Snohomish County Council approves a slate of resolutions, contracts, appointments and grant; sets critical areas hearing

The Snohomish County Council unanimously approved multiple resolutions, contract authorizations, appointments and a grant agreement during its April 23 general legislative session.

The council passed two ceremonial resolutions recognizing Arbor Day (Resolution 25-012) and Workers' Memorial Day (Resolution 25-013), approved the consent agenda and adopted administrative matters by recorded motions. The meeting recorded five council members present.

The council voted to approve amendments and new contracts including: an amendment to the county's printing and mailing services agreement with Master's Touch LLC (motion 25-203); a software-as-a-service agreement with GXP Partners LLC for a case management system for the Office of Hearings Administration (motion 25-195); amendments to interlocal agreements under the Puget Sound Taxpayer Accountability Act with Edmonds School District (motion 25-189) and Everett Community College (motion 25-190); an amended and restated interlocal agreement for the Snohomish County Regional Public Safety Communications Agency (motion 25-194); and a contract for indigent defense services with Margaret McGinty (motion 25-183) and an amendment increasing outside counsel funding for Keating, Buckland, and McCormick for conflict representation (motion 25-191).

The council also confirmed several board and advisory appointments: three appointments/reappointments to the Agricultural Advisory Board (motions 25-120, 25-121, 25-185) and an appointment to the Council on Aging (motion 25-180). The council accepted the 2025 audit plan from the county performance auditor (motion 25-184). The council authorized a grant agreement with the Washington State Department of Agriculture for the Snohomish County Food and Farming Center (motion 25-196) and set the time and date for a public hearing on the county's critical areas regulations update (Ordinance 24-097) for May 14, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.

All motions brought forward on the agenda were adopted by unanimous voice vote of the five members in attendance. No votes failed or were tabled during the meeting.

Votes at a glance (select items, motions listed as in the meeting record): - Resolution 25-012 — Recognizing April 25, 2025 as Arbor Day in Snohomish County. Outcome: approved unanimously. - Resolution 25-013 — Recognizing April 23, 2025 as Workers' Memorial Day in Snohomish County. Outcome: approved unanimously. - Motion 25-203 — Amendment No. 2 to the professional services agreement with Master's Touch LLC for printing and mailing assessor property documents; updates not-to-exceed amount to $235,000 and corrects the extension term (staff corrected an earlier staff report that misstated extension length). Outcome: approved unanimously. - Motion 25-195 — Approve software-as-a-service agreement with GXP Partners LLC (APN Case Management Studio) for a case management system, not-to-exceed $312,280 plus sales tax over an initial five-year term under Snohomish County Code 3.04.014(11). Outcome: approved unanimously. - Motion 25-189 — Amendment No. 8 to the Puget Sound Taxpayer Accountability Act interlocal with Edmonds School District to fund part of an early learning coordinator position. Outcome: approved unanimously. - Motion 25-190 — Amendment No. 8 to the Puget Sound Taxpayer Accountability Act interlocal with Everett Community College; updates childcare provider to Connect Casino Road; services unchanged. Outcome: approved unanimously. - Motion 25-194 — Approve amended and restated interlocal agreement for the Snohomish County Regional Public Safety Communications Agency; revises scope of services and requires supermajority for agreements for additional services. Outcome: approved unanimously. - Motions 25-120, 25-121, 25-185 — Confirm appointments to the Agricultural Advisory Board (Scott Lucky; Steve Lozemben; reappointment of Keith Stalker). Outcome: approved unanimously. - Motion 25-180 — Confirm appointment of Christina Gisinski to the Snohomish County Council on Aging for a three-year initial term. Outcome: approved unanimously. - Motion 25-183 — Contract with Margaret McGinty to provide indigent defense services for conflicts, Jan. 1, 2025–Dec. 31, 2026, with option to extend; do-not-exceed amount $700,000. Outcome: approved unanimously. - Motion 25-191 — Amendment No. 1 to a contract for outside counsel (Shannon Reganese) increasing the not-to-exceed from $50,000 to $150,000, paid from fund 506; clerical amendment to swap an updated signed amendment was approved. Outcome: approved unanimously (amended motion passed unanimously). - Motion 25-196 — Authorize grant agreement with Washington State Department of Agriculture to Snohomish County Food and Farming Center: award amount $1,685,482; grant period begins 04/01/2025 and ends 05/15/2027. Outcome: approved unanimously. - Ordinance 24-097 — Set time and date for public hearing on critical areas regulations update pursuant to the Growth Management Act: hearing set for May 14, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. Outcome: scheduled. - Motion 25-184 — Adopt 2025 audit plan from the Office of the County Performance Auditor. Outcome: approved unanimously.

No substantive public comment was recorded during the session. The special report (state legislative update) was provided near the end of the meeting; the council then adjourned.

Ending: The council concluded its April 23 session after adopting the listed motions and hearing a state legislative update; the council will hold the public hearing on the critical areas ordinance on May 14 as scheduled.