Lynnwood council asks city attorney to draft clearer residency rules after public uproar

Lynnwood City Council members spent more than two hours on Feb. 10 debating whether the city’s municipal code gives clear guidance on who qualifies to hold an elected seat, and directed the city attorney to draft proposed code language to clarify residency proof and vacancy procedures.

The discussion followed public comments and written communications alleging that a sitting council member had not maintained residency in Lynnwood. The council did not adopt an ordinance or remove any official at the meeting; instead members asked legal staff to draft code changes for future consideration.

Why it matters: Council members said the dispute has eroded public trust and prompted repeated requests for clarity about residency, what counts as proof, and how long a council member may be absent from the city before a seat is considered vacant. Several residents and outside commenters urged immediate action; other council members cautioned that state case law and procedural limits complicate unilateral local action.

Public commenters raised the issue directly. On Zoom, Joe Kunzler said he had filed a Public Disclosure Commission complaint and urged the council to “ask mister Binda to resign,”…