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Record of Proceedings

Everett City Council Meeting - December 3, 2025: Budget, Grants, and Settlements

City Council & Committees — Wednesday, December 3, 2025
BodyEverett, Washington
SessionCity Council & Committees
DateWednesday, December 3, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:01

Good evening, residents of Everett, Washington.

0:04

I'd like to call to order the Everett City Council meeting of December 3rd, 2025.

0:09

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

0:16

For the record, Councilmember Fossey will be attending this evening's meeting remotely.

0:21

Clerk, will you please take the role?

0:23

Mayor Franklin here.

0:24

Councilmember Bader.

0:25

Here.

0:26

Councilmember Ryan.

0:26

Here.

0:27

Councilmember Vogelee here.

0:28

Councilmember Fosse.

0:30

Here.

0:30

Councilmember Tui, your Vice President Zarlingo.

0:33

Here.

0:33

President Schwab.

0:34

Here.

0:35

And at this time, I'd like to ask Councilmember Bader to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:41

Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

0:48

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:55

Thank you.

0:55

And I'd like to ask Councilmember Ryan to recite the land acknowledgement.

1:00

Thank you.

1:01

City Council wishes to acknowledge the original original inhabitants of this place, the Shahopes people and their successors, the Tulalip tribes.

1:08

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

1:13

We respect their sovereignty and the 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 to include a future that includes their voices, their stories, and their people for a more just and equitable society.

1:29

Thank you.

1:29

Okay, so we'll move to old business.

1:32

Do I hear a motion to approve the minutes for November 19th, 2025?

1:36

Councilmember Ryan, so moves.

1:38

Second.

1:39

Motion and seconds been made.

1:40

Clerk, please take the roll.

1:41

Councilmember Bader.

1:42

Yes.

1:43

Councilmember Ryan.

1:44

Yes.

1:44

Councilmember Vogali.

1:45

Yes.

1:45

Councilmember Fossey.

1:47

Yes.

1:48

Councilmember Tui.

1:49

Yes.

1:49

Vice President Zarlingo?

1:51

Yes.

1:51

President Schwab.

1:52

Yes.

1:52

Well, good evening, Mayor.

1:54

Good evening, Council and Community.

1:57

Just hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend.

1:59

And we kicked off our wintertide celebration right after Thanksgiving.

2:04

And I just want to thank uh Tyler and Kari for their great work and the rest of the public works and facilities team for decorating our downtown and making it festive.

2:14

And I think everyone had a great time.

2:16

And I encourage everyone to look at our website, visit Everett.com backslash wintertide to see all the fun winter themed uh events that are happening over the coming month.

2:27

And no further comments.

2:28

Thank you.

2:30

Okay.

2:31

Well, thank you very much.

2:32

Well, now it's time for public comment, which includes written comment acknowledgement.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████████32%
Economic Development█████████████████████21%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████11%
Public Engagement████████8%
Education Funding███████7%
Affordable Housing██████6%
Community Engagement█████5%
Personnel Matters█████5%
Budget Equity Analysis███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Everett City Council Meeting - December 3, 2025

The Everett City Council met on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers, with Councilmember Fossey attending remotely. The meeting covered consent calendar approvals, public comments on grants, councilmember reports, a public hearing renewal of the Downtown Business Improvement Area, second readings of numerous special improvement project closures, first and second readings of the 2026 salary schedule, and final action on an ordinance for Evergreen Way drainage improvements. Following an executive session, the council authorized a workers' compensation settlement.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved 8 consent items unanimously, including claims payables totaling $10,342,296.74 (two periods), payroll claims of $6,426,324.05, electronic transfer claims of $9,088,932.88, a WSDOT Transit Support Grant Agreement, a social services agreement with Everett Law Association, a purchase agreement for a drainage and sewerline camera truck (not to exceed $744,313.67), and an amendment to Bark Better LLC contract.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Kay Fanton (Snohomish, Everett Public Schools Foundation) thanked the council for a $25,000 COVID relief grant supporting early learning programs (Play & Learn and Everett Ready). She reported that 13,000 attended Play & Learn sessions in 167 sessions; 81% of kindergartners attended Everett Ready; and Everett third graders outperformed state averages in reading by 14% and math by 13.5%.
  • Liz Stenning (Lake Forest Park, Downtown Everett Association) reported on the storefront enhancement program: three years, $130,000 awarded to 38 businesses, leveraging $4 private investment per $1 awarded. This year 14 of 35 applicants received $43,450 in grants with total project costs near $300,000. She thanked councilmembers Ryan and Tui for support.
  • Christina Anderson (Everett, Courage to Change Recovery Services) and board president Mike Kiersey thanked the council for COVID relief funding that covered office rent. They reported a 65% success rate for clients, 8,000 miles driven monthly, over 100 clients transported in 10 months, and over 500 clients served since December 2020.

