OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Everett City Council Meeting: Budget, Buffer Zones, SODA, and Alley Vacation – October 22, 2025

City Council & Committees — Wednesday, October 22, 2025
BodyEverett, Washington
SessionCity Council & Committees
DateWednesday, October 22, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:05

Good evening, residents of Everett Washington.

0:07

I'd like to call the order of the Everett City Council meeting of October 22nd, 2025.

0:12

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

0:20

Clerk, will you please take the ball?

0:22

Mayor Franklin here.

0:23

Councilmember Bader.

0:24

Here.

0:24

Councilmember Ryan.

0:25

Here.

0:25

Councilmember Vogley here.

0:27

Councilmember Fossey here.

0:28

Councilmember Tui here.

0:29

Vice President Zarlingo.

0:30

Here.

0:31

President Schwab.

0:32

Here.

0:32

At this time, I'd like to ask Council Vice President Zarlingo to lead the pledges of allegiance.

0:54

Thank you.

0:55

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

1:00

The City Council wishes to acknowledge the original inhabitants of this place, the Stahopesha people and their successors, the two Laleb tribes.

1:08

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

1:13

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

1:19

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.

1:28

Thank you.

1:29

Before we go to old business, uh, just for the agenda action, our item number 10, which was a consent item, is now going to be moved to an action item.

1:43

And it will be the last item on our agenda.

1:47

So it'll be after 17.

1:52

Okay, on to old business.

1:53

Do I hear a motion for approval of the minutes for October 15th, 2025?

1:58

So move.

2:00

Council Member Ryan seconds.

2:02

Motion a second.

2:03

Clerk, please take the roll.

2:04

Councilmember Bader.

2:05

Yes.

2:05

Councilmember Ryan?

2:06

Yes.

2:06

Councilmember Vogley, yes.

2:07

Councilmember Fossey?

2:08

Yes.

2:09

Councilmember Tui?

2:10

Yes.

2:10

Vice President Zarlingo.

2:11

Yes.

2:11

President Schwab.

2:12

Yes.

2:13

Okay.

2:13

Well, good afternoon, Mayor.

2:15

Good afternoon, President Schwab, Council, and our community.

2:19

I'm proud to be sharing my eighth budget address as your mayor.

2:23

And I do want to start by thanking City Council members for your diligence and support as we've navigated challenges together.

2:32

Council President Schwab, thank you for your leadership and partnership.

2:36

I also want to recognize our entire finance team, who I believe just delivered your budget books a whole week ahead of schedule.

2:44

They do a lot of important behind the scenes work and have earned our city top honors from the Government Finance Officers Association, including 34 consecutive Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards, 38 years of excellence in financial reporting, plus special recognition for our long-term budget planning.

3:03

We were also recognized by the Washington State Auditor's Office with the 2022 Stewardship Award for Accountability and Transparency.

3:11

These honors reflect the strong history of this department and our long-standing commitment to managing resources responsibly.

3:17

So again, thank you to our entire finance team.

3:21

As your mayor, developing a fiscally responsible budget is one of my most important duties.

3:25

When I served on the city council, I saw firsthand the significant financial challenges Everett faced, particularly the structural deficit with the general fund, which is caused by the state's 1% cap on property tax increases.

3:37

Since 2020, inflation has increased, averaging roughly 5% each year.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety████████████████████████████████32%
Procedural███████████████████████████27%
Homelessness████████████12%
Public Engagement███████████11%
Fiscal Sustainability█████5%
Mental Health Awareness████4%
Economic Development███3%
Public Transportation██2%
Engineering And Infrastructure██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Everett City Council Meeting – October 22, 2025

The Everett City Council met on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at 12:30 PM in Council Chambers. Mayor Cassie Franklin presented her proposed 2026 budget, and the council took action on several items, including a tabled buffer zone extension, a new SODA (Stay Out of Drug Areas) zone, an alley vacation, and four property damage settlements. Public comment was held on two controversial ordinances.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes from October 15, 2025 (unanimous).
  • Approved nine consent items, including claims ($4,339,931.02), payroll ($5,691,641.10), electronic fund transfers ($8,210,092.92 for February 2025 and $8,757,968.54 for March 2025), two right‑of‑entry amendments with Boeing, a professional services agreement with Brown and Caldwell ($8,998,917 for WPCF Headworks Replacement), a DWSRF loan application (up to $500,000), and a long‑term artifact loan agreement with the Everett History Museum (unanimous).

