[{"_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",6334138,"mediaKeyId","2297831-f3e56d3c67517791b7cfd7c48a7ccdc6","parentId",2297831,"title","Staff warns state bills could shift permitting for shelters and permanent supportive housing to administrative process","audioSeconds",70,"startMs",12806000,"endMs",12876000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2297831-f3e56d3c67517791b7cfd7c48a7ccdc6&start=12806&end=12876","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2297831-f3e56d3c67517791b7cfd7c48a7ccdc6/thumbnail_12806000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6334138/Kenmore/King-County/Washington/Staff-warns-state-bills-could-shift-permitting-for-shelters-and-permanent-supportive-housing-to-administrative-process","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6334138-b6d96b1b0cdfe18cbd38938a072ba6e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1776041256&Signature=kPVuI9dNIiZl4T1XL9HOR9TyqVuZiwyeKAubVMewFabjHz3DpNv3kld6olMa79rvKy1qwE~vDJgGwosCWrjKFF9M6-bGbfeTx2SPOFOOc5ovNvf6nNuUC05o1DBi0M84-x2XiE6fSLGLTXzuXkGsQVSAW6sMGD2Tzo5eGcF2GxnmXKE2wr9IcUkkJR~ji0iessAY-zNazXWO~IZk7SAZMueUfOMrx15-0vGpJtjpuJ92XVJxwz67rl9r51UsPbXCPEuKIQPnrqMaql810f3o~pVAV0qYJT62FAkCuKo4xFF8GTnTwknVaNveivx~OW7K684am5j~uzOQUcMSM80C5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Kenmore, Washington","date","2025-02-11T18:30:35Z","article","Community Development Director Debbie Bent briefed the Kenmore City Council on pending state legislation — referenced in the meeting as House Bill 11 95 and Senate Bill 54 97 — that would require administrative permitting for ‘step housing’ types (shelters, emergency housing, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing) and give the Washington Department of Commerce authority to resolve disputes and enforce compliance.

Bent said the city currently allows administrative approval for many of these housing types except where a development agreement or variance would be required. She said the council’s 2025 work program already includes a step-housing item: staff proposed forming a limited-term advisory committee to recommend potential code amendments to align with the state law and Commerce guidance. Bent identified open questions the council will need to consider if the legislation becomes final, particularly whether development agreements and other non-administrative pathways for deviations would remain available.

Councilmembers asked about the timeline and possible impacts on public engagement. Staff noted the bill had previously moved in the Legislature and that committee deadlines are approaching; the precise calendar is subject to the legislative schedule and any amendments. Councilmembers expressed concern about whether the bills would limit opportunities for public hearings and council review when a project seeks a deviation from code; staff and council attorneys will analyze that question further if the bills advance.

Bent characterized the staff item as informational and said staff will return with more details if the legislation clears policy and fiscal committees.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Special and Regular Meeting - Feb 10 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Kenmore staff briefed the council on state legislation that would move permitting for shelters and permanent supportive housing to an administrative process and give the Department of Commerce enforcement authority.","taxTitle","Kenmore, King County, Washington","taxId",70669,"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},6334143,"Kenmore closes ARPA program after $6.4 million in federal relief funded housing, services and business aid",662,12133000,12795000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2297831-f3e56d3c67517791b7cfd7c48a7ccdc6&start=12133&end=12795","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2297831-f3e56d3c67517791b7cfd7c48a7ccdc6/thumbnail_12133000.jpg","/articles/6334143/Kenmore/King-County/Washington/Kenmore-closes-ARPA-program-after-64-million-in-federal-relief-funded-housing-services-and-business-aid","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6334143-93c6cc4134f7b7ce256c9a84b76ffa1f/orig.mp4?Expires=1776041256&Signature=G8Y5GOJGNPLTG8KGX3TRUSvnRiP0QHTRSBzXfUJMJCXv4Smh59CPzyuIIFv2jPE53GL4aV~E-8rEYYtUVy1~7rnK5PZCaELP7KHfb~Mb8jRonUoZF~jjaj42oRHuIl9RxarQtYqiedS~y~bu80gvxBagvJN6DPCz2gsOYmSAnShvOGViNi2JL4cBn8-610~illEFX6uBU8MJHFbado~Y9stkBd6G4EZlAhXnwddLqvMMWQw6D8j0G3SAi9aZdFLr~5k~YuMhG1vkagUguGhj5PfZH1qn7-8mdImVW4zHynBVd6kwZoNfsxUbUN-X2A6T1RJDNpFw278sHbyBO-CDkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff told the Kenmore City Council that the city has completed spending its $6.4 million allocation from the American Rescue Plan Act and presented a final accounting of programs funded by the grant.

