Shoreline City Council Regular Meeting – February 9, 2026

The Shoreline City Council met on Monday, February 9, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall. The meeting included a proclamation of Black History Month, city manager and council reports, public comments on multiple topics, approval of a consent calendar, and a study session on the 2026 Comprehensive Plan Docket. No votes were taken on the docket; council consensus directed that all six proposed amendments be placed on the February 23 consent calendar for approval.

Proclamation

• Mayor Robertson proclaimed February as Black History Month in Shoreline and encouraged residents to learn about Black history, contributions, and achievements.

Reports

• City Manager Bristol Ellington announced the opening of the 2026 Salary Commission application (deadline March 6), upcoming community workshops on light rail station subarea plans, facility closures for Presidents Day, and future meeting dates.
• Council Reports: Councilmember Roberts attended the AWC Nominating Committee and was appointed to the NLC Finance Committee; Councilmember Ademasu attended the Sound Cities Association appointee orientation; Deputy Mayor Pobee attended a NUHSA strategic meeting and the SeaShore Transportation Forum focused on World Cup planning; Councilmember Mork attended a Regional Water Quality Committee meeting and was appointed to the NLC Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee; Mayor Robertson noted events including Bella’s Voice grand opening and Edwin T. Pratt Day of Remembrance, and invited participation in the Friends of ShoreLights committee.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously approved (7-0) the following items:
  • Regular meeting minutes of January 5, 2026.
  • Approval of expenses and payroll as of January 23, 2026, in the amount of $7,391,218.19.
  • Adoption of Ordinance No. 1048 amending Municipal Code Chapter 15.20 to add two landmarks to the Landmark Preservation Code.
  • Authorizing the City Manager to execute Addendum No. 6 to the wastewater treatment agreement with Edmonds.
  • Authorizing Amendment 9 to Contract 9582 with TCF Architecture, PLLC for the Ballinger Maintenance Facility Project in the amount of $60,000.

Public Comments & Testimony

21 individuals signed up to speak. The council unanimously voted (7-0) to suspend public comment rules and allow each speaker two minutes.

On Amendment 5 (rezoning 11th Avenue NW) and Amendment 6 (Neighborhood Greenways Program):

• Rachel Weber supported Amendment 6, stating greenways are a cost-effective way to increase non-car transportation and provide safe routes for cyclists and pedestrians.
• Troy Lager (resident) asked council to support Amendment 5 to rezone 11th Avenue NW to NR3, citing concerns about overdevelopment on a narrow, 20‑foot‑wide dead-end street with limited parking.
• Melania Mast echoed similar concerns about traffic safety, parking, and emergency vehicle access under higher density.
• Todd Greenwood emphasized safety issues on 190th Street and the need for sidewalks.
• Neil Woods noted that almost all of the dead-end street is outside the half‑mile transit radius, and that the street lacks practical transit access.
• Oliver Moffat supported the greenways proposal, requesting the city use quick‑build techniques to convert low‑traffic streets into a network of neighborhood greenways.
• Boni Biery supported adding greenery to the closed gas station property at SW corner of N 185th & Aurora, and asked for pedestrian‑friendly improvements on Firlands Way.
• Janet Way agreed about Firlands Way and greenways, but asked for clearer definition of what “greenway” means for the public.

On immigrant protections (Fortify! Washington resolution – not an agenda item):

• Nicole Solano, Noah Williams (Transit Riders Union), Barbara Goldoftas, Caryn Woodward, Rick McClurg, Norbert Steele, Colleen McDonald, Spencer Ponte, Sanjay Battan, Matthew DeAngelis, Scott Menzies, and Gabriel Sneed all urged the council to agendize and pass a resolution supporting immigrant protections, describing fear in the community after recent federal actions. Several referenced neighbors or friends who had been detained. They asked for concrete actions from local government.
• Major Randall requested that law enforcement be held accountable and that the council take serious action to protect vulnerable community members.

Discussion Items

2026 Comprehensive Plan Docket (30-minute study item)

• Steve Szafran, Senior Planner, presented the six proposed amendments for staff’s 2026 work plan:
  1. Adopt the Surface Water Master Plan.
  2. Update the Town Center Subarea Plan (2025 carryover, expected completion 2027).
  3. Update the 145th Street Station Subarea Plan to include connectivity analysis (2025 carryover).
  4. Update the 185th Street Station Subarea Plan to include connectivity analysis and evaluate non‑residential land uses north of NE 185th (2025 carryover).
  5. Change the land use designation on 11th Avenue NW from NR2 to NR3 (privately initiated).
  6. Add a “Neighborhood Greenways” program to the Transportation Element (privately initiated).
• The Planning Commission recommended adding all six amendments to the final docket.
• Council discussion:
  • Councilmember Ademasu asked to use “privately initiated” instead of “citizen initiated” and supported Amendments 5 and 6, noting unique characteristics of the 11th Avenue block (narrow street, dead end, critical area).
  • Councilmember Roberts asked about the full scope of the 185th Subarea Plan update; staff confirmed it will focus on connectivity and extending the Planned Action Ordinance, but subarea boundaries and land uses are out of scope. He encouraged thinking about housing demand and building height feasibility.
  • Councilmember Scully supported both Amendments 5 and 6, stating there is no state mandate to rezone the entire block and that greenways offer a cheaper way to increase public space.
  • Councilmember Snider questioned the extended timeline for carryover amendments; staff explained the Town Center Plan was deferred and will not be completed until 2027 due to the once‑per‑year amendment cycle.
  • Councilmember Mork expressed support for studying all amendments.
  • Mayor Robertson noted council consensus to study all six items and placed approval of the docket on the February 23 consent calendar.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar approved unanimously (7‑0).
• Council consensus to study all six proposed amendments for the 2026 Comprehensive Plan Docket. Formal approval of the docket will be on the consent calendar of the February 23, 2026 meeting. No action was taken on the immigrant protection resolution; it was not on the agenda.