Shoreline City Council Regular Meeting - August 17, 2026

The Shoreline City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, August 17, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chamber at City Hall. The meeting was called to order by Councilmember Mork (Presiding Officer) due to the absence of Mayor Robertson and Deputy Mayor Povey for personal reasons. The agenda included approval of the consent calendar and action on Resolution No. 567 opposing two state ballot initiatives. Public comment focused on tree preservation in sidewalk projects and strong opposition to the anti-transgender initiatives.

Consent Calendar

• Adopted Ordinance No. 1064 authorizing eminent domain for the 175th Street Corridor Improvements Project Phase 1.
• Adopted Resolution No. 563 approving the Public Benefit Rating System open space classification for the GROW Property at 16034 Greenwood Avenue N.
• Adopted Resolution No. 566 approving the relocation plan and increasing purchasing authority for the 175th Street Corridor Phase 1 project.
• Authorized the City Manager to obligate $733,888 in Transportation Alternatives Grant funding for the Off-Corridor Bike Network and $7,000,000 in additional Move Ahead Washington funds for the 148th Street Non-Motorized Bridge Project.
• Authorized the City Manager to execute Amendment 1 to the Surface Water On-call Engineering contract with WSP USA, Inc. in the amount of $360,000.
• Authorized the City Manager to enter into an agreement with DOWL for professional design engineering services ($265,727) for the Westminster Way N Sidewalk Project.
• Authorized the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 9 to the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement with King County for purchase of open space through Conservation Futures Tax Levy Collections Grant Program.

The consent calendar was approved unanimously (5-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

General Public Comment (prior to consent calendar)

• Speakers Violet Kawaguchi, Ember, Bonnie Berry, Kathleen Russell, Janelle Kimmerling, Gwinevir Golstodter, A.J. Randall, Lake Buchanan, Lou, and others addressed the council.
• Several speakers expressed strong support for the council's stance on trans rights and urged passage of Resolution 567. They highlighted dangers of anti-trans initiatives, personal experiences of fleeing hostile states, and concerns about safety for trans individuals in Shoreline.
• Speakers from Save Shoreline Trees (Bonnie Berry, Kathleen Russell, Janelle Kimmerling) urged the council to consider preserving mature trees in the Westminster Way N Sidewalk Project. They requested tree appraisals before 30% design, use of pervious pavement to protect roots, and noted potential cost savings from avoiding stormwater infrastructure. They referenced past council member statements supporting tree preservation.
• A.J. Randall and Lake Buchanan (trans residents) called for more than just a resolution, requesting tangible support for trans refugees including housing, medical care, and food assistance. Lake Buchanan also described anti-trans violence nationally and referenced the UN genocide definition.

Public Comment on Resolution No. 567 (after staff presentation)

• Norbert Steele (Shoreline resident) called the resolution a "layup" but urged the council to go further in addressing discrimination and ICE activity in the area.
• Scott Menzies (Fortify Washington) thanked Councilmembers Roberts and Mork for proposing the resolution, expressed solidarity with trans siblings, and called the initiatives the "thin edge of the wedge." He presented additional petition signatures.
• Lake Buchanan again spoke, thanking Councilmember Roberts for the amendments and urging the council to keep pushing for more.
• Jamie Lee Blake (Edmonds resident, trans woman, mother of three) read from the initiative text, noting that under IL26-638 all girls playing sports would need a healthcare provider’s statement verifying sex, including genital inspections. She pointed out the policy has worked since 2007 and that the burden would fall hardest on marginalized girls, not just trans youth.
• Oliver Wolfe (North Seattle) challenged the myth that trans women have same physical performance as cis men, noting testosterone blockers lower levels significantly.
• Violet Kawaguchi (Shoreline resident, trans woman of color) criticized the initiative's pseudoscience, noted it would disproportionately affect athletes of color, and shared personal experiences of harassment in Shoreline.

Discussion Items

• Resolution No. 567 - Opposing Washington State Ballot Initiatives IL26-638 and IL26-001
  • Staff (Jim Hammond) presented the resolution and the two initiatives. IL26-638 would prohibit "biologically male" students from female sports and require medical verification; IL26-001 would roll back amendments to parental rights law, potentially exposing confidential student records.
  • Councilmember Roberts, co-sponsor, moved adoption of the resolution with his proposed amendments (which shortened and clarified language). The motion was seconded.
  • Councilmember Roberts spoke passionately about the need to protect trans youth and all students, noting that the initiatives would harm not just trans students but also girls and women of color who are questioned about their bodies. He emphasized that schools must remain safe spaces.
  • Councilmember Mork, co-sponsor, echoed support.
  • Councilmember Scully shared personal experiences with trans friends and his own daughter's gender questioning, noting the importance of safe spaces for all children. He called the sports initiative "1800s thinking."
  • Councilmember Adamasu expressed full support, opposing both initiatives as victimizing trans youth and endangering students who are not safe at home.
  • Councilmember Snyder highlighted the invasive nature of requiring medical evaluations, comparing it to the Larry Nassar abuse scandal, and stressed that parental rights initiatives undermine youth privacy.
  • All council members thanked the public for their testimony and expressed strong support for the resolution.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously (5-0).
• Resolution No. 567: Adopted unanimously (5-0) with Councilmember Roberts' amendments, placing the Shoreline City Council in opposition to Washington State Ballot Initiative IL26-638 (athletics participation) and IL26-001 (parental rights). The resolution will be publicized on the city website and newsletter.
• The meeting adjourned after the vote.