Shoreline City Council Regular Meeting - November 18, 2024

The Shoreline City Council met at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 18, 2024, in Council Chamber at Shoreline City Hall. Mayor Chris Roberts presided; all seven councilmembers were present, with Councilmember Keith Scully participating via Zoom and leaving at 9:20 p.m. The Council approved the agenda by unanimous consent, received reports, heard public comment, approved the consent calendar 7-0, and held a public hearing before adopting the 2025-2026 Biennial Budget, 2025 Salary Schedules, and 2025-2030 Capital Improvement Plan. The meeting adjourned at 9:31 p.m.

City Manager Report & Council Reports

• City Manager Bristol Ellington reported on the Underground Holiday Market on November 23, featuring more than 60 local artisans, food vendors, live music, and craft demonstrations; reminded residents to clear storm drains; and noted that comprehensive plan amendment applications are due by 5 p.m. December 1, 2024.
• Councilmembers reported on attending the Veterans Day Celebration at City Hall, the National League of Cities (NLC) Conference, a Cascadia affordable housing conference, a tour of the Cedar Grove facility in Everett, a Mountains to Sound Greenway event, a Regional Crisis Response ride-along, and the North Urban Human Services Alliance Aging Committee meeting.

Consent Calendar

• The Council approved the consent calendar 7-0 on a motion by Councilmember Eben Pobee, seconded by Councilmember Annette Ademasu. It included:
  • Approval of special meeting minutes of October 21, 2024, regular meeting minutes of October 21, 2024, and regular meeting minutes of October 28, 2024.
  • Ordinance No. 1020, amending the final 2023-2024 Biennial Budget.
  • Ordinance No. 1021, setting the 2025 regular and excess property tax levies.
  • Ordinance No. 1022, establishing the 2025 impact fee schedule.
  • Resolution No. 530, establishing the 2025 fee schedule.
  • Adoption of the 2025 State Legislative Priorities.
  • Authorization for the City Manager to execute a $139,610 contract with BERK for planning and environmental review services for the Light Rail Stations Planned Action Areas Update.

Public Comments & Testimony

• General public comment: Janet Way, Shoreline, spoke about the importance of local government and community involvement, especially protecting nature and green space. Drew Walter asked why developments with ground-floor business space do not provide customer parking and said Shoreline feels like 'just a bedroom.'
• Public hearing on Ordinance No. 1019: 20 people signed up to testify. Key oral testimony included:
  • Jess Brammer (Mukilteo) supported AM-10, the winter lights display at Park at Town Center, describing it as a strategic asset and economic development opportunity.
  • Laura James (Shoreline, Director of ShoreLake Arts) supported AM-10, saying it could boost support for local artists and artisans.
  • Gordon Black (Edmonds, North Side Bicycle Advocates) supported AM-2, the Interurban Trail SR 104 crossing study.
  • Margaret Elwood (Edmonds) supported the SR 104 crossing/interurban trail safety study; the minutes attribute her support to AM-10, but her testimony addressed AM-2.
  • Laura Grauer (Seattle, President of Shoreline Chamber of Commerce) opposed AM-9, urging continued investment in subarea planning so people have places to go in Shoreline.
  • Janet Way (Shoreline Preservation Society) requested Council funding for mini grant programs to preserve and improve the Firlands area.
  • Kathleen Russell (Shoreline) supported amendments 1 through 12, including a $300,000 one-neighborhood subarea plan rather than the extended $600,000 subarea planning budget, the Firlands Way study, senior mental health counseling, Sister Cities, and winter lights.
  • Boni Biery (Shoreline) supported AM-5 and asked that the Firlands Way Study be extended to include the residential portion.
  • Robert Torres-Miller (Edmonds) supported AM-2 and AM-5.
  • Laura Zuchlewski (Shoreline) supported AM-5, AM-6, and AM-2.
  • Katie Lorah (Shoreline) supported AM-2, AM-5, and AM-6, and also supported subarea planning.
  • Kevin Barrett (Briar, Vice President of Shoreline Chamber of Commerce) opposed AM-9; the transcript says 'Amendment 8,' but the minutes record him as speaking against AM-9.
  • Jack Malek (Shoreline, Past President of the Chamber of Commerce) supported AM-2, AM-10, and the Firlands Way study, and said he preferred spending the full $600,000 on subarea planning rather than $300,000.
  • Emily Jones (Seattle, Director of Shoreline Lake Forest Park Senior Center) supported AM-3, citing that Shoreline has the second largest percentage of residents 65 and older among King County cities at 15 percent, 9.2 percent of Shoreline seniors live in poverty, and older adults account for 22 percent of deaths by suicide in the United States.
  • David Stygstra (Shoreline) supported AM-2 and cited 41,000 vehicles per day at the SR 104 intersection.
  • David Guilland (Shoreline) supported AM-2 to improve traveling conditions along SR 104.
  • Heidi Shepherd (Shoreline, President of NUHSA) supported AM-3 to expand mental health services for seniors.
  • Vicky Clarke (Cascade Bicycle Club) supported AM-2 for regional trail connectivity.
  • Tom Lang (Shoreline) supported amendments that encourage biking and walking.
  • Gabriel Sneed (Shoreline) supported AM-2, describing SR 104 as a barrier to accessibility.
  • Matthew DiAngelis (Shoreline) supported AM-2, calling the SR 104 gap a barrier to car-free commuting.
• Written public comments were listed on the agenda from Susanne Tsoming, Boni Biery, Logan Throndsen, Laura Lucero, Jan Peterson, Jana Bratton, Boni Biery (second comment), Rachel Weber, Tom McCormick, Kathleen Russell, Steve Treseler, Forrest Baum, and Hugo Alamillo.

