Everett City Council Meeting – March 18, 2026

The Everett City Council held a regular meeting on March 18, 2026, at 6:30 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a Land Acknowledgment. Mayor Cassie Franklin reported on her recent trip to Washington, D.C., including discussions with federal officials about the Epic Bridge project and light rail advocacy. She also presented Brooke Item for appointment to the Historic Commission (Position 5, term expiring December 31, 2027), which was approved unanimously. The council approved the consent agenda (items 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6), a collective bargaining agreement with IAFF Local 46 for 2026–2029 (action item 3), and received a first reading briefing on the Port Gardner Storage Facility (PGSF) conveyance projects (CB 2603-14). Public comment addressed license plate readers, immigration, and protest buffer zones. The council recessed into a 20-minute executive session on pending litigation.

Consent Calendar

• Approved Resolution authorizing claims against the City of $1,933,934.47 for the period ending March 6, 2026.
• Approved Resolution authorizing electronic transfer claims of $12,138,066.77 for January 2026.
• Approved Amendment 3 to Vehicle Upfit and Service Bodies contract with Aalbu Brothers Fabrication.
• Authorized the Mayor to sign Amendment No. 1 with GeoEngineers for monitoring services at the Diking Improvement District Advance Mitigation Site (not to exceed $25,600).
• Approved Change Order No. 9 with Granite Construction Company for the Edgewater Creek Bridge Replacement project ($885,802.27 increase; revised total not to exceed $27,348,945.37).

Public Comments & Testimony

• John Peoples (Everett resident): Opposed the city’s use of license plate-reading cameras and criticized the Land Acknowledgment as “civic performance art.” He urged the council to look to God for guidance and reminded members not to use public computing resources for personal political activity.
• Kathleen Bergler (Everett resident): Expressed gratitude for the Land Acknowledgment and praised Everett’s diversity. She rejected views expressed by previous commenters against undocumented immigrants, citing DOJ data showing undocumented immigrants commit less than 50% of criminal offenses than U.S.-born citizens. She voiced support for the city’s stance on ICE and the vibrant cultural landscape.
• Janine (Everett resident): Warned about Christian nationalism and described an incident outside Planned Parenthood involving the Family Policy Institute of Washington. She requested the city implement an eight-foot floating buffer zone around Planned Parenthood, noting that three officers were required for two hours during the protest. She stated this would be constitutional and reduce taxpayer burden.
• (Written comment from John Martin regarding an outdoor event center was acknowledged and included in the record.)

Discussion Items

• IAFF Collective Bargaining Agreement (Action Item 3): Jason Brock, Vice President of IAFF Local 46 and an Everett firefighter, presented the contract. He highlighted occupational hazards including cancer, PTSD, and injuries, and noted negotiations were conducted with attention to the city’s fiscal constraints. The four-year agreement (2026–2029) provides medical protection, dignity, and stability. The council unanimously approved the motion (6-0; Councilmember Bader excused).
• Second Readings (Items 7–10): Council Bills 2602-10 (Kiwanis Park renovations fund closure), 2602-11 (Main Library HVAC replacement fund amendment), 2602-12 (Police Property Room Facility Tenant Improvement fund creation), and 2603-13 (utility late payment administration amendments) were read by title and moved without discussion. Final readings are scheduled for March 25, 2026.
• First Reading – CB 2603-14 (PGSF Storm and Combined Sewer Improvements): Director of Public Works Ryan Sass and City Engineer Tom Hood briefed the council on the state-mandated combined sewer overflow (CSO) reduction program. Key points:
  • The Port Gardner Storage Facility at the former Kimberly-Clark site is under construction ($150 million total project cost, under a project labor agreement) and will provide 7 million gallons of storage, exceeding the modeled need of 3 million gallons.
  • Conveyance pipelines (West Marine View Drive projects) total $117 million, split into two projects to minimize traffic impacts during FIFA events and port activities.
  • Compliance deadline with the Department of Ecology agreed order is December 31, 2027; non-compliance carries fines of $10,000 per day.
  • The program is expected to reduce CSO volume by 95%, from approximately 20 million gallons per year to just over 1 million gallons.
  • Funding comes primarily from utility rates, bond proceeds (approximately $80 million), and future Ecology grants. A project labor agreement pilot on the larger conveyance project will compare performance.
  • Odor control measures are included, and a one-way construction traffic loop via port property will minimize congestion on West Marine View Drive.
  • Councilmembers asked about compliance, community impacts, and the PLA pilot. Third reading is scheduled for April 1, 2026.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar (items 1, 2, 4, 5, 6) approved unanimously.
• IAFF collective bargaining agreement (item 3) approved unanimously (6-0).
• Second readings (items 7–10) moved to third reading on March 25, 2026.
• First reading of CB 2603-14 received; third reading on April 1, 2026.
• Brooke Item appointed to the Historic Commission (unanimous).
• Council recessed into executive session for 20 minutes (pending litigation, no action expected).
• Upcoming events announced: Light rail town hall (April 14 at Everett Station, 6 PM), District 1 town hall (June 2 at Everett Performing Arts Center, 6:30 PM), and neighborhood meetings.