Discussion Items

  • Councilmember Bader reported on attending the National League of Cities meeting in Salt Lake City, noting presentations on AI, data centers, civil discourse, and America’s 250th celebration. He also visited the new Utah Bees minor league stadium via light rail, drawing parallels to potential Everett development.
  • Councilmember Ryan reported on the Wintertide tree lighting event, lodging tax grant cycle (applications due December 15, $200,000 available, priority for operational expenses), and the Everett Public Schools state-of-the-district presentation highlighting top Snohomish County rankings and two February 10, 2026 ballot measures (a bond and levy renewal). She moved to allocate $25,000 from unspent COVID relief funds to the Downtown Everett Association for a third round of storefront grants. Discussion included concerns about equity for other corridors and timing, but the motion carried 5-2 (Bader and Zarlingo opposed).
  • Councilmember Vogelee (likely Bogley in transcript) reported on her last Alliance for Housing Affordability meeting: federal proposals to cap continuum of care permanent supportive housing at 30% could affect 800 households in Snohomish County, risking re-homelessness.
  • Councilmember Fossey (remote) thanked Courage to Change for their transportation services and noted her attendance at committee days in Olympia.
  • Councilmember Tui reported on the Council of Neighborhoods meeting with Everett Public Schools about the upcoming bond and levy.
  • Vice President Zarlingo reported on the final meeting of the Puget Sound Regional Council’s ad hoc committee on board representation, ensuring fair representation for fast-growing cities like Everett.
  • Council President Schwab reported on a Boulevard Blessed Neighborhood meeting (Flock cameras, Edgewater Bridge project with live webcam) and volunteering at VOA food pantry on Casino Road, which distributed 106 boxes in under two hours.
  • Public Hearing (Item 9): The hearing on renewing and expanding the Downtown Everett Business Improvement Area for 2026–2030 remained open until the final reading on December 10, 2025. No speakers.
  • Proposed Action Items (10–26): Council took up second readings of ordinances closing 16 special improvement projects (e.g., Animal Shelter Fire Sprinkler Repair, 20th St CIPP Sewer Lining, 3rd Avenue WQ Treatment, Beverly Lake WQ Retrofit, Evergreen Pump Station Upgrades, and others) plus a revised 2025 budget. All were advanced to final reading December 10, 2025.
  • First Readings (27–29): Items 27 (Everett Smelter Drainage amendment), 28 (WFP Air Scour Blower Building replacement closure), and 29 (Citywide Bicycle Wayfinding closure) were introduced with no questions; final reading December 17, 2025. Councilmember Vogelee commented positively on bike wayfinding.
  • Item 30 – Salary Schedule for 2026: Candy from administration presented a first and second reading of the ordinance establishing the 2026 salary schedule. Union-represented employees (AFSME, CRABS, ATU) will receive a 2.7% COLA; non-represented employees also receive 2.7% to maintain compression. Negotiations continue with EPOA, EPMA, and IFF. Final reading December 10, 2025.
  • Item 31 – Evergreen Way Drainage Improvements (Third Reading): Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar: Approved 8 items unanimously.
  • Storefront Grant Allocation: Council approved a $25,000 grant to the Downtown Everett Association from unspent COVID relief funds (motion by Ryan, seconded, passed 5-2).
  • Evergreen Way Drainage Improvements Ordinance (CB 2511-63): Adopted unanimously (third reading).
  • Workers' Compensation Settlement: Following a 10-minute executive session (RCW 42.30.110), the council unanimously authorized the mayor to execute a settlement agreement with former firefighter Jason Haig in the amount of $183,470.
  • Public Hearing: Remained open on the Downtown BIA renewal until December 10, 2025.
  • Next Steps: Final readings for items 10–26 (Dec 10), items 27–29 (Dec 17), and item 30 (Dec 10). The lodging tax grant applications are due December 15, 2025.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, residents of Everett, Washington. I'd like to call to order the Everett City Council meeting of December 3rd, 2025. For information on council meetings and how to participate, please visit Everett Wah.gov slash city council. For the record, Councilmember Fossey will be attending this evening's meeting remotely. Clerk, will you please take the role? Mayor Franklin here. Councilmember Bader. Here. Councilmember Ryan. Here. Councilmember Vogelee here. Councilmember Fosse. Here. Councilmember Tui, your Vice President Zarlingo. Here. President Schwab. Here. And at this time, I'd like to ask Councilmember Bader to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. And I'd like to ask Councilmember Ryan to recite the land acknowledgement. Thank you. City Council wishes to acknowledge the original original inhabitants of this place, the Shahopes people and their successors, the Tulalip tribes. Since time immemorial, they have hunted, fished, gathered on, and taken care of these lands and waters. We respect their sovereignty and the 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 to include a future that includes their voices, their stories, and their people for a more just and equitable society. Thank you. Okay, so we'll move to old business. Do I hear a motion to approve the minutes for November 19th, 2025? Councilmember Ryan, so moves. Second. Motion and seconds been made. Clerk, please take the roll. Councilmember Bader. Yes. Councilmember Ryan. Yes. Councilmember Vogali. Yes. Councilmember Fossey. Yes. Councilmember Tui. Yes. Vice President Zarlingo? Yes. President Schwab. Yes. Well, good evening, Mayor. Good evening, Council and Community.

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