Garrett Oppenheim, the city’s DEIA coordinator who managed the ARPA reporting, said the city directed $1.9 million toward direct assistance and four programs that received the most public support: a Kenmore Cares direct-cash program, a homelessness response pilot, school-based counseling and catch-up-learning, and business assistance grants.

Key program details Oppenheim described include:
- Kenmore Cares direct cash assistance: roughly $1,000,000 in awards to 412 households; payment formula was $2,000 per household plus $250 per additional household member, serving approximately 789 people in total.
- Homelessness response pilot: initial contract with Lake City Partners for outreach ($50,000 for one year, extended another year for $18,000); Lake City Partners continues outreach and coordinated services, and two people previously homeless were moved into housing tied to the program.
- Human-services funding: about $250,000 allocated for mental-health supports including school-based counseling provided first at Inglemoor High School and currently at Kenmore Middle School; Center for Human Services hired a therapist providing two days a week at the middle school.
- Catch-up learning and childcare support: $100,000 contracted with Cascadia College for a summer academy and ongoing tutoring (“Wednesdays at Cascadia”).
- Business assistance: $250,000 total; an initial $65,000 for brick-and-mortar businesses in urgent need and a later $185,000 awarded to a mix of nonprofits, brick-and-mortar and home-based businesses.

Oppenheim said the remainder of ARPA funds were used under the city’s revenue-replacement election and transferred into special-project funds: $2,400,000 reimbursed to the general fund for a property purchase and $2,100,000 allocated to the current biennial budget for identified special projects. He said all ARPA money has been expended and that ongoing projects funded by ARPA will be completed through the special-projects fund during the biennium.

Councilmembers thanked staff for the community-engagement process used during the ARPA planning, which the city earlier won an award for from the Association of Washington Cities.

Oppenheim and staff said departmental reports on specific special-project spending will follow in coming months.","City staff presented a final report on how the city spent its $6.4 million American Rescue Plan Act allocation, including direct cash assistance, homelessness outreach, school-based counseling and business grants, and how remaining funds were allocated to special projects and biennial budget items.",{"_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},6334147,"Kenmore approves $50,000 Tomco settlement; council unanimously adopts DEIA reaffirmation resolution",2610,5540000,8150000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2297831-f3e56d3c67517791b7cfd7c48a7ccdc6&start=5540&end=8150","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2297831-f3e56d3c67517791b7cfd7c48a7ccdc6/thumbnail_5540000.jpg","/articles/6334147/Kenmore/King-County/Washington/Kenmore-approves-50000-Tomco-settlement-council-unanimously-adopts-DEIA-reaffirmation-resolution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6334147-0f5adb8915db4c178d658e44c8155dc1/orig.mp4?Expires=1776041256&Signature=XvAoZU9DS8ZbYfoUXBg2epCY60nY0NOND-9XsbcJ-MwYpgQBqplYj-kr4unib5jxEy3WwmOag3pIV1fBEFz4OT~HbwYZzUDB66UfzUxT2fsY0dzy6H1HvVy0ytRBQUNBSiCvyepPN1w9Nq~cy9-7HtnfAw9SxYM9Gf4UbQIIh7kpXoCSpFq-4u7K~qqrY-BxvPP-3l5m5Tv1iPAP~SVYJB8u5ULxY8kU5JZwZUN4tjUe8tG3wCImV~9IDlDzBPPx~MKOZcZH3XF4PGx29viSBY5kx93bukfliTDv-zBn~~eTvG7XW1Ti-jSlHY1XdFwno4WEDxTl~RDBWRgt3Vj9BA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kenmore City Council voted unanimously to accept a settlement offer from Tomco to resolve King County case number 24-2-29792-8 for $50,000, dismissable with prejudice, and authorized the city manager to execute the documents necessary to effect the settlement.

The motion — offered as the city concluded an executive session held under RCW 42.30.110(1)(g) and (i) — passed on a roll call vote with all seven councilmembers recorded as yes.

Earlier the council approved the consent agenda with one item removed for separate consideration. After discussion and a brief staff presentation, the council adopted Resolution 25-426 reaffirming Kenmore as “a safe, inclusive, and welcoming city for all people.” The resolution cites the city’s DEIA policy and strategic plan, the creation of a DEIA advisory committee, more than $300,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding authorized for homelessness outreach and mental-health services, and the city’s commitment to working with a developer toward affordable housing on city-owned property near City Hall.

Votes at a glance
- Tomco settlement (King County case 24-2-29792-8): motion to accept $50,000 settlement in exchange for dismissal with prejudice; mover/second not specified in record; vote: Culver yes, Marshall yes, Sassen yes, Shrubnick yes, Lutzis yes, Deputy Mayor O'Kane yes, Mayor Herbig yes; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Consent agenda (minus item e): motion to approve consent agenda minus item e; outcome: adopted unanimously.
- Resolution 25-426: “Reaffirming the city of Kenmore as a safe, inclusive, and welcoming city for all people” — motion to adopt; second; vote: unanimous; outcome: adopted.

