Mountlake Terrace targets $300,000 to finish library project; readies senior center request for 2027

Mountlake Terrace city staff and outside consultants presented a draft 2026 state legislative agenda at the Oct. 9 council meeting, asking councilmembers to confirm priorities and provide feedback before the short session begins Jan. 12, 2026.

City staff and the consulting team said the city’s top funding request for the 2026 supplemental capital budget will be a $300,000 follow-up appropriation to complete the Mountlake Terrace Library roof and HVAC replacement. Amina Thiori, who led the presentation for city staff, said the city secured $500,000 in the 2025 session but still needs the remaining $300,000 to finish the work.

Shelly, a legislative consultant working with the city and introduced as representing the presentation team, told the council that 2026 is a “short” 60-day session and is typically a supplemental year for the state’s two-year budgets. She explained that the capital budget often funds local projects through the Local Community Project list and that awards in supplemental years tend to be smaller; she noted the average award in prior supplemental budgets was about $211,000 but called a $300,000 request “ambitious but certainly not unrealistic.”

Why this matters: finishing the library roof and HVAC will let the city draw down previously allocated funds and complete a visible municipal facility upgrade. Councilmembers and staff framed the request as a narrow, achievable ask to close out a multi-year project.

Councilmembers also supported using 2026 to lay groundwork for a larger capital request in 2027 for the Mickey Corso clubhouse (council consensus was to present the facility as the Mountlake Terrace Senior Center to legislators). Amina Thiori told the council the clubhouse project’s total cost is about $1,150,000 and the city plans to seek $1,000,000 from the capital budget in 2027, while exploring phased approaches and partial funding options. The presentation recommended identifying the clubhouse as a priority in 2026 so staff and advocates can educate lawmakers about its use as a warming and cooling center, smoke shelter during events, and community hub for multigenerational services.

The council removed the Main Street Revitalization Project from the draft top priorities for 2026 because no new state funding will be requested this session; staff said the city must demonstrate progress and draw down previously awarded funds before pursuing more appropriations.

Other agenda items: staff proposed keeping an “additional priorities” section of the legislative agenda that lists topics the city will monitor and weigh in on if bills arise. The list reflects prior-year language but was updated to: remove parks funding (several grant programs are funded only in odd-numbered years), revise public defense language to reflect that the Washington Supreme Court has adopted new caseload standards, and add a call for state investment in workforce development and incentives to attract and retain public defenders.

Process and timing: consultant Shelly described the 2026 session as the second year of the biennium and stressed that the governor’s supplemental budget will be the starting point for lawmakers. Staff said they will finalize the agenda based on the council’s feedback, schedule legislative briefings with the city’s delegation, and recommended council members consider visiting Olympia in January (City Action Days and other lobbying opportunities were discussed).

Council feedback: Councilmember Murray asked that housing language be broadened to indicate an interest in policies that increase homeownership opportunities as well as rental supply. Mayor Pro Tem Wall and others urged tailoring the Mickey Corso clubhouse label to “Mountlake Terrace Senior Center” to improve legislative messaging. Several councilmembers encouraged staff and the consultant to keep the agenda focused and city-centric to maximize legislative success.

Next steps and deadlines: the council was asked to send further edits by email so staff and consultants can finalize the agenda and begin scheduled meetings with legislators ahead of the Jan. 12, 2026 start of the session.

Ending: City staff said the recommended single funding ask for 2026 is the $300,000 library request, while preparatory work for the senior center request will continue through 2026 with a formal capital ask planned for 2027.