[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6568694,"mediaKeyId","3193978-ed23ef482e288d402e963e2db07b03ce","parentId",3193978,"title","Lynnwood officials say 2025 Washington legislative session delivered mixed results; Scriber Creek, Poplar Way and PFD funding secured","audioSeconds",2906,"startMs",3839000,"endMs",6745000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3193978-ed23ef482e288d402e963e2db07b03ce&start=3839&end=6745","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3193978-ed23ef482e288d402e963e2db07b03ce/thumbnail_3839000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6568694/Lynnwood/Snohomish-County/Washington/Lynnwood-officials-say-2025-Washington-legislative-session-delivered-mixed-results-Scriber-Creek-Poplar-Way-and-PFD-funding-secured","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568694-cd91fb487d084b81ee741c4a930cd9bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1775495725&Signature=fU6VKOCJ8UxQ~FBao4T~LYNzL3QGe~SgAWRc3udfVSVlUDVDdKUVW1SdKiW~NIdoW-p9zRfspdbiFnBWMF2qA9SgD2BBWB8upTwY5ZKo~hW5uvWVXYm4P9b8nAcSrxnfpsiWrweLZrVvKlyXSp1GilBzLcFPFxAGQwIMCuogFAt0suYI4U7Ii3QDYz-YU4P8~cRO9w6tg69GjC06LvdSr633SrnOcSEkXJEZQuktEr7lo1ZBxDFpvzQ8z3V9LWy6cGvsW~h~aHQZ4exO5dYL5zjcTSdDwm1zIPblr4ia~shcCV5vOYljaWPoU5bodkFw7CvggMBGZX3wYP0aiis6Ag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lynnwood","date","2025-05-05T00:00:00Z","article","Lynnwood city lobbyists and staff told the City Council on May 5 that the 2025 Washington State legislative session produced both tangible wins and notable shortfalls for the city’s project and policy priorities.

Assistant City Administrator Julie Moore and lobbyists Amina Abdallah of Gordon Thomas Honeywell and Brianna Murray gave a roughly hour-long briefing summarizing the session, which they called “significant” because it began a new two‑year biennium and produced operating, capital and transportation budgets that will guide state spending through 2027.

The presentation said Lynnwood secured a $500,000 appropriation for Scriber Creek fish‑barrier removal in the final capital budget and preserved $10 million from the Connecting Washington program for the Poplar Way Bridge project, though an additional $5 million the city requested to cover cost increases was not awarded. The Lynnwood Public Facilities District received $1 million for convention‑center campus revitalization; the district had sought $4 million.

“These results reflect early engagement and persistent follow‑through,” Amina Abdallah said, summarizing the city’s advocacy work in Olympia and noting the mayor and city representatives met with key legislators during the session.

Brianna Murray and Abdallah told the council the state’s 2025–27 operating budget totals, as presented to the council, were in the tens of billions, and lawmakers adopted roughly $4.3 billion of new revenues to close a projected $15 billion shortfall. They said the capital budget was constrained, and that local community project allocations were smaller on average than in 2023. The presenters also noted the transportation budget relied in part on a 6¢ gas‑tax increase and that some loan‑repayment funds from the Public Works Assistance Account were swept to balance the state budget; the legislature backfilled $100 million of the roughly $288 million swept amount.

Council members pressed staff for detail on several items. Council member Mike Hurst asked why House Bill 1109 — legislation affecting public facilities districts — mattered to Lynnwood. Brianna Murray explained the law lengthened the period for state sales‑tax credit bonding (she described an increase from 40 to 55 years in final committee action), which she said improves bonding flexibility for Lynnwood’s Public Facilities District.

Council member Kit Marshall asked whether Lynnwood’s wastewater treatment plant was advanced in Olympia; Moore said the city did not submit a direct request for that project this year. Council member Ryan Decker and others pressed for more detail on the transportation funding picture and the Poplar Way request; staff acknowledged the city’s additional $5 million ask had been heard in early proposals but not included in the final negotiated transportation budget.

On housing and homelessness, the presenters highlighted passage of House Bill 1217 (rent‑increase limits reported as 7% plus CPI, or 10% annual cap in its final form) and approximately $600 million allocated to the Housing Trust Fund, with $27.5 million earmarked for manufactured‑home issues. They also noted supply‑focused bills, including Senate Bill 5184 (reported as limiting local parking requirements) and House Bill 1491 (transit‑oriented development and minimum floor‑area ratio requirements), saying the city will have implementation work ahead when it updates its comprehensive plan.