Discussion Items: Budget Deliberation

• Sara Lane, Administrative Services Director, said the Council was holding its second public hearing on the 2025-2026 Proposed Biennial Budget and the 2025-2030 Capital Improvement Plan. Christy Hopkins, Budget and Tax Manager, reported total budgeted appropriations of approximately $406.5 million. She reviewed expenditure breakdowns: operating expenditures of $150.5 million by function, including 28 percent public safety, 26 percent support services, and 17 percent parks, recreation, and community services; a $129 million Capital Improvement Plan with 88 percent roads, 11 percent general capital, and 1 percent facilities major maintenance; $36.4 million in surface water utility expenditures; and $62.7 million in wastewater utility expenditures.
• On AM-2, Councilmembers discussed the importance of bike safety and noted that even if the study passes, construction of a bridge would take time and community effort.
• On AM-9, Councilmember Scully argued subarea plans are unnecessary and costly, while Mayor Roberts said eliminating the appropriation would not preclude future subarea planning. Some Councilmembers and public speakers opposed the cut, arguing planning would help create vibrant neighborhoods.
• On AM-12, Councilmember Pobee said the position would bridge gaps in social and human services. Staff explained that $317,084 is the fully loaded two-year cost for one limited-term Community Support Specialist. Community Services Manager Bethany Wolbrecht-Dunn described family advocate staffing challenges at Shoreline Public Schools and gave examples of the navigator-type work the position performs.
• On AM-4, Councilmembers discussed the value of the Grant Administrator position, which was funded through April 2026. Staff indicated that converting it to an ongoing FTE would increase the projected future budget gap by about $200,000. The motion failed, and Council directed the City Manager to bring a Mid-Biennium Budget amendment to convert the position to an ongoing FTE.
• On AM-7, Councilmember Scully proposed freezing Council travel and training at the prior year level. Some Councilmembers supported the cap, while others said conferences provide professional development and regional learning. The amendment failed.
• Councilmembers complimented staff on a well-managed budget process after the final vote.

Key Outcomes

• The consent calendar was approved 7-0.
• Ordinance No. 1019, adopting the 2025-2026 Biennial Budget, the 2025 Salary Schedules, updated financial policies, and the 2025-2030 Capital Improvement Plan, was approved as amended by a 6-0 vote.
• Approved amendments:
  • AM-1 (7-0): Added 0.5 FTE in the City Manager's Office for the Lynnwood Link Extension Light Rail Project Manager position, retained at Salary Range 59.
  • AM-2 (7-0): Added $40,000 in one-time General Fund funding for the Interurban Trail SR 104 Crossing Study, led by another agency.
  • AM-9 (5-2): Eliminated $600,000 in one-time General Fund appropriations for subarea planning.
  • AM-3 (7-0): Added $65,000 in 2025 and $80,000 in 2026, totaling $145,000, for mental health counseling for income-qualified Shoreline seniors at the Shoreline/Lake Forest Park Senior Center.
  • AM-10 (7-0): Added $55,000 for electrical infrastructure at Park at Town Center and $105,000 for a winter light display, using General Fund fund balance.
  • AM-12 (7-0): Added a 1.0 Limited Term Community Support Specialist for the 2025-2026 biennium at a cost of $317,084, in part to respond to demand created by the loss of Family Advocates at Shoreline Public Schools.
  • AM-11 (6-1): Added $15,000 annually, $30,000 for the biennium, to support the Sister Cities Association.
  • AM-5 (6-0): Added $40,000 in one-time funding to extend the Firlands Way Study to N 195th Street.
  • AM-6 (5-1): Added $12,000 for the Shoreline Historical Museum to create a Firlands Way interpretive sign and a display highlighting Shoreline's 30th anniversary.
  • AM-8 (6-0): Added a $500,000 future-funded project in 2027 to the Roads Capital Fund to extend 25th Avenue NE frontage improvements to NE 200th Street.
• Failed amendments:
  • AM-4 (1-6): Failed to convert the Grant Administrator to an ongoing FTE and the Staff Accountant to a limited-term position. Council directed the City Manager to bring a Mid-Biennium Budget amendment to convert the Grant Administrator position to an ongoing FTE.
  • AM-7 (3-4): Failed to reduce the Council Operating Budget for Travel and Training by $27,500 annually.

Note on Transcript/Minutes Discrepancies

• Some amendment numbers in public testimony differ between the minutes and the transcript. For example, Margaret Elwood is recorded in the minutes as supporting AM-10, but her transcript testimony concerned the SR 104/Interurban Trail study, which corresponds to AM-2. Kevin Barrett is transcribed as saying 'Amendment 8,' while the minutes record him as speaking against AM-9.