Everett City Council Meeting - December 10, 2025

The Everett City Council held its regular meeting on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 6:30 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting began with a flood response update from Mayor Franklin, followed by public comments, approval of the consent calendar and numerous action items, adoption of the Outdoor Event Center priorities resolution, a briefing and vote on the 2024 Comprehensive Sewer Plan, and introduction of an ordinance to revise utility billing due dates (CB 2512-87).

Consent Calendar

All seven consent items were approved unanimously (7-0):

1. Resolution authorizing claims against the City of Everett totaling $3,716,637.34 for the period ending November 26, 2025.
2. Authorizing Amendment No. 1 with Mike Bailey for Interim Finance Director services in the amount of $95,000, with completion by December 31, 2026.
3. Awarding RFP #2025-055 Site Assessment and Feasibility Study to Perteet Inc. (an Ardurra Company) for an estimated $335,000 annually for one year, with one two-year extension option.
4. Authorizing release of Invitation for Bid #2025-092 Vehicle Upfit and Service Bodies.
5. Authorizing payment of tort claims of Marshland Flood Control District and Karen and Walter Spane totaling $78,809.92.
6. Authorizing the mayor to sign the Complete Streets Grant Agreement with the Transportation Improvement Board (pedestrian safety/RRFB improvements at Everett Ave and 79th).
7. Awarding the Water Main Replacement "Y" Phase 2 construction contract to Interwest Construction, Inc. for $2,020,202.02.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Chris (online, union member): Expressed support for Outdoor Event Center priority #7 regarding labor, stating the city should use the opportunity to support good union jobs.
• Kathleen Stewart (Everett): Criticized city utility billing practices, saying she has received late fees despite paying within five days of the due date. She expressed support for a proposed 45-day billing due date.
• Melody Smith (Everett): Described receiving a "past due" stamp on her utility envelope only three days after the due date. She requested the policy be changed to allow more time (14 days or more) for mailed payments, citing a recent hospitalization.
• Deborah Brown Bordson (Mukilteo, Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County): Thanked Councilmember Fossey and the city for pandemic ARPA funds. She described how the funds supported shelter safety, hotel stays, food, children's activities, vehicle shields, remote services, and sanitation. She noted that in fiscal year 2024-25 DVS helped more than 22,000 individuals.
• Eileen Simmons (Everett, President, Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens): Thanked the council for COVID grants (two $25,000 grants from Councilmembers Stonecypher and Fossey). She detailed expenditures: $28,863.82 on path renovations, $5,053.01 on wintertide lights, $12,500 on a sculpture, and $3,283.17 on entry garden redesign.
• Mary Klein Stively (Edmonds, CEO of ChildStrive): Thanked the council for ARPA funds that created a Spanish-speaking play and learn group at the Village on Casino Road. She reported over 45 sessions with more than 80 different families participating.
• Terry Ambergie (Everett, Delta neighborhood): Expressed support for adopting the Outdoor Event Center priorities resolution, and urged the council to make utility bill payment deadlines more reasonable, noting frustrations from neighbors.
• Donna Bresca (licensed civil engineer): Complained about a nearly three-year permitting delay for a duplex project on Upper Ridge Road. She stated her design demonstrates code compliance and that reviewers have raised unnecessary issues about a detention vault installation.
• Steve Oce (Everett): Announced the ATU 883 "Stuff a Bus" holiday drive at Fred Meyer, encouraging donations over the final weekend.
• Michelle Pendergras (Everett, PCO Precinct 13): Expressed strong support for the Outdoor Event Center resolution, especially the labor neutrality provision (item #7). She also criticized utility late fees, including the $5 late fee and $52 door-hanger fee, and urged more grace.
• Scott Sparling (Everett): "Dittoed" Michelle's comments, supporting the labor neutrality language and calling the $52 fee counterproductive.
• John Klosterman (Everett): Said he hopes the Outdoor Event Center labor and workforce standards pass and are honored, citing the voter-approved minimum wage initiative of November 2024.
• Michael Hilliard (Everett, District 3): Said that since taxpayers support the stadium, it is fair to require good labor standards, local hiring, and child care for workers.
• Shelley (Mill Creek, works in Everett, union member): Expressed support for the labor priorities set forth by Councilmembers Fossey, Ryan, and Schwab, and urged the council to consider water bill affordability for seniors.
• Charles Burgess (Edmonds, Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer of LIUNA Local 292): Expressed full support for labor standards moving forward with the outdoor event center, saying his union represents over 1,200 workers in Everett and looks forward to being a partner.

