Stanwood City Council Regular Meeting - September 24, 2026

The Stanwood City Council held its regular meeting on September 24, 2026, at the Stanwood-Camano School District Administration Building. The meeting featured extensive public comment on the city's Flock automated license plate reader cameras, a public hearing and final adoption of two zoning and licensing ordinances, a preliminary assessment for a potential uptown park, and a discussion on a proposed gateway structure for the west end. The consent calendar was approved, and several council committee reports were accepted.

Consent Calendar

• Approved vouchers and payroll.
• Approved the September 10, 2026, City Council meeting minutes (Councilmember Galvin noted a minor error but the minutes were approved).
• Approved a Storefront Improvement Program application for The Feathered Nest.

Public Comments & Testimony

Public comments were dominated by the topic of Flock cameras, with a mix of positions:

• Tim Smith (Stanwood resident) expressed support for Flock, arguing that critics lack logical consistency, that state laws and local protocols prevent abuse, and that no documented local abuse exists. He characterized opponents as unwilling to compromise.
• A speaker (likely Mary Ellen Monte, identified as 'him and one minute' in transcript) read from Flock's patents, arguing the system is designed for broader surveillance of people, not just license plates, and warned of false positives and future misuse.
• Tony Lopez (Camano Island) argued that violent crime is historically low, questioned the cost-effectiveness (101,000 plates tracked vs. 61 hotlist matches), and called the privacy infringement unjustified.
• Carl Nystrom (Stanwood) raised concerns about microwave antennas on water towers and a buried munitions depot contaminating the water supply; he also criticized the cost of Flock.
• Brynn Geyer (Camano Island) urged termination of the Flock contract, citing privacy violations, warrantless tracking, and the risk of data sharing across jurisdictions.
• A female speaker (unidentified) shared a personal story of being stalked and argued that Flock could be misused for stalking, asking council to consider the value of peace of mind.
• During closing comments, a speaker (likely Mary Ellen Monte again) noted that the city of Mount Vernon voted unanimously the previous night to end their Flock contract and submitted a petition with over 400 signatures.
• Another closing speaker (Tim Smith again) defended Flock, claiming critics lack local evidence, that privacy concerns are inconsistent with acceptance of private surveillance (e.g., QFC parking lot), and that removal would harm public safety.

Public Hearing & New Business

Continuation of Public Hearing and Adoption of Ordinances 1564 and 1565: Director Patricia Love presented the final version of the Permitted Use Matrix and Development Standards (Ordinance 1564) and the Adult Entertainment Business License requirements (Ordinance 1565). Key changes included restricting drive-throughs, gas stations, and auto sales along the Twin City Mile to maintain pedestrian-friendly character; expanding mini-storage definitions; removing hotel room caps; and monitoring ADU height limits (recommending keeping 24 feet for now). Council discussed non-conforming uses for existing businesses in the corridor. Councilmember Rob supported Option 1 (applying the restrictions to the entire main street), and Councilmember Shepro also favored it. Councilmember Galvin suggested delaying a proposal to allow small data centers (under 2 MW) until further review. Both ordinances were passed unanimously on third reading? (Second reading and adoption).

Uptown Park Preliminary Assessment: Director Love presented a white paper assessing the feasibility of a new park in the Uptown area. The report identified potential parcels (1-2 acres, 2-5 acres, 5+ acres), reviewed existing park types and current facilities (Lyons Park, Church Creek Park, HOA parks, schools, YMCA), and estimated land costs ($1.3M-$4M) plus construction ($5M-$13M). Staff recommended not including a specific park in the 2027-2028 CIP but rather holding a workshop in early 2027 to define needs and explore partnerships.

West End Gateway Structure: Director Love described a proposed gateway sign for the west end of the Twin City Mile, consisting of two poles with city logos and cross banners. The lowest bid from Raptor Excavating and Contracting was $95,875.57, nearly double the original $50,000 budget. Several council members (Bergman, Wheatley, Rob) expressed strong dissatisfaction with the design and cost. Councilmember Rob moved to reject all bids and send the project back to the Community Development Committee for additional discussion. The motion carried.

Key Outcomes

• Ordinance 1564 (Permitted Use Matrix & Development Standards) was approved on second reading and adopted unanimously.
• Ordinance 1565 (Adult Entertainment Business License) was approved on second reading and adopted unanimously.
• The West End Gateway Structure project: All bids were rejected, and the item was referred back to the Community Development Committee for redesign and further discussion.
• The Uptown Park discussion will proceed with a workshop in early 2027; council directed staff to continue assessment for potential inclusion in the 2029-2030 CIP process (motion by Councilmember Rob, seconded by Hicks, passed unanimously).
• The council acknowledged receipt of a petition against Flock cameras (over 400 signatures) and public comments, but no formal action was taken on the Flock contract.