City Council - Regular Meeting

Good afternoon, residents of Ever Washington. I'd like to call to order the Ever City Council meeting of April 22nd, 2026. For information on council meetings and how to participate participate, please visit everwah.gov/city councsil. For the record, I will be facilitating today's meeting on behalf of council president Schwab. Clerk, please take the role. Mayor Franklin, here. Council member Weir here. Council members here. President Schwab seized. Council member Burbano here. Council member Tui here. Council member Bader here. Vice President Ryan here. Now I'd like to ask Council Member Banano to please lead us in the pledge of allegiance. To

the flag of the United States of America to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Next, I'd like to ask council member Zarlingo to please read the land acknowledgement.

This council acknowledges the original inhabitants of this place, the Stoopish people, and their successors, the Tleup tribes. Since time in memorial, they've hunted, fished, gathered on, and taken care of these lands and waters. We respect their sovereignty, their right to self-determination, and honor their sacred spiritual connection to the land and water. We will strive to be honest about our past mistakes and bring about a future that includes their people, stories, and voices to form a more just and equitable society. Thank you. Moving on to Mayor's comments. Good afternoon, Mayor Franklin.

Good afternoon, Vice President Ryan and Council and our community. Uh just a few comments today. Uh first, tonight I hope that some of you are able to join me at the workers memorial service. This is a solemn moment where we honor workers who have lost their lives in the course of their duties. The event starts at 5:00 p.m. and is across the street at the Mission Courtyard. Um, so thank you to everyone who can join me and honor their public service and sacrifice. Tomorrow evening, we will be honoring the winners of the Went and Mayor's Arts Award at the Ever Performing Arts Center. The networking and reception portion starts at 6:00 and the program begins at 7:00. I'm especially looking forward to performances from other honores, especially the dance school, which will featur feature council vice president Ryan's daughter. Um, and our very own council member Tui will be receiving the esteemed Richard and Nancy Went award of excellence, which is welldeserved recognition of your incredible accomplishments. So, congratulations in advance and I hope to see many of you there. Switching gears, I want to talk a little bit about transit in Everett and our future. We stand at an important moment for our city with Sound Transit light rail and its five new Everett stations on the horizon. The Sound Transit Board is currently debating potential changes and a revised timeline for many Sound Transit lines, including these once-in-a-lifetime investments in Everett. Executive Summers, Council Member Partial from Lynwood and I continue to advocate strongly for the completion of the spine and for that to be the priority to complete light rail to Everett and fulfill on the commitments of ST3. Now is an important time to demonstrate to the Sound Transit board and the region that Everett is ready with local transportation that works in lock step with Sound Transit's network. In partnership with all of you on the council, we developed our comp plan and created new zoning around these important station areas. A final very important piece of this work will be ready to be ready for light rail is to ensure that our local transportation

network performs well with Sound Transit's future light rail stops. As you all know, we've been talking with Community Transit about a potential consolidation for several years. With the momentum of this work, the benefits for our residents and writers are really coming into focus. To that end, I've directed executive director Bob Leonard to work with the on these negotiations with community transit. The goal of a consolidation would be expanded improved service throughout Everett to destinations across the county. This would mean more frequent trips, extended service hours, reduced weight times, and would reduce or eliminate bus transfers. It also sends a strong message to Sound Transit on our region that Everett is working proactively and doing everything within our power to prepare and deliver light rail. With Panefield commercial terminal expansion coming within the next 10 or so years and expected passenger throughput of over 4 million people an annually, the region and our city must have a robust transit network that can move people across the county into Everett, which is the regional job center. There are 65,000 additional people expected in Everett over the next 20 years and leveraging the combined assets of community transit and Everert transit would better meet the demand but also deliver efficiencies for operations and planning. I believe that these benefits are achievable through a consolidation otherwise I wouldn't be exploring it. I also want to take a moment to speak about our dedicated ever transit team. I very much understand the impact this potential change would have on our employees lives and I'm committed to supporting all of our team during the conversation. I've heard concerns about our amazing and extensive paratransit service. I also know that we have many long-erving employees including bus operators with decades of experience who have earned seniority here in Everett. We have routes that our drivers know well and that our community rely on and

we deliver specialized services as needed. I care about all these concerns as well and I will ensure that together we work to address them. There are questions we can't answer today that will become clear in the months ahead. And as we discuss and work through the many issues yet to be settled, the decision ultimately lies with you, the Everett city council as well as the community transit board. We need and want you, our council, to be fully informed prior to making any decision. I also want to thank our ATU members who invited me and our executive director Candy Bartlett for a conversation about this over the weekend. And while we're in the beginning stages of this process, I'm committed to ongoing regular and open communication with all our team members in transit, ASME, Appoint, and ATU, as well as conversations with our greater Everett community as we consider the future of transit and ever, and ensure that we have the robust service necessary for our growing community. So, please know there's more to come and I look forward to furthering this conversation and I have no further comments today. Thanks.

Great. Thank you, mayor. Next, we'll move on to old business. Do I hear a motion for the approval of the minutes of April 15, 2026? Move to approve. Second. Clerk, please take the role. Council member Weir, yes. Council member Zarlingo, yes. Council member Burbano, yes. Council member Tui, yes. Council member Bader, yes. Vice President Ryan, yes. Now it's time to move to public comment which includes written comment acknowledgement. Under our rules, written comments shall be considered in the same manner as oral comments. The person submitting the comment must provide their name and city of residence. Written comments require uh this to be made part of the official council record. Hi Angie, do we have any written comments or anyone to sign signed up to speak this afternoon?

Good afternoon pres vice president Brian. Um, we have received some written comments and the following names wrote in about the neighborhood residential manufactured home community zoning. Kathy Brown, Leanne Garvey, Meredith Reed, James Reed, Effie Kolaroo, Debbie Nylon, Marjgerie Wei, Janette Barton, David Clay, Lily Martin, Crystal and Ed James, and Dennis Morris. and John Peoples wrote in about the naming and renaming city properties which is item nine on our agenda and these were all provided to council legal city clerk and administration to be part of the record and we do have one person online and one in chambers to speak um so we'll start with Evan if you could please unmute and turn on your video if possible And when ready, please state your name and city of residence. And you will have 3 minutes to speak. Once you see the timer on the screen, you can start. Just one moment. There you go.

