Shoreline City Council Regular Meeting and Budget Hearings, November 2, 2026

On November 2, 2026, the Shoreline City Council held a regular meeting and continued deliberations on the 2027–2028 biennial budget. All seven councilmembers were present, with Mayor Robertson attending via Zoom. The Council adopted the agenda by unanimous consent and approved the consent calendar 7–0. Staff presented revenue and expenditure details and held two public hearings on the property tax levy, budget, capital improvement plan, impact fees, and fee schedules. No members of the public testified at either budget hearing. Councilmembers discussed several potential budget amendments and a 2025–2026 budget amendment; no formal votes on those amendments were recorded in the transcript.

City Manager and Council Reports

• City Manager Ellington reminded residents that Election Day was Tuesday, November 3, 2026, with ballot drop boxes at the Shoreline Library, Shoreline Park and Ride, and Shoreline College; ballots were due by 8 p.m. She also promoted the November 3 Shoreline Walks outing from 10 a.m. to noon at Bitter Lake Park, starting at St. Dunstan's Church on North 145th Street, designed for adults 50 and older but open to all ages and abilities.
• Councilmember Mork reported attending K4C, where possible changes to executive operations were discussed, and the AWC legislative priorities committee.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the consent calendar 7–0, authorizing the City Manager to execute a Local Agency Agreement with the Washington State Department of Transportation to obligate $4,400,000 in federal grant funds for the 15th Avenue NE Pavement Preservation Project.
• Adopted the agenda by unanimous consent with no objections.

Public Comments & Testimony

• The public comment period was limited to 30 minutes, with three speakers signed up and three minutes per speaker.
• Alice Darnton, regional manager for the Alder Region of the King County Library System, reported that the Richmond Beach Library had reopened after a five-week roof-replacement closure, though construction noise and disruption would continue for a few weeks; holds rerouted to Shoreline can again be picked up at Richmond Beach. She said the Shoreline Library now has two public 3D printers available by appointment, with classes for teens and adults, and that KCLS expanded hours at 48 of 50 locations, including Shoreline and Richmond Beach, to 10 a.m.–8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, adding four open hours per week.
• Lathan Wayne of Shoreline wished Mayor Robertson a speedy recovery and invited people to a client advisory council meeting, providing a contact name and phone number.
• No one testified during the public hearing on the 2027 property tax levy and other revenues.
• No one testified during the public hearing on the 2027–2028 proposed budget, 2027–2032 capital improvement plan, 2027 impact fee schedules, and 2027 fee schedules; one previously signed speaker, Jack Malik, declined to speak.

