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Lynnwood council declines amendment to raise jail housing rate, approves interlocal agreement as written
Summary
Council rejected an amendment to raise the daily housing rate in a new jail interlocal agreement from $198 to $210 after questions about partner notification and revenue impact; the council later approved the original ILA authorizing the mayor to sign it.
Council President Hurst moved to amend the proposed interlocal agreement for regional jail services to increase the daily housing rate from $198 to $210, saying Lynnwood should charge a market rate for agencies that use the facility. “I would hope that people will support this change,” Hurst said, citing comparable rates in nearby jurisdictions.
Police Chief Langdon expressed concern about altering expectations for partner agencies and said the department would follow council direction. “We’ll move in whatever direction council would like us to move,” Langdon said, noting staffing and operational unknowns as the Community Justice Center opens.
Council members pressed for revenue estimates and fiscal context. Council member Decker asked whether the difference in the daily rate would be material to city finances; Decker and Council member Becker performed back-of-envelope calculations during the meeting, estimating the delta could be modest under realistic occupancy scenarios. Some members argued for honoring prior communications made to other jurisdictions when they planned their budgets.
On a roll-call vote to adopt the amendment (changing the daily housing rate to $210), the motion failed, 2 in favor and 5 opposed. The council then returned to the ILA as originally proposed and voted to authorize the mayor to enter into the interlocal agreement; that motion carried (5 yes, 1 no, 1 abstention).
Council discussion captured both fiscal caution and concern about signaling to partner jurisdictions; Chief Langdon and multiple council members said staff would implement council direction following the votes.
