Shoreline City Council Regular Meeting – April 21, 2025
Shoreline City Council Regular Meeting – April 21, 2025
The Shoreline City Council met on April 21, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Chris Roberts and adjourned at 7:48 p.m. Councilmember Annette Ademasu was excused for personal reasons. The agenda included proclamations, public comment, consent calendar approval, and discussion of the biennial budget amendment and the 2024 year-end financial report.
Proclamations
- Volunteer Appreciation Week: Mayor Roberts proclaimed the week of April 20–26, 2025, as Volunteer Appreciation Week. He noted that in 2024, City of Shoreline volunteers logged over 6,500 hours of service. Twin Pond Food Bank Gardens volunteers Shellie Anderson and Susan Westphal accepted the proclamation; their gardens donate over 25,000 pounds of produce annually to area food banks.
- Earth Day: Mayor Roberts proclaimed April 22, 2025, as Earth Day in Shoreline. JP Sauerlender, Executive Director of the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden, accepted the proclamation and highlighted the new climate resilience garden installed in late 2024.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the regular meeting minutes of March 24, 2025.
- Authorized the City Manager to execute a Local Agency Agreement with WSDOT to obligate $159,160 in grant funds for the Eastside Off-Corridor Bike Network Pre-Design Study.
- Authorized the City Manager to purchase vehicle replacements and additions approved in the 2025-2026 Biennial Budget in the amount of $830,473.16.
- The consent calendar was approved 6-0 (motion by Deputy Mayor Mork, seconded by Councilmember Pobee).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jack Malek (Shoreline resident, 24 years) spoke as a realtor on behalf of a client whose townhome project at 2145 N 147th Street is affected by the new 35% tree retention requirement. He argued the requirement will eliminate one of the proposed units, representing a loss of $750,000–$800,000 in project value and a missed opportunity for missing-middle housing. He urged the Council to reconsider the rules applied to this project.
- Sasi Mandava (investor in Shoreline townhome projects near 147th and 190th streets) stated that the development process has become “opaque, inconsistent, and disheartening.” He criticized the city’s lack of empathy and accountability, noting that rules changed after his project was delayed due to staff shortages, and that each problem should be treated independently.
- Laethan Wene raised a pedestrian safety concern about cars not stopping at the crosswalk on the corner of Midvale (near City Hall).
Discussion Items
- Ordinance No. 1030 – Budget Amendment and Carryovers: Joe Brandstatter (Administrative Services Director) and Christy Hopkins (Budget & Tax Manager) presented. Carryovers are one-time purchases or projects not completed in the 2023-2024 biennium needing continuation. The total change in appropriations is $83.4 million, with resources of $88.5 million. The projected ending fund balance of the General Fund is approximately $61.5 million, with an estimated unassigned and undesignated ending fund balance available for appropriation in 2026 of $19.251 million. Councilmembers asked about the timing of grant dollars, project descriptions, and the big-picture story in the report. Mayor Roberts noted the item will return on the consent calendar for action on May 5, 2025.
- 2024 Year-End Financial Report: Christy Hopkins presented the unaudited 2024 financial results. Citywide expenditures are at 67% of budget, largely due to $63 million in capital project carryovers. General Fund revenues are 12% over budget, while expenditures are 9% under budget. Projected ending fund balance is $19.25 million after reserves. REET funding increased 13% over the prior year; staff budgeted a 9.8% decrease from 2024 for 2025, but current data shows 8% above the 2025 budget. Council discussed concerns about criminal justice services: Ms. Hopkins noted rising inmate housing costs and savings from court services that are expected to decrease as probation costs increase. John Norris (Assistant City Manager) explained that court services costs vary based on the number of cases adjudicated, and staff will follow up to ensure service levels are maintained. Councilmember Scully asked about the utility tax receipts for garbage (144% above budget) – staff will follow up. Councilmember Pobee asked about planning for financial surprises: Joe Brandstatter stated that staff monitor federal changes but the city does not rely heavily on federal funds for day-to-day operations; however, sales tax revenue was behind expectations for the first month of 2025, which could affect the upcoming biennium budget if the trend continues. Councilmember Pobee also noted that REET is performing well. Councilmember Ramsdell asked about grant revenue fluctuations; Ms. Hopkins explained that grants are often cost-reimbursement, leading to lags between expenditure and revenue recognition.
Key Outcomes
- The consent calendar was approved 6-0.
