Shoreline City Council Regular Meeting: GSP Update and 2025-2026 Budget Presentations, October 28, 2024

The Shoreline City Council met in regular session on Monday, October 28, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Shoreline City Hall (17500 Midvale Avenue N). Mayor Chris Roberts presided; all seven Councilmembers were present. The Council unanimously approved the agenda and consent calendar, heard public comment on tree preservation, received an update from Greater Seattle Partners, and continued its review of the proposed 2025-2026 biennial budget. Mayor Roberts left at 8:30 p.m., and Deputy Mayor Laura Mork declared the meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m.

City Manager & Council Reports

• City Manager Bristol Ellington reported on upcoming events, including a Dia de los Muertos celebration at Spartan Recreation Center on November 2, the last open studio hours for the artist-in-residence at Richmond Beach Saltwater Park, a Shoreline Walks neighborhood walk on November 2, and upcoming meetings.
• Councilmember Ademasu shared that she rode along with RCR and met with the Southwoods Preservation Group. Deputy Mayor Mork met with the new head of King County's Department of Natural Resources about potential stormwater park funding. Councilmember Scully attended a Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition event and discussed camping equipment lending with the Washington Trails Association. Councilmember Ramsdell attended a North Urban Human Service Alliance meeting on transportation and a presentation from the Director of Lake City Partners, noting that seniors are the fastest growing subset of people experiencing homelessness in the area. Mayor Roberts issued a proclamation for Extra Mile Day, attended President Biden's apology for the federal indigenous boarding school policy, and planned to attend a conference on preventing hate and building social cohesion.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously (7-0) on a motion by Deputy Mayor Mork, seconded by Councilmember Pobee.
• Approval of Special Meeting and Regular Meeting minutes of October 7, 2024.
• Approval of expenses and payroll as of October 18, 2024, totaling $3,602,918.21.
• Adoption of Ordinance No. 1023 amending Chapter 15.05, Construction and Building Codes, of the Shoreline Municipal Code to provide amendments to the Washington State Building Code - Energy Code - Commercial.
• Adoption of Resolution No. 531, the Draft 2025-2029 Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Plan.
• Authorization for the City Manager to execute an interlocal agreement with King County for jail services through December 31, 2029.
• Approval of a Multi-Family Tax Exemption Program contract with ACG Kinect Shoreline Owner LLC located at 18553 8th Avenue NE, with written public comment submitted by Andrew Hou.
• Authorization for the City Manager to execute a contract with ABLE in the amount of $732,511 for design services for park improvements.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kathleen Russell, a Shoreline resident speaking for Save Shoreline Trees, said residents were discouraged that they were too late to provide input on trees along North 145th phase one and North 175th phase one, and urged the Council to seek public input now while North 175th future phases are at 60% design. She questioned the design of a 13-foot-wide shared path versus a seven-foot sidewalk with a dedicated bike lane, cited the loss of 134 trees along North 145th west of Corlith and 274 trees along North 175th, and stated that in CAP research residents identified preservation of Shoreline's existing tree canopy as the most commonly expressed priority. She asked the Council to save more public trees.

Discussion Items

Greater Seattle Partners Update

• Economic Development Program Manager Nathan Daum introduced GSP CEO Brian Surratt and Chief Operating Officer Rebecca Lovell. GSP is a public-private partnership responsible for international business attraction, site selection, investment, and trade across King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties.
• Surratt framed the organization's work around community values such as equity, sustainability, and innovation, and stressed the importance of credibility and trust. Lovell described signature programs including the Site Certification program (which included tours of Shoreline properties with a focus on biotech and advanced manufacturing), the Export Accelerator program (expanding to semi-annual cohorts in 2025), and the 'Uncommon Thinkers Welcome' regional branding campaign, which generated over five million page views in its first year. The presentation noted a current pipeline of 87 leads across seven key sectors and the Select USA spin-off program, which brought about 30 companies from approximately 10 countries to the region.
• Councilmember Scully expressed the position that attracting large industries and high-paying jobs to Shoreline is 'a fool's errand,' and said Shoreline's needs are more local and small-business focused; he encouraged GSP to consider local challenges such as high rents and startup costs. Surratt responded that affordability is a regional crisis and described a potential 'jobs hub' concept along the I-5 corridor.
• Councilmember Ademasu asked whether GSP has programs to help small neighborhood businesses, such as a BIPOC-owned mini mart, lease or buy space. Surratt said GSP does not have specific programs for that function, which sits with state-designated Associate Development Organizations, but he agreed the region must integrate those functions.
• Mayor Roberts raised workforce development concerns and noted regulations restricting community colleges from advertising programs outside their districts. Surratt agreed, describing his role as a Seattle Colleges District trustee and GSP's efforts to convene workforce development councils and healthcare employers around talent pipeline gaps. Lovell said companies view location decisions as generational investments and highlighted Shoreline's land and training program assets.

