[{"_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",6213165,"mediaKeyId","3680239-b8f1a30018fab8271435bfbba3eea3cb","parentId",3680239,"title","After one year, Bothell reports stable fire operations under Shoreline executive-services interlocal agreement","audioSeconds",3339,"startMs",2442000,"endMs",5781000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3680239-b8f1a30018fab8271435bfbba3eea3cb&start=2442&end=5781","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3680239-b8f1a30018fab8271435bfbba3eea3cb/thumbnail_2442000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6213165/Bothell/King-County/Washington/After-one-year-Bothell-reports-stable-fire-operations-under-Shoreline-executive-services-interlocal-agreement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213165-df4085e9613d09315022d6543ddbcd00/orig.mp4?Expires=1773573742&Signature=DPQCkARYInHt-B7R1sKcoBHwPSUQzDT9OZIpLnE9tTol0RdYBsy43e3NfKLZpjB2F0qNuFfYMHU1TbCJtZFDR9W0-WyqQ9kQC6ZX2cUFUwMu7a1x5~gtOe5Jutyu24xIQre9LA7hjlenw6NBgwqHfxVpGv~LhQf-r3M58FRHNi-yhhUJqjQtdHBZBfwkbMyZI1zlO~B9rH8RdjyqaY3qsCP1Ivn57KMI2NGhTL4nX7zAtgobAIgldLXsVudT42v-qKCTYoxWFIFx3-NkD4borD7f3rw585JsrSGMTaeTyocEaIqU-RedDvOA8gAwPghUEQVRkHR4U-76z7BjYuXcSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bothell City, WA","date","2025-06-05T20:33:07.863Z","article","After one year under an executive-services interlocal agreement with Shoreline Fire, Bothell staff reported that administrative leadership provided by Shoreline has stabilized the Bothell Fire Department and produced measurable operational and maintenance improvements.

Shoreline Chief Matt Cowan — who has served as Bothell’s fire chief since the interlocal agreement took effect June 1, 2024 — and Bothell staff presented findings at the June 3 study session. City Manager and Chief Cowan reviewed the interlocal agreement’s scope and emphasized that Bothell retains its firefighters, apparatus and stations while Shoreline provides executive-level administration.

Division Chief Kelly Cross, who described herself as a long‑time Bothell employee, said, “In the first year of the executive ILA, we’ve seen an improvement in a more stabilized leadership structure.” Staff reported several specific operational gains: an expanded, hands‑on training program (including more live‑fire and technical‑rescue hours), a revamped EMS quality‑assurance process, and unified response plans across jurisdictions. Chief Ormes (Shoreline’s assistant chief assigned during the transition) and others credited the shared training consortium for enabling those improvements.

Staff presented quantitative examples: technical‑rescue training increased from 24 to 64 hours annually in the areas discussed; primary search performance in residential structure fires decreased (improved) by roughly 30% year‑over‑year; and response and turnout time measures were reported as stable or improving after methodology refinements that align reporting with NFPA standards.

Fleet maintenance and logistics also moved under Shoreline’s fleet maintenance program. Chief Hoekstein (fleet) said Shoreline mechanics now schedule preventive maintenance, travel to Bothell for smaller repairs, and have completed shop repairs for Bothell rigs. Staff gave a weekend example in which a Bothell engine that broke down on a call was repaired and returned to service in about two and a half hours.

Staff flagged near‑term and midrange projects: remodeling Station 44 (design phase underway, with a hoped-for late‑2025 or early‑2026 ground‑breaking), continued work on ladder‑truck specifications (a Shoreline fleet manager accompanied the Bothell ladder committee on a manufacturer visit), potential joint staffing of a heavy rescue unit with neighboring departments, and an expansion of mobile integrated health (MIH) services and follow‑up referrals tied to county EMS programs. Staff also noted ongoing discussions about service-level needs in South Bothell and said additional resources would improve reliability from busier stations.

Council members asked about the scope of county ALS (advanced life support) arrangements and how King County’s EMS levy and county contracting interact with Shoreline and Bothell. Chief Cowan and staff explained that King County funds and coordinates paramedic services via a countywide levy and contracts; municipalities are typically subcontractors to that system and must coordinate with the county on unit placement and service levels. Staff said the city has historically benefited from a favorable King County EMS levy and cited prior voter support in the Snohomish‑County portion of Bothell.

Staff described workforce and morale advances attributed to more consistent executive leadership and face‑to‑face engagement during the transition. Council members asked for a formal survey or other quantifiable employee feedback; staff said most feedback to date has been anecdotal and gathered through “chief chats,” HR touchpoints and union leadership conversations, and that they will consider more formal survey instruments going forward.

There was no council action; the interlocal agreement itself was authorized previously (resolution authorizing the city manager to sign the agreement was adopted in February, as staff noted), and this presentation fulfilled a year‑one reporting commitment in that agreement.

