[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6346909,"mediaKeyId","2246312-62126400ad81c4b2f29c9ddfe41bdda4","parentId",2246312,"title","City Council approves several capital and facilities ordinances on unanimous third readings","audioSeconds",326,"startMs",2721000,"endMs",3047000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246312-62126400ad81c4b2f29c9ddfe41bdda4&start=2721&end=3047","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246312-62126400ad81c4b2f29c9ddfe41bdda4/thumbnail_2721000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6346909/Everett/Snohomish-County/Washington/City-Council-approves-several-capital-and-facilities-ordinances-on-unanimous-third-readings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346909-fd6594e8772ebefa8492e0fe2b59f0a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771044579&Signature=Xgqx6NOHqPPq1HRkHiPBxK2tfTXSGVK-Hy3CdkbUpOeXtymlAVsBHuJAN9KS3RE7jVJwbFgAS~u3tgce5izAufau0V6FWigLlSGPBXyBy~ZC7yeog6FYFyVMQmgp7fEfuG-yE0A-QIQtffQxB7zKt69CwhZhf~ikKMTRGrbjiyBy-1XogCl0yHWZ36u2lHyauIb55NVgJEHA6HvUGc3jje9FpE435c~lYE2eceWHTJUggyAkw~UeC4HXzygnJmdAmZCrXO4i6uP5ESBnLwfwn7n2crzd4mJXqmUbnuiXAEEJKN9cnXczScZPaCbB~NlednaR3~yUs15QR93u3ioSkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Everett City, WA","date","2025-02-07T08:30:30.703Z","article","The Everett City Council voted unanimously on Feb. 5 to approve a series of third-and-final-reading ordinances related to capital projects, park renovations and facility improvements.

Clerks called the roll after motions and seconds for each measure. The measures approved on third and final reading included ordinances described on the agenda as amendments or closures to special improvement projects and creation of new projects. The council recorded unanimous “yes” votes in roll calls for each item recorded on the Feb. 5 agenda.

Votes at a glance (items listed on the Feb. 5 agenda and acted on at that meeting):

- Council Bill 2,500-1-1 — Adopt ordinance amending ordinance 3,900 and 820 (Fire Training Center Project) to accumulate design costs for the project. Motion moved (mover not specified); Council Member Ryan seconded. Roll call: Vice President Zarlingo — yes; Council Member Bader — yes; Council Member Rhine — yes; Council Member Vogel — yes; Council Member Toohey — yes; President Schwab — yes. Outcome: approved (third and final reading).

- Council Bill 2,500-1-2 — Adopt ordinance closing special improvement project Lowell Riverfront Park Renovation (established by ordinance 3,899-22). Motion moved (mover not specified); seconded. Roll call recorded unanimous yeses. Outcome: approved (third and final reading).

- Council Bill 2,500-1-3 — Amend ordinance (Parks restrooms renovation project) to accumulate all costs for the project. Motion moved (mover not specified); seconded. Roll call recorded unanimous yeses. Outcome: approved (third and final reading).

- Council Bill 2,500-1-4 — Create special improvement project Port Gardner Storage Facility and repeal ordinance 3,800-16-21. Motion moved (mover not specified); seconded. Roll call recorded unanimous yeses. Outcome: approved (third and final reading).

- Council Bill 2,500-1-5 — Close special improvement project Williams Hollow Playground Replacement (established by ordinance 3,950-1-23). Motion moved (mover not specified); seconded. Roll call recorded unanimous yeses. Outcome: approved (third and final reading).

- Council Bill 2,500-1-6 — Create a special improvement project entitled Water Pollution Control Facility combined conveyance improvements and repeal ordinance 3,880-1-22. Motion moved (mover not specified); seconded. Roll call recorded unanimous yeses. Outcome: approved (third and final reading).

- Council Bill 2,500-1-7 — Create special improvement project Edgewater Creek Bridge Replacement and repeal ordinance 4,000-2-24 (agenda item titled Edgewater Creek Bridal Replacement). Motion moved (mover not specified); seconded. Roll call recorded unanimous yeses. Outcome: approved (third and final reading).

The council also approved five consent agenda items (items 1–5) by unanimous roll call earlier in the meeting. Proposed action items numbered 13–15 were listed for future consideration; their third and final readings were scheduled for Feb. 12.