Oh, I'm not I don't think I can hear you. If you're talking, can you say something? Can you hear me now? Oh, yes. Let me start restart your timer. Okay, thank you very much. There we go.

Good afternoon, Mayor Franklin and council members. My name is Evan Reid. I live in Everett and I serve as the executive director of Bunker Arts Collective. I moved here about four years ago knowing absolutely nobody. Uh, and this city has given me an incredible chapter of my life. Uh through this work, I've built real real relationships with residents, with neighborhoods, with businesses, and even with the city. I care deeply about Everett and I want to continue that relationship. Since 2023, our volunteers have removed nearly 20 tons of litter across more than 50 sites throughout Everett. Uh we've also completed mural projects across Snomish County, including an active project at Voyager Middle School supported in part by the city. Uh through that work, we see where things are slipping specifically along major corridors in our parks and library system and in areas where reduced maintenance is leading to repeat patterns like illegal dumping, vandalism, and overgrowth. We're able to step in when we can, but we can't keep up with the scale of the need. We can't continue to organize cleanups at this pace as the need continues to outgrow what volunteer efforts can realistically keep up with. That's why the structure of this new stadium deal with the Aqua Socks really matters. I want to be very clear. This is not about being anti- baseball. I I am a I am a loyal Dodger fan. Uh but I support the Mariners as my AL team. It's not being about it's not about being anti-development. I do support the Aqua Socks. I want them here. But the project has grown into a roughly $120 million investment and the team's contribution has remained around 10 million. That's simply not enough. As the project has grown, the public's burden has grown with it. the team has not. If public dollars are doing heavy lifting, the public benefit should be guaranteed and built into the structure from the start. Even a fraction of this investment, something in the range of 600,000 to a million dollars annually could go a really long way if it was if it was directed back into the community. That could mean neighborhood level projects residents actually vote on, restoring

small services that have been reduced previously, targeted cleanup and maintenance and corridors that consistently fall behind. basic improvements to public spaces people use every day. This is the kind of funding that actually shows up. It it creates cleaner corridors, maintains spaces, and real improvements across Everett, not just the downtown core. And to be clear, this is not an unrealistic ask. This is a privatelyowned baseball team uh with an ownership group with an experience in finance and investment. They understand how deals are structured and how long-term value is created. asking them to contribute more and to build in a clear return to the community is not unreasonable should be the standard. This doesn't stop the project. It strengthens it and ensures that Everett makes a major investment that as ever makes a major investment, residents see that investment reflected back into their neighborhoods. That's all I'm asking. Thank you all so much.

Thank you. And we'll move to those in chambers. Uh Kathy, if you could please come to the podium. And please press the button on the base of the mic. Yep. And state your full name. City of residence. You have three minutes to speak.

Okay. Hello, I'm Kathy Brown and I am in live in Fairway Estates and I'm here to ask for your support for the new zoning, the NRMHC for manufactured home parks. And I have lived there since 2014. And we all know our neighbors or most of our neighbors. We look out for each other and we've built our lives and our homes there. And there's a real sense of community and that's really hard to replace. For many of us, this is one of the few places we can truly afford to live, including seniors, working families, and veterans. If we lose it, it's not just about having to move. It means losing our homes entirely. Manufactured homes aren't easily relocated. The cost to move them is extremely high and there are very few places available to move them to even if we could afford it. For most of us, that simply isn't an option. And in the manufactured home park, we own our homes, but we rent the land that the home sits on. So, it really is about uh losing not just housing, but our stability, our community, and a sense of bel belonging. We're all aware of the housing crisis and the growing risk of homelessness. Preserving communities like Fairway Estates is part of the solution. This new zoning helps protect existing affordable housing and prevents people from being pushed out with nowhere to go. Supporting the zoning is a way to protect people. It keeps an important source of affordable housing in our city and allows residents like me to stay in the place we call home. Once a community like this is gone, it's gone for good. I'm asking you to please help preserve Fairway Estates and the other six mobile home parks that are noted in this uh zoning. Please don't let our homes become another loss in the housing crisis. Help

us keep our community and our featur f our future right where it is. Thank you so much for listening and appreciate you allowing comments. Thank you. And that concludes our public comments. Great. Thank you. Uh moving on to council comments starting with council member Weir.

Hi. Um so thanks Evan and Kathy for speaking today. It's um these are big topics that are um you know really close to people's hearts and and in their minds right now. So we appreciate that. Um, so I had the opportunity to do a ride along with um, Officer Reti with our Ever Police Department on Monday and it was um, actually really enjoyed getting the enlightenment of like what they're going through on a day-to-day basis and it was non-stop calls, but I was so impressed by the compassion that I saw the officers showing at each of those calls and the amount of time that they spent. Um, oh, we're echoing back. That was weird. Okay.

Getting ready for work. Oh,

I thought it was just me. Um, yeah, there just a great amount of compassion and time that they spend on each call and um kind of gave me a better understanding when we hear people talk about how long it takes sometimes for response to happen. um when they're, you know, they're calling on a non-emergency in particular, it's it's really because they're out there trying to deescalate and find diversion with our social workers help um for these issues that a lot of our um folks in our city are dealing with. So, um, other than that, uh, as mayor and, uh, mentioned, the the Went awards are happening tomorrow at the Ever Performing Arts Center, and we really hope that, um, we get a lot of folks out to support the arts and our, um, council member here that's being honored, as well as the others in the community. Um, and then on Saturday, the Downtown Ever planting is happening with Downtown Everett Association. So, you'll see about 120 volunteers roaming around the streets of downtown um putting getting all those planters around um on the sidewalks full of beautiful vibrant flowers. And then in addition, we have two of the um scheduled uh mural crosswalks going in um adjacent to the Shack Art Center and Imagine Children's Museum. And those are part of the project that was funded by CO recovery funds allocated by council member Tui. So, thank you for that. And that's all I have.

