Everett City Council Meeting – November 19, 2025

The Everett City Council met in Council Chambers at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. All seven councilmembers were present. The meeting opened with the pledge of allegiance, a land acknowledgment, and unanimous approval of the November 12, 2025 minutes. The agenda included nine consent items, three tax and budget public hearings, numerous proposed ordinances, an administrative briefing on youth services and Flock license-plate readers, a 2025 budget amendment briefing, an executive session, and final action after that session.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the November 12, 2025 minutes (noted that no written minutes document was included in the packet).
• Adopted a resolution authorizing claims against the city totaling $5,803,197.64 for the period ending October 31, 2025.
• Adopted a resolution authorizing payroll claims totaling $5,661,995.74 for the period ending November 1, 2025.
• Awarded the Port Gardner Storage Facility construction contract to Absher/Stellar J Joint Venture in the amount of $104,860,670.13.
• Authorized amendments and agreements, including: Jacobs Engineering amendment for the WFP High-Rate Filter Pilot Study; WSDOT 2025-2027 Paratransit Grant agreement (PTD1018); Snohomish County Animal Shelter Services interlocal agreement; acceptance of a $20,000 SpotOn Gives donation to the Fund for the Animals; 2026 WDFW Law Enforcement Services Contract; and a PSA with Consor North America, Inc. for $184,196 for CIP Tool Deployment and On-Call Support.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No oral public commenters were present.
• Written comments were received regarding the Downtown Everett Business Improvement Area renewal from numerous property owners and organizations, including Alexander Building, Apex Everett, Blue Steel, Botech, Nash and Hall, Bright City, Funko, Heritage Bank, Housing Hope, Imagine Children's Museum, Kells, Rate Payer Advisory Council, Screen Printing Northwest, Scott Real Estate, Skyline Insurance Group, Sobar, Williams Investment, 1418 Hewitt LLC, and 2812 Architecture, among others.
• One written comment was received from John Martin regarding an outdoor event center.

Council Comments & Administrative Updates

• Councilmember Bader reported on the Everett Public Library Board of Trustees meeting, including the library's strategic plan and chair reupholstering funded by a bequest.
• Councilmember Tui encouraged residents to volunteer for neighborhood association leadership positions, noting several vacancies.
• Councilmember Vogley highlighted the health of the city's golf enterprise funds, the final Legion Park debt payment, the availability of school fields after hours, and concerns about federal Continuum of Care funding cuts.
• Councilmember Zarlingo reported on the Everett Chamber's growth (226 members and 13 new members this month), Paine Field's master plan, the Snohomish County Regional Law and Justice Council, and the PSRC Transportation Policy Board.
• Wally Webster, president of The Access Project, presented on the organization's work with youth ages 13-17, including referrals from Everett Police, 24-hour response pledges, and peer mediation programs. He thanked Chief DeRossi and Lieutenant Carr for their partnership.
• Chief DeRossi provided an update on the Flock automated license plate reader (ALPR) system, describing city data ownership, user agreements for other agencies, manual and AI-assisted audits, and outcomes such as reduced stolen vehicles (from about 3.5 per day in 2023 to fewer than one per day). He responded to council questions about data sharing and state standards.

Discussion Items

• 2026 Budget Adoption (CB 2510-60): The council heard a third/final reading of the ordinance appropriating $943,828,973 for the 2026 city budget. Councilmembers discussed the structural budget deficit, the need for sustainable revenue options, the prior levy lid lift failure, the two-year budget planning approach, and the city's full-service status. Councilmember Ryan said the city is 'well past bare bones' and that continued cuts erode quality of life. Councilmember Bader called the budget a 'moral document.' The public hearing was closed with no testimony, and the ordinance was adopted unanimously.
• EMS and Regular Property Tax Levies (CB 2510-59 and CB 2510-61): Public hearings were closed and both ordinances levying 2026 property taxes were adopted unanimously.
• Downtown Business Improvement Area Renewal (CB 2511-66): First reading only; the public hearing was left open until December 10, 2025.
• Special Improvement Projects and Other Proposed Ordinances (Items 14-30): Council took first or second readings on ordinances creating or closing special improvement projects, including Evergreen Way Drainage Improvements, an alley vacation between Rockefeller and Oakes Avenues, Animal Shelter Fire Sprinkler Main Distribution Repair, Wiggums Hollow Playground Repair ($500,000), and numerous project closings. Bob Leonard of Parks and Facilities answered questions about the Wiggums Hollow fire, noting the city is replacing the playground 'like for like' and that the $500,000 project cost equals the insurance deductible; the original installation cost about $800,000 and was not insured.
• 2025 Revised Budget Amendment #4 (CB 2511-81): Interim Finance Director Mike Bailey presented the first reading of an ordinance amending the 2025 budget. He stated the city is projected to end 2025 in a stronger financial position than originally budgeted. Amendment items included interpreter services, ACH/direct deposit implementation, minimum wage verification and business license system changes, public works operating costs, grant recognitions, FTE allocation adjustments, capital project pre-funding, vehicle replacements, a police property room purchase ($2.6 million), street overlay costs, Sound Transit light-rail planning support, debt service, fuel infrastructure upgrades, self-insurance increases, and police/fire pension fund adjustments.
• Business and Occupation Tax (CB 2510-62): A third/final reading adopted amendments to the Model B&O Tax Ordinance incorporating SB 5814 changes relating to retail sales and amending EMC 3.24.030.

Key Outcomes

• All roll call votes were unanimous (7-0).
• Approved minutes, consent calendar, tax levy ordinances (Items 10 and 11), the 2026 budget (Item 12), and the B&O tax ordinance (Item 32).
• Took first/second readings on Items 13-31, with final readings scheduled for December 3, 2025 (Item 14) and December 10, 2025 (most other items).
• The public hearing for the Downtown BIA renewal remains open until December 10, 2025.
• Entered executive session for 15 minutes under RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) to discuss potential litigation, with possible action to follow. Upon return, the council unanimously authorized the proposed action, and the meeting adjourned.