The council did not debate amendments on the record for these measures at the Feb. 5 meeting; each item was presented as a third-and-final-reading ordinance and passed by roll-call vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Everett City Council Meeting: Feb. 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","On Feb. 5 the Everett City Council unanimously approved a series of third-and-final-reading ordinances to amend or close several special improvement projects and to create new projects for city facilities and park work; multiple consent items also passed.","taxTitle","Everett, Snohomish County, Washington","taxId",2974,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6346914,"Neighbors ask council to shrink Drew Nielsen Park scope and prioritize crosswalk improvements at 13th and Colby",1116,1270000,2386000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246312-62126400ad81c4b2f29c9ddfe41bdda4&start=1270&end=2386","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246312-62126400ad81c4b2f29c9ddfe41bdda4/thumbnail_1270000.jpg","/articles/6346914/Everett/Snohomish-County/Washington/Neighbors-ask-council-to-shrink-Drew-Nielsen-Park-scope-and-prioritize-crosswalk-improvements-at-13th-and-Colby","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346914-0f8fa82c81ba591f44a29820a042cb7c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771044579&Signature=ckzOqcDqWTsVQ8UNRO~cfyG4emaMM8Ervdq4MapG0i1IY~fIpMCMz320d07x3MhWMBz2qhWG0EX5rPUZEi6dSUWSvmIrNkzit8A7htv~AC2cVQu2gixgACOfgauIUDeIAtqWmb9V~RQqUxbyDKyjoMn-Tq3bZCFaU6mzZxvZTExY63XU56bQqwnnH5nflSnLTIriWcAJLErLdlVHLzEe05N4v3gTSF5UpfE22eqelZGwlr0ESwLYYOuJKngYibwVySaezLTX1nyueTITM2AOZffL2VTxZ7GNO--CBkkCh~oWForuaN39vx1XJw9b2t1I9jHj28n5p83rV3JwnY4AkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Neighbors and a nearby resident who has volunteered in Drew Nielsen Park urged the City Council to reduce the size and cost of the park renovation in order to reallocate funds to a crosswalk at 13th and Colby.

Holly James, who lives adjacent to the park and said she led a neighborhood effort that spent about $20,000 on a native-plant display garden, asked council to “change the plan to reduce the cost and the footprint” and suggested reducing the number of swings from five to two and keeping work within the existing footprint. She asked the council to “redirect funds to build an enhanced crosswalk at Thirteenth And Colby to increase public safety getting to the park,” noting neighbors have sought crosswalk improvements there for 15 years.

Parks and Facilities Director Bob Leonard said the department conducted what he described as “a more robust community engagement process than we've gone through for a lot of our other playgrounds.” He said staff believed the presented design reflected neighborhood input but acknowledged not everyone was satisfied and that the department conducted a second round of engagement in response.

Council members asked whether park funds can be reallocated to street work. Leonard said he would check with Finance but expected those park-designated funds could not easily be shifted to road projects: “This is money that has been set aside for park projects, not for road projects,” he said.

Council President Schwab noted that public-works staff are working with Providence Swedish and that the hospital has verbally agreed to purchase a rapid rectangular flashing beacon for the Colby crosswalk; public-works would perform engineering and streets staff would handle sidewalk and ADA improvements. The mayor’s office and staff said the crosswalk work was on a plan to restart conversations with Providence.

Council Member Ryan asked for an update at the next meeting on community outreach, project scheduling and traffic timelines. Leonard and administration staff indicated the project has returned to the council after community engagement and that schedule and funding decisions reflect established park-funding categories.

The council did not vote on the park ordinance at this meeting; third reading on Drew Nielsen Park was scheduled for the next meeting.","Residents asked the council to reduce the planned footprint and cost of the Drew Nielsen Park renovation and to prioritize a safety-enhanced crosswalk at 13th and Colby; Parks Director Bob Leonard said the project used an extensive engagement process and funding is designated for park work.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6346919,"Supporters ask council to defend voter-approved initiative after developer lawsuit filed",182,1079000,1261000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246312-62126400ad81c4b2f29c9ddfe41bdda4&start=1079&end=1261","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246312-62126400ad81c4b2f29c9ddfe41bdda4/thumbnail_1079000.jpg","/articles/6346919/Everett/Snohomish-County/Washington/Supporters-ask-council-to-defend-voter-approved-initiative-after-developer-lawsuit-filed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346919-4ab06d67ef06567237a03c1d63e417d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771044579&Signature=owBqfx6zn284F~XNIG1Rr8Lu9bxQH3FibPwmJQkSAjl1PBTDUIRGnPoQOcOSGAKNw4GfPPJoeaS3k~yZazICyoN~eI1bD4ykmZcttLJPPEawMtuLTIc9Y4AlX1MtFOWPlCX588Y71AkFe62KxaI~2o~ay9K79BiFAtWp23EXl-ZgTpZokcDRQd0CXlQ-reBITtgbClKwxEO~bqpoVxboEANECunwcTtirj5O3AIdvCYPCdzy5gLiRAhbn~0sWFnIAr34o5Ic45StBcoAtvp71mpZP-FtzM~4BVvPui5nIzLmA2AV5zFtmMIa62yuWqPe5Of51TYK~0AqYk9-QVfsqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Abby Ludwig, executive director of Standing for Washington, told the council on Feb. 5 that a lawsuit filed Jan. 28, 2025 by the Master Builders Association and other parties seeks to overturn Everett Initiative 2403, a voter-approved ordinance intended to protect the Snohomish River watershed.

Ludwig said the initiative passed with voter support—57% in an election with 74% turnout—and that the ordinance includes a preemption clause acknowledging state law would take precedence in any direct conflict. “This is a clear mandate and we hope the city shares our commitment to uphold the will of the voters,” Ludwig said. She said legal experts who worked on the Spokane initiative case reviewed the drafting for Everett’s initiative.

