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Kenmore to back Ecology guidance in Snohomish County wetlands rulemaking; city manager to send mayoral letter
Summary
Council directed the city manager to prepare a mayoral letter expressing support for Department of Ecology‑aligned critical‑area protections as Snohomish County reviews changes to wetland buffers and fill allowances.
Kenmore City Council instructed the city manager to prepare a letter for the mayor’s signature expressing support for the Department of Ecology’s critical area guidance after staff flagged proposed Snohomish County amendments that would reduce wetland buffers and permit additional filling.
City staff alerted council to recent Snohomish County actions and two county council members’ amendments that, according to staff, would deviate from Ecology recommendations by allowing more filling of wetlands and smaller buffers. Council members said Kenmore — as a downstream jurisdiction with Swamp Creek and other shared waterways — has a stake in regional critical‑area protections.
The city manager said staff could not prepare an in‑person hearing presentation on short notice but recommended the city send a concise letter stating support for Ecology’s approach; the mayor’s office staff will sign the letter. Council asked staff to prepare the draft promptly; the city manager said he would proceed unless any council member objected.
The direction represents a near‑term policy intervention in neighboring county rulemaking to signal Kenmore’s preference for stronger protections and to support Ecology’s approach to wetland buffers.
