Shoreline City Council Regular Meeting - October 5, 2026

The City Council of Shoreline held a regular meeting on October 5, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall, adjourning at 8:00 p.m. All seven council members were present. The primary focus was a study session discussion on the future of the city's scooter and bike share pilot program and public comments covering traffic enforcement, tree preservation, and transit equity. The consent calendar was approved unanimously.

Consent Calendar

• The Council unanimously approved the Consent Calendar (7-0), which included:
  • Ordinance No. 1072: Adopting amendments to the Unified Development Code as part of the 2026 Development Code Batch Amendments.
  • Memorandum of Agreement with King County: Authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement for Indigency Screening Services.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Nancy Malek (Shoreline Resident): Expressed concerns about the presence of traffic cameras in the city and the installation of electronic surveillance tags in grocery stores. She cited potential privacy violations, biometric data collection, surveillance pricing, and disparate impacts, requesting the city consider an ordinance prohibiting such tags.
• David Stygstra (Shoreline Resident): Expressed full support for making the Scooter and Bike Share program permanent. He highlighted that one-third of all trips are to or from a light rail station, 20% of riders utilize the reduced-fare Lime Access program, and the system provides critical last-mile connectivity. He recommended the city invest in improved bike infrastructure and designated parking corrals.
• Kathleen Russell (Shoreline Resident, Save Shoreline Trees): Reported that 118 significant trees are being removed for the Sound Transit NE 145th / SR 522 project (58 on the Shoreline side, 60 on the Seattle side), including large-diameter western red cedars and Douglas firs. She voiced strong concern that the tree community was not given advance notice of the removal, which began during the week of the meeting.
• Laethan Wene (Shoreline Resident): Urged the Council to continue the ORCA card support program, stating the program is a vital resource for himself and his friends.

Discussion Items

• Scooter and Bike Share Pilot Program
  • Staff Presentation: Alan Budde, Senior Transportation Planner, and Kendra Dedinsky, Transportation Manager, presented the evaluation. The pilot originated from the 2022 Climate Action Plan. Lime operates roughly 800 e-devices at peak season. Key ridership statistics include 162,000 rides in the last 12 months, a peak month of 24,000 rides in July, and 20% of trips utilizing the reduced-fare Lime Access program. A community survey of 383 respondents identified rider safety and improper parking as top concerns. Staff reported 80,000 kilograms of CO2 avoided and noted that one-third of all trips connect to light rail transit. The official staff recommendation is to continue the program.
  • Council Deliberation:
    • Support for Continuation: Councilmembers broadly supported making the program permanent, citing its popularity, transit connectivity, and environmental benefits.
    • Infrastructure Needs: Several Councilmembers stressed that the program's success is contingent on expanding protected bike lanes, noting funding constraints but urging making bike infrastructure a higher priority.
    • Speed Limits: Councilmember Ademasu proposed lowering the e-scooter speed limit from 15 mph to 12 mph, citing a Finland study that showed a 40% reduction in reported injuries. Staff indicated the city can regulate this and is willing to look into it.
    • Equity and Education: Councilmember Scully highlighted equity, as shared e-bikes are more accessible than privately owned ones, and suggested investing program revenue into school education, particularly for middle school students. Councilmember Ademasu questioned the safety of battery charging by subcontractors ("juicers") and requested user education campaigns.
    • Parking and Enforcement: Deputy Mayor Pobee and others discussed the persistent challenge of improper parking. Ideas included designated parking corrals, geofencing improvements, and exploring a citation system for improper parking. Staff noted that a competitive procurement process would likely be used to select a long-term vendor.
    • Necessary Evil Sentiment: A Councilmember described the program as a "necessary evil" due to sidewalk clutter and rider behavior issues but acknowledged the community's need for the service and supported its continuation with enhanced management.

Key Outcomes

• Directives to Staff: The Council reached a strong consensus to continue the scooter and bike share program. Staff was directed to:
  • Investigate lowering the e-scooter speed limit from 15 mph to 12 mph.
  • Research the safety protocols of Lime's subcontractors charging lithium-ion batteries.
  • Develop a framework for improved parking compliance, including potential penalties and dedicated parking corrals.
  • Prepare for a competitive vendor selection process for a long-term agreement.
  • Explore educational partnerships with local schools regarding safe e-vehicle use.
• Next Steps: The item was a study session. The discussion will inform future Council actions and the City Manager's preparation for a permanent program. The next regular City Council meeting was announced for October 12, 2026.