Arlington workshop reviews sewer low-bid, airport EV rates and considers limits on large data centers

Arlington — At a June 1 city council workshop, staff recommended that the council move forward next week to award the construction contract for the 67th Avenue sewer interceptor upsizing project, presented proposed electric-vehicle charging rates for the Arlington Municipal Airport and reviewed a host of community programs, while councilmembers discussed drafting limits on large-scale data centers for the Cascade Industrial Center.

The council heard from Jim Kelly, who said Reese Construction is "the apparent qualified bidder for this project" and that the original cost estimate was about $2 million. Kelly told the council Reese submitted a substantially lower bid; staff said the apparent difference was largely due to lower mobilization and demobilization line items in the winning bid and that the contract is a unit-price contract, which limits the city’s ability to change unit pricing during construction.

The airport presented proposed electric-vehicle charging rates that staff asked the council to include in the 2026 airport rate chart. "We propose an energy fee of 27 cents per kilowatt while charging and an occupancy fee of 27 cents per minute after charging is complete with a 10-minute grace period," Lauren said, noting the airport already has a level‑2 charger installed and that the airport commission approved the rate package May 11. Councilmembers asked about enforcement, app notifications and time limits; staff said the charging-system vendor can enforce the grace period and the airport may post an eight-hour limit and towing policy for overstays.

The council also reviewed several infrastructure and permitting items: a change order to the 188th and Smoky Point Boulevard roundabout to address unexpected subsurface concrete and asphalt removal; a requested 10‑foot PUD distribution easement to bring power to the Jensen Park townhomes (staff said the easement is outside active park-use areas); and a routine resolution to consolidate a revised city fee schedule, to be returned combined with airport rates for formal adoption next week.

Public safety staff recommended renewing an intergovernmental agreement with Snohomish County to continue participation in the county diversion center in Everett, which the chief described as a short-term facility for immediate detox, social services and referrals into longer-term programs. Staff said the city’s participation currently carries minimal financial cost and that the service is routed through the city's community outreach program.

A lengthy discussion focused on Project Cascade and the Cascade Industrial Center after Councilmember Tim Abrahamson proposed drafting an ordinance that would bar large-scale data centers from city zoning. "I want to propose that we set up an ordinance ... that specifically says that we do not want or will not have data centers in any zoning within the city of Arlington," Abrahamson said. Councilmembers and staff debated whether existing zoning and permissible-use tables already preclude large data centers and whether a size-based definition—so as not to prohibit small server rooms used by hospitals or public facilities—would be required. Staff said they will return with proposed definitions and options for either a code exclusion or ordinance language.

During public comment, Sierra Meski urged the council to "stand with the people" and offered volunteer expertise in law, ecology and data review to help craft protective language. Councilmembers agreed to return the data-center and Cascade discussions to a future meeting with clearer definitions and possible code amendments.

The workshop concluded with routine consent‑agenda planning and an announced short executive session to review the performance of a public employee; the meeting recessed for that closed session and later adjourned.

What’s next: most items were workshop-level and will return for formal action at the council’s next meeting; staff said they will bring the low-bid award recommendation, combined airport/fee schedule and proposed code language on data centers back for formal consideration.