[{"_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",6092413,"mediaKeyId","2854012-5ee30f267317ef5e8345c5dcf969dec6","parentId",2854012,"title","City staff outline required middle‑housing code changes, unit‑lot subdivisions and ADU allowances","audioSeconds",2831,"startMs",5235000,"endMs",8066000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2854012-5ee30f267317ef5e8345c5dcf969dec6&start=5235&end=8066","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2854012-5ee30f267317ef5e8345c5dcf969dec6/thumbnail_5235000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6092413/Mill-Creek/Snohomish-County/Washington/City-staff-outline-required-middlehousing-code-changes-unitlot-subdivisions-and-ADU-allowances","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6092413-19dc5bdbf8bfe34ebccc02623fb3719c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179092&Signature=K9a05yLA6C5ayRfgTlzGayxQPwqLz49G7lFzEVVFwhs~9OzZMJcJgwCwYUwbWepYKTUy6vnvlw6d1ptBM2dtmVegtVAbVXm5rOlQ9RT~HoGhNO-ypmWjN2LOI~0aZ58ikBrKjmAG0aAfSg4EFku2yAfTn0W3NGDDsxi7VYaabdhIyQ0Ox0-7ml5VUeSnWkxDvgGJqR24VWHxGn6F9jN4dl1~kCVebYvAg3MVb4Tzj~-w1tt0IdXcfzc2Y~km2eVkCs6tjDedF6fap~5Ti5TG-ugvku0pyW3mWQi2tKsInehVdVPDqZjNmoy9YOIreBJw8pjfssdLntr4RhaDAL24rA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Mill Creek, Washington","date","2025-04-03T00:14:46.66Z","article","The Mill Creek City Council received a study session briefing on April 1 about state laws requiring local code changes to allow middle housing — housing types compatible with single‑family neighborhoods such as duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, cottage courts and townhouses.

The briefing matters because state legislation (commonly cited as HB 1110 and related middle‑housing bills) requires cities to allow certain middle‑housing types in areas zoned for single‑family housing and to update permitting standards and parking rules; Mill Creek staff presented a minimum‑compliance package and options for additional design standards later.

Director Jeff Ryan (Community Development) and planner Justin Horn told council the proposed amendments are targeted at minimum statutory compliance. Key elements presented were:

• Minimum allowable density: staff will amend the density calculation so the code allows at least two dwelling units per qualifying lot (not a mandate to build two units on every lot).

• ADUs: accessory dwelling units will be allowed in the neighborhood residential (NR) and medium‑density residential (MDR) zones. Staff proposed increasing the maximum ADU size from 800 square feet to 1,000 square feet and allowing up to two ADUs per lot (combinations of attached and detached ADUs are permitted within the state limits).

• Unit‑lot subdivisions: staff will add a process enabling unit‑lot subdivisions that let developers create individual unit lots inside a parent parcel — a mechanism aimed at enabling fee‑simple ownership of units in some middle‑housing configurations (for example, subdividing a parcel with a triplex so each unit has its own lot).

• Parking and design review: staff proposed reduced parking minimums for middle housing and administrative (staff) design review in place of the Design Review Board for middle‑housing proposals. Reduced parking minimums may apply near frequent transit stops.

Staff emphasized these changes are the minimum necessary to comply with state law and noted certain discretionary follow‑ups the city could pursue later, such as additional façade articulation, open‑space minimums for cottage courts, and other design standards intended to preserve neighborhood character.

Council members asked about HOAs and exemptions: staff said homeowners associations may enforce covenants that predate July 23, 2023, and those covenants can affect whether middle housing is ultimately feasible on particular properties; staff does not track HOA covenants and will not enforce HOA rules.

Staff outlined a timeline: the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing and forward a recommendation; council adoption is targeted for May or, at latest, June to comply with statutory deadlines. Staff also offered to supply maps, parcel‑level examples and updated redevelopment heat maps to help council and the public visualize likely impacts.