Thank you, Council Member Zarlingo.

Uh well, first of all, yeah, thanks to our commenters. I appreciate the input. That's always helpful for us. Um want to send my regrets not being able to attend uh this afternoon's workers memorial. I'll be representing Ever with Snowish County Cities meeting from 4 to 6:00 p.m. But I do have a real resonance with that. Having worked construction as a young man some years ago when there were even fewer worker protections, I know what the hazards are and uh and I'm really concerned about that. Um yesterday I represented Everett and Snow County cities at the regional law and justice council. Uh at this phase we're this monthly meeting we're discussing therapeutic courts um aiming for a more effective accountability for some categories of crimes uh especially those linked to behavioral health and drug abuse problems. Um jail is sometimes the consequence and indeed confinement or the threat of it is a key motivation for some people to make different choices to get better. Uh we've heard from some of those folks who've made comments along those lines to us here. However, there are alternatives for individuals and families uh that focus on treatment and recovery and by avoiding jail they can be uh effective in turning their lives around uh avoiding reoffending and the bargains saving costs for us all. So, uh, our law and justice council will be digging into that in the months to come, especially in our meeting, uh, next month, and I'll report back a little more there. And, um, look forward to attention this evening on our new manufactured housing community zone. Thanks.

Great. Thank you, Council Member Broano.

Um, so the survey to obtain feedback for the upgrades to the Walter Hall playground is out, so if you live on District 4, please take a minute to fill it out. Um, I met at the village on Casino Road last night and we talked about the the playground updates uh upgrades with the neighbors and the neighbors are super excited about it. Uh, members of my community on Westmon Hol and Casino Road has commented that they would like to see a playground that meets the needs of District 4. Um, this playground is located in an area with a high population density density. People are expecting a big park, one comparable to the Thornton Aulivan Park in Silver Lake. My community also wants to see a permanent shelter because the one that we have right now uh is removed every winter. Um and you know, it rains in the winter. It will be nice for the kids to have a place to to hide from the rain. Um that's pretty much it. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Tui. Yeah, just a couple things. I want to thank all those that um reported today on comments and all the letters that we got. Really appreciate you finding the time to um follow along what's happening with the city and tell let us know what's important to you. So, thank you for that. And yeah, the mural crosswalks um that is a speed calming measure that they have it. Um we're excited about that. So, this will be the first two and we're hoping for maybe three more. So, we'll see how it goes. Thank you. Great. Thank you, Council Member Bader.

Thanks, Cresident. Um the uh went to the transportation advisory committee meeting last Thursday as our lays on they discussed the six-year transportation improvement plan. We'll be seeing that uh at some point. Um they also discussed uh the uh proposal or at least considering uh looking how we're looking at a maintenance a new maintenance operations administration building uh site feasibility study. So know that'll be coming our way probably to our built environment committee. And um I know they also had already heard our committee had also heard about ebikes, electric motorcycles, uh powered personal transporters and how that fits in the ever municipal code. So the TAC heard about that as well. I'm sure that's something that'll be coming our way too. some some uh not necessarily difficult issues but interesting ones in terms of how we regulate those and uh make sure that all modes of transport whether it's including pedestrians um are protected uh as well as those who use those methods of transportation. After that I went to the uh future regional council growth management uh committee meeting uh couple notable things they talked about the regional implementation of the comprehensive climate action plan. So, uh shared some information about that and then also manufacturing industrial centers redesation that affects us obviously because our huge uh Southwest Everett uh industrial center um and uh I think it is a review to force met all the requirements for redesation except for I think it's a new sub area plan. I know our planning staff are on that but uh uh that should be done soon. But they've been looking at not just both the manufacturing industrial centers but also the other centers as well and is in a very big uh comprehensive way. So um anyhow but fortunately Everett is uh well positioned to be redesated. So anyhow that's all I have. Thank you.

Great. Thank you and happy Earth everybody. Uh on Friday I attended or excuse me, Saturday I attended the Ever Station District Alliance uh cleanup event uh at the station and uh they had a record setting number of volunteers join. Almost 40 people joined. Uh so that was great to see and uh thanks to everybody who joined and was able to lend their time and efforts. Uh this morning I attended the public facilities district meeting as the council liazison and appreciated hearing uh the good about the good work to support hockey programs and the ever figure skating clubs. I was also uh glad to be in the room to hear about uh the Everett Silver Tips moving on to the Western Regional Conference Finals uh with game uh one and two here in Everett on Thursday and Saturday. So folks are coming down for the Went Awards. Uh there'll also be a hockey game going on. So just uh be mindful of your travel plans for that. So let's go tips. Uh and then uh on Saturday I wanted to share that our own state representative Mary FSY is hosting a town hall event from 3:30 to 4:30 at the Evergreen Branch Library. Uh and all are welcome to join to hear about updates from the uh her work during the legislative session and ask questions. Uh this week is independent bookstore week and I encourage folks to shop small and shop local. Uh, and I also wanted to share an update with council about the uh, letter from council that I worked on drafting uh, with Jennifer to the Sound Transit Board supporting the completion of light rail as promised and voted on by residents all the way to downtown Everett. Uh, Jennifer and I finished the draft and it's circulating with council members. So, it should be in your inbox right now. Uh the intent of the letter is to remind the board that we are that Everett is expecting the completion of Ever Link extension and that it's the Ever Link extension that's not uh the route segment that's the biggest problem for cost overruns. So cutting our promised route should not be part of the solution. Uh if council members have edits on the letter, please route them to Angie only to adhere to OPMA rules. You're welcome Ramsey. And uh we will vote on the final letter at next week's

council meeting. And speaking of Angie, happy administrative professionals day. On behalf of council, thank you Angie for all you do to keep us in line and make us look good. So, we are grateful for you. You are appreciated. Thank you. Great. Uh, moving on to an administr administrative update. Jennifer,

um, I just wanted to thank Council Member Berbano for sharing your feedback about the Walter Eh Hall playground project. We're just launching that public outreach. The survey will be open for about a little over a week, maybe a little longer, um to make sure that it's accessible to everybody that is interested. Um and I I've shared this already with Council Member Brono, but we're I'm excited to um connect with you to make sure that we're effectively reaching all your residents in the district with feedback and getting those ideas to the project team as they work through that um public outreach process that's just starting now. So, I think that's it. Great. Uh, city attorney Ramsey Remerman.