Ludwig noted the lawsuit argues the ordinance conflicts with state law; she said Standing for Washington carefully considered precedent and remains confident the ordinance will withstand challenge. She also said the ordinance creates a private cause of action allowing residents and the city to seek legal remedies to prevent environmental harm.

Standing for Washington said it has been in contact with the city attorney’s office and offered to intervene in the case if needed. The city attorney’s office was noted as reviewing the group's legal analysis; no formal city decision to intervene or a city-council vote on a defense strategy was recorded at this meeting.

Council members acknowledged the comment but did not take immediate action. The public-comment presentation and follow-up emails with the city attorney’s office were the only items reported on the record regarding this lawsuit at the Feb. 5 meeting.","Representatives of Standing for Washington told the Everett City Council a lawsuit filed by the Master Builders Association and developer interests seeks to overturn Initiative 2403, a voter-approved ordinance protecting the Snohomish River watershed, and asked the city to defend the measure.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6346926,"Residents and service users urge city to exempt Hope and Wellness from code enforcement",847,225000,1072000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246312-62126400ad81c4b2f29c9ddfe41bdda4&start=225&end=1072","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246312-62126400ad81c4b2f29c9ddfe41bdda4/thumbnail_225000.jpg","/articles/6346926/Everett/Snohomish-County/Washington/Residents-and-service-users-urge-city-to-exempt-Hope-and-Wellness-from-code-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346926-ee025815f3a04b57ce57fbe6d9f5853b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771044579&Signature=blsAE2MvwwiOs3b1MWRjtGm-mk1VtYaKbsqCLaBS8w~DHFxjDmi8UWuURBP9L4AvK9htmRdsjMgfIxiwDh15o6kNxsRLHFB7gEz7RZtWcSFmYMn3GtogMTZGOSj27bd1DFd9u04pATa40wcEhorZjZk4UuFUg1Th6eQXpmqyaX4ZbKHi5MCWvw~HF54uMW21JU~Y132JUXhUOc6luJZfKtW8HdSKqC46zcZyiWw8kR0~WyU0p-sGllL9TEs6byi3lsPulixuGQgUwVclsGDJFtXIZ88AIfxCqHlrZXG-uUha5sJT29hXMBdEhxm-HjCdkJk9ub704NLcEI00eRFr7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several Everett residents and people who use the site urged the City Council on Feb. 5 to exempt Hope and Wellness from code enforcement actions and allow it to keep operating downtown.

Amy Heeb, a resident and homeowner in the Riverside neighborhood, told the council the city is enforcing code EMC 19 0 5 1 10 against Hope and Wellness while exempting other businesses in the past. “This is the same code provision that the city has exempted other similarly situated businesses from,” Heeb said. She argued the group’s services — open for five hours on one day per week at the time of her remarks — meet a “higher good” that can justify exceptions to strict code compliance.

The point was echoed in public comment by Julie Zender of the Bayside neighborhood and others who said closing Hope and Wellness would remove one of the few local options for unhoused people. “Hope and Wellness is providing needed services for our city and shutting them down in the name of code enforcement does not help anyone,” Zender said.

Several speakers described the organization as more than a drop-in site. John Klosterman said he worries that removing the site could lead to deaths: “If Hope and Wellness isn't where they are now, someone may very well die.” Scott Sparling said more than 1,500 people used Hope and Wellness last year and that 52% were referred from city- or county-funded agencies. He urged the council to grant a zoning-compliance exception: “They’re saving lives.”

Other commenters gave short, personal testimonials. Michelle Pendergrass read a letter from a service user who wrote, in part, “I love Hope and Wellness. You get treated like family.” Haley Kenville and other speakers described Hope and Wellness as a “safe haven” and “a place where we can be safe and warm and welcome,” and said it helps people access transportation, jobs and other services.

Council members acknowledged the comments and said outreach and a council committee are working with Hope and Wellness. Council Member Twohey said he is on a committee with Council Member Ryan that aims to find a solution “that will enable Hope and Wellness to be open and providing their much needed services on more days a week than what they are right now.” Council Member Ryan noted the cold snap and the county’s limited number of overnight shelters and said he would advocate to keep Hope and Wellness doors open longer while the committee works on alternatives.

The council did not take formal action on the record at this meeting to grant an exception. Public comment materials and council discussion indicate staff and council members are engaged in ongoing talks and a committee has been formed to explore options.

The council’s public-comment period included many personal appeals; the city’s staff and council said they will continue committee work and outreach to seek longer-term solutions.","Multiple residents and service users urged the Everett City Council to grant a zoning or code-compliance exception to Hope and Wellness, saying the organization provides vital services to people experiencing homelessness and that closing it would harm people with no alternatives.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City Council approves several capital and facilities ordinances on unanimous third readings

Neighbors ask council to shrink Drew Nielsen Park scope and prioritize crosswalk improvements at 13th and Colby

Supporters ask council to defend voter-approved initiative after developer lawsuit filed

Residents and service users urge city to exempt Hope and Wellness from code enforcement