Shoreline City Council Regular Meeting - September 15, 2025
Shoreline City Council Regular Meeting - September 15, 2025
The Shoreline City Council met on Monday, September 15, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Shoreline City Hall. The meeting covered a proclamation for Latinx Heritage Month, reports from the city manager and council members, approval of a consent calendar, a subdivision action item, and a study item on updating the business license threshold. There was no public comment.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (7-0):
- Minutes of the August 4, 2025 regular meeting.
- First amendment to the interlocal agreement with King County District Court.
- Contract with Brite Nites, Inc. for a winter light display in the Park at Town Center, not to exceed $234,048 for six months.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public signed up to speak or were present to provide testimony.
Discussion Items
- Preliminary Formal Unit Lot Subdivision No. PLN23-0107: Senior Planner Cate Lee presented a proposal to divide a 0.92-acre parcel at 808, 812, 820, and 826 N 145th Street into 23 unit lots. The site is zoned Neighborhood Business (NB) and had four detached single-family homes demolished in April 2025. The application was vested under 2023 code, which required a hearing examiner recommendation and council decision. No public comments were received during the process. The hearing examiner recommended approval subject to 17 conditions. The council discussed access (only vehicle entrance from Whitman Avenue), lot sizes, and density. Councilmember Keith Scully suggested future such decisions should rest with the hearing examiner to avoid council review. Councilmember Eben Pobee expressed concerns about livable space but ultimately supported the project. The project will create 19 additional housing units and require impact fees for transportation, fire, and parks.
- Ordinance No. 1037 – Business License Threshold: Christy Hopkins and Johanna Miller presented the ordinance amending Shoreline Municipal Code Chapter 5.05. The Association of Washington Cities (AWC) increased the minimum threshold for requiring a business license from $2,000 to $4,000. The proposed ordinance adopts this new threshold effective January 1, 2026, with future adjustments based on CPI-U Western (capped at 5% per year, maximum 20% every four years). Revenue decrease is anticipated to be less than $10,000 annually. Councilmember Scully questioned whether a higher threshold (e.g., $50,000-$100,000) would reduce red tape; staff noted the value of tracking economic activity. Councilmember Betsy Robertson supported the data-gathering aspect. Mayor Roberts noted the $40 business license fee has not changed since 2009 and suggested a cost recovery review. Deputy Mayor Laura Mork supported updating fees with inflation. The ordinance is scheduled to return on the consent calendar.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous approval (7-0) of Preliminary Formal Subdivision PLN23-0107, subject to 17 conditions in Attachment A.
- Discussion concluded on Ordinance No. 1037; it will be brought back on the consent calendar at a future meeting.
- Other: Councilmember Scully advocated for eliminating council review of hearing examiner decisions. Staff will evaluate increasing the $40 business license fee to recover costs.
The meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I now call to order the Shoreline City Council regular meeting for Monday, September 15th, 2025. Will you please join me in the flag salute? Thank you. Will the clerk please call the roll? Mayor Roberts. Here. Deputy Mayor Mark. Present. Councilmember Ramsdale. Present. Councilmember's Gully. Present. Councilmember Adamasu. Present. Councilmember Poby. Councilmember Robertson. Here. Thank you. On behalf of the Shoreline City Council, I proclaim September 15th through October 15th, 2025 as Hispanic Heritage Month in the City of Shoreline, and encourage all community members to find ways to honor uh Latin heritage throughout the year. September 15th through 21st is diaper need awareness week. I'd like to encourage the residents of Shoreline to donate to diaper banks and drives and support organizations that collect and distribute diapers to families struggling with diaper need. And finally, September 17th through 23rd is Constitution Week, with Constitution Day being September 17th in the City of Shoreline. We ask our residents to reaffirm the ideals of the framers of the Constitution that they had in 1787 by vigilantly protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through this guardian of our liberties, remembering that lost rights may never be regained. The next item is approval of tonight's agenda. If there are no objections or comments, the agenda is adopted by unanimous consent. The uh next on the agenda is the report of the city manager, Mr. Ellington. Good evening, Council. I'm excited to share an important update on the 145th Street and I-5 interchange project. After 24 days of construction, the Northeast 145th Street and I-5 ramp will be reopening this Thursday, September 18th. Additionally, the roundabout on the west end of the I-5 overpass will be open and operational in a single lane configuration while construction continues in the area. This is a huge milestone for this project and improving overall mobility and safety in the corridor. The second roundabout on the east end is on track to open in early 2026. For more up-to-date project information, visit engage.shorelinewa.gov forward slash 145th corridor. Welcoming week is in full swing. Join us this Tuesday, September 16th for a button making for all event at the Shoreline Library. Design and create your own pinback buttons using the library's button machine. This is a drop-in program open to all ages.org. Visit our newest artist in residence, GG Silverman, during their open studio hours this Friday and Sunday. See their exposition artifacts from a future disaster during their residency. Learn more about the artists and the city's artists in residence program by visiting shorelinewa.gov forward slash art. And finally, just a couple of reminders. The Parks Recreation and Cultural Services Tree Board's next meeting is Thursday, September 25th at 7 p.m. 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. Are there any council reports this evening? Councilmember Adamasu. Thank you, Mayor.
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