Uh, no comment. No, no executive session tonight. Thank you. Fantastic. Thanks. Moving on to consent items. We have three consent agenda items. Do I have a motion? Move to approve the consent items. Great. Do I have a second? Second. Uh, thanks. Clerk, please take the role. Council member Weir, yes. Council member Zerlingo, yes. Council member Burbano, yes. Council member Tui, yes. Council member Bader, yes. Vice President Ryan, yes. Moving on to proposed action items. Uh, Council Bill 2604-21 and Council Bill 2604-22 have both been read into the record. Uh, does council have any questions or comments on either of these? Council member Tui.

Yeah, I just have one question. I know that they went over it last week, but I have thought I saw somebody here that could answer. Where did he go? Scott, he's in the back. That's question. Oh, uh, okay. Well, on the funding sources, other capital, I can't remember what was in that category. It's 9% of the project. Okay. Um, since staff haven't prepared a presentation, I want to make sure we accurately answer that. Or if if you have No, I don't, but we can always come back. Okay. If you could, that'd be great. I just couldn't remember what was in that. And I know council member Brono asked me a couple questions on Monday that are kind of I think might be one of the same questions on my list to get that you guys clear.

Thank you. Great. Any more questions on these two items?

Great. Uh third and final reading will be next week, April 29th, 2026. Uh moving on to briefing and proposed action item. Uh next we have a briefing on a proposed action item which I will first read into the record. Council Bill 2604-23, first reading. Adopt an ordinance relating to establishing a manufactured housing community zone, amending the zoning map, amending chapters 15.02 and 19.03, 19.04, 19.05, and 19.13 EMC, repealing title 17 EMC, amending ordinances 3774-20, 3534-17, and 4102-25. Uh, do we have a I see uh ready for our briefing?

Yes. Planning manager um Allison Wetzel has a was getting her PowerPoint up and has a a short briefing on this uh item. My apologies for my Oh, it's okay. You're not the first one to jumped into Zoom and have been unmuted. Don't worry about it. Okay.

Okay, I think we're live. Um, thank you very much and um, as I go through, please feel free to come up with questions if needed, but I think we're pretty it's pretty straightforward as to what we're doing. Um, we are looking to create a manufactured housing community zone for the benefit of um, protecting residents in manufactured communities across the city. So, okay, trying to figure out where I can put you guys on my own screen so I can see. Um, first of all, we had several goals, policies, and an action item in the Everett 20 44 comprehensive plan. What we are proposing is in line with all of the goals and policies and obviously meets the need of the action which says to implement a mobile park park zoning overlay. So that's what we're here to do today. So we can tick one thing off of our boxes. So currently there is no such protection or zoning for manufactured homes. At one point in the city, we do have a manufactured home zone, but it was purely optional if people wanted to participate or whatever. Needless to say, nobody opted in. So because of what is happening with the manufactured home communities across the city, region, nation, and the changes to zoning and housing, it was deemed important during the comprehensive plan process to create a manufactured home community zone to protect residents of those communities and to create to preserve affordable housing and maintain the manufactured home communities that

we have in the city. So, that's where we are. The map shows the the 10 different parks across the city. The majority are in South Everett. There are three north of um or north of um 524. So, we are looking to protect some of the not all the manufactured homes communities, but the majority of them. We looked at both an overlay and at a base zoning. The overlay would mean that we would put a manufactured park zone on top of the existing base zone, which still would have left higher density opportunities for those properties to if we the zone was removed to become higher density. So there's still an incentive. So if your property is zoned um neighborhood residential you are four you can go up to numerous town homes four stories or if you're mixed use 15 up to 15 stories and a larger density and development. So in order to protect what we felt was stronger language to protect them was to go with a base zone that permits only the manufactured home park, not another use other than that. If for some reason at some point in the future that it is becomes financially infeasible to run a manufactured home community at that location, there are ways in accordance with state law to change it out of it. but you have to prove that it is financially infeasible. So we went with the base zoning and we've felt that it provided more permanence for the community, a little bit more settlement moving forward. So that's where we're our basis of our premise was backing up to what was told to you

earlier. Manufactured homes are a different type of housing. They're very unique in the sense that when somebody goes to buy a house, they buy the entire structure, including the land that it sits on. Whether it's even if it's a condominium, you still lie on a portion of the land that it sits on. But you own the entire thing and you have control over the site for yourself. But if you're renting and you're in a house or an apartment and your landlord decides to raise the rent, it's easier and you can move your belongings out and go find another place. That is not necessarily the case with a manufactured home. A manufactured home, the homeowner owns the home but does not own the ground that it sits on. They pay a lease for the ground that it sits on. As part of that lease, they are paying for the services that the property owner provides. the services can vary depending on the the park and the facilities in the park and how they operate their leases. So those are the two big differences. So even though you have an asset of your home, you don't have the asset of the land that your home sits on. And so you are potentially at the whim of a property owner changing their mind or raising rent exponentially or doing something. So to the point where if they start raising rent exponentially, the value of your home goes down because of the fact that you are now facing almost a mortgage in your land payment and a mortgage for your house. So you're getting a double whammy. And that's something that is not affordable to the vast majority of the residents that own manufactured homes in the city. They are primarily new homeowners looking to get into the housing market, seniors living on fixed incomes, veterans, others. So,

and certain of our parks are 55 and over only. So, those are the the conundrum that we're facing here and that's why we are moving forward. It's not the standard housing model for most of the rest of the city. It is unique to these 10 locations. So, we also looked at how many people within these parks actually owned their homes. So, and this was a key feature in what why we chose which of the parks that we are recommending for protection. So, as you can see, there's a big difference between the first one which has 22 sites on it, but only two people own their units within that park. And then at Holly Drive, 17 sites, but no one owns a a unit in that park. And the same thing for Pine Street. So homeownership and the ability to relocate is important to protecting it, but how many people would be adversely impacted as part of the changing of the the land for another use other than a manufactured home community. So our with the lowest owner occupancy is 86% the highest is 97%. For the different parks the total average if you're including all the parks it's 87% but that really is skewed by the few. So I mean they're all way above passing grades and doing excellent. Um, one of the other interesting things when I was doing the research on the mobile home parks, Westridge mobile home park is primarily a minority owned community.

