refurbishment from Braun Northwest Inc. (approx. $400,000 annually).
• Declared a 2006 Ford F-450 surplus and authorized sale at auction.
• Waived public bidding for sole source hardware/software from Strategic Mapping, Inc. for Everett Transit fixed-route fleet.
• Accepted completion of the 20th Street Sewer Rehabilitation Project.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Carrie Reid (Lowell District) – Asked for a meeting with council, mayor, and police chief to discuss how domestic violence, autism, and protection orders are handled in the city.
• Annie Lyman (Evergreen neighborhood) – Spoke in support of Municipal Code 20.12 (Snohomish River watershed) and urged the council to uphold it despite potential litigation from Master Builders. Noted a court date on October 24.
• Holly James (Everett, Standing for Washington) – Supported Code 20.12, described the derelict vessel Pacific Express (187-foot, stuck since 2012) as a disaster risk. Mentioned the group’s court date on October 24 and encouraged the council to study the code.
• William Parent – Discussed affordable housing and suggested using the military or National Guard to protect grocery stores, though acknowledged legal limits. Opposed the Fred Meyer closure and praised city roads.
• Andrea Tucker (representing Council of Neighborhoods) – Reminded the public of a candidate forum on October 9 at 6:30 PM at Everett Station (Weyerhaeuser Room).
• Raymond Orange Baylow (marina area) – Asked about the city’s planned response to potential military or ICE presence on city streets. Noted that the emergency management plan does not cover such scenarios.

Council Comments

• Councilmember Ryan – Reported on the Parks and Built Environment committee: discussed storefront vacancies (vacancy tax, adaptive reuse incentives), park naming policy, and the Fred Meyer closure. Announced upcoming neighborhood meetings (Port Gardner on Oct 13, Pinehurst-Beverly Park on Oct 21 with Sound Transit on potential route from Casino Road to downtown). Reminded that board/commission applications close Oct 20.
• Councilmember Vogeli – Thanked the mayor for free Route 12, appreciated public comments. Noted that William’s military idea was interesting but not workable. Thanked Raymond for raising emergency management concerns.
• Councilmember Tui – Promoted the Monte Cristo Awards ceremony on Oct 16 at Apex. Asked for an administrative update regarding $4 million county funding for shelter beds; learned that Everett Gospel Mission is expanding capacity (funding via county, not city).
• Councilmember Zarlingo – Encouraged attendance at the candidate forum, noted free parking across from Everett Station.

Discussion Items

Item 8 – First Reading: Service Facility Buffer Zone Extension (CB 2509-53)

Lacey Offit (Police Legal Advisor) briefed the council, joined by Ben Breden (Community Development), Kelly Work (Social Workers), and Sergeant Nate Wallace. The existing buffer zone ordinance (EMC 9.54) sunsets Dec 31, 2025. Proposed amendments: extend sunset to Dec 31, 2027, and add annual council reporting (plus reports when new zones created). Offit presented data on four designated zones (UCC church, Andy’s Place, Fred Meyer, Imagine Children’s Museum). Key statistics:

• Calls for service decreased: UCC church 45%, Andy’s Place 18%, Fred Meyer 51%, Children’s Museum 14% (since respective designations).
• Police have given 156 warnings, resulting in 11 criminal charges (about half booked into jail, often with other violations). Six right-of-way permits issued for services; none revoked.
• Prosecution data: 7 charges filed (discrepancy noted), no convictions; one third dismissed as part of plea deals or due to competency, others pending or in diversion.
• Community feedback: Written support from Downtown Everett Association (Liz Stanning), Connect Casino Road (Alvaro Guyan), and Everett Gospel Mission (John Hall) noted observable improvement in safety and cleanliness.

Council Positions:

• Councilmember Vogeli – Opposed the buffer zone extension, calling it “a band-aid on a puncture wound” and “legislation used to target our most vulnerable.” Acknowledged positive visual effects but argued the root problem (funding for services) remains. Will vote no.
• Councilmember Ryan – Asked for raw numbers (not just percentages) of call reductions and expressed concern that the zones may simply displace problems. Offit responded that the ordinance is not intended to solve homelessness but to address nuisance crimes and support engagement; displacement is possible but mitigated through emphasis patrols. Sergeant Wallace confirmed camps exist in woods and private property (e.g., near closed Walmart), but these predate buffer zones.
• Councilmember Zarlingo – Thanked for the detailed presentation and appreciated the added transparency through annual reporting.

The first reading passed. Third and final reading is scheduled for October 22, 2025.

Items 9, 10, 11 – Second Readings (passed, final reading Oct 15)

• CB 2509-50: Create Special Improvement Project “Lift Station #24 Conveyance Improvements” (Fund 336, Program 050).
• CB 2509-51: Amend ordinance for “Walter E. Hall Park Community Connections Path” (Fund 354, Program 094) to accumulate all costs.
• CB 2509-52: Create Special Improvement Project “RRFB Pedestrian Safety” (Fund 303, Program 134). Councilmember Vogeli expressed excitement about the Walter E. Hall Park path.

Item 12 – Third Reading: Indigent Defense Standards (CB 2508-49)

Ordinance amending EMC 2.108.390 regarding indigent defense standards. Passed unanimously (7 yes, 0 no).

Item 13 – Briefing: New SODA Zone on Colby Avenue

Lacey Offit presented a proposal to establish a new Stay Out of Drug Area along Colby Avenue from Pacific to the 3600 block (two blocks east/west). Data (Sep 2023 – Sep 2025): 66 drug/narcotic arrests, numerous substance abuse calls and overdoses in that corridor. The new zone would fill a gap between existing SODA areas.

Council Questions:

• Councilmember Ryan – Asked why the east boundary doesn’t align with the existing zone, leaving a one-block gap. Offit explained the two-block offset is standard for simplicity and to avoid over-inclusion where data does not support it. Ryan noted the gap could cause confusion.
• Councilmember Zarlingo – Clarified the purpose of SODA zones: to reduce drug-related activity by keeping individuals with conditions/probation out of high-trafficking areas.
• Councilmember Vogeli – Confirmed that Compass Health is already within existing zones.
• Councilmember Bader – Asked for a map showing all data points for the north sector; noted concerns from a Riverside neighborhood meeting about a possible emerging hotspot near Cedar and Everett Avenue (related to hot meal and day shelter). Requested data for that area. Council will take action on the resolution at the October 22 meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Consent items (1-7) approved unanimously.
• CB 2509-53 (Buffer zone extension) advanced to third reading on Oct 22.
• CB 2509-50, -51, -52 (Special Improvement Projects) advanced to final reading on Oct 15.
• CB 2508-49 (Indigent defense standards) adopted unanimously.
• Resolution to establish new SODA zone briefed; action scheduled for Oct 22.
• Mayor’s action: Authorized free Route 12 shuttle for six months to mitigate food access loss from Fred Meyer closure.
• Councilmember Tui’s request: Administration to update council on $4 million shelter funding and Everett Gospel Mission expansion.