Snohomish County Council unanimously approves interlocal agreements, DOJ rapid-DNA grant and Monroe annexation

Snohomish County Council members on Wednesday, Jan. 8, unanimously approved a series of interlocal agreements, authorized a federal grant to buy rapid-DNA equipment for the sheriff's office, and approved a 30-acre annexation petition by the City of Monroe.

Council Chair Nehring presided over the public hearing. Ryan Countryman, council staff, presented multiple ordinances that would authorize the county executive to sign interlocal agreements with state and local partners and to execute grant documents.

Why it matters: the votes let Snohomish County continue or begin partnerships for energy services with a state agency, share health surveillance data with the Washington State Department of Health, confirm operational responsibility for a recreational boat launch, resolve a drainage-cost agreement for a flood control district, and clear the way for a Monroe annexation. The council also authorized a $448,000 federal grant to purchase rapid-DNA equipment that staff said would return DNA results within 90 minutes and has recurring consumable and maintenance costs.

Most significant actions taken

- Ordinance 24-1-102: Approved an interlocal agreement with the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services to participate in energy program services. Ryan Countryman summarized the ordinance and said the agreement (Exhibit A to the ordinance) allows the county executive or designee to sign and to approve amendments if appropriation authority exists. No public testimony was offered. The ordinance passed by roll call vote, 5-0 (Dunn: yes; Mead: yes; Low: yes; Peterson: yes; Nehring: yes).

- Ordinance 24-1-110: Authorized a data-sharing agreement with the Washington State Department of Health for access to ESSENCE (syndromic surveillance) data. Cynthia Foley, council staff, said, "ESSENCE data is some of the timeliest information available, with over 90% of emergency departments reporting within 24 hours." No public testimony was offered. The ordinance passed by roll call vote, 5-0 (Dunn: yes; Mead: yes; Low: yes; Peterson: yes; Nehring: yes).

- Ordinance 24-1-116: Authorized a grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, to the sheriff's office for rapid-DNA technology. Nicole Gourley, council staff, said, "The Sheriff's Office has been awarded a grant in the amount of $448,000 from the Federal Department of Justice to procure and implement a rapid DNA technology." Gourley said the grant period runs from 01/01/2025 through 06/30/2026 and that ongoing annual costs are estimated at $25,000 for consumables, maintenance and training. No public testimony was offered. The ordinance passed by roll call vote, 5-0 (Dunn: yes; Mead: yes; Low: yes; Peterson: yes; Nehring: yes).

- Ordinance 24-1-103: Approved an interlocal agreement among Snohomish County, the Port of Everett and the City of Everett for operation and maintenance of Jetty Landing Launch. Ryan Countryman said the landing is jointly owned by the three agencies and that the ordinance identifies the Port of Everett as the agency to perform certain stormwater-permit–related activities. No public testimony was offered. The ordinance passed by roll call vote, 5-0 (Dunn: yes; Mead: yes; Low: yes; Peterson: yes; Nehring: yes).

- Ordinance 24-1-106: Approved an interlocal agreement among Snohomish County, the City of Everett and the Marshland Flood Control District to address incremental hillside runoff costs associated with upland development in the Marshland Drainage Basin. Countryman said the agreement replaces an expiring agreement and estimated the county's annual cost at $85,000. No public testimony was offered. The ordinance passed by roll call vote, 5-0 (Dunn: yes; Mead: yes; Low: yes; Peterson: yes; Nehring: yes).

- Ordinance 24-1-105 and Motion 24-5-27 (combined): Approved an annexation interlocal agreement and approved the Monroe 30 annexation petition (BRB file no. 2024-04). Countryman said the City of Monroe seeks to annex 30 acres within its urban growth area and that the annexation-specific interlocal agreement spells out terms negotiated by county planning staff and the city. David Toyer of Toyer Strategic Advisors, speaking on behalf of property owners, said the owners "fully support the annexation" and that the petition was signed by "100% of the owners of the property." The ordinance and motion were approved; the motion to approve the annexation was carried by voice vote and the ordinance passed by roll call, 5-0.

- Ordinance 24-1-112: Approved code amendments to chapter 30.74 Snohomish County Code to align the county's docketing and plan-update cycle with recent changes to the Washington State Growth Management Act. Countryman said the state has moved the plan-update cycle to 10 years and the county code needed housekeeping changes. No public testimony was offered. The ordinance passed by roll call vote, 5-0 (Dunn: yes; Mead: yes; Low: yes; Peterson: yes; Nehring: yes).

Votes at a glance

All recorded roll-call votes in this hearing were 5-0 in favor. Where roll-call names were read, the votes were recorded as: Vice Chair Dunn — yes; Council Member Mead — yes; Council Member Low — yes; Council Member Peterson — yes; Council Chair Nehring — yes.

Public comment and other notes

Only one public speaker took the podium on an item: David Toyer, representing landowners in the Monroe 30 petition, expressed support for the annexation and said the petition was signed by all property owners. Several items were presented after prior committee briefings (December GLS and committee briefings were cited for multiple ordinances). For multiple ordinances staff noted they had received no public comments since those briefings.

What was not decided or not specified

- Mover and seconder names for specific motions were not specified in the public transcript for most items. - Some internal contract or agreement expiration dates and exact amendment terms were presented in staff reports; the detailed contract language and Exhibit A attachments referenced by staff were not read into the record and are not specified in this summary.

Ending

After the final ordinance passed, Council Chair Nehring adjourned the hearing. The council scheduled no additional action during this session and recorded no dissenting votes.