And in that minority owned community, at least four of the units were owned by individuals who owned more than one unit. So, they were building wealth that way or renting to their family members or providing for family in a different for form or fashion. So, that was an interesting um insight to a community that I had no idea about and um and it's just north of the casino road community. So I don't know whether some of those individuals have come out of the c have been able to build their wealth and come out of the casino road community and move just north or not. That's something I'm sort of interested in, but I haven't found out yet. And um I did discuss it with a few people last night at Connect Casino Road and they had no idea either. So that was a insight too. So having looked at home ownership, having looked at the the keys as to why we're protecting this, we are recommending that seven of the 10 manufactured home parks be put into this zone. The three that are not being recommended are the three that have the least amount of homeownership because for the vast majority of those sites, they're like tenants in any other building. and if it were to change hands, their tendency or whatever would be the same. Um, and they so what what is in the right hand column is the existing zoning. Those would all go to NR neighborhood residential manufactured housing community instead of the other um zones that are listed there. The three that we are not recommending for changes will all stay as exactly as they are and can be redeveloped or can stay as manufactured home communities as long as the owners

of the property want to maintain them as such. So we are recommending the proposed resoning. You can see them sort of outlined in black. They're sort of a tannanish color for the seven parks and that would be the change in the map. And then what are we changing in the code? We're adding obviously adding this district and a purpose statement for the district. We've added the definitions for manufactured homes in accordance with the Washington administrative code. We are adding uses and development regulations for them which are pretty much residential. Um we do provide that if in the event of financial infeasibility the zones can change use. We are prohibiting the establishment of new parks which is currently the case in Everett. We are providing for replacement of units on a one for one basis. Um we are recommending that we put notice on the title for the site that lets them know. So there are titles for all the individual homes which would mean we would have to put titles on a thousand plus units but there are also a title for the entire site. So, we're recommending for the seven sites that we are protecting that we would put a notice on the title letting the owner know that this is the manufactured home community zone. Um and so therefore we are doing the resoning and then um chapter 17 title 17 which existed was rather interesting because when we had an internal conversation with um our code officials and everything else everybody went oh I didn't even know that chapter even existed. That's how often it was being used. And it had such wonderful terms as a ramadas, which I only thought was a hotel chain. Um, a definition for a

cabana and a whole host of other things that were just so obsolete for what we are normally dealing with. So, we are recommending the removal of the chapter. Um, and I'm open it for questions. One other thing I would like to add is that during this process, we sent a letter to all the manufactured home park owners, all of their local management companies as well as the park me residents of the park organizations if they had a homeowners association. letting them know that we were doing this process, letting them know of the public hearings with the um planning commission as well as the public hearing that's coming up in 3 weeks. So, we did do an extensive amount of outreach and we've heard from exactly one of the manufactured home Oh, actually, take that back. Two. One wanted to know if we could do the replacement of one for one and then the other one wanted to know um if that would impact their sale because they were in the process of selling it. So, that's what I have.

Great. Thank you. Uh, judging by the number of emails council has received on this, you've done an excellent job on outreach. Thank you. I'd like to open it up for uh comments or questions from council. Council member Zarlingo. Well, first one question. I think you said three weeks. I think the uh public hearing will be in two weeks. Oh. At our third meeting. Third week of this. Okay. In two weeks. just I wanted to make sure that anyone who wanted to comment. Um

uh and uh as in my district I think about half of these units are in my single district. So I've been paying attention to this and and started work with this I think about a little over a year ago with you and council member Vogley and some others. I did want to note the involvement of local residents uh and and former council member O Vogley and organizing the initial meetings with interested parties. Um, and in particular, I'd like to thank you for your work in this. You're our long-range planning manager. Uh, and you were in the middle of our um, comprehensive plan update, and you still and your team found time to work on this. Um, that sustained work in both leading that planning process, uh, and outreach and in getting the initial elements of this in our uh, comprehensive plan was really critical in doing this at a time where time was really tight. Um, and I also note that you've been in person at multiple, uh, neighborhood meetings doing outreach, Q&A, uh, discussions. Uh, that's a really important thing. And of course, also lots of work with our planning commission. I'd like to recognize their work here in this room on, I guess, a handful of occasions now, starting in July or August, I think it was, of last year. Um, and I've been particularly paying attention to doing this process right uh because we're trying to balance supporting our goals of the comprehensive plan, including some improvements in density and providing for more housing and more housing flexibility and um uh supporting some of our residents uh who are elderly often getting by on limited income. Uh some coping with disabilities and a fair number that are veterans and some of them who check multiple of those boxes. Um, also I wanted to note there these are many of them are over 55 communities. Um, I've suggested that they also allow some exceptions in those cases for younger residents who can provide live-in care for those who need it thereby uh increasing housing and work opportunities uh and affordability for some younger residents and also reducing costs and commutes. So I was happy to see actually that one or more

of these communities are already providing that kind of exception. So, I guess I wanted to summarize by saying this is a long process. I appreciate a lot of work that's gone into it because it's a careful balance uh of of preserving these opportunities and still uh achieving the density that we're trying to achieve. And and one last note that the manufactured housing communities are uh a significant source of uh of reasonable density in that um in that single family housing kind of uh of housing opportunity that we have. So, uh, did want to summarize that as we get set to consider these things and thank you and and also planning director Stevens Wajda for his work on this as well. Great. Thank you, Council Member Zarlingo. Council Vader.