- Ordinance No. 1030 (budget amendment and carryovers) will be placed on the consent calendar for final action on May 5, 2025, pending Council direction.
- The 2024 year-end financial report was discussed; no action was taken. Staff will follow up on criminal justice service levels, utility tax variance, and economic trend indicators.
- The meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I'd like to call to order the Shoreline City Council regular meeting for Monday, April 21st, 2025. Will you please join me in the flag salute? Which is things. Will the clerk please call the roll? Mayor Roberts? Here. Deputy Mayor Moore. Present. Councilmember Ramsdale? Present. Councilmember Scally. Present. Councilmember Adamasu. Councilmember Povey? Here. Councilmember Robertson. Here. And may I have a motion? Yeah, I move to excuse Councilmember Adamasu for personal reasons. Is there any objection? Seeing no objection, Councilmember Radamassi is excused for personal reasons. Tonight I'd like to proclaim the week of April 20th through April 26, 2025 as volunteer appreciation week. I'd like to invite Sherry and Shelley Anderson and Susan Westfald up to the podium to accept the proclamation. Shelley and Susan have worked as a team for nearly a decade operating the food bank gardens at Twin Ponds Park. Through their tremendous volunteer efforts, the food bank gardens have remained one of the largest producers in the region, donating over 2500 2500 pounds, 25,000 pounds would be really amazing, uh produce each year to area food banks to combat food insecurity. Whereas April 20th through April 2026, 2025 is volunteer week across the country. And whereas in 2024, City of Shoreline volunteers logged over 6,500 hours of service toward important city programs and projects, and whereas volunteers contribute their time and talents by providing recreational opportunities for shoreline residents, serving on boards and commissions, restoring habitat, organizing local neighborhood associations, providing emergency communication capacity, cleaning up trails and streets, and growing food for neighbors in need, among other acts of service. And whereas through their many and varied efforts, volunteers enhance the quality of life in Shoreline. And whereas City of Shoreline Volunteers will be honored at an award and recreation recognition event on Friday, August 15th, 2025. Now I, Christopher Roberts, Mayor of the City of Shoreline, on behalf of the entire Shoreline City Council, do hereby proclaim the week of April 20th through April 26th, 2025 as Volunteer Appreciation Week in the City of Shoreline. And encourage all residents to seek volunteer opportunities and express appreciation for to those who have engaged as such. Whereas on April 22nd, 1970, Americans came together to celebrate the first the first Earth Day to acknowledge that individuals, governments, and corporations have a responsibility to preserve and protect our environment. And whereas the City of Shoreline strives to collaborate with residents and businesses to create a sustainable environment for in our community. And whereas on August 15th, 2022, the City of Council adopted resolution 494 declaring climate change to be a crisis that threatens the health and welfare of our community and environment. And whereas on December 2012, 2022, the City Council adopted the updated Shoreline Climate Action Plan, which has goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance ecosystem health and sequestration, and enhance community resilience and preparedness to climate change impacts and whereas the actions of individuals, businesses, and community groups and governments can each contribute to protecting a healthy environment and livable future for all. And whereas Earth Day offers everyone an opportunity to protect our planet, fight climate change, and build a healthy, resilient, and flourishing community. Now, therefore, I, Christopher Roberts, mayor of the City of Shoreline, on behalf of the entire city council, do hereby proclaim April 22nd, 2025 as Earth Day in the City of Shoreline. Yes, thank you, Mayor Robins. Thank you, Mayor Roberts and members of the City Council. On behalf of Krugerberg Botanic Garden Foundation, I'm honored to accept this Earth Day proclamation. The City of Shoreline has shown real leadership in advancing sustainability, and it's been a privilege for the Krugerburg Botanic Garden Foundation to partner with the city, especially through the efforts like the new climate resilience garden that we installed at the end of 2024. This space not only models how plants can thrive in changing conditions, but it also engages and educates the public about what climate resilient landscaping can look like for homeowners and landscape managers in the in the region. Krugerburg Botanic Garden is a living classroom and a public sanctuary and a community gathering space, all rooted in a mission of conservation and environmental education. As a free and accessible resource, the garden reflects Shoreline's values of equity, sustainability, and community well-being. Earth Day reminds us that building a more resilient planet is not a one-off installation. It is an ongoing and shared effort. We're proud to contribute to that effort locally and grateful for the city's continued partnership and support in keeping Shoreline a leader in environmental stewardship. Again, thank you. If there are no objections or comments, the agenda is adopted by unanimous consent.
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