[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6081622,"mediaKeyId","2941788-c6438390bb9546a6b1a6b754a40905fe","parentId",2941788,"title","Monroe council advances transportation impact-fee overhaul; staff says average increase ~76%","audioSeconds",914,"startMs",251000,"endMs",1165000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941788-c6438390bb9546a6b1a6b754a40905fe&start=251&end=1165","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941788-c6438390bb9546a6b1a6b754a40905fe/thumbnail_251000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6081622/Monroe-City/Snohomish-County/Washington/Monroe-council-advances-transportation-impact-fee-overhaul-staff-says-average-increase-76","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081622-2439b9736491da0c53cb660e412dd3f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190465&Signature=Iwsy7JLC5IGvMgIoNg9DGTBGEjnwh-ytntZbI0ZtU4eogsgyU3SWIIA4EdMVQSCcTEyjkiyFHP3dsdDoDmB~IPRgNm2abOjrrnKwqR9p7OTZm9mneJfVXx6yPBKBzr1LeOSANyhaBwiykI-6Of8xqRZJl3zWm-NYpXr3W1CUYeLHfSa3R8eqD5VHv2P9XaarOgkK7deMjdP4ZLPFjq~djgIHQKzzK9FUwuxoDay9NwFxqn1u2iRZh9APRqdpnFR7Sp0KT6~1OIi1bYaZfHvlRx6WocPv6Axdmt7Y-DRfw1uVxIDySrRaZxkqa5JDeUne7FmdUfCqTSE6xu9cSzRqwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Monroe City, WA","date","2025-04-10T08:57:33.553Z","article","Monroe City Council accepted first reading of Ordinance No. 4 of 2025 on April 8, advancing a comprehensive update to the city's transportation impact-fee methodology and schedule that staff said would raise average fees by about 76 percent and set a per-unit fee for a typical single-family home at $7,426.

City staff told councilors the update stems from a 20-year capital plan that lists roughly $99 million in transportation projects; staff said about $47 million of that total was assigned as the proportional responsibility of future development and would be funded in part by impact fees and other sources. \"We estimate about $99,000,000 worth of capital, street projects and of that about $47,000,000 we figured was gonna be the responsibility of future development,\" a city presenter said, summarizing the study and attachments in the meeting packet.

Why it matters: Impact fees are charged to new development to pay its share of systemwide transportation improvements. The proposed increase would change the per-application charge the city assesses when issuing permits; council members said the change could affect housing costs, the attractiveness of Monroe for builders, and the city's development strategy.

Key details from staff and council discussion:

- Basis and timing: The presenter told the council the new fee schedule would go into effect when the ordinance is adopted; it would not phase in over 20 years. In response to a council question about timing, the presenter said, \"This will go into effect as soon as the ordinance is adopted. That will be the new rate we would assess future applications.\"

- Fee levels and examples: Staff provided a comparison table showing existing and proposed rates by land-use category. The presentation stated a typical single-family residential unit would be assessed $7,426 under the proposed schedule. Staff also said the proposal reflects a new multimodal analysis that counts sidewalks and bicycle facilities as part of the city's transportation needs.

- Council concerns: Several council members pressed on policy trade-offs. Council Member Gamble framed the matter as a conscious policy choice, noting prior council decisions intentionally kept Monroe's fees below peers to attract development: \"We wanted to be just below the mid. Because we felt if we were below the mid, that it would make us attractive and we would get growth,\" Gamble said. He warned a large increase could slow growth or shift investment to neighboring cities.

- Regional context: A council member noted recent state legislation requires cities to consider multimodal travel when identifying transportation projects, increasing the scope and cost of projects that impact-fee studies must account for. Staff said other nearby cities are making similar recalculations and that Monroe would still be lower than some neighbors on several land-use categories.

Council action: Council Member Hanford moved to accept the ordinance as first reading, stating the motion on the record to: \"accept as first reading, ordinance number fourtwenty 25, amending chapter 3.54.130 MMC, transportation impact fees, updating and revising the city's methodology, rate structure and schedule for imposing transportation impact fees upon certain development activity effecting various housekeeping amendments, providing for severability and establishing an effective date.\" Council Member Gamble seconded. The council voted 7-0 to advance the ordinance to a future meeting for final reading and adoption.

What comes next: Staff said the council will return for final reading and formal adoption at a subsequent meeting after the public-notice and adoption steps required by city code. The agenda packet contains the detailed study and the proposed rate table for council and public review.

