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Arlington staff present 2026 1% levy proposal and an 18‑item annual docket including airport rezone
Summary
City staff presented a proposed 1% property tax levy for 2026 and an 18‑item annual docket including an airport rezone that requires FAA review, childcare code changes, middle‑housing adjustments and a potential SEPA exemption threshold increase.
City staff presented the 2026 property tax levy and the proposed 2026 annual docket during the Oct. 28 workshop.
Paul (city staff) said the 2026 budget includes a proposed 1% property tax levy increase and described the item as time‑sensitive; he offered to calculate the dollar impact on an average house and circulate that figure to council members. "I didn't calculate that, but I can figure that out for you and send it to you," he said when asked about the levy’s household impact.
Planning staff member Amy introduced an 18‑item docket that staff intend to pursue in 2026 as the city’s work plan. Key items on the draft docket include:
- A potential rezone of airport land from airfield to light industrial to make certain businesses allowable (the change would require FAA review); - Code cleanups and updates to respond to recent House and Senate bills and to make administrative interpretations while jurisdictions adapt to state changes; - A change to permit childcare centers to occupy existing buildings with business licenses where appropriate (subject to building and sprinkler requirements); - Revisions tied to the middle housing bill (House Bill 1110) to treat middle‑housing consistently with single‑family code on landscaping and related standards; - An analysis of raising the SEPA categorical exemption threshold so more projects avoid SEPA review, with staff to recommend a level between the minimum and maximum allowed.
Amy said docket items are not final policy actions; they will proceed through staff drafting, Department of Commerce review, planning commission, SEPA where required, and then return to the council for adoption. She said most docket items are typically 90% complete by the time they reach the Department of Commerce and that a new planner will start shortly to assist with the workload.
Where it stands: Council did not adopt any docket code changes tonight; staff will use the docket as the work plan for 2026 and return with draft code language and analysis on individual items as they progress through statutory review and the planning commission process.
