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Home My WebLink AboutCouncil Signed Minutes 07-13-26 WorkshopMinutes of the Arlington City Council Workshop Council Chambers 110 East 3rd Street Monday, July 13, 2026 Councilmembers Present: Heather Watland, Yvonne Gallardo-Van Ornam, Michele Blythe, Nathan Senff, Tim Abrahamson, and Leisha Nobach. Council Members Absent: Rob Toyer - Excused Staff Present: Mayor Don Vanney, Paul Ellis, Shelby Burke, Ameresia Lawlis, Jim Kelly, Kris Wallace, Jonathan Ventura, Peter Barrett, Shawn Friang, and Chelsea Brewer. Also Known to be Present: Kathy Vanney, Randy Nobach, Steven Maisch, Holly Sloan - Buchanan, Chief Dave Kraski, 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 Tern Michele Blythe moved to approve the agenda as presented. Councilmember Tim Abrahamson 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 AMC Chapter 20.44 Supplemental Use Regulations Associate Planner Ameresia Lawlis presents the 2026 AMC Chapter 20.44 Zoning Code Amendment which includes revisions to the Unit Lot Subdivision standards to clarify language and ensure consistency with Middle Housing requirements, and update Accessory Dwelling Unit regulations to comply with RCW 36.70A.680 while simplifying and clarifying existing standards. The amendments also add a new section for Retrofitting Existing Buildings and Passive Housing, update Administrative Conditional Use Permit provisions for Mobile Sales and Delivery to provide consistent language and requirements for Mobile Food Vendors outside Title 20, and replace the existing Cottage Housing section with a broader Middle Housing section that establishes standards for middle housing types, including cottage housing. Page 1 of 4 Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Workshop July 13 2026 The AMC Chapter 20.44 Zoning Code Amendments were proposed with the 2026 Docket. The Community and Economic Development Department proposed to update Sections 20.44.020A to 20.44.020N - Unit Lot Subdivisions per Engrossed Senate Bill 5559, add a new Section for Existing Building Used for Residential Purposes per House Bill 1757 and Second Substitute House Bill 1183 and add a new Section for Child Care Center in Existing Buildings per Substitute Senate Bill 5655. While editing the chapter staff identified additional changes for clarity and consistency. Ordinance Approving Amendment to AMC Chapter 20.48 Density and Dimensional Regulations Associate Planner Ameresia Lawlis presents the 2025 AMC Chapter 20.48 Zoning Code Amendment which includes reorganization and clarification of several development standards to improve usability and consistency within the code. New language is added for building setback requirements, accessory building setbacks, and multi -family unit setbacks by relocating existing language from AMC 20.46 Design into more appropriate code sections, along with new footnotes in Table 20.48-1 addressing Accessory Dwelling Units and corner lots. The amendments also update residential density, maximum lot coverage, fence and wall height requirements, Table 20.48-1, and Figure 15 to remove outdated provisions, correct clerical errors, clarify standards, and align terminology with current state usage, including the use of "Courtyard Apartments." In particular, lot coverage requirements are removed to provide greater flexibility for property owners while maintaining regulation through existing design, landscaping, setback, and safety standards. The AMC Chapter 20.48 Zoning Code Amendments were proposed with the 2025 Docket and continued onto the 2026 Docket. The Community and Economic Development Department proposed revisions to sections 20.48.020 Residential Density, 20.48040 Building Setback Requirements, 20.48.060 Building Height Limitations, 20.48.064 Maximum Lot Coverage and Table 20.48-1 Density and Dimensional Standards. These sections required updates to bring the chapter into compliance with previous development regulation amendments that authorize housing types and zoning district changes, over the past few years. Ordinance Approving Amendments to the Arlington Development Design Standards Associate Planner Ameresia Lawlis presents the 2026 Development Design Standards which involves reformatting of the standards, removal of ambiguous language and replacement with clear requirements where necessary. The Development Design Standards Amendments were proposed with the 2026 Docket. The Community and Economic Development Department proposed to update the Development Design Standards in accordance with the Revised Code of Washington under RCW 36.70A.630, RCW 36.70A.635, RCW 36.70A.030, and RCW 36.70A.681, to provide clear and concise design standard regulations. The requirements within the existing standards remained the same, with minor changes to include design review standards for all building types. The standards were reformatted to provide a cleaned -up version to clarify the requirements. Page 2 of 4 Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Workshop July 13, 2026 Utility Extension Agreement for Harmony at Arlington LLC Public Works Director Jim Kelly explains that as part of the proposed development, Harmony at Arlington is required to extend water service to the furthest extremes of their property. The property owner and the city have come to an agreement to share the cost for the utility extension. Developers are, as per city code, required to extend water mains across the furthest extents of their property as condition of water service. The Harmony at Arlington development borders along the west side of SR-9 and borders along the south side of Portage Creek. Harmony also owns the parcel through which Portage Creek flows. The Harmony parcel through which Portage Creek flows is