Everett council approves property purchases and funding steps for outdoor event center; staff says state grant will cover several parcels

Everett’s City Council unanimously approved a resolution Wednesday authorizing purchase of multiple parcels needed for the proposed Everett Outdoor Event Center and heard updated renderings and a financing timeline from staff and consultants.

Scott Patterson, a city staff member working on the project, told council the city previously secured a $7.4 million grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce and appropriated funds to begin acquisitions. Staff asked the council to approve purchases of Parcels 1, 2, 3 and 5 that will allow the city to secure site control and unlock state grant disbursements. Patterson said Parcels 2, 3 and 5 will be purchased directly with the state grant funds transferred into escrow; Parcel 1 will be purchased using previously appropriated city funds. An additional parcel (Parcel 12) remains under contract and staff requested authority for a funding ordinance and a short-term loan of $1.9 million to close before a due‑diligence deadline.

Consultant Ben Franz presented renderings showing a flexible field configured for baseball and soccer, a main concourse with nods to local industrial materials and tribal history, and seating plans; staff explained some program refinements (for example, reducing the number of ticket windows from four to three) to control administrative space and overall budget. Franz said the project team expects to complete remaining property acquisitions this summer and to begin construction by late fall or early winter pending final funding commitments.

Council moved and seconded the resolution authorizing the property purchases; the clerk recorded an affirmative roll-call vote. Staff also committed to a follow-up action: returning to council with a resolution allowing the city to reimburse itself once long‑term financing is in place for short‑term loans used to secure parcels.

The council’s approval advances a multi-step funding and land-acquisition plan that staff said relies on a mix of the state grant, previously approved city appropriations, and a short-term city loan that would be repaid after permanent financing is secured.