Yeah, I have about four or five questions here. Um, can you give me a little bit of description what what what's the trigger for when it becomes financially infeasible or uh and thus redevelopment in accordance with state regulations. Okay. So they've they've pretty much lined it out that that they're no longer able to maintain the park or the facilities in the park is my understanding. Okay. I'll have to look at that. Obviously always concerned when government is deciding what's financially feasible. Well, they would have to provide that information and say why it's financially infeasible to maintain the applicant who's doing the change of zoning. Yes.

Understood. So I'll go to look state relations for that. Um is is there a threshold below which um uh ownership drops that it then that uh that uh this restriction or this zoning then could change or would change? I mean if it's less than 50% not at this point. Okay. We did not change that.

Gotcha. Okay. Um I I if if part of this the fact that it came to us was because of the higher density zoning that we've the comp plan we recently proved pushed through. Why are we including the two parks that are neighborhood residential constrained neighborhood residential? Because it seems like that zoning has not changed. So the incentive for uh redevelopment has not changed. Well, the incentive might not be changed, but the opportunity for change is still there.

Still there, but there's nothing that's changed before. But I mean, if somebody comes along and buys the property and says, I want to build a single family home community here, and the density potentially could go down. Right. Right. So, and subdivide and go down. They'd have to put in wider streets. They'd have to sub create lots of x number of square feet which are bigger than the lot that a a a double wide unit or a single wide unit would be on. Mhm.

And so you your density would go down, but you're also losing this affordable housing type. So we were looking at it for primarily from affordability and protecting the housing type at that point. Okay. Gotcha. Okay. It just felt felt to me like we were doing this because of the increased density that we dealt with in the comp plan and that was yes for some and and no for some. Okay. It was more to protect the housing but we were asked about you know the ownership rate and that was pro that was probably our biggest kick.

Gotcha. Okay, final question. We um we recently heard I assume you probably got the email uh from one local resident who lives in an a kind of single family area where uh increased density now has created challenges for them as neighboring properties redevelop. Um and certainly um I mean a lot of our apartment complexes uh we have or not even apartment complexes but also rent uh rental dwellings, rental single family houses. We have a lot of those in Everett. Um that those residents could face challenges if density incentivizes the property owner to redevelop. Um it h how how does this not fit a narrative of density for thee but not for me?

It's not necessarily density. It's more protecting. So if if I was renting a house and there's and my my landlord decided to sell my property, I can pick up my belongings, my couches, my beds, my everything and move. Those are my assets. Yep. In this case, my asset as a manufactured home park owner is the dwelling as well as my my couch, my beds, my furniture that can, and I use that in quotes, be moved,

right? But depending on the age of the unit, depending on the ability to find another space, depending on a whole host of other factors. So my asset which I have put a lot of my blood, sweat and wealth into becomes essentially worthless which is not the case if I'm renting a house. Gotcha. Understood. But certainly a lot of our renters of houses or apartment complexes are certainly are are also have situations where maybe they don't have an asset, but they're certainly in financial difficulty and losing that rental if it's redeveloped.

I I agree with you, but it's a very it I don't own the dwelling. I wouldn't. Understood. Understood. Okay. It just has I I'm just concerned we're getting a situation where if we get enough of these difficult areas that all of a sudden we begin to restrict redevelopment um in some areas and not others. And this is a this is just part of the balance of the comprehensive plan as you guys adopted it. Part of the the plan envisioned that staff would develop this proposal. So, we expected that there'd be growth limits on, you know, potentially all of these parks, but we limited the

the potential. So, um and there were there are examples throughout the city of a couple of some limited places where we um didn't have as much density as another neighborhood might be expected to see in the future based on the zoning changes for our growing city that you adopted. Um, but it's totally true that there might be others who are like, "Man, I would have I kind of like the way my neighborhood looks. I wish it could stay that way forever." Um, and they think there's unique examples about the manufactured home communities. And it's just part of that huge collection of trade-offs that are part of the whole comprehensive plan process. So,

understood. And fi final question, if I may, the uh certainly see the uniqueness and value in our mobile home parks. If if that's the case, why are we prohibiting the establishment of new parks? We don't permit them now. So, we were just maintaining that. Okay. So, on slide nine, we don't per permit them now, right? But why why not change that though if we see the value in in this kind of housing

because the density primarily? I mean the opportunity it takes up a lot of land and there are other types that are actually probably provide better opportunities for home ownership without the conundrum of owning the land versus not owning the land and most of them are owned by people that have no connection to this city. No. Un understood, but I imagine there's a fair number of other housing types. If you annex, we will get more.

Yeah. Understood. It just seems to me and I I sincerely believe that the I mean the density mobile home parks is usually higher than density in single family neighborhoods. I assume it is right. And and so by if we allowed more mobile home parks, at least we'd be moving in the direction of additional density. we'd also be creating some home ownership uh or aspects of home ownership as well. So, I don't know just just to me it's perplexing that we have that we that we're saying we value them and yet we've prohibited them even though it would could be a step up in density in some situations. So, anyhow, thank you. Great. Thank you, Council Member Bader. Council member Bravano.

Um I think this is a step in the right direction. Uh we as a community, we need to take care of each other. Um, just a quick question. Uh, I don't know if you have the answer or not, but are there any available tools to prevent the owner of the land from increasing the rent above legal limits or this becomes a an issue between the the owner of the land and

that's a civil issue. I mean, there is the House Bill 1217 that prevented the raising of rents more than 5% peranom unless the property is sold. If the property is sold, they can do a one-time increase, but they cannot raise the rents within the first 12 months of the new person assuming ownership of the property. And they can only do raise rents once peranom. Okay. Thank you.