Ending: Council members thanked the chiefs and staff for the review and asked staff to continue returning with metrics and to brief council on station‑level planning, fleet timelines and any proposed staffing changes tied to capital or levy decisions.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bothell City Council Meeting - June 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After one year under an interlocal agreement with Shoreline Fire, Bothell staff reported stabilized executive leadership and operational improvements but no change in local firefighter staffing or apparatus ownership.","taxTitle","Bothell, King County, Washington","taxId",53919,"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},6213160,"Council reviews Phase 2 code amendments: neighborhood‑scale commercial, parking minimums and bicycle parking proposals",5656,5665000,8230,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3680239-b8f1a30018fab8271435bfbba3eea3cb&start=5665&end=8","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3680239-b8f1a30018fab8271435bfbba3eea3cb/thumbnail_5665000.jpg","/articles/6213160/Bothell/King-County/Washington/Council-reviews-Phase-2-code-amendments-neighborhoodscale-commercial-parking-minimums-and-bicycle-parking-proposals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213160-f0934849c7d9f349877622166480d196/orig.mp4?Expires=1773573742&Signature=A-L2KlQsIBWwUQbjR0gMzqE43Aw441UsXPQRfshcjAnqEE7AWyf0r-1XJ~s2yZgv40H3D4bIqKGDaxXvcwM-XNUayXcYUkC9Qv9wqNPYoTA24Ntryo-heQ1Yd5-fRXYNEo2NHL9kfraARBhb9GvMC0BFqOH-k3rv7iaPZP2PtHtxt9rxhGfLtXocyrv9-m9nnBd4AmYQr7OSt8yQZ-T5v3Slh0vHSdvddv5C~4Z8PSm7CLF~daHGLZEYuYKBsXg7zzL~P2Naen1gaDKyAx1ty6-oLVuTiGFP4ubr6W4JzNQ5CAtPKCE2jeZQCumQ4TSZuS39nY66IjPA~WH0MAcfRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City planners presented draft Phase 2 code amendments aimed at implementing the 2024 Imagine Bothell comprehensive plan, including provisions to allow neighborhood‑scale commercial uses in residential areas, proposals to remove off‑street parking minimums, and new bicycle‑parking standards. Council provided feedback and requested follow‑up analysis on a few specifics.

Jacqueline Sampson, a city planner, told council the Phase 2 work aligns the municipal code with the comprehensive plan and responds to state and regional guidance. “The purpose of the Phase 2 code updates is to align the Bothell Municipal Code with the city's values and vision around future development as highlighted in the 2024 Imagine Bothell comprehensive plan,” Sampson said.

What staff proposed

- Neighborhood‑scale commercial: Staff proposed permitting small, neighborhood‑scaled retail in targeted zones and recommended a proportional approach: commercial area limited to 30% of the site’s net billable area with a floor of 1,800 square feet (or 30% of the lot, whichever is greater) and a maximum cap of 2,500 square feet. Staff said the caps are intended to keep neighborhood commercial true to local scale while allowing flexibility for small lots.

- Off‑street parking minimums: Staff presented revisions responding to Senate Bill 5184 (signed May 7, 2025) and the council’s interest in exploring elimination of off‑street parking minimums citywide. Under staff’s draft, vehicle parking minimums would be removed; bicycle parking and rideshare requirements would be calculated independently. Staff used Bellingham’s bicycle‑parking model as a reference for long‑ and short‑term bicycle parking design.

- Rideshare and pick‑up/drop‑off: For sites that do provide off‑street parking, staff proposed retaining a requirement of one rideshare/bridal‑share space for every 20 proposed vehicle parking spaces (presented as a carryover of current policy for sites that still propose off‑street parking).

- Building and hard‑surface coverage: Staff recommended eliminating maximum building coverage and relying on maximum hard‑surface coverage and stormwater rules already in place; no substantive change to current hard‑surface limits was proposed.

- Administrative and variance clarifications: The draft includes clarifications to variance criteria, private dock processes, and the definition of net billable area.

Council feedback and questions

Councilmembers raised practical concerns: whether the 1,800‑square‑foot minimum might exclude very small, viable micro‑retail uses; whether incentives or technical assistance should be available to retrofit bike parking at existing businesses; and whether e‑bike charging access (110‑volt outlets) should be encouraged or required for long‑term bicycle parking. Several council members suggested staff consider exemptions or scaled requirements for very small storefronts so entrepreneurs are not overburdened by infrastructure costs.

Council also asked about implementation, enforcement and downtown coordination. The city manager said staff are developing a cross‑departmental approach to parking enforcement and management, have inventoried downtown parking (roughly 360–380 spots), and are exploring vendor and technology options. Staff said a public hearing on the Phase 2 draft is scheduled for June 17; if no substantive comments are received that night, staff plan to return with an ordinance for council consideration in July.

Public comment: a Bothell resident who had earlier addressed the council during public comment, Mark Swanson, was cited by council members as an example of neighborhood opposition to retail in residential zones; council asked staff to weigh that neighborhood sentiment in outreach and engagement.