Written comments from John Martin, Lisa Sturmans, and Alex Schesser regarding the Outdoor Event Center were acknowledged for the record.

Council Comments and Reports

• Councilmember Bader: Reported on National League of Cities conference topics, including workforce development and child care, surplus city property for housing, data center policies and water use, and civil discourse.
• Councilmember Ryan: Congratulated Chief DeRoos on his retirement after 31 years and noted a farewell at the next council meeting.
• Councilmember Vogley: Asked whether unhoused individuals in flood zones have been notified; the mayor responded that social workers and Snohomish County emergency management are engaged.
• Councilmember Fossey: Thanked ARPA grant recipients and community volunteers who helped with sandbagging. She later moved to add an agenda item on utility billing due dates.
• Councilmember Tui: Thanked speakers and flood-response staff and CERT volunteers.
• Councilmember Zarlingo: Thanked staff and CERT; mentioned meeting the new Everett Housing Authority executive director Sarah Smith and a parks committee discussion on downtown parking.
• Councilmember Vogley (supplemental): Reported the Parks and Built Environment Committee recommended bringing a parks naming policy ordinance to full council.

Discussion Items and Votes

• Minutes of December 3, 2025 were approved unanimously (7-0).
• Motion to amend the agenda to add a first/second reading ordinance on utility billing due dates (later CB 2512-87) passed unanimously (7-0).
• Items 8-10 (second readings of ordinances closing Special Improvement Projects for Everett Smelter Drainage, WFP Air Scour Blower Building Replacement, and Citywide Bicycle Wayfinding) advanced without objection; final readings are set for December 17, 2025.
• Item 11 (first and second reading creating the Garfield Park Playground Renovation Special Improvement Project) advanced without objection; final reading December 17, 2025.
• Item 12 - Public hearing for the Downtown Everett Business Improvement Area renewal/expansion for 2026?2030 was closed by unanimous vote (7-0), and the ordinance was adopted unanimously (7-0). Councilmember Bader expressed hope for a future expansion west of West Marine View Drive for fairness.
• Items 13-30 - Each third-and-final-reading ordinance was adopted unanimously (7-0). These covered the 2026 salary schedule, an alley vacation, and numerous Special Improvement Project creations and closings, plus the 2025 revised city budget appropriation (CB 2511-81).
• Item 31 - Resolution establishing priorities for the Outdoor Event Center. Councilmember Ryan moved to amend Section 6 to add a bullet: "Implement transportation demand management programming to encourage attendees to walk, bike, and ride transit to the event center." The amendment passed unanimously (7-0). After discussion, the amended resolution was adopted unanimously (7-0). Staff reported 60% design completion, 276 pages of design work, and a budget/plan presentation expected early 2026.
• Item 32 - Briefing and action on the 2024 Comprehensive Sewer Plan. Amy Campbell of Public Works presented; the Department of Ecology issued a formal approval letter that morning. The plan identified 35 near-term and 36 long-term capital projects. The council voted unanimously (7-0) to adopt the resolution approving the plan, even though the agenda indicated action would occur on December 17, 2025. The city attorney clarified that a resolution did not require a second reading.
• Item 33 - CB 2512-87 (first and second reading), an ordinance relating to utility bill due dates. Councilmember Fossey summarized that it would move the due date from the 20th to the 28th day after billing, require 30 days delinquency before water shutoff, and address the $5 late fee and $52 door-hanger fee. Staff discussed trade-offs, including cash flow and customer notification. No vote was taken on final passage; action is scheduled for December 17, 2025.

Key Outcomes

• All consent and action items on the agenda were approved unanimously (7-0).
• The Outdoor Event Center priorities resolution was adopted with an added transportation demand management bullet.
• The 2024 Comprehensive Sewer Plan resolution was formally adopted.
• CB 2512-87 on utility billing grace periods was introduced and will have its third/final reading on December 17, 2025.
• The next regular council meeting is December 17, 2025, where final readings of several ordinances will take place.