Shoreline City Council Regular Meeting – February 24, 2025
Shoreline City Council Regular Meeting – February 24, 2025
The Shoreline City Council met on Monday, February 24, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall. The meeting covered routine approvals, a resolution affirming the city's commitment to LGBTQIA2S+ safety, and a study item on eliminating parking minimums citywide. The council unanimously approved the consent calendar, passed Resolution No. 542, and provided direction to staff to proceed with parking code amendments.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (7-0): Approval of workshop dinner meeting minutes of January 27, 2025; regular meeting minutes of January 27 and February 3, 2025; expenses and payroll as of February 24, 2025, in the amount of $2,222,046.21; and authorization for the City Manager to execute an interagency agreement with the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board accepting a $6,500,000 grant for the SR-523 (N/NE 145th Street) Aurora Avenue to Interstate-5 (Phase 2/3) Project.
Public Comments & Testimony
- General public comment (before consent calendar): Five Shoreline residents spoke in favor of eliminating parking minimums: David Stygstra, David Guilland, Kate Lorah, Matthew DeAngelis, and Laura Zuchlewski. They argued that parking mandates add costs, limit housing affordability, and hinder small-scale development.
- Public comment on Resolution No. 542: Three speakers voiced strong support: Fran Rourke (EMT, spoke about the need for safe spaces for transgender individuals), Jess Brammer (LGBTQ+ community member, said affirmation saves lives), and Kevin Barrett (private citizen, president of Shoreline Chamber of Commerce, emphasized that the resolution strengthens community values).
Action Items
- Resolution No. 542 – Affirming an Inviting, Equitable, and Safe Community for LGBTQIA2S+ People: Sponsored by Councilmembers Robertson and Scully. The resolution reaffirms the city's commitment to safety and support for all individuals regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, or gender expression. After a staff presentation by Jim Hammond and public testimony, the council voted 7-0 to adopt the resolution. Councilmembers expressed that the resolution is a vital statement of values during a time of increased discrimination and fear among LGBTQIA2S+ residents.
Discussion Items
- Study Item: Discussion and Direction for Development Code Amendments to Eliminate Parking Minimums Citywide: Senior Planner Steven Szafran presented staff findings, noting that parking minimums increase construction costs (average $10,000–$50,000 per space), consume land, and reduce walkability. The council provided the following direction:
- Citywide approach: All councilmembers supported studying elimination citywide rather than in limited areas.
- Uses requiring parking: Concerns raised about churches, large retail (e.g., Costco, Home Depot), and businesses that draw crowds; staff asked to examine if certain uses should retain minimums.
- ADA and loading zones: Councilmembers Ademasu and Mork stressed the need to ensure accessible parking for people with disabilities and off-street loading for delivery vehicles.
- EV charging: Councilviewed EV charging as a separate issue from parking minimums; Mayor Roberts suggested requiring EV readiness rather than specific charger types.
- Parking enforcement: Several members noted that eliminating minimums will require stronger on-street parking management and enforcement to prevent spillover and monopolization.
- Complete streets: The mayor and Councilmember Scully emphasized that eliminating parking minima must be paired with continued investment in sidewalks, bike lanes, and multimodal safety.
- Schedule: Staff will engage stakeholders, conduct a planning commission review, and return to council with code amendments in late summer 2025.
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar approved 7-0.
- Resolution No. 542 adopted 7-0.
- Council gave unanimous direction to staff to proceed with a study of citywide elimination of parking minimums, with attention to ADA, loading zones, EV readiness, parking enforcement, and multimodal infrastructure. A formal code amendment process is expected to return to council by late summer 2025.
- Executive Session: At 8:08 p.m., the council recessed for a 20-minute executive session (extended to 33 minutes total) under RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) to discuss potential litigation with legal counsel. No action was taken.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I'd like to call to order the Shoreline City Council regular meeting for Monday, February 24th, 2025. Will you please join me in the flag slide? Congratulations to the flag. And to the report, which is one nation undergoing with liberty and justice testimony. Thank you. Will the clerk please call the roll? Mayor Roberts. Deputy Mayor Mark. Present. Councilmember Ramsdale. Present. Councilmember Scully. Councilmember Adamassio Present. Councilmember Povey. Here. Councilmember Robertson. Here. Okay. We're all here. The next item is approval of tonight's agenda. If there are no objections or comments, the agenda is adopted by unanimous consent. Next on the agenda is the report of the city manager, Mr. Ellington. Good evening, Council. I want to start today's meeting with a reminder that we're still seeking community input for the Parks Facilities ADA transition plan survey. As you remember, we're looking to make our parks easier to use for people with disabilities.gov forward slash ADA plan to provide your input. Due to the temporary closure of the Shoreline Recology store, we're hosting small pop-ups for Shoreline residents at City Hall. The next one will be this Thursday, February 27th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. here in the council chambers. As a reminder, there's limited quantities of the following hard to recycle items that can be dropped off fluorescent bowls, textile books, electronics, small appliances, styrofoam, and small propane canisters. They will not accept any other hard to recycle items besides the one that's just stated. Drop while limits apply. Visit Recology.com forward slash shoreline for full details. Join the City of Shorelines Forest Stewards to help perform ecological restoration in Shorelines Forest Foreste Parks. These there will be three restoration rest I'm sorry, restoration work parties happening this week. Volunteer with the Green Shoreline Partnership on Wednesday, February 26th at Hamlin Park or Thursday 27th at Richmond Beach Saltwater Park and Hamlin Park. And to learn more and register for volunteer opportunities, visit shoreline.org. And finally, just a couple of public reminders to share. The Parks Recreation and Cultural Services Tree Board next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 27th. The next city council meeting will be on Monday, March 3rd. The planning commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 6th. And for more information about these upcoming meetings, please visit shoreline law.gov forward slash calendar. And that concludes the city manager's report. Thank you very much. Are there any council reports this evening? Councilman Otomason. Thank you, Mayor. I attended the King Conservation District Advisory Committee meeting.
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