Everett City Council Meeting June 4, 2026: Approves Amended Massage Ordinance and Swears In Officers
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Everett City Council Meeting June 4, 2026
The Everett City Council convened on June 4, 2026 (noting the transcript references June 3) in Council Chambers. The meeting included the swearing-in of six new police officers, public testimony on several issues, approval of consent items, and a final vote on an amended ordinance regulating massage and reflexology services. All votes were unanimous unless otherwise noted.
Police Officer Swearing-In
- Chief Getz introduced and swore in six new Everett Police Department officers: Victor Pio, Kevin Bauer, Brandon Bullock, Jea Heo, Ryan Vidal, and Israel Huerta. Each had completed academy training; the council approved their oaths unanimously.
Consent Calendar
- Approved resolution authorizing claims against the city in the amount of $2,966,107.18 for the period ending May 16, 2026.
- Approved resolution authorizing electronic claims of $9,480,021.26 for April 2026.
- Approved resolution authorizing payroll claims of $6,212,221.51 for the period ending May 16, 2026.
- Awarded Request for Proposal #2025-041 for Type III Ambulances to Braun Northwest Inc. for a 3-year contract with a 2-year renewal option.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Massage Ordinance (CB 2605-28): Numerous speakers, including massage workers and advocates from the Massage Parlor Organizing Project, opposed the ordinance. They cited the lack of prior outreach, language access barriers (interpreters were not provided), and the disproportionate impact on Asian immigrant workers. Speakers urged the council to table or vote no, arguing the ordinance would increase criminalization, create fear of deportation, and ignore systemic barriers to licensure (such as English/Spanish-only exams, high costs, and unpaid training hours). Some speakers offered to provide interpretation on the fly, which the council accepted.
- California Street Ped/Bike Corridor Phase 2: Two speakers expressed support, citing safety, accessibility, and connectivity benefits, particularly for nearby community resources like the Recovery Cafe.
- Everett Paratransit/Community Transit Merger: Two speakers opposed a potential merger with Community Transit, praising Everett Paratransit's service and urging the council to preserve it. One speaker, an employee, called for letting voters decide via referendum rather than a closed-door interlocal agreement.
- Housing Goals: A student supported affordable housing goals in the Everett 2044 comprehensive plan.
- Land Acknowledgment: One speaker called the land acknowledgment defamatory and urged its repeal.
- Other: A commenter expressed concerns about city crackdowns on vice crimes and potential violence, and another questioned the lack of oversight in the proposed transit merger.
Discussion Items
- CB 2605-29 (Rotary Park Floating Dock Repairs): Second reading, no questions; third and final reading scheduled for June 10, 2026.
- CB 2605-30 (California Street Ped/Bike Corridor Phase 2): First reading, no questions; third and final reading scheduled for June 17, 2026.
- CB 2605-28 (Massage and Reflexology Ordinance) – Third Reading: Councilmember Ryan moved to amend the ordinance to add a $1,000 civil penalty against landlords who knowingly lease to businesses repeatedly violating the ordinance. The amendment passed unanimously. During discussion, council members asked about the hours restriction (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.), outreach plans, and language access. Administration committed to robust education and outreach in multiple languages before enforcement, citing a Mandarin-speaking social worker on staff. The amended ordinance passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Approved minutes of May 27, 2026 (with one abstention from Councilmember Zarlingo).
- Unanimously approved all four consent items.
- Unanimously approved the amended CB 2605-28 ordinance.
- Unanimously approved CB 2605-29 and CB 2605-30 for advancement to final reading.
- After a 10-minute executive session, the council authorized the mayor to sign a $25,000 settlement agreement in City of Everett v. Rodriguez to end litigation, passing unanimously.
Councilmember Ryan and others committed to improving language access for public comment and to advocating at the state level for more equitable massage licensure processes.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, residents of Everett Washington. I would like to call to order the Everett City Council meeting of June 3rd, 2026. For information on council meetings and how to participate, please visit Everett Wad.gov slash city council. Please note we do not allow comments of any kind of campaigning, whether for or against ballot measures or candidates running for office. We also do not accept comments focused on personal matters that are unrelated to city business. Clerk, will you please take the roll? Mayor Franklin. Excuse. Councilmember Weir here. Councilmember Silingo. Here. Vice President Ryan. Yep. Councilmember Brabano. Here. Councilmember Tui. Councilmember Bader. Here. President Schwab. Here. At this time, I'd like to ask Councilmember Burbano to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. And at this time, I'd like to ask Councilmember Zarlingo to read the land acknowledgement. This council acknowledges the original inhabitants of this place, the Stahok people and their successors, the Talelep tribes. Since time immemorial, they've hunted, fished, gathered on, and taken 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. In the absence of the mayor, I'd like to invite Chief Getz to introduce six new police officers. Good evening, Council of Law President Schwab, Council members and members of our community. It is my privilege to introduce six outstanding individuals who have chosen to serve the city of Everett as police officers. Each of these men has successfully completed a rigorous training process designed to identify candidates of the highest character, integrity, and commitment to public service. They now began a career dedicated to protecting our community and serving others. Tonight's oath is more than just a ceremony. It is a commitment to uphold the Constitution, enforce the law fairly, and earn the trust of the community they serve. We are proud to welcome these six new officers to the Everett Police Department and grateful that they have chosen a professional of service. I would now like to introduce our newest Everett Police Officers. He served four and a half years stationed at Joint Base Lewis McCord and worked as a wheeled vehicle mechanic during her service, completing one deployment to Jordan in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. When Victor's enlistment ended, he started the process to become a police officer. Victor chose a career in law enforcement to help people who grew up in situations, situations similar to his own. He hopes to show others that there are different paths in life, and that no matter where you come from, there are opportunities to succeed and make positive changes. Victor knew Everett was where he wanted to build his career after going on a ride along. That's a common thing that you'll that you'll hear tonight. The professionalism of the officers, the strong sense of community, and the opportunity for growth made it clear that Everett PD was the right fit for him. Victor graduated from the Northwest Regional Academy on June 2nd and looks forward to start to starting patrol, continuing to learn the job, and gaining experience as a police officer. He's excited for the opportunity to serve the community, build relationships with the people he encounters, and make a positive impact through his work every day. Thank you, Victor. Kevin Bauer. For the previous 15 years, Kevin worked in Seattle's tech hub, focusing on software quality assurance for various companies. He decided to become a police officer because he wanted to, he wanted a more fulfilling career with new challenges, where he could make a meaningful difference in people's lives and where no two days would be the same. Kevin chose EPD because of its strong reputation for professionalism, officer support, proactive policing, and commitment to ongoing training.
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