Ending: Staff will bring the proposed ordinance to the Planning Commission for public hearings and return to council with the commission recommendation for adoption; council requested additional parcel‑level examples and clarifications on definitions such as “walking distance” and “unbuildable area.”","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Regular Meeting - 01 April 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Planning staff presented state‑mandated middle‑housing code amendments including a two‑unit‑per‑lot minimum, unit‑lot subdivision procedures, administrative design review for middle housing, ADU size increase to 1,000 sq ft and allowance for up to two ADUs per lot; council will consider adoption in May or June.","taxTitle","Mill Creek, Snohomish County, Washington","taxId",71062,"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},6092417,"Council studies potential revenue options including business, utility and vehicle fees",2072,2216000,4288000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2854012-5ee30f267317ef5e8345c5dcf969dec6&start=2216&end=4288","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2854012-5ee30f267317ef5e8345c5dcf969dec6/thumbnail_2216000.jpg","/articles/6092417/Mill-Creek/Snohomish-County/Washington/Council-studies-potential-revenue-options-including-business-utility-and-vehicle-fees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6092417-1d3fae81748d032ce060b97d89e33121/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179092&Signature=QXIdR5EseZflz9Hval9QlfU1TRwJfum59XeBz1ZYensb7G3~SnTtLD-hsFBiNSDKON0AvRJpmgm17iDK68K0Pe4OpBW~ulOp3QEkLRKeFDCy06GK6YKvSoWnTQfJn85HvmDmLXQfW6qJgnHkOjdziJkwiR0-2C1M~KLQan5kkgeajreBPSSp0WZYmvCQ046u8LFcX9ET7CHh7eEAw2rynlUNXZ1~QZKZWXTeB2I8KAUN69Fa1sfcGGKHlznVbZ2VHE2Fcd9WA6mW6npX5o-B7Mc1ppBLspBkW2nSuaa~sRD57nG5SzxfilH71woIstXeWmTiZQx5x30eqOwVLOjVgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mill Creek City Council reviewed a staff matrix of potential revenue options on April 1 that included business and occupation taxes, utility taxes, brokered natural gas tax, regulatory business license fees, lodging and admissions taxes, gambling taxes, and a vehicle‑registration fee under a transportation benefit district.

The study session matters because council faces projected budget shortfalls in 2026 and staff said preliminary revenue choices would affect long‑range financial planning, annexation analyses and the city’s ability to maintain streets and other services.

Finance Director Irmina (presenting) grouped options into business and utility taxes, other excise taxes and other fees. She said a local business and occupation (B&O) tax applied at 0.2% to retail taxable sales — using the city’s 2024 retail taxable sales estimate of about $25.7 million — would generate roughly $40,000–$50,000 annually before additional administration costs (staff estimated an added 0.5 full‑time equivalent to manage compliance).

On utility taxes, staff explained state authority and common local practice: electrical, gas and telephone taxes are often capped at 6% unless voters approve higher rates; water, sewer, solid‑waste and stormwater taxes may have no statutory cap. Staff presented a peer comparison that implied Mill Creek could raise approximately $1.6 million to $2.6 million per year from utility taxes depending on rates and services included; staff’s per‑capita comparison ranged roughly $73–$120 per person for cities with utility tax programs.

A brokered natural gas use tax was described as a targeted option collected via the state Department of Revenue and estimated at under $10,000 annually for Mill Creek. Staff also highlighted regulatory business license fees (for activities requiring oversight, like mobile food vendors and short‑term rentals) with low revenue potential (<$5,000 annual estimate) and admissions and gambling taxes with modest revenue estimates.

The presentation covered lodging tax constraints: because Snohomish County imposed a countywide lodging tax before 1997, Mill Creek would be limited to the portion that credits against state sales tax rather than the additional local surtax; lodging tax revenues are typically restricted to tourism‑related uses and require an advisory committee if adopted.

A transportation benefit district (TBD) vehicle license fee was presented as another option: a locally adopted TBD could levy up to $50 per vehicle without voter approval (and higher amounts with voter approval). Staff estimated that a $50 vehicle fee applied to Mill Creek’s 14,730 registered vehicles would generate roughly $294,000–$736,000 per year depending on assumptions and exemptions.

