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Home My WebLink AboutCouncil Signed Minutes 05-11-26 WorkshopMinutes of the Arlington City Council Workshop Council Chambers 110 East 3rd Street Monday, May 11, 2026 Councilmembers Present: Heather Watland, Rob Toyer, Yvonne Gallardo-Van Ornam, Michele Blythe, Nathan Senff, Tim Abrahamson, and Leisha Nobach. Council Members Absent: None. Staff Present: Mayor Don Vanney, Paul Ellis, Shelby Burke, Sheri Amundson, Jim Kelly, Thad Newport, Ameresia Lawlis, Lorene Robinson, Rory Butler, Seth Kinney and Chelsea Brewer. Also Known to be Present: Kathy Vanney, Randy Nobach, Steven Maisch, Holly Sloan - Buchanan, members of the press and others. Mayor Don Vanney called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm, and the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call followed. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Mayor Pro Tem Michele Blythe moved to approve the agenda as presented. Councilmember Rob Toyer seconded the motion, which passed with a unanimous vote. INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS AND PRESENTATIONS None. WORKSHOP ITEMS - NO ACTION WAS TAKEN Ordinance Approving Amendment to Arlington Municipal Code Chapter 20.76 Screening and Trees Associate Planner Ameresia Lawlis reviewed an ordinance amending Arlington Municipal Code (AMC) Chapter 20.76. The 2026 AMC Chapter 20.76 Zoning Code Amendment involves administrative updates, clarification of screening types, a simplified screening requirements table based on the zoning rather than the specific use for most situations, and updates to ensure middle housing has no additional requirements than those imposed on single family residences per House Bill 1110. The AMC Chapter 20.76 Zoning Code Amendments were proposed with the 2026 Docket. The Community and Economic Development Department needed to update the section to be in line with House Bill 1110 and the Middle Housing requirements. The uses table for screening requirements has proven to be difficult to enforce at times and provides for inconsistent landscaping requirements within a given area. Staff propose to simplify the table into zones rather than call out specific uses. Page 1 of 5 Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Workshop April 13 2026 Ordinance Approving Amendment to Arlington Municipal Code Chapter 20.94 Annexations Associate Planner Ameresia Lawlis reviewed an ordinance amending Arlington Municipal Code (AMC) Chapter 20.94. The 2026 AMC Chapter 20.94 Zoning Code Amendment involves administrative updates and revisions to reflect the state's most recent updates to the Boundary Review Board requirements. The AMC Chapter 20.94 Zoning Code Amendments were proposed with the 2026 Docket. The Community and Economic Development Department needed to update the section to be in line with House Bill 1304. This included revisions to sections 20.94.110 and 20.94.120 regarding the Boundary Review Board process. Ordinance Approving Amendment to Arlington Municipal Code Chapter 20.98 State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Associate Planner Ameresia Lawlis reviewed an ordinance amending Arlington Municipal Code (AMC) Chapter 20.98. The 2026 AMC Chapter 20.98 Zoning Code Amendment involves updating section 20.98.090 to mirror the state's flexible thresholds for categorical exemptions. Additional supplemental documents to be added in line with the most current reference documents. Updates are also proposed for 20.98.210 to provide clarification of State Environmental Policy Act decision appeals and provide additional decision types per the Washington State Administrative Code (WAC) 197.11.680. The AMC Chapter 20.98 Zoning Code Amendments were proposed with the 2026 Docket. The Community and Economic Development Department proposed this update to provide more clarity around SEPA appeals and update thresholds to be in line with the state's threshold limits. Arlington/Marysville Interlocal Agreement for Project Cascade Development Services Engineering Manager Thad Newport presented the draft Interlocal Agreement and PowerPoint presentation for Project Cascade to Council for discussion. Project Cascade is a proposed development of an approximate 1.2+/- million sq. ft. warehouse/distribution type facility on contiguous parcels and crosses the city limits lines of Arlington and Marysville. Since the proposed development of a single building will be built across the city limits of Arlington and Marysville, an Interlocal Agreement between Arlington and Marysville will be necessary to address several issues of jurisdiction, permitting responsibilities and development standards together with other complimentary issues. The proposed draft is attached and is being presented to both city councils in study sessions (Marysville on 5/4; and Arlington on 5/11) to review the draft language to reach a consensus for the agreement, which would then be brought back for approvals by both councils no later than the first available meeting in June, provided there are not substantive changes by either jurisdiction which would require further review. The subject site(s) is located in the southeast corner of the city within the Cascade Industrial Center (see attached site plan). Approximately 85-+% of the project will lie within the City of Page 2 of 5 MinuteS of the City of Arlington City Council Workshop April 13, 2026 Arlington and the balance within the City of Marysville. The anticipated project opening date is 2029. Discussion followed with Mr. Newport answering Council questions. Community Aviation Revitalization Board (CARB) Electric Sweeper Loan - Offer Acceptance and Resolution Airport Operations Coordinator Lorene Robinson reviewed the Community Aviation Revitalization Board (CARB) Electric Sweeper Loan Offer Acceptance and Resolution. Airport staff applied for and were awarded a Community Aviation Revitalization Board (CARB) loan for the purchase of an electric airport