Discussion Items

• 2027–2028 revenue and property tax levy (Ordinance No. 1068). Administrative Services Director and Budget and Tax Manager Christy Hopkins presented the fourth budget discussion. Staff estimated total resources at about $446.6 million, with 29% from taxes, 22% from charges for goods and services, and 15% from intergovernmental revenues; about 15.7% of fund balance would be used for one-time project expenditures. General fund revenue was estimated at about $138.8 million, with property tax at 40%, sales tax about 20%, and utility tax 8%. Staff estimated 2027 property tax at about $27.35 million, including new construction and refunds, with an estimated levy rate of $1.63; the excess park levy was estimated at about $2.95 million for 2027. The 2022 levy lid lift allows property tax growth by CPI; staff cited a 4.5% figure and a 3% figure for 2027, plus new construction and refunds. Sales tax was projected at about $28.2 million for the biennium, a 1.6% increase in 2027 and 0.8% in 2028. Staff recommended Ordinance No. 1068 return on the November 16 consent agenda.
• Council discussion included Councilmember Mork asking about wastewater fee revenue increases of 18.7% in 2027 and 4.7% in 2028; staff said the slide showed utility-tax revenue rather than rates, that 2026 estimates were low, and that staff was analyzing the 6% utility-tax growth and whether utility tax could be adjusted without changing revenue collected. Another councilmember asked about the surface water rate increase from 4.9% to 8.5% for 2028–2030; staff said it came from the 2025 rate study and master plan and enterprise-fund needs including capital, debt service, and operations. Mayor Robertson asked about real estate excise tax projections; staff said REET was projected down 16.8% in 2027 and up 6% in 2028, tracking about 10% below the September year-to-date budget at around $2.5 million, due to slower sales and high interest rates, and that staff budgeted conservatively using Puget Sound, King County, and Seattle forecasts.
• 2027–2028 budget, capital improvement plan, impact fees, and fee schedules (Ordinances Nos. 1067 and 1069; Resolution No. 568). Staff presented a total budget of $434.3 million, with 38% for city services and 30% for capital funds. Operating expenditures were about $165.6 million, including 29% for public safety and 26% for support services. The capital fund budget was 80% transportation, 20% facilities and parks, and less than 1% facilities major maintenance. Surface water expenditures were $36.8 million, with 47% for capital projects and 27% for planning and operations; wastewater expenditures were about $79 million, with 57% for maintenance and 24% for capital projects. Fee schedules generally increase by June-to-June CPI of 4.53% for 2027; impact fees increase by the Seattle-area construction cost index of 0.39% for 2027. Staff presented a 75% permit cost-recovery option to phase in over four years, convert hourly rates to flat fees, and streamline revisions, with an average overall adjustment of 11.83% across all fees.
• Councilmember Scully asked whether the Shoreline Business Center and Storage Court remained revenue neutral; staff said both were budgeted revenue neutral for 2027–2028, with a separate 2025–2026 amendment for Storage Court. Councilmember Adamasu expressed support for the 75% permit cost recovery and suggested staff consider a lower-cost boilerplate street vacation permit for small-business events. She proposed four amendments: $250,000 in seed money for permanently affordable homeownership through middle housing; retaining the current $3,325 fee for authorized removal of significant trees 24 inches DBH and greater and deferring fee changes to the tree code update; $100,000 for Dale Turner YMCA holiday basket gift cards; and $2,000 for compostable to-go containers and utensils for struggling small businesses. Councilmember Roberts raised concerns about long-term budget sustainability and asked about limited-term positions; staff said the ending fund balance before council amendments was projected at about $16.8 million, or 24%, within the 20–25% target but advised caution due to challenging forecasts and a pending levy lid lift. Staff also said limited-term positions such as an HR analyst may have a smaller candidate pool than ongoing positions. Councilmember Scully clarified support for the $250,000 affordable-housing seed set-aside as a property-purchase reserve and stated opposition to the 75% permit cost recovery. Deputy Mayor Povey said she had considered amendments for drinking fountains at two parks but did not advance them due to budget tightness. Staff clarified that street vacations eliminate right-of-way and differ from temporary street closures. Staff said Ordinance No. 1069 and the fee schedule resolution would return November 16, with a council amendment on the fee schedule. Mayor Robertson also asked about the $3 million fund-balance set-aside and the approximately $17 million debt-service decrease; staff said the set-aside was not a cut and the decrease was tied to bond defeasance.
• 2025–2026 final biennial budget amendment (Ordinance No. 1066). Staff presented an amendment increasing appropriations by $5.3 million in expenditures and $4.7 million in transfers out, funded by $0.8 million in revenue, $4.7 million in transfers in, and $4.5 million in accumulated fund balance. The projected 2026 ending fund balance was $14.5 million, about 22% of general fund expenditures and within the 20–25% target. Ordinance No. 1066 was scheduled for action on the November 16 consent agenda. Councilmember Adamasu initially requested that Ordinance No. 1066 not be placed on consent in order to add $50,000 for Dale Turner YMCA holiday basket gift cards for 2026; staff said fund balance and budget authority allowed the contribution without an amendment. Councilmember Snyder proposed increasing it to $55,000, a 10% increase, citing food insecurity, federal funding losses, and SNAP benefit losses; staff indicated authority existed if that was Council direction. Councilmember Snyder also proposed $500 for a new Shoreline flag; staff said a citywide flag process was already on the work plan for next year and could not be completed before year-end.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the consent calendar 7–0, including the $4,400,000 WSDOT local agency agreement for the 15th Avenue NE Pavement Preservation Project.
• Held both budget public hearings; no public testimony was offered at either.
• Staff planned to return November 16 with Ordinance No. 1068 for the property tax levy and revenues on consent; Ordinance No. 1067 for the 2027–2028 budget and capital improvement plan, Ordinance No. 1069 for impact fees, and Resolution No. 568 for fee schedules for action, with the fee schedule amendment.
• Council discussed but did not vote on proposed 2027–2028 budget amendments: $250,000 affordable homeownership seed funding; retaining the $3,325 significant-tree removal fee and deferring changes to the tree code update; $100,000 for YMCA holiday gift cards; and $2,000 for compostable to-go containers. Additional amendments were due by Thursday close of business before the November 16 adoption.
• Ordinance No. 1066 for the 2025–2026 final budget amendment was scheduled for November 16 consent. Council discussion indicated support for a 2026 YMCA holiday basket contribution, with Councilmember Adamasu requesting $50,000 and Councilmember Snyder proposing $55,000; no formal vote on the amount was recorded in the transcript.
• Staff reported projected ending fund balances of $14.5 million for 2026, about 22% of general fund expenditures, and $16.8 million for 2027–2028 before council amendments, about 24%, both within the 20–25% target, while advising caution about future budget forecasts.