Ending: With the first reading approved, the proposed fees are scheduled for final consideration at a later council meeting where the council may adopt, amend, or reject the ordinance.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 8, 2025 Monroe WA City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Monroe City Council accepted first reading of Ordinance No. 4 of 2025 on April 8, advancing a comprehensive update to transportation impact fees that staff said averages a roughly 76% increase and sets a per-unit fee for a typical single-family home at $7,426.","taxTitle","Monroe City, Snohomish County, Washington","taxId",71110,"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},6081618,"Votes at a glance: Monroe City Council actions — April 8, 2025",2107,244000,2351000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941788-c6438390bb9546a6b1a6b754a40905fe&start=244&end=2351","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941788-c6438390bb9546a6b1a6b754a40905fe/thumbnail_244000.jpg","/articles/6081618/Monroe-City/Snohomish-County/Washington/Votes-at-a-glance-Monroe-City-Council-actions-April-8-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081618-1418c591f579fd4eef18ff8037896578/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190465&Signature=lzJ1FDgN8RD4lQJY4IFvIED1kIUK-0ZTLGPZajq~3WyTEB0WHFMEXR5bmHk5qXRz-QWJkr4YbipgH5NzJF1UHAYkaXu1ustJG5Dv50Vih~I-m50-~b1Bpik0pE9v-3kfqUh8cu~unPlRGVycBqeIWSCPnvc56e1DdMU84xGrHevak7Vl1t5I9vg21xgclrgk2ZqdOfLhApadPR4ffy5rGNVRYmgUeeQBGFC5mTxm-1xauIegBfhUXj-u~FqvBHH7Hjin2JNhA9KscxpcsTuAeuKKrQ~gNP6iWK37BJVJqNhDO9m-PNEe~ZOGA~BY88C6gZZkLw8UpPBFj9fZ2DsDEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its April 8 meeting, the Monroe City Council recorded unanimous votes on multiple agenda items. Several items were described by staff as housekeeping or final-closeout adjustments; others change city policy or add contract funding. Below is a concise list of the formal actions taken and the key details the council recorded.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (motion, item not enumerated in packet): Motion to approve the consent agenda carried 7-0. (Mover: Council Member Walker; second: Council Member Fulcher.)

- Item 7.1 — Lehi funding administration contract (Contract No. 2025-046): Council approved the Community Human Services Advisory Board recommendation to award $15,000 to Take the Next Step for flex funding administration and case management and authorized the mayor to sign and execute contract number 2025-046. Motion carried 7-0. (Mover: Council Member Beaumont; second: Council Member Scarborough.)

- Item 7.2 — Transportation Impact Fees (Ordinance No. 4 of 2025) — first reading: Council accepted first reading of the ordinance updating MMC 3.54.130 (transportation impact fees) and advancing the measure to final reading. Motion carried 7-0. (Mover: Council Member Hanford; second: Council Member Gamble.)

- Item 8.1 — Rules of procedure for boards, commissions and committees (Ordinance No. 003 of 2025) — first reading: Council approved first reading of an ordinance authorizing the city council to adopt uniform rules of procedure across boards and commissions, with exceptions where state law requires specific procedures (for example, the Civil Service Commission). Motion carried 7-0. (Mover: Council Member Gamble; second: Council Member Hanford.)

- Item 8.2 — Emergency Motel Voucher Program contract amendments: Council approved amendments to two contracts related to the emergency motel voucher program (contract numbers described in the agenda materials). Staff said the amendment reallocates funding sources and aligns budget line items to finalize payment. The modification increases the Volunteers of America (VOA) contract by $8,937.83; staff stated those funds are reallocated from amounts set aside to reimburse City of Monroe staff time and are not additional city general-fund dollars. Staff also reported that VOA had not yet been reimbursed under the contract and that VOA's cumulative spend to date was reported to staff as approximately $500,057.57. Council approved the amendments 7-0. (Mover: Council Member Beaumont; second: Council Member Scarborough.)

- Item 8.3 — Mobile Mental Health Co-Responder contract amendment (amendment aligning funding sources): Council approved an amendment to the co-responder contract that removes a Department of Commerce funding source the parties were not using, moves unobligated budget categories into the active period to cover requested program needs (travel, training, licensing, vehicle expenses) and aligns the city contract with SAMHSA budget rules. Motion carried 7-0. (Mover: Council Member Beaumont; second: Council Member Hanford.)

Notes from discussion and staff reports

- Several items described as \"housekeeping\" were framed by staff as necessary to close out contracts, align budget line items, and ensure state or federal funding rules were met prior to final payment.

- On the emergency motel voucher item, councilors asked about accounting and oversight. Staff said they have submitted supporting reimbursement documentation to Snohomish County and that county approvals are in process; staff also said they have requested a quote from an outside CPA firm to perform an audit of the complex contract and would return to council with that quote for consideration.

- All recorded votes on April 8 for the listed items were unanimous (7-0).","Council approved several consent items and advanced multiple contract and ordinance actions, including awarding $15,000 to Take the Next Step, first readings of two ordinances, and contract amendments to close out human-services programs; all recorded votes passed unanimously (7-0).","actionData","errors"]

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Monroe council advances transportation impact-fee overhaul; staff says average increase ~76%

Votes at a glance: Monroe City Council actions — April 8, 2025