Shoreline City Council Regular Meeting - May 12, 2025

The Shoreline City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, May 12, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Shoreline City Hall. The meeting included approval of the agenda, reports from the city manager and councilmembers, public comment, adoption of a seven-item consent calendar, a study item on the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Amendment Docket, and an executive session on potential litigation. The consent calendar was approved unanimously (7-0), and the council discussed but took no action on the docket, directing staff to return a final version for formal approval.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Expenses and Payroll as of May 2, 2025 in the amount of $4,965,178.01.
• Ordinance No. 1033 – Authorizing use of eminent domain for the NW Innis Arden Way Culvert Replacement Project.
• Resolution No. 543 – Adopting the 2026-2031 Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP).
• Resolution No. 545 – Amending the 2025 Fee Schedule to add a Multifamily Tax Exemption Extension Application Fee.
• Authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with DKS Associates ($246,772) to develop a Safe Streets and Roads For All Safety Action Plan.
• Authorizing the City Manager to execute a professional services contract with Facet NW, Inc. ($189,700) for a public tree inventory and street tree management plan.
• Authorizing the City Manager to execute Change Order #3 of Public Works Unit Priced Contract #10050 ($300,000) for stormwater repair, replacement, and shoulder improvements.
• The consent calendar was moved by Deputy Mayor Laura Mork, seconded by Councilmember Eben Pobee, and passed 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• David Guilland (Shoreline) expressed frustration with Amendment #3 regarding the Town Center Plan and the proposed community center designation. He stated that despite attending multiple planning meetings and consulting an expert, he still could not understand what the amendment would achieve or what trade-offs were involved.
• Janet Way (representing Shoreline Preservation Society) advocated for designating the Firlands Way area, including the park, red brick road, and historic structures, as a historic district. She displayed a visioning map and announced plans to apply for a grant to produce professional mapping to support the designation, noting the upcoming 30th anniversary of Shoreline and the U.S. Semiquincentennial in 2026.

Discussion Items

• 2025 Comprehensive Plan Amendment Docket – Senior Planner Steve Szafran and Planning & Community Development Director Andrew Bauer presented five proposed amendments for study. The amendments are:
  • AM 1: Remove the Bike Level of Traffic Stress (LTS) table and corresponding language from the Transportation Element, placing design guidance in the Engineering Development Manual. The Planning Commission recommended moving forward with AM 1.
  • AM 2: Revise boundaries of Shoreline’s four Candidate Countywide Centers (145th Street Station, 185th Street Station, Town Center, and Shoreline Place) in response to King County feedback to support the regional growth framework.
  • AM 3: Update the Town Center Plan, focusing on transportation and placemaking, and incorporating a detailed study of Firlands Way (funds already appropriated by council).
  • AM 4: Amend the 145th Street Station Subarea Plan to include a connectivity analysis for multimodal transportation.
  • AM 5: Amend the 185th Street Station Subarea Plan to include a connectivity analysis for multimodal transportation.
• Councilmembers expressed support for all five amendments and raised specific concerns and requests:
  • Councilmember Robertson supported all amendments and asked about the possibility of identifying additional community centers beyond the four candidate centers. She was clarified that the pink dots on the map were not part of this docket.
  • Councilmember Scully agreed that western areas (pink dots) needed activation and supported focusing on Firlands Way through Amendment 3.
  • Deputy Mayor Mork supported Firlands Way and asked if historic mapping would be part of the work; staff stated they would not seek a landmark designation through this process but could consider historic significance.
  • Councilmember Ramsdell requested safer bike lanes with bollards or barriers, especially on routes to light rail stations. He asked about background on Amendments 4 and 5; staff explained the need for better transportation network connectivity in station areas due to long blocks and lack of alleys. Staff confirmed Amendments 4 and 5 are limited to subarea plans, not outside areas.
  • Councilmember Ademasu asked for greater inclusion of small businesses in transit-oriented development, protected bike lanes from North City to 185th Street, ADA-compliant sidewalks, and a ride-share van service for people who cannot walk 15 minutes to light rail. She also requested that the scope of Amendment 5 be expanded to better accommodate North City businesses and that the city consider evaluating land use designations west of I-5 at 185th Street for more flexibility (not just MUR70 zoning).
  • Mayor Roberts supported staff recommendations and suggested adding flexibility to land use designations around the 185th Station Area to attract developers. Staff noted that such scope could be added to Amendment 5.
• Staff clarified that Amendments 1 and 2 are expected to be completed by end of 2025, while the others may carry into 2026.

Key Outcomes

• The consent calendar was approved unanimously (7-0) with no discussion.
• No formal action was taken on the Comprehensive Plan Amendment Docket; the council discussed the amendments and directed staff to bring the final docket back for approval at a future meeting, with the possibility of adding Mayor Roberts’ suggested amendment regarding land use flexibility at the 185th Station Area as an additional docket item.
• The council recessed into an executive session at 7:48 p.m. for 20 minutes (RCW 42.30.110(1)(i)) to discuss potential litigation with legal counsel. No action was taken, and the meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m.