Council conversation emphasized three themes: (1) tradeoffs among revenue stability and equity (property tax and utility tax seen as more stable than sales tax), (2) the need to study distributional impacts on renters vs. homeowners and multifamily residents, and (3) how revenue choices would interact with planned capital needs such as streets maintenance and annexation modeling. City Manager Martin Yamamoto noted any revenue decision would be balanced against long‑term budget priorities and implementation timing.

Ending: Staff said the presentation was informational; council asked for follow‑up analysis including per‑capita comparisons, tax‑mix breakdowns, draft packages for decision (e.g., utility tax with defined exclusions), and data on how property taxes are distributed between owners and tenants. No formal action was taken; staff will return with more detailed options.","Finance staff presented a matrix of potential revenue sources — business (B&O) tax, utility taxes, lodging and admission taxes, brokered gas tax and a vehicle license fee via a transportation benefit district — with preliminary revenue estimates and implementation notes for council consideration.",{"_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},6092420,"Council unanimously approves three‑year Microsoft Enterprise Agreement",242,1977000,2219000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2854012-5ee30f267317ef5e8345c5dcf969dec6&start=1977&end=2219","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2854012-5ee30f267317ef5e8345c5dcf969dec6/thumbnail_1977000.jpg","/articles/6092420/Mill-Creek/Snohomish-County/Washington/Council-unanimously-approves-threeyear-Microsoft-Enterprise-Agreement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6092420-b8be80ed8cdb3e49e3d4357915526cec/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179092&Signature=Gt5fI4bWDZNpW00IusiXBmSD-xONHr8IIL0Eq39bUX5sgKqC3ARMQTxM0XutiLCPVqLG8-1i3Bg-ZqVX-wgZL2G~UYzONk43lpOq-CuixhMn2zhMSp1BCSWcMm5Gw4LrgHin0fcHmgxOJtoUHYIIhYLkbk7MHnDXxmXyaJlAhSXTM52BIRB6lpNStSOX42McBBEnX2duvtYb3dMyB9aSVYcLaxacs~SO9u4FvtOK47-S-Hw4WNOEl-SzAVyg9qs5ZGwgLaqV237xMAULtIDo8OwvtoczW3XmKQZtdcEgR4uMZ~vLsG5OIKLEufGScxfeO983nQhjVXIsG20PneFHQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City technology staff presented a three‑year Microsoft Enterprise Software agreement to the Mill Creek City Council on April 1 and the council voted to adopt the resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the contract.

The item matters because the agreement covers licensing for email, productivity tools and server databases used for internal operations, including police evidence systems that rely on Microsoft SQL Server.

Waters, the city’s IT presenter, told the council the agreement costs $41,446 per year and requires a three‑year commitment for a total of $124,338. He said the package covers Microsoft 365 services (email, SharePoint, OneDrive), Windows Server and Microsoft SQL Server used for internal police applications and evidence storage. He said the city currently maintains 86 licenses across full‑time, part‑time and seasonal staff, which he calculated as roughly $342.55 per user per year for the Microsoft 365 portion.

After questions from council members about how SQL Server is deployed, Council Member moved to adopt the resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the three‑year agreement; a second was recorded and the motion passed unanimously. No council member opposed or abstained.

