Everett council moves forward with second reading of buffer-zone ordinance after mixed public comment

The Everett City Council held a second reading Oct. 15 of council bill 2509-53, a proposed amendment creating service/facility "buffer zones" in parts of downtown, and set a final reading for Oct. 22, 2025.

The ordinance drew both support and opposition during public comment. Liz Denning, representing the Downtown Everett Association, said the buffer zones have helped downtown businesses and cleaning crews. "We've been we've seen some meaningful improvements downtown recently. Some reports from our cleaning our cleaning crews are they're seeing fewer incidents of trash and biohazards," Denning said, adding that areas near the Everpark garage and the Imagine Children's Museum feel "more, inviting and secure and also easier for our crew to navigate." Denning also noted the ordinance requires a right-of-way use permit for food-supply distribution events and said she has observed more coordination between Everett Police Department staff and social workers.

Several residents…