Staff recommended continuing close tracking of budget line vetoes by the governor and preparing for the 2026 short session, which will be a 60‑day session focused on supplemental budgets and carry‑over bills.

Ending the briefing, Moore and the lobbyists urged the council to consider thanking local legislators and to prepare staff capacity for implementation of awarded funds.

Council members asked for a written end‑of‑session report. Abdallah and Murray said a comprehensive written report would be prepared with bill‑level analysis and that staff would provide more granular data on youth‑advocacy and other bill categories the council requested.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lynnwood - City Council Work Session - May 05, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Lynnwood city lobbyists and staff told the council on May 5 that the 2025 Washington State legislative session delivered targeted funding wins for the city but left some priorities unmet.","taxTitle","Lynnwood, Snohomish County, Washington","taxId",58431,"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},6568685,"Lynnwood councilmember proposes clearer residency proof for candidates; discussion tabled for later review",1111,6279000,7390000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3193978-ed23ef482e288d402e963e2db07b03ce&start=6279&end=7390","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3193978-ed23ef482e288d402e963e2db07b03ce/thumbnail_6279000.jpg","/articles/6568685/Lynnwood/Snohomish-County/Washington/Lynnwood-councilmember-proposes-clearer-residency-proof-for-candidates-discussion-tabled-for-later-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568685-792f52d9e7e6a1cff02efa129d400a20/orig.mp4?Expires=1775495725&Signature=dx435AJUU~D~0bWEcRNzEyYB9JW0aM01Y4ySRvJ91R9K1k8wzNjZwCIdBiyhBL2E9Gi0N1vkSRCz6RkzmZvti1BHDbM8fXPruoH2tWbL-cGylpiQYeN0eJLglkUZVYwnnBb1M4kaf82vNoq91gPZyB49-J0CNNPvqSS3-175jgNwvxs3uCgvoZomBKxw4VJy8qvyHDz1pyUrIddNOeTdzvVHkSBnMvhY-v1wnng5NIVJ2A0jr4hmZrs6ebDwkAIGIHnaDgpHXFGlpQyFxOpch~vizsihNdNfIyxwF5mVvjUcs7QV6qMPFKV61GhOtgyEWzp2hHUGBnusrvwxmwx3~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council member Ryan Decker introduced draft language on May 5 intended to clarify Lynnwood’s municipal code about eligibility to run for and hold city elective office and to specify acceptable proofs of residency. The council did not vote and agreed to schedule a separate review after members and staff have had time to study the proposed amendment.

Decker said the proposed change responds to recurring public questions about whether voter registration alone is adequate proof of residency. He said the draft would align city proof‑of‑residency standards with documents the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) accepts for driver‑license address changes and would specify acceptable evidence and consequences if a council member no longer resides in the city.

“You must live and reside in the area you seek to have elected office in,” Decker said during the presentation, arguing the proposed code would reduce ambiguity about who is eligible to vote or serve and would clarify examination procedures and outcomes.

Other council members asked for time to review the draft. Council member Josh Bridal said state law and existing processes (including challenges to voter registration and examiner hearings) already provide mechanisms to test residency and cautioned against duplicating state rules. The meeting record shows the council requested that the city clerk circulate the draft and relevant RCW/MRSC guidance and that a future work session be scheduled so members can digest the language and related state statutes.

The item became heated at times during public comment; an audience member interrupted the meeting and was escorted out. Council leadership emphasized the need to keep future discussions civil and focused on the draft language rather than on any individual council member’s circumstances.

