Shoreline City Council Regular Meeting - September 21, 2026

The Shoreline City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, September 21, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall. Temporary Presiding Officer Snider called the meeting to order. Four councilmembers were present (Snider, Mork, Scully, Roberts); three were excused (Mayor Robertson, Deputy Mayor Pobee, Councilmember Ademasu). The council approved the consent calendar, appointed a new planning commissioner, discussed the 2026 Resident Satisfaction Survey results, and reviewed the 2026 Development Code batch amendments. The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes of August 17, 2026: Approved by unanimous consent (4-0).
• Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Construction Contract with Clear Excavating, LLC in the Amount of $639,108.30 for the 10th Avenue NE Stormwater Improvements Project: Approved by unanimous consent (4-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Anthony Portugal (Shoreline resident) expressed opposition to the police drone first-response pilot program, warning of civil liberty and privacy violations and potential mission creep. He urged the council to end testing and further investment in drone programs.
• Iris Peters (Shoreline resident) recounted witnessing an ICE detention in the Meridian Park neighborhood and urged the council to push back against ICE activities. She praised ordinary citizens who intervened and called for official recognition of their actions.
• Lathan Weyne (Shoreline resident) shared that Lieutenant Michael Cooper of the Shoreline Fire Department had passed away.

Discussion Items

• 2026 Resident Satisfaction Survey Results: Communications Program Manager Eric Bratton introduced Jason Morado, Vice President and Director of Community Research at ETC Institute, who presented the survey findings. The survey received 891 responses (target 800) with a margin of error of ±3.3% at the 95% confidence level. Key findings included: residents have a very positive perception of Shoreline; overall satisfaction with city services is high; satisfaction increased in 57 of 71 areas since 2024 (including 26 areas with increases of 5% or more); the city outperforms national and regional averages in parks, police, stormwater, communications, and leadership; top priorities for the next two years are homelessness response, parks and recreation, human services, and police services. Councilmember Scully suggested adding LGBTQ identity to future surveys and requested searchable data by demographic groups. Mr. Morado confirmed crosstabs are available and a public-facing dashboard will be posted on the city website. Councilmember Roberts noted alignment with anecdotal input and the importance of sidewalk maintenance. Councilmember Mork asked about the survey timing (conducted in April–May) and environmental questions.
• Discussion of Ordinance No. 1072 – Amending the Unified Development Code for the 2026 Development Code Batch Amendments: Senior Planner Steve Szafran presented 15 proposed amendments covering daycare uses (aligning with 2025 state law requiring daycare allowed in all zones without special permits), subdivisions (allowing permit extensions tied to active building permits), building and site design (reducing fenestration requirements from 30% to 20%, clarifying that site design features cannot overlap, and specifying parking cannot encroach into side/rear setbacks), traffic-related changes (requiring traffic calming in commercial-to-residential transition areas, shifting traffic impact analysis from vehicle PM peak trips to person-based trips), and use table cleanup. Planning Commission recommended approval. Councilmembers asked clarifying questions about fenestration impacts, traffic impact analysis methodology, and specific code provisions. Staff explained the changes codify current practices and allow mitigation measures to reflect all modes of travel. Councilmembers indicated the amendments made sense and supported moving the item forward on the Consent Calendar.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to excuse absent councilmembers: Carried 4-0.
• Consent Calendar approval: Carried 4-0.
• Appointment of Janice Gedlund to the Shoreline Planning Commission: Carried 4-0. She will serve the remainder of Commissioner Lauren Hadley's term through March 31, 2028.
• The 2026 Development Code batch amendments (Ordinance No. 1072) will be placed on a future Consent Calendar for formal action.
• The 2026 Resident Satisfaction Survey results will be posted on the city website with a public dashboard; staff will consider adding LGBTQ identity options in future surveys and providing further crosstab data.