Mayor’s Budget Address

  • Mayor Franklin presented a balanced 2026 general fund budget addressing a $7.9 million structural deficit using one‑time measures (e.g., suspending pre‑funding of LEOFF 1 pensions, freezing non‑essential spending, using remaining senior center reserves, reallocating COVID relief dollars).
  • She highlighted record police staffing, new fire apparatus, alternative response programs (CARE team, mobile addiction treatment), expanded investments in parks and libraries, and planning for the outdoor event center, the 2026 FIFA World Cup fan zone, and future light rail.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Written comments: 12 individuals submitted written comments regarding the buffer zone ordinance (Item 15).
  • Jimmy Castro (Everett resident) called for a city ordinance declaring Everett a “gas‑free city,” citing his personal experience with “gassing.”
  • Scott Sparling (Everett, 15‑year resident) opposed both the buffer zone and SODA concepts, arguing they infringe on rights of movement and assembly and expressed concern that SODA zones are never truly revoked.
  • Caitlin McKinney (Everett, via Zoom) argued against extending the no‑sit/no‑lie ordinance, stating it criminalizes homelessness and causes forcible displacement.
  • Jose (lives near Compass Health) spoke in favor of extending the service facility buffer zone, citing reduced visible drug activity and improved collaboration between police, Compass Health, and the neighborhood.
  • Greg Tisdall (Everett) supported extension, stating the no‑sit/no‑lie zone changed his neighborhood for the better.
  • Joe (property owner near downtown) supported the buffer zone, calling it a “big success” that reduced crime and improved business viability.
  • John Klosterman (Everett) opposed the no‑sit/no‑lie laws as counter to moral principles.
  • Rich Ryan (Everett, 14‑year resident, formerly homeless) opposed criminalizing homelessness, urging focus on housing and opportunity rather than displacement.
  • Rudy Castro (Everett, homeless for six months) described being contacted by police 3–5 times per week despite following buffer zone rules, and said navigators have not offered him housing because he does not meet criteria for drug users or mental health problems.
  • Michelle Pendergrass (District 1 PCO) verified Rudy’s story and questioned the cost and constitutionality of the ordinance, suggesting alternatives such as a legal resting area or a no‑litter policy.

Discussion Items

  • Item 15: Buffer Zone Extension (CB 2509‑53) – Third reading to extend the service facility buffer zone ordinance to December 31, 2027. Councilmember Bader read statements from people affected by the ordinance, arguing it is not compassionate. Councilmember Tui requested data on who receives citations (whether they are predatory actors or vulnerable individuals) and noted ambiguity in the sunset language. An amendment to clarify the sunset language passed unanimously. Councilmember Tui then moved to table the item until more detailed data could be provided. The motion to table passed 4‑3 (Ryan, Vogley, Fossey, Tui in favor; Bader, Zarlingo, Schwab opposed). The item is tabled pending staff data on the specific populations impacted.

  • Item 16: SODA Zone Update – Resolution to establish new prohibited areas related to drug trafficking. Councilmember Ryan proposed an amendment to extend the proposed zone three blocks east along Rockefeller Avenue from Pacific to 36th Street, to adjoin an existing zone. Sergeant Wallace indicated data supports including Rockefeller. The amendment passed 6‑1 (Vogley opposed). The main resolution, as amended, passed 6‑1 (Vogley opposed).

  • Item 17: Alley Vacation – Public hearing on a petition to vacate remaining alleys in the block bounded by Rockefeller, Oakes, Pacific, and 32nd Street. The property (9,445 sq ft, zoned MU‑15) will be consolidated for a multi‑family development. The city will retain a utility easement. The petitioner will pay $850,000 (appraised value), with half going to the real property acquisition fund and half to open space/transit improvements. The public hearing was closed, and the council voted unanimously to grant the petition and direct staff to prepare a vacating ordinance.

  • Item 10: Property Damage Settlements – After a 10‑minute executive session, council approved four partial settlement agreements arising from 2019 flood damage on Grand Avenue: Olsen ($11,878.34), Seidenberg ($192,624.26), Snell ($125,115.62), and Tanaka ($186,235.14), totaling $415,853.36. President Schwab abstained; all other members voted yes.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent items 1–9: Approved unanimously.
  • Items 11–14: First and second readings accepted; final readings scheduled for October 29 (items 11–12) and November 5 (items 13–14).
  • Item 15 (Buffer Zone Extension): Tabled 4‑3 pending staff data on citations and arrests. Public testimony heard; no final action.
  • Item 16 (SODA Update): Passed 6‑1 after amendment to include Rockefeller Avenue. New drug‑free zones established.
  • Item 17 (Alley Vacation): Petitions granted unanimously; ordinance to be prepared.
  • Item 10 (Settlements): Four settlements totaling $415,853.36 approved (7‑0‑1, Schwab abstaining).
  • Executive Session: 10 minutes held; no report.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, residents of Everett Washington. I'd like to call the order of the Everett City Council meeting of October 22nd, 2025. For information on council meetings and how to participate, please visit our website at Everett Wad.gov slash city council. Clerk, will you please take the ball? Mayor Franklin here. Councilmember Bader. Here. Councilmember Ryan. Here. Councilmember Vogley here. Councilmember Fossey here. Councilmember Tui here. Vice President Zarlingo. Here. President Schwab. Here. At this time, I'd like to ask Council Vice President Zarlingo to lead the pledges of allegiance. Thank you. 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 Stahopesha people and their successors, the two Laleb 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 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. Before we go to old business, uh, just for the agenda action, our item number 10, which was a consent item, is now going to be moved to an action item. And it will be the last item on our agenda. So it'll be after 17. Okay, on to old business. Do I hear a motion for approval of the minutes for October 15th, 2025? So move. Council Member Ryan seconds. Motion a second. Clerk, please take the roll. Councilmember Bader. Yes. Councilmember Ryan? Yes. Councilmember Vogley, yes. Councilmember Fossey? Yes. Councilmember Tui? Yes. Vice President Zarlingo. Yes. President Schwab. Yes. Okay. Well, good afternoon, Mayor. Good afternoon, President Schwab, Council, and our community. I'm proud to be sharing my eighth budget address as your mayor.

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