Dozens of residents told the Kenmore City Council on Tuesday that the city should take additional steps to monitor and reduce air pollution from the Cadman asphalt plant and to perform environmental testing at nearby Lake Point. The council directed staff to prepare a report on options, costs and past work and agreed by consensus to add the item to a future agenda. "They would like the City to come forward with real action, cleanup plan, and enforcement," resident Stacy Valenzuela said, asking the council to install stationary monitors that measure volatile organic compounds and particulate matter. Valenzuela also urged the city to request a Health Evaluation Epidemiology Study and to work with Cadman/Heidelberg on planting rows of trees and other buffers.

The residents’ appeals followed public remarks honoring Patrick O’Brien, a longtime Kenmore activist who repeatedly raised air-quality concerns. Janet Hayes said O’Brien spent years alerting neighbors to possible contaminants and pressing for testing; Elizabeth Mooney urged the city to place monitors "on city property near the asphalt company to protect our city, our citizens, our visitors, our bikers, our walkers, our dogs from unhealthy air pollution." Jim Myers and John Hendrickson reiterated calls for public, rigorous testing of soils and air in and around Lake Point and the industrial area.

Why it matters: commenters said local monitoring and testing are needed to determine whether emissions are harming residents’ health and to inform cleanup or mitigation plans. Stacy Valenzuela said Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) testing showed emissions were more than "just steam" and noted the asphalt plant’s permit includes 21 additional stipulations. Council members repeatedly asked for a staff-level summary of what the city has already done, what testing is possible, cost estimates, and legal limits on city authority.

Council action and constraints: Councilmember Chris Culver moved to bring the matter back as a council agenda item; the motion was seconded and discussed. Culver said, "Community voices matter in Kenmore and public health and safety are paramount." Councilmember Marshall supported a staff presentation summarizing completed work and outstanding questions. Councilmember Shrevnick asked for specifics about air-monitoring approaches. Deputy Mayor O'Kane and others asked staff to be transparent about funding already earmarked for testing. City officials and council members noted a legal constraint: the city cannot perform intrusive, on‑site testing at Lake Point without the property owner's permission, so some testing approaches would require cooperation from the landowner or alternate off‑site sampling strategies.

Next steps and community requests: Councilmembers asked staff to return with a packet that explains prior investigations, what additional testing (including stationary monitors for VOCs and particulate matter) would cost, technical pros and cons of on‑site versus off‑site sampling, and whether funding already earmarked for Lake Point due diligence can be used. Several residents also requested a resident‑alert system tied to monitor thresholds and additional vegetation buffers along the Cadman site.

Context: The remarks came during public comment and council discussion. Speakers referenced PSCAA testing and the plant’s permit conditions; council members emphasized that any Lake Point testing that requires entry onto private property will need the owner’s agreement. The council did not adopt a formal ordinance or binding remediation plan at the meeting; it requested a staff report to outline options and constraints.

The council meeting did not set a firm date for the staff presentation; council members said the matter will be scheduled for a future agenda and returned to the council for further direction.