sweeper in the amount of $353,242. The CARB loan program is a financing tool that helps public -use airports fund eligible capital projects and equipment purchases. Staff is requesting Council approve the CARB loan for the procurement of an electric sweeper in the amount of $353,242 (plus interest), with an annual interest rate of 2 percent and a five-year repayment term. Loan payments will be made annually, beginning in June 2027. The proposed electric sweeper will support existing Foreign Object Debris (FOD) removal efforts and provide equipment dedicated specifically for airfield use. It will improve airfield safety by offering a more effective, reliable, and environmentally responsible method of debris removal, helping reduce the risk of aircraft damage and operational disruptions. Over time, an electric sweeper will also reduce operational costs by lowering fuel and maintenance expenses. In addition, an electric sweeper advances Washington State environmental and sustainability objectives by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering noise levels compared to a traditional fuel powered sweeper. Note: The City of Arlington was granted a 60-day extension from the April 30, 2026 date stated in the documents. Airport staff have historically relied on available maintenance equipment and airfield inspections to support FOD removal operations. The city currently has a fuel powered sweeper that is shared among departments; however, it is not dedicated solely to airport operations. Additionally, the current sweeper must be outfitted with plastic brushes before use on the airfield which increases time spent switching brush heads for street use vs. airfield use. As airfield maintenance needs have increased, staff identified the need for a dedicated airport sweeper to improve the efficiency of debris removal on airfield surfaces. Discussion followed with Ms. Robinson answering Council questions. Contract Amendment #7 to the SCJ Alliance Contract for the Island Crossing Roundabout Public Works Director Jim Kelly reviewed the Contract Amendment #7 to the SCJ Alliance Contract for the Island Crossing Roundabout. Staff is requesting to amend the existing contract with SCJ Alliance for design of the SR-530 and Smokey Point Boulevard roundabout. In 2019 the City of Arlington, Snohomish County and the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians partnered together design and construct a roundabout the intersection of SR-530 and Smokey Point Boulevard. The City took the lead role in this partnership and entered into a contract with SCJ Alliance for design and permitting of the proposed roundabout. Staff secured funding in 2025 from the Transportation Improvement Board to move forward with Page 3 of 5 Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Workshop April 13 2026 construction. Amendment #7 will update the design, complete the environmental permit process and provide assistance through construction; a summary of project change orders is below. (Note: Amendments 2, 4, 5, and 6 were time extension only) Base Contract $ 268,025.00 Amendment #1 $ 40,375.00 (Add WSDOT ITS, Wat-Sew utilities, & GeoTech) Amendment #3 $ 105,882.00 (Revive project in 2023, add NEPA & ROW Coordination) Amendment #7 $ 99,076.64 (Revive project in 2026, final design, construction support) Revised Contract $ 513,358.64 Discussion followed with Mr. Kelly answering Council questions. Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) Finance Director, Shelby Burke presented the draft 2027 Lodging Tax Funding Application for Council review and feedback to identify any additional changes before it is released to applicants. The anticipated timeline is as follows: • Application released to the public: May 15, 2026 • Application due date: June 30, 2026 • LTAC funding recommendations presented to Council for action: August 3, 2026 • Contracts mailed to successful applicants: Week of August 11, 2026 At the October 2025 Council retreat, the application was included on the agenda for discussion and input. Since that time, the application has been revised based on recommendations from the Council and the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC). Discussion followed with Ms. Burke answering Council questions. ADMINISTRATOR AND STAFF REPORTS None. MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Vanney stated that he attended the ribbon cutting for D-Bat Baseball and Softball Training facility in Smokey Point. COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS Councilmember Tim Abrahamson attended the Washington State Audit Exit Meeting for the City and expressed his appreciation and continued support for the Finance Department and acknowledged their excellent work with the audit. Councilmember Michele Blythe acknowledged her attendance at the Washington State Audit Exit Meeting and expressed her thoughts on the meeting. She also provided an update on her attendance at the Alliance Housing Authority (AHA) and a ride -along with the Arlington Police Department. PUBLIC COMMENT None. Page 4 of 5 Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Workshop April 13, 2026 REVIEW OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING Councilmembers discussed and agreed to put the following items on the Consent Agenda for the May 18, 2026 Council meeting: 1.Ordinance Approving Amendment to Arlington Municipal Code Chapter 20.76 Screening and Trees 2. Ordinance Approving Amendment to Arlington Municipal Code Chapter 20.94 Annexations 3.Ordinance Approving Amendment to Arlington Municipal Code Chapter 20.98 State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) S. Community Aviation Revitalization Board (CARB) Electric Sweeper Loan - Offer Acceptance and Resolution 6. Contract Amendment #7 to the SCJ Alliance Contract for the Island Crossing Roundabout EXECUTIVE SESSION None. ADIOURNMENT With no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 6:43 p.m. Vanney, Mayor Page 5 of 5