Great. Thank you, Council Member Zarlingo. Well, just a comment on balance. I think that's one of the examples here is that even those kinds of raises that were seen in some cases also before the House bill was enacted, there are some painful rent increases, but there is some protection now there for it. And then with respect to density, I think council member Bader his questions illuminate the trade-offs we've been trying to do because I think one of the things that we were mindful of early on was that one of the most dense types of single family housing is the manufactured the mobile home parks and associated manufactured housing. So that gives us some additional density supporting some of the goal of the of the comprehensive plan, but it doesn't give us theoretically as much as we otherwise could on those properties. One thing I don't know is the comparison of the um of the density of the u of the mobile home parks versus um what had been single family redeveloped into duplexes, triplexes, forplexes, that sort of thing. And I'm guessing from our standpoint down the road as that comprehensive plan takes effect, we may be revisiting this kind of thing and comparing those kinds of densities. And then one of the things that's been um suggested is the potential redevelopment of part of these mobile home parks in the future if that looks like that's a better bet in terms of both balancing the density and the support of the communities we're talking about here. So there that all is stuff for potential future work as the situation evolves. I know that one of the LA very few mobile home parks that was in the city of Seattle that wasn't far from my home converted several years ago and it might have had 20 to 30 units. It's probably got 80

now 80 condos. So I suspect in some ways we are not completely done with this. We will address this again as the as it evolves. Great, council we thank you for all the work on this because it's and I really appreciate the having the outline of the different parks and the ownership rate because that's interesting to see um because as you pointed out this is a

a means for families or those starting out or seniors on fixed incomes to have a opportunity for ownership that they may not be able to get in any other way. So um I think that's really valuable. Um, I had a question about Is this I thought I turned that off. Sorry.

Um, the maintaining the existing zones piece. Um, so the ones that the three that are excluded, one of them's listed as a neighborhood residential. Does that mean it really is, you said there's the potential that it could still be developed or does that just sort of fall into what we're changing the others to? That one is it is zoned neighborhood residential on Pine Street. So it there's just no change for that. No, no change. None of the none of the ones that we are not touching are changing from what the existing zoning. So it basically will just fold into the the new zoning. The new zoning exists. Okay.

So we are the only zoning we're changing is from to manufactured. We're not changing anything that is existing. Okay. So, so my table might be a little bit awkward in that sense. So, it's okay. On the on the one on um slide six where it says existing zones, right? Those are the ones that we're changing. You could put a big X across those and they will all become neighborhood residential manufactured. Okay. So there's that manufactured attachment to it. Okay. And then on the ones that say maintaining existing zone, that's what they are. No change. No.

I was just wondering because the one was already a neighborhood residential. So I'm like, well, does that Well, all of our neighborhood residential are neighborhood residential. Okay. So we have ne we have NR, we have NRC, which is constrained, and now we have NR manufactured housing community. Just because the majority of the the ones that are that will be changing are already. So we're we're keeping it as neighborhood residential. So under hood and neighborhood residential you can sort of think single family. Great. Okay. And then neighborhood residential constrained is single family but those are for our very long deadends and that we limited development along those long dead ends.

And and then the manufactured housing. So again neighborhood residential but happened to be manufactured. Yeah. Two of these fall into my district and I know them well. So like um interesting. Thank you. You're welcome. Great. Thank you, Council Member Wear. Any more questions? Great. Um yeah, with your curiosity about uh units that are uh owned uh multiple units that are owned by one person. My curiosity, which is more of a rhetorical curiosity, is about the parks where there's zero home ownership or two people own their unit and how many people own the other units. What's the ratio of owners per unit?

Well, Broadway Terrace is the owner of the Broadway Terrace owns all the others. That's Williams. Um, the Holly Drive one is primarily a mobile home park in the sense that it's campers. So there are no titles on that except for the actual title of the site and that's a pretty informal park in development sort of thing. It's a U horseshoe shape and there's they just they don't even meet the standards of the existing mobile home park ordinance. And then Pine Street is manufactured homes but they are all owned by the owner of Pine Street Court. and then the the owner the they're leased. So when you go to the title, it's the exact same owner.

Thank you. Uh I was thinking too about the density conversation and uh especially having available units for our seniors moving forward and um and I was thinking about how you can't build uh manufactured homes on top of each other. So you can't go vertical, but you can for Well, you can. It's just a different housing spectrum. Ask Frank about it. He'll tell you all about that. Right. So, um yes, I think having spaces for uh to go vertical to provide affordable housing for our seniors would be fantastic. So, thank you, Alisanne. Uh next week will be the second reading and the public hearing and the third and final reading will be on May 6th, 2026.

Is the public hearing next week or the following week? Public hearing is next week. Okay. And then the third and final reading will be I thought it was the other way around. It's possible that we didn't update the script because often we like to have those public hearings on the second reading, but um the cover sheet does clarify and the noticing of the public has clarified that it's May 6, the third reading is the public hearing and the action. Great. But folks are, you know, as you guys know, always welcome to We'll come and talk to you. All right. Great. Thank you.

All good. Thank you. All right. Moving on to public hearing and action item. Next, we have a public hearing and action item. Uh item number seven, grant the petition for the proposed vacation of the northern portion of the alley located on block 6A plat of Laurel Heights lying adjacent to 181052nd Street Southeast and direct staff to prepare an ordinance on vacating said alley subject to the conditions as contained in the attached staff report. I know we've uh been briefed on this before. Jennifer, do we have any additional information for today? Yeah. So, street uh vacation processes are the have this uh unique step where you got a briefing uh several months ago. You set the public hearing date. That's today. Uh and then uh this is kind of the implementation of uh that process. So, McKe is getting into his system and we'll um give you a briefing in just a moment. I think we need to me out. So, I guess I need to get in again.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, without is great. Easier. Okay.

Angie, can you um maybe share settings for all who just joined the Zoom link? window. Yeah, Angie just highlighted it. Yeah, do this. It'll be number nine. Thank you.

Thanks for your patience. We got our PowerPoint up and Paul's ready to start with the presentation.