2025-2026 Proposed Biennial Budget - Department Presentations

• Sara Lane, Administrative Services Director, presented the budget review schedule. Public hearings are set for November 4 and November 18, with Council action on November 18; all budget amendments must be submitted to staff by November 12.
• Public Works (Director Tricia Juhnke): Proposed biennial budget of $16,276,159 with 49.6 staff. One-time items include an Aurora Ave street light fixture replacement fund transfer ($140,000), Aurora Ave landscape bed improvements ($80,000), a grounds maintenance dump truck with plow and spreader (listed at $549,898, which Juhnke said is overstated because of interfund transfers; the actual cost is approximately $275,000), and park landscape bed improvements ($70,000). Staffing changes include 1.0 FTE Construction Inspector ($141,114) and 0.75 FTE Grounds Maintenance Worker I - Parks Landscaping ($71,500). Councilmember Scully asked about Interurban Trail maintenance; Juhnke said that would fall under the Parks budget.
• Surface Water Utility: Proposed budget of approximately $36,427,813 with 18.43 staff; over 60% of the utility is focused on capital projects. One-time changes include a business inspection source control program vehicle ($84,000), a surface water street sweeper ($496,000), and Salmon Safe water quality monitoring equipment program expansion ($176,600). Ongoing changes include street sweeper operations and maintenance ($107,100) and the Soak It Up (LID Rebate) program expansion ($92,000). Staffing changes include 1.0 FTE Public Works Maintenance Worker II ($80,400 from Surface Water and $15,200 from the General Fund) and 1.0 FTE Surface Water Inspector with program vehicle maintenance ($149,090). Deputy Mayor Mork suggested a tiered residential fee based on property size, given an anticipated 86% rate increase between 2022 and 2030; Juhnke said the current direction does not expand tiers to single-family properties but commercial parcel billing is changing. Mayor Roberts pointed out a mismatch between the 'single family' fee designation and the Comprehensive Plan's new 'Neighborhood Residential' zoning and suggested aligning the terminology; Juhnke said the fee is based on use rather than zoning and staff will continue monitoring the issue.
• Wastewater Utility: Proposed budget of approximately $62,674,649 with 20.55 staff; the only ongoing change is two 0.5 FTE positions for records management ($79,583). Capital projects include a sewer relocation at 147th and 3rd Avenue NE in response to WSDOT's fish passage project. A councilmember asked why current 2023-24 pipe repair/replacement spending was about $10.5 million versus an estimate of about $2.5 million; Juhnke attributed the difference to project delays from vacant engineering positions. Concern was raised about the approximate 147% wastewater rate increase between 2022 and 2030; Lane responded that the majority of the increase funds capital investments needed to sustain growth and maintain the system.
• General Capital Fund (Nickolas Borer, Parks, Fleet, and Facilities Manager): Parks Maintenance projects (4 projects, $16.77M), Facilities projects (4 projects, $18.00M), and Parks Development projects (multiple projects, $4.76M). Councilmember Robertson asked for the total public art fund allocation and expressed interest in creating a future winter light display.
• City Facilities - Major Maintenance Fund: Budgeted at $1.78M for 6 projects, including City Hall reconfiguration and roof replacements at Kruckeberg Botanic Garden and Sunset School Park. Councilmember Scully asked that the Kruckeberg cottage be flagged for future consideration due to concerns about its value and ongoing maintenance costs.
• Roads Capital Fund (City Engineer Elizabeth Kelly): Pedestrian and Non-Motorized projects (16 projects, $74.81M), Safety and Operations projects (9 projects, $135.53M), and System Preservation projects (3 projects, $18.9M). Kelly noted the Annual Road Surface Maintenance program is underfunded and staff are building a business case for additional funding. Councilmember Ademasu requested that language on the 145th Street project phases two and three address tree preservation, and asked whether the replacement Aurora Ave cobra-style lights are wildlife friendly; Kelly said they are hooded and aimed downward.
• General Fund Transfers (Budget & Tax Manager Christy Hopkins): Total general fund transfers are approximately $16.7M, with $10.3M going to capital funds; debt service funds total approximately $11.8M; other funds include about $8.8M in accumulated transportation impact fees contributed to capital projects.
• Councilmember Ramsdell noted the General Fund balance is higher than anticipated in September and announced he intends to propose an amendment to fund a counseling program at the Shoreline Lake Forest Park Senior Center. Deputy Mayor Mork announced she will propose a $40,000 amendment to study Firlands Way. Councilmember Ramsdell also floated potential future funding around Shoreline's 30th anniversary, the Shoreline Historical Museum's 50th anniversary, and the Declaration of Independence's 250th anniversary, and said he asked the museum for a funding suggestion.
• Councilmembers Scully and Pobee praised the quality of the budget document and staff work; Scully noted the meeting drew three members of the public, versus the usual zero.

Key Outcomes

• The agenda was approved by unanimous consent.
• The consent calendar was approved 7-0.
• The Council received the Greater Seattle Partners update and the second night of 2025-2026 biennial budget department presentations.
• Budget amendments must be submitted by November 12, 2024; public hearings and final Council action are scheduled for November 18, 2024.
• Staff will respond to additional council questions in the Council Budget Question Matrix, including public art fund totals and wastewater rate study details.
• Announced planned amendments: a senior counseling program (Councilmember Ramsdell) and a $40,000 Firlands Way study (Deputy Mayor Mork).