Rachel Bianchi

The City Council meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a Land Acknowledgement recognizing the Snowqualami tribe as original stewards of the land. The agenda was approved with amendments, notably adding a discussion item regarding the city's information and response to ongoing ICE efforts and moving the executive session to the end of the meeting. Public comments covered two main topics: a request from a church treasurer for improved zoning (TCE to multifamily) to facilitate the sale of surplus property, and a resident's plea for the city to develop a proactive plan to protect immigrant families from potential federal enforcement actions, citing trauma risks associated with such actions. Another resident raised concerns about fire hydrant access and vehicle obstruction, requesting clarity on enforcement. Discussions proceeded to the consent calendar, which was approved, followed by a detailed conversation led by Council Member Stewart regarding protocols, public information dissemination, and staff training concerning residents' rights and interactions with immigration enforcement agencies.

The meeting began with roll call and recognition for the outgoing planning commissioner, Mark Boffman, acknowledging his years of service and fair approach as chair. Key discussion centered on impact fees and the related draft code section (SMC 21106045). The commission reviewed the methodologies, including square footage, bedroom count, or trip generation rates, proposed by consultant FCS for implementing new scalable impact fees as required by 2023 state legislation, which mandates a shift from a per-unit basis to scale with development size to encourage smaller housing units. Public comments addressed concerns regarding impact fee allocation for single-family versus multifamily units, equity in road project eligibility, and the proposed linear increase rate for park impact fees relative to past incorporation growth. The necessity of updating fees, which are stale since 2015, was noted, alongside the need for legally defensible fee structures that align with the recently adopted 2024 comprehensive plan and related planning documents.

The meeting commenced with the council member oath of offices for multiple positions, including the swearing in of Amy Lamb (Position One), Josh Amato (Position Three), Michael Daryl Ber (Position Five), and Deborah Joan Train (Position Seven). Following the oaths, Josh Amato was nominated and subsequently elected as Mayor, succeeding the previous leadership. Deputy Mayor elections followed, where Roshino Farrell was nominated but the motion failed, and Debbie Train was elected as Deputy Mayor. The council then took a 15-minute recess. Upon resuming, the agenda was approved, and the public comment period began. Key public discussions included a presentation by Jeff Bergard regarding a curriculum initiative at Pine Lake Middle School aligned with the Climate Action Plan, detailing transportation impact projects that resulted in a significant reduction in CO2 emissions. Jillian Walsh addressed the council, advocating for greater transparency, concise communication from city staff to the public, and improved accessibility of information, referencing past community drama and the need for clear financial breakdowns for regular citizens.

The regular meeting of the City Council commenced with roll call, pledges, and land acknowledgment. Key discussion points during public comment included citizen input on the sidewalk mobility plan, urging against repeal of the utility tax due to potential service cuts, and concerns regarding food stand permitting. Furthermore, public comments addressed the need for accountability regarding politically motivated claims made against a community group during the election, noting the Public Disclosure Commission found no violations, and strong opposition was voiced against the council's move to repeal the utility tax during a lame-duck session, characterizing it as fiscally irresponsible. The meeting also included the proclamation of Small Business Saturday and recognition of community members who completed CERT training.

The meeting focused on several agenda items, including the approval of the agenda and minutes from the previous meeting. Key discussions involved public comments regarding traffic projections and the necessity of updating them based on current data versus older predictions. A significant portion of the meeting involved a public hearing and discussion concerning updates to SMC Title 21 code cleanups. Specific attention was given to modifications regarding the 3,000 square foot footprint rule for residential buildings, addressing exceptions for legal non-conforming homes on slopes, and streamlining land use approval processes. The presenter detailed proposed language changes aiming for clearer definitions, especially concerning what constitutes a 'floor' relative to grade level.