Shoreline City Council Regular Meeting - September 28, 2026

The Shoreline City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, September 28, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Shoreline City Hall. Mayor Betsy Robertson presided, with Councilmembers Valerie Snider, Laura Mork, Keith Scully, Annette Ademasu, and Christopher Roberts present. Deputy Mayor Eben Pobee was excused by a 6-0 vote. The Council approved the consent calendar, adopted a sales and use tax ordinance for children and family services, approved a preliminary subdivision, and discussed multifamily composting and a home electrification grant.

Council Reports

• Mayor Robertson reported on a weeklong Sister Cities visit to Akropong, Ghana, describing it as a remarkable experience where the delegation built bridges, formed new friendships, and met with government leaders and local chiefs. A community presentation by the Shoreline Sister City Association is planned.
• Councilmember Snider reported attending the King County Child Sexual Awareness Conference, emphasizing the importance of believing children or victims when they come forward.

Consent Calendar

The Council approved the consent calendar by a 6-0 vote, including:

• Approval of Workshop Dinner Meeting Minutes of September 14, 2026
• Approval of Expenses and Payroll as of September 11, 2026, in the amount of $5,646,612.86
• Adoption of the 2027 Community Development Block Grant Funding and Contingency Plan and the 2027-2028 Human Services Funding Plan
• Authorization for the City Manager to enter into an agreement with DKS Associates for professional services in the amount of $416,953.80 for design of the NE 175th Street—5th Avenue NE to 15th Avenue NE Safety Improvement Project
• Authorization for the City Manager to execute the annual Microsoft Enterprise Licensing Agreement through third-party reseller CDW Government, LLC, in the amount of $132,208.04

Public Comments & Testimony

• Quang Vo, Shoreline property owner and resident, expressed frustration with contractor pricing under the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate (HEAR) Grant Program. He stated that an approved vendor on the city’s roster quoted over $17,000 for a heat pump installation, while he found an independent Mitsubishi Diamond-certified installer for $13,345. Because the program uses a closed roster of approved vendors, he was ineligible for the $2,500 rebate. He urged the Council to allow open competition and not let the grant money be squandered on a broken model.
• Kathleen Russell, representing Save Shoreline Trees, acknowledged the importance of balancing transportation needs with the preservation of mature trees. She noted that the tree community was surprised by the posting of tree removal notices on September 17 for the Sound Transit Stride 3 project on NE 145th Street, but appreciated that mitigation is planned: 21 of the 28 trees to be removed will be replaced and a fee in lieu will be paid into Shoreline’s restricted tree fund.
• Chad M., Shoreline resident, requested that the City adopt an algorithmic pricing ban ordinance similar to one recently enacted in Seattle. He expressed concern about grocery stores using AI in coordination with personal data to set dynamic prices, calling it “wrong, immoral, and should be illegal.”
• Norbert Steele, Shoreline resident, commented on declining public trust in institutions and expressed frustration that Save Shoreline Trees has been advocating for over a year for a one-to-one tree replacement policy without headway. He stated that planting replacement trees is “obviously the right thing to do” and urged the Council to act.

Discussion Items

Action on Ordinance No. 1070 – Authorizing a 0.01% Sales and Use Tax to Fund Services for Children and Families Joe Brandstatter, Administrative Services Director, presented the staff report. He explained that the Washington State Legislature authorized cities and counties in 2026 to impose a 0.01% sales and use tax to support eligible services for children, youth, and families. The tax is estimated to generate $130,000–$145,000 annually for Shoreline, increasing the local sales tax rate from 10.50% to 10.51% (approximately one cent on a $100 purchase). Proposed uses include approximately $100,000 annually for youth and teen mental health services and $30,000–$45,000 for rental assistance through HopeLink. If King County also adopts the tax, the county would collect the revenue in Shoreline unless the City adopts its own ordinance to retain the revenue locally. Councilmember Ademasu expressed full support, stating services for children and families are needed in Shoreline. Councilmember Scully stated that while the services are important, he believes the City already funds them and is not comfortable raising taxes simply because there is authority to do so, calling it “a shell game.” Councilmember Roberts also expressed concerns. The motion to adopt Ordinance No. 1070 carried 4-2 (Councilmembers Scully and Roberts opposed). Staff will notify the Department of Revenue by October 16, with collections to begin January 1, 2027.

Action on Preliminary Formal Subdivision No. PLN24-0009 – 45 Townhome Lots in North City Elise Keim, Planning Manager, presented the staff report for the proposal to divide eight existing parcels into 45 townhome lots in the North City neighborhood, zoned mixed-use residential 35. The project is vested under the 2024 development code, which required retention of 25% of significant trees after exempt trees were removed from calculation. The hearing examiner and staff recommended approval, subject to conditions detailed in the hearing examiner’s recommendation. Councilmember Snider questioned whether the project complies with the City’s tree code, expressing confusion about how the tree retention calculation works. Keim explained that each of the seven residential parcels allowed exempt removal of three trees (21 total), plus three from a prior exemption, for 24 exempt trees not subject to replacement requirements. Of the remaining 19 significant trees, 25% (rounded to five) were required to be retained; the remainder may be removed subject to replacement. Councilmember Ademasu expressed empathy for neighboring residents whose backyards will have townhomes towering over them and noted that the area needs more businesses and green space to support increasing density. Councilmember Scully welcomed that this is the last such quasi-judicial subdivision review for the Council, as the code has since changed. The motion to approve carried 5-1 (Councilmember Snider dissenting).