Ending: The resolution was adopted by unanimous voice vote. Staff said it would complete contract execution with the City Manager and proceed with licensing and any necessary implementation tasks.","The Mill Creek City Council unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing a three‑year Microsoft Enterprise Software agreement covering Microsoft 365, Windows Server and SQL Server licensing. The agreement costs $41,446 per year and covers 86 licenses.",{"_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},6092421,"Waste Management outlines service changes, recycling outreach and contamination penalties in annual update to Mill Creek council",1633,219000,1852000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2854012-5ee30f267317ef5e8345c5dcf969dec6&start=219&end=1852","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2854012-5ee30f267317ef5e8345c5dcf969dec6/thumbnail_219000.jpg","/articles/6092421/Mill-Creek/Snohomish-County/Washington/Waste-Management-outlines-service-changes-recycling-outreach-and-contamination-penalties-in-annual-update-to-Mill-Creek-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6092421-dbd58edeefbebe6974b8fc3eec355107/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179092&Signature=XimoOTPtNjsSAc4N~IifZL2I5v7Kw6nDI1uFrmi63yJeYsyDMG6yEG4y6dOxIJjaygOI1eXxt4-7MgEwdzfb3bfcgdKmDtza373hW5PD1~YkT3D9iNLpTMrzLSKVIriF3qd04FdpFEZ12Dh7iyKgfhrihAv8KDpmOr4~khahVg0eovH23ULLsRTPQ21~pjRrZ2e9GTXAdYgBk4-OPdQHlnm-Ufa3jStEvqlq~YWMwXItDtDIZ-bwHgK1tAT~khYunk9KSwAtsV7psmLcrLBRCqdPH7FGlIGoO~JeJQ7q4wTdaTGyofrQX-laCAssKhZDQSgXo3qLcZDXUsUkIXv8DQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Robin Friedman, senior public sector manager for Waste Management, told the Mill Creek City Council on April 1 that the company’s contract with the city began July 1, 2024, and includes weekly collection for garbage, recycling and yard waste as well as a senior discount and a contamination charge for recyclables and yard waste.

The update matters because the contract defines routine curbside service, on‑call collection and special events that affect how residents dispose of hard‑to‑recycle items and organics. City staff and council members asked about contamination, multifamily outreach and additional community recycling and hazardous‑waste events.

“Your contract’s a lot different than many other neighboring cities. Garbage and recycling yard waste are collected weekly,” Friedman said. She introduced the local operations team and said the service includes six no‑charge community event pickups each year and twice‑yearly recycling events for hard‑to‑recycle items organized with the city and community groups.

Stephen Sobchak, district manager for WM’s North Sound operation, described operations and staffing: “We have 16 dedicated drivers en route to the city of Mill Creek. Of those 16 drivers, they bring 249 years of refuse collection experience.” Sobchak said crews monitor weather and road conditions early on days with snow and ice and that WM may delay service rather than risk unsafe operations. In cases of missed pickups, WM crews may perform a double load the following week at no charge.

Rian (Rianne) Janovich, who the company said will serve as Mill Creek’s contract manager, described outreach and recycling education tied to local processing at the Cascade recycling center in Woodinville. Janovich said the facility was upgraded in February 2023 and uses optical sorters and other equipment to sort and bale paper, metal, glass and plastics; she added WM does not export plastics outside North America.

Council members asked several operational questions. Council Member Jeremy Cavalieri asked whether contamination penalties had reduced repeat offenses; Friedman said available data show that once customers see a contamination charge or an “oops” tag (with a photo), they generally do not repeat the offense, and staff agreed they will follow up with written data for council.

Council discussion also raised multifamily recycling challenges. WM representatives said apartment complexes require different outreach because shared containers and higher turnover make standard “oops‑tag” approaches harder to use; WM said it will work directly with property managers when problems are reported.

Council members asked about additional city events. WM representatives said they can partner on electronic recycling events and hazardous‑waste collection days; WM noted they already provide two free recycling events a year under the contract and will coordinate publicity with city staff.

On service technology and customer access, WM described a “smart truck” camera system to help drivers identify cart placement or contamination without distracting drivers and a city‑specific website and mobile app for service alerts. WM said resident accounts can receive out‑dial alerts and that the company’s automated virtual assistant and live chat are available during business hours.

Council members praised drivers’ performance and asked WM to provide regular updates on contamination trends and attendance at special recycling events. WM agreed to share follow‑up materials and data with staff and council.

Ending: Council thanked WM for the report and said staff will follow up on specific requests for contamination data, hazardous waste event planning and whether a curbside cart‑cleaning pilot could be feasible under contract terms.","Waste Management representatives updated the Mill Creek City Council on a contract that began July 1, 2024, describing weekly collection, contamination charges for recycling and yard waste, new recycling events, smart‑truck camera technology and local processing at the Cascade recycling center.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City staff outline required middle‑housing code changes, unit‑lot subdivisions and ADU allowances

Council studies potential revenue options including business, utility and vehicle fees

Council unanimously approves three‑year Microsoft Enterprise Agreement

Waste Management outlines service changes, recycling outreach and contamination penalties in annual update to Mill Creek council