Okay. So, good afternoon. Paul McKe, city staff, real property. The proposal before you is a petition to vacate the northern portion of the alley located in block 6A flat of Laurel Heights lying adjacent to 1810 52nd Street Southeast. On February 25th, city council adopted resolution 8276 setting today's hearing or setting today's meeting for the public hearing to review and determine this petition. Notices of the hearing were posted and no comments have been received. The proposed alley vacation contains a total area of approximately 1563 square feet which is zoned UR4. The requested vacation is being sought to correct a 1950s era encroachment of a carport from the 181052nd street parcel into the unopened alley rightway. As mentioned, the alley in this block is currently unopened and unimproved, meaning that it is predominantly covered with grass and some gravel and is not maintained by the city for use by the general public. The city owns the property on the west side of the proposed vacation and 181052nd owns the property on the east side. The alley currently serves as access from 52nd Street to both the 1810 parcel and the city-owned parcel. As a part of the vacation process, the city and the owner of 1810 will complete a boundary line adjustment. Transferring the city's half of the vacated alley to the 1810 parcel. Because the vacation and subsequent boundary line adjustment will adjust will result in the entire alley area becoming part of 1810. The owner of 1810 will be responsible to comp compensate the city for the full appraised value of the entire vacated rideway. Additionally, a joint access and turnaround easement will be put in place to accommodate vehicle access to both properties. The easement will formalize

and generally match the existing area currently in use as access by both parcels. City staff is recommending that council grant the petition for the proposed vacation and direct staff to prepare an ordinance and other documents as necessary to vacate set alley subject to the conditions contained in the staff report provided to council. This concludes the presentation. Great. Thank you, Paul. Do we have any clarifying before we open the public hearing, do we have any clarifying questions for Paul on the presentation? Great. Uh, next I will open the public hearing. Angie, are there any members of the public wishing to speak on this item? No, there is not. Thank you. Uh, before moving to council comments and questions to the underlying action, do I have a motion to close the public hearing? Council member Peterson.

Second the motion. Thank you. Clerk, please take the role to close the public hearing. Council member Weir. Yes. Council member Zerlingo. Yes. Council member Berbano. Yes. Council member Tui. Yes. Council member Bader. Yes. Vice President Ryan. Yes. Next. Do I have a motion to grant this petition? Council member Bader. So moves. Second the motion. Great. Any comments or questions from council?

Comment um to reiterate from when this was first brought to us uh several months ago. I appreciate all the hard work on the part of our staff. Uh uh just from an amateur uh looking at various maps including the Stoish County uh assessor's map, it seems like there's a number of these lie throughout the city that we should look to clean up. I realize staff time is limited, but I'd reiterate my suggestion that we do that grateful for this one. Thank you. Yeah, just as a note there, Council Member Bader, I have uh directed uh uh Executive Director Bob Leonard um to work with our team and and come up with a plan for how we might address those in the in the future. So, thank you for the suggestion.

Great. Thank you, Council Member Arlingo. A quick question. I guess I assume the city for this parcel, the city has no use is not currently using its part of that parcel either. No, I mean the what it the alley is there as access and we um use it partially for access into our parcel and the a budding property on on the other side also uses it as partial access. And so what this does is it kind of cleans up with the with the easement that will be granted the joint access and turnaround easement that will kind of clean up that whole kind of use that we kind of cross over onto their property. they kind of cross cross over on our property when the vehicles are accessing the site so it'll be uh a cleaner situation after.

Thank you. Any further questions or comments? Seeing none, clerk, please take the role. Council member Weir, yes. Council member Zarlingo, yes. Council member Verbano, yes. Council member Tui, yes. Council member Bader, yes. Vice President Ryan, yes. Next, we'll move on to briefing and action item. Uh item number eight, approve the resolution directing city clerks to file for EMS levy in the August 4th, 2026 primary election and direct staff to advertise for community volunteers uh to be transmitted to the county to draft the voters pamphlet statements. Uh I believe we have Chief Demarco already up at the podium. I'm ready to share some comments. Go ahead.

Uh good afternoon, Mayor and Council. Dave DeMarco, Fire Department. Uh in your packet today is a re resolution proposing EMS levy lid lift for the August 4th ballot. Resolution proposes a tax measure for ever voters consideration. The proposition would lift the current EMS property tax levy rate from 36 cents per,000 of assessed valuation back to the 2018 voter approved rate of 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. As you know, all property tax levies in Washington state, including the EMS, the Ever EMS levy, is subject to 1% revenue growth limitations. To allow the fund to continue to meet the growing demand for emergency medical services and the inflating cost of those services, a levy lid lift measure is required. This levy was last lifted to two to 50 cents a thousand by a vote of the people in 2018 for collection in 2019. Annual department call volume in 2025 is 11% higher than it was in 2018. The cost of labor has increased an average of 3% annually during this period. The cost of emergency vehicles and medical supplies during this period has nearly doubled through prudent fiscal stewardship. The fund has remained solvent throughout this period of extraordinary growth. Also a global pandemic and increasing demands for service. However, a stable however, to remain stable and to meet the growing emergency medical services needs of our community, a restoration of the levy is necessary. If adopted, the resolution will place the measure on the August 4th primary ballot and also direct staff to seek citizens who are interested in authoring any pro or con positions for the voters's pamphlet. Thank you. And I'll take any questions that you have.

Great. Any questions for council? Great. Thank you, Chief. Great. Any discussions? Uh, do I have a mo motion to approve the resolution? Bader moves. Second the motion. Great. Last call for questions, comments. Fantastic. Click, please take the role. Council member Weir, yes. Council member Zalingo, yes. Council member Bano, yes. Council member Tui, yes. Council member Bader, yes. Vice President Ryan,

thank you. Um, I wanted to uh before adjourning the meeting, I just wanted to share a mention that council bill 2603-20, the ordinance establishing procedures for naming and renaming of city properties will be on the consent agenda for our uh meeting next week. Right. With no further business for action. Great. For next week. Thank you. We're journed.