Ending: Staff will refine draft language in response to council feedback (in particular minimum commercial size and bicycle‑parking details), incorporate interdepartmental input on enforcement and incentives, and present the public hearing record on June 17; no action was taken at the June 3 study session.

","City planners presented draft Phase 2 code amendments to allow neighborhood‑scale commercial uses, remove off‑street parking minimums and require updated bicycle‑parking standards; staff requested council feedback and scheduled a public hearing for June 17.",{"_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},6213170,"Bothell staff brief council on state rent-stabilization law, urge continued outreach and local study",538,1280000,1818000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3680239-b8f1a30018fab8271435bfbba3eea3cb&start=1280&end=1818","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3680239-b8f1a30018fab8271435bfbba3eea3cb/thumbnail_1280000.jpg","/articles/6213170/Bothell/King-County/Washington/Bothell-staff-brief-council-on-state-rent-stabilization-law-urge-continued-outreach-and-local-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213170-eecfd37eaadd22dac247d77573e55b8d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773573742&Signature=jsei9BrFo1Txstac77u6WSWYvp3RjIt1tkHxybDqd1d2rK-uB3z6pTyMHbkn~Eusfz7SoZF1zVRGCREMLbDBm0R-lGZk0jOlsyRz0kZ86CEyT7CYhWpweWaW8l-nZdJbolWqY~voH-MpdVdLM1K8rTEF-g~Wr~QcC9WTxQmzcnDlIPw23YzYlq~yXQvy9Dm3CfHz2LkMOqA5b165ulslOcfPnL5WcUuByr7wyFpHgs4mWCp-U1ijzeXKx0F~~PN9CSX-UnXZM2bI4O-CxtKNRRe39O4Fn~Oy7ZneIeHRsxNA6t0FIoUu7gRqp9aFIxMFlaQ1nrY4tsgeveQZmq5zKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented an update on tenant protections and the recently enacted state rent-stabilization law and asked the City Council to continue local outreach and study rather than take immediate local regulatory action.

The update, led by Anand Manthragada, the city’s human services coordinator, summarized community engagement, compared Bothell’s options with neighboring cities and summarized the new state law. “We are not requesting any formal action from City Council tonight,” Manthragada said, describing the presentation as an informational update and next-steps recommendation.

Why it matters: the state law changes affect notice, caps and fees that shape landlord and renter behavior; local officials said they want to track how the law affects Bothell residents, and whether local code changes or additional programs are needed.

Staff told council members the city completed focus groups and received written comments from renters and landlords as part of a Human Services Needs Assessment conducted in December 2024 and January 2025. Renters expressed “deep concerns” over rent increases and strong support for longer notice periods and limits on move-in fees, deposits and late fees. Landlords — particularly small private landlords — told staff they were concerned about disproportionate impacts on owners of one or two units and about whether new measures will help renters or simply shift burdens.

Staff summarized the state statute (presented in the packet as House Bill 1217) as follows: a cap on rent increases set at “7% plus CPI or 10% whichever is lesser,” a lower cap (stated in the presentation as 5%) for residents in manufactured housing communities, and a notice-of-rent-increase requirement that the presenter described as 90 days (with a 30-day notice for subsidizing/subsidized housing as presented). Staff also described limits on late fees — presented as 2% of rent in the first month, 3% in the second consecutive month and 5% in the third consecutive month — and said the state now includes tenant rights such as the ability to terminate leases under certain conditions.

Staff emphasized differences between the state law and protections some nearby cities have adopted: several regional cities (Shoreline, Kenmore, Redmond, Woodinville and Kirkland) have adopted larger notice periods for large increases (examples given: 120 days for increases greater than 3%, 180 days for increases greater than 10%), and some cities calculate move-in fees and other charges differently. Staff said regional cities and Bothell must reconcile local choices with state limits.

Council members asked about communication plans to ensure residents know their new state rights. Manthragada and the planner on the presentation, Jacqueline Sampson, said the housing action plan outreach and existing city mailing lists could be used to reach participants in earlier forums and other community members. Staff recommended continuing to assess the law’s local impact, continue community engagement, and return to council with potential next steps based on that local feedback.

No vote or ordinance was proposed; staff explicitly requested guidance and additional community feedback before proposing any local code changes.

Looking ahead, staff said the city will continue outreach through the housing action plan public engagement later in 2025 and will return to council with findings before proposing any local regulations or code amendments.

Ending: Council members thanked staff and asked that the state protections be highlighted in outreach materials; staff said they will pursue continued engagement and report back to council.

","City staff updated the Bothell City Council on statewide rent-stabilization changes enacted in the last legislative session, summarized community feedback from renters and landlords, and recommended continued local assessment and public engagement; no formal action was requested.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

After one year, Bothell reports stable fire operations under Shoreline executive-services interlocal agreement

Council reviews Phase 2 code amendments: neighborhood‑scale commercial, parking minimums and bicycle parking proposals

Bothell staff brief council on state rent-stabilization law, urge continued outreach and local study