Because the proposed language was not on the packet in an easily accessible form for all members, council leadership agreed to table the item and schedule it as a later agenda item after staff circulates the draft ordinance and supporting state guidance. The council asked staff to show the existing municipal code, the proposed amendment, and pertinent state RCWs and MRSC guidance for the next discussion.","Council member Ryan Decker introduced draft language on May 5 to tighten proof-of‑residency standards for city office; the council declined to take immediate action and asked for the draft and related state guidance to be circulated and reviewed at a future meeting.",{"_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},6568689,"Lynnwood Council asks staff to study retail cannabis zoning, buffers and security; public‑safety briefing requested",488,3643000,4131000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3193978-ed23ef482e288d402e963e2db07b03ce&start=3643&end=4131","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3193978-ed23ef482e288d402e963e2db07b03ce/thumbnail_3643000.jpg","/articles/6568689/Lynnwood/Snohomish-County/Washington/Lynnwood-Council-asks-staff-to-study-retail-cannabis-zoning-buffers-and-security-publicsafety-briefing-requested","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568689-d18b47b5abd0fa9ff318b0de44224809/orig.mp4?Expires=1775495725&Signature=WWk0~rZtmxDPjHeyBJCeRYWms8lAs472-ZsDn5DmSwI3lk-W9834REIo3qci7fbWrPCJtOB5xPqJPLeK8x6GDwittbrrdX58Ees703g3GWOcSllqALs7iDWRj19VJF1kZEdC0XhAIQ9FYX2yVFj~OHF-eHqGxQmdQIIWZ5LbDwF4b6MFsbZQ0-K4SSYWACOYt3pXfNljPJ8pIVNW9mcK7Js2DvjY864rRdA0Z0xPS6B9AaRZnXz0eco-hwuWsc6UWudxZnQZ39ODPwpQQV-LLKv6EsZ0v1wrErufjGfipAASeJLO83rzFcIErOsA8BoQ0fE0nzihsiVUPO9gJYEQRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City planning staff and the Planning Commission’s recommendation on retail cannabis zoning drew detailed council discussion at the May 5 Lynnwood City Council work session, and the council directed staff to research several land‑use and public‑safety issues and return June 16.

Planning Manager Carl Almgren and Principal Planner Rebecca Samuels summarized the Planning Commission recommendation to allow retail cannabis in Highway 99 Mixed‑Use, General Commercial and Alderwood zones with required landscaping, parking and standard retail requirements. The commission recommended a minimum 1,000‑foot buffer from certain “restricted entities” in the Highway 99 Mixed‑Use and General Commercial zones, a reduced 300‑foot minimum in the Alderwood zone for certain restricted entities, and a re‑evaluation of the city center after Townsquare Park is complete.

“Local jurisdictions have the ability to determine which zones retail cannabis can be located,” Samuels said, noting that the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) sets statewide minimum separation rules (for example, a 1,000‑foot buffer from schools and certain youth‑serving facilities) but that cities may add additional restrictions or modify buffers for some entity types where state law allows it.

Council members asked staff to return with several items for the June meeting: map visualizations showing the effect of different buffer distances (300 feet, 1,000 feet and alternatives), comparisons to neighboring cities’ ordinances, crime and enforcement data (including experience from nearby jurisdictions), clarity on whether Townsquare Park and Village Green should be treated as future restricted sites, and options for license caps or preferences for social‑equity/small‑business applicants.

There was substantial discussion about security measures (bollards), advertising controls, and whether local regulation can address high‑potency products. Planning staff said bollards are commonly used by retail businesses and that the Planning Commission did not recommend a blanket city requirement because businesses often harden storefronts themselves; they also said the LCB controls product labeling and many advertising rules, though recent legislation shifts some advertisement enforcement responsibilities to local jurisdictions with an effective date next January.

Council member Ryan Decker observed that a 300‑foot buffer is a short distance in urban parcels and used the Alderwood Boys & Girls Club to illustrate how a 300‑foot radius would affect nearby commercial parcels. Planning staff agreed to run parcel‑level buffers and show how parcels would be excluded under different buffer choices.

Council members requested that Chief Langdon or a Lynnwood Police Department representative be invited to June meetings to explain enforcement expectations, public‑consumption rules and any operational recommendations for clustering or dispersing retail outlets. Staff said they would also seek input from the LCB.

The council did not vote on an ordinance; staff will return with maps, legal references, enforcement input and options for license limits or prioritization at the June 16 work session.","City planners briefed the Lynnwood City Council on May 5 about a Planning Commission recommendation to permit retail cannabis in three zones subject to distance buffers and standards; the council asked staff to return with maps, crime data and enforcement guidance in June.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lynnwood officials say 2025 Washington legislative session delivered mixed results; Scriber Creek, Poplar Way and PFD funding secured

Lynnwood councilmember proposes clearer residency proof for candidates; discussion tabled for later review

Lynnwood Council asks staff to study retail cannabis zoning, buffers and security; public‑safety briefing requested