Shoreline City Council Regular Meeting - November 17, 2025

The Shoreline City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, November 17, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber. The meeting covered routine approvals, adoption of the mid-biennial budget amendment with six additional council amendments, and a study item proposing updates to the Employee Handbook. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

• Approved by a 7-0 vote. Items included:
  • Approval of meeting minutes from October 6, 13, and 27, 2025.
  • Adoption of Ordinance No. 1041 (2026 Property Tax Levy).
  • Adoption of Ordinance No. 1042 (2026 Impact Fee Schedule).
  • Adoption of Resolution No. 548 (2026 Fee Schedule).
  • Authorization to execute an amendment to the agreement with the South Correctional Entity (SCORE) Jail for jail services.
  • Assumption of the Multi-Family Housing Limited Property Tax Exemption Contract by Postmark Apartments, LLC.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Gordon Black, North Sound Bicycle Advocates board member, expressed full support for protected bike lanes on N 200th Street after earlier reservations, and offered input on the pilot project.
• Marita Rabbitt, Shoreline homeowner, criticized the significant tree removal fee as punitive, citing a $6,900 fee for a hazardous redwood 10 feet from her home. She urged the council to update the tree code to balance canopy protection and homeowner safety.
• Lucy Pyeatt, Hopelink Director of Financial and Education Programs, supported Amendment #5 for additional utility and rental assistance. She reported that in the past four months, an average of 130 Shoreline households requested assistance each month, with requests in the first two weeks of November already 70% of that average.
• Heidi Shepherd, NUHSA President, supported Amendment #6 providing $50,000 for food assistance cards at Safeway, noting the recent restoration of SNAP benefits and ongoing food insecurity.
• Stevie Burklett, Mountlake Terrace, expressed gratitude for the ShoreLights winter lighting event, saying it fostered a sense of community.

Action Items

• Ordinance No. 1040 – 2025-2026 Mid-Biennial Budget Amendment and CIP Update (30 minutes):
  • Administrative Services Director Joseph Brandstatter and Budget & Tax Manager Christy Hopkins presented. The budget process began in June, and the city is in a strong fiscal position to consider proposed amendments.
  • Councilmember Scully asked about the impact of approving all six proposed amendments. Mr. Brandstatter responded that the fund balance would remain within the target range of 20–25% of expenditures, and the amendments do not significantly move the needle.
  • Deputy Mayor Mork asked about tracking capital project funds that cannot be spent in this biennium. Ms. Hopkins explained the funds would be carried forward into the next biennium.
  • A motion to adopt Ordinance No. 1040 as presented passed 7-0.
  • A subsequent motion to adopt Amendments #1 through #6 (one-time expenditures) also passed 7-0.

Study Items

• Resolution No. 555 – Amending the Employee Handbook (30 minutes):
  • Human Resources Director Livy Smith Yueh presented updates driven by 14 state laws, two federal laws, and housekeeping edits. Changes include bidirectional accountability for hybrid work, mature talent management, and compliance updates.
  • Mayor Roberts asked about the inconsistent use of “regular employee” vs. “city employee.” Ms. Yueh pointed to definitions on page 9a-113 for employment status. Mayor Roberts noted a preference for “benefits eligible” instead of “regular.”
  • The resolution will return on the consent calendar on December 1, 2025.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar passed unanimously (7-0).
• Ordinance No. 1040 (budget adoption) passed unanimously (7-0).
• Amendments 1–6 passed unanimously (7-0).
• Resolution No. 555 (Employee Handbook) will be considered on consent at the December 1, 2025 meeting.
• Meeting adjourned at 7:34 p.m.