Discussion of Options to Increase Multifamily Compost Participation Sarah Bruemmer, Environmental Sustainability Coordinator, presented an overview of compost participation in Shoreline. She reported that while compost service is nearly universal among single-family customers (approximately 100% subscription, included with garbage service), multifamily participation has historically lagged but has increased from near zero in 2019 to approximately 20% in 2025. Business subscriptions average about 24%. The increase in multifamily participation is attributed to the City’s voluntary incentive program started in 2021, which used two FTEs for on-site education, provided free compost service for limited periods, supplied kitchen containers, and conducted contamination checks every three months. The State’s Organics Management Law will require compost service for businesses beginning January 1, 2026, and for single-family homes and more businesses by April 1, 2030. King County’s comprehensive solid waste management plan, due by the end of 2030, will include source separation requirements for new and remodeled multifamily properties. Bruemmer reviewed multiple policy approaches: maintaining and expanding voluntary participation, mandatory service requirements, mandatory source separation (prohibiting compostables from garbage), and a phased-in mandate. She noted that all mandatory options require substantial ongoing staffing and funding for education, enforcement, and contamination management, citing challenges in Boulder, Colorado, which experienced contamination rates high enough to divert compost loads to the landfill and had to pause enforcement. Staff recommended continuing the voluntary approach through the 2027–2028 biennium to allow coordination with the upcoming solid waste contract procurement (competitive bidding begins early 2027) and alignment with King County’s planning process. Councilmember Roberts expressed support for voluntary efforts but voiced concern that mandatory requirements could increase contamination rates and costs. Councilmember Ademasu indicated a preference for expanding the voluntary program with $50,000 in incentive funding and requested cost analysis for embedding composting infrastructure in multifamily construction. Councilmember Scully supported waiting for contract negotiations. Councilmember Mork requested tonnage data on actual diversion behavior and encouraged considering requirements for new construction to ensure convenient composting and recycling access, noting that regional landfill capacity is projected to be exhausted by 2040. Mayor Robertson emphasized improving diversion rates and suggested reviewing development codes to ensure adequate space for composting systems in multifamily properties.

Discussion of Ordinance No. 1071 – Budget Amendment for Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate Grant Sarah Bruemmer and Bethany Wolbrecht-Dunn presented the proposed amendment to the 2025–2026 Final Biennial Budget to accept a $600,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce for the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate (HEAR) Grant Program. The program, funded through the state’s Climate Commitment Act, expands the City’s existing Energize Shoreline program. No local match is required, and all funds must be expended by June 30, 2027. The grant will fund rebates for moderate-income households (estimated $6,000 per household), free heat pump installations for low-income households (80% of King County area median income or below), and free installations for approximately seven to ten licensed adult family homes. The existing Energize Shoreline program has supported 74 heat pump installations and 20 free low-income installations since 2022, with educational workshops reaching over 500 people. Councilmembers asked about the process for becoming an approved vendor: contractors must be Mitsubishi Diamond dealers and are scored on business practices, customer service, and industry experience; of 19 applicants for 2026, 15 were accepted. The City recommends but does not require homeowners to obtain three bids. Councilmember Ademasu questioned the $2,500 standard rebate amount versus the $6,000 moderate-income rebate and the vendor cap. Councilmember Snider raised questions about the timing of expenditures across different funding sources. No action was taken; the item is scheduled to return on October 12 for placement on the consent calendar.

Key Outcomes

• Deputy Mayor excused: Motion carried 6-0.
• Agenda approved: By unanimous consent.
• Consent Calendar approved: Motion carried 6-0.
• Ordinance No. 1070 adopted (0.01% sales and use tax for children and family services): Motion carried 4-2 (Councilmembers Scully and Roberts opposed). Collections to begin January 1, 2027.
• Preliminary Formal Subdivision PLN24-0009 approved (45 townhome lots): Motion carried 5-1 (Councilmember Snider dissenting). Approval subject to conditions in the hearing examiner’s recommendation.
• Multifamily compost discussion: No formal action taken. Council directed staff to continue the voluntary approach through the 2027–2028 biennium, develop options in conjunction with the solid waste contract procurement, and provide tonnage data. Potential code amendments for new construction will be considered.
• Ordinance No. 1071 (HEAR grant budget amendment): No action taken. The item is scheduled to return on October 12, 2026, for consent approval.