Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents raise construction noise and question city attorney role in initiative challenge; organizers plan Broadway rally
Summary
Public commenters at the Everett City Council urged relief from early‑morning construction noise near the New Compass site, praised the ADU permitting process while questioning the city attorney’s involvement in a court challenge to a citizens’ initiative, and announced a large Snohomish County Indivisible rally along Broadway.
Public comments at the Everett City Council meeting on April 9 included a noise complaint from a downtown resident, a concern about the city attorney’s presence in circuit court proceedings challenging a citizens’ initiative, and an announcement of a large planned rally on Broadway by Snohomish County Indivisible.
Timothy Chipman of Everett (Port Gardner area, District 2) told the council he has been woken by early‑morning jackhammering and dump trucks tied to work at the New Compass facility on Bridal and said the activity had disrupted his sleep and daily life. Councilmember Ryan responded during council comments that city staff expect Compass construction to wrap in May and offered to help with small accommodations such as rubber door stoppers if portable toilets are moved back toward residences.
Annie Lyman said she recently returned to Everett, praised the city’s updated accessory dwelling unit permitting and inspection process, and then said she attended a hearing in Judge Alexander’s court where master builders challenged a citizens’ initiative approved in November. Lyman said she was surprised the city attorney appeared at the hearing alongside representatives of the Port of Everett and asked for an explanation. City Attorney Jennifer Covertz said the city’s appearance was not to advocate for the Port, but to ask the court to decide procedural standing so the merits could be addressed; Covertz said the city did not take a position on the merits and was focused on ensuring the court could rule on the validity of the initiative.
Paula Townsville, identifying herself as a co‑lead and event coordinator for Snohomish County Indivisible, told the council the organization coordinated what she called the largest political rally in the city and county (she estimated attendance “conservatively” at more than 3,500 people) and announced another planned mobilization along Broadway. Townsville said she submitted a permit application and that the event will be family friendly, include sign‑waving and a food drive, and span Broadway from 700 North Broadway to 40 First Street.
Ending: The council thanked speakers and noted follow‑up from city staff: construction complaints were being processed as code enforcement inquiries, and the city attorney's office said it would explain its procedural appearance in the court proceeding during attorney comments.
