Staff urge targeted changes to Everett SODA order areas; recommend removing Wiggum's Hollow, adding North Broadway

City staff and police presented recommended changes to Everett's SODA order areas at the Community Health and Safety Committee meeting on June 4, 2025, saying the routine two‑year review required by EMC 10.13.040 supports three targeted alterations: remove Wiggum's Hollow Park from the designated SODA areas, retain Henry Jackson Park, and add North Broadway from the 700 block to Marine View Drive.

The recommendation matters because the municipal code (EMC 10.13.040) requires the council to review SODA orders biennially and because SODA areas carry enforcement implications and have been subject to legal challenge. Lacey (staff member) said the police department and city attorney recommend keeping most SODA areas unchanged “with 3 changes recommended based on the data.”

Police analysts provided maps of fatal and nonfatal overdoses, arrests for drug and narcotic violations, and calls for service in 2021–2024. Sgt. Chris Bennett and Sgt. Nate Wallace told the committee that different datasets tell different parts of the story: arrest data reflect reported law enforcement actions, while calls for service can show additional substance‑related incidents that did not result in arrest. "We're not gonna have numbers" for incidents…