Garrett Oppenheim, the city’s DEIA coordinator, summarized the 2025 resolution update and listed actions it references, including the DEIA strategic plan, the DEIA advisory committee, and authorized ARPA expenditures for human services. The resolution text was read into the record before the council adopted it.

The city manager was authorized to sign settlement documents on terms acceptable to the city manager to effect the Tomco settlement.","At its meeting the Kenmore City Council unanimously approved a $50,000 settlement in King County case 24-2-29792-8 and adopted Resolution 25-426 reaffirming the city as a safe, inclusive and welcoming place. The consent agenda (minus one item) also passed unanimously.",{"_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},6334152,"Kenmore council orders competitive search for next city manager after mixed public comments",316,11730000,12046000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2297831-f3e56d3c67517791b7cfd7c48a7ccdc6&start=11730&end=12046","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2297831-f3e56d3c67517791b7cfd7c48a7ccdc6/thumbnail_11730000.jpg","/articles/6334152/Kenmore/King-County/Washington/Kenmore-council-orders-competitive-search-for-next-city-manager-after-mixed-public-comments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6334152-90740f944f27d6634cf5e94513784695/orig.mp4?Expires=1776041256&Signature=cAubmzrXMpDYc6-N-jv-cK~hVEJySUjq2GVRwaaUTSKPWeETiBzHpyCwVwdT9LPi8Mpq3P6YVxi-1khdj3jNgBsA0jUHw-vQAt-I32DiBBNkfETQH3APOXwg8N26mMDWT~-Ecf2K~8rEwe~QPtgypRQqTbop109jAnj7yFgldigBH08TGqOESHJ2SDGYZdmITQmhUTdQG3Vu8YC6HWTwfLw~bqoh5EE2je3clZLwnYWUJTb~a9pzVd2u5dG4H3IzdcUAMffoqb~PzfNJ2Z-5O7vyW~0td3MTmQ2nZ4PikRS~0VLltWA9-Rll8Efm25ywwPpi1QDtt5mbnS4aSbnIYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kenmore City Council voted 6–1 on a motion to conduct a competitive recruitment with an executive search firm to fill the city manager vacancy left by Rob Carr Lindsey.

Councilmember Julie Shrubnick moved the measure and it was seconded; Councilmember Culver cast the sole vote against the motion. The clerk recorded the roll as Culver: no; Shrubnick: yes; Sassen: yes; Marshall: yes; Lutzis: yes; Deputy Mayor O'Kane: yes; Mayor Herbig: yes. The motion passed and staff will bring proposals from two to three executive search firms for council review and arrange interviews for internal candidates for an interim appointment.

The vote followed an extended public-comment period in which many residents urged the council to consider Assistant City Manager Stephanie Lukasz for the permanent role while others urged a formal search. Edward LaSalle told the council, “I am here today to express my strongest support for Stephanie Lukasz as our city's as a new city manager,” citing her awards and public-sector experience. Several business leaders — including Steve Holmes, chair of the Kenmore Business Alliance, and Sandra Lee, executive director of the Bothell Kenmore Chamber — praised Lukasz’s outreach and local relationships.

Others opposed making Lukasz the automatic choice. Jeff Chisholm said he opposed her “for the simple reason of a role in the Plymouth Housing matter,” arguing the public and council were not fully informed about changes to that project’s eligibility standards. Juliana Pooley urged the council not to require relocation to Kenmore as a selection criterion, saying, “I hope that tonight I want to voice my opinion that Kenmore residency should not be a deciding factor between qualified candidates.”

Councilmembers who supported a competitive search said the process would produce more options and transparency. Shrubnick said she wanted “to make sure we get the very best candidate” through a broad recruitment. Culver, who voted no, said he favored direct appointment when a clearly strong internal candidate exists and raised concerns about token searches.

City Manager Carr Lindsey briefed the council on options earlier in the meeting, describing a range from direct appointment to a full open recruitment.

Next steps: staff will solicit proposals from executive search firms, return with firm proposals for council consideration, and schedule interviews for internal candidates for any interim city manager appointment.","The Kenmore City Council voted 6–1 to hire an executive search firm to fill the outgoing city manager post. Public commenters gave both strong endorsements and objections to one internal candidate, prompting debate about residency and past project decisions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Staff warns state bills could shift permitting for shelters and permanent supportive housing to administrative process

Kenmore closes ARPA program after $6.4 million in federal relief funded housing, services and business aid

Kenmore approves $50,000 Tomco settlement; council unanimously adopts DEIA reaffirmation resolution

Kenmore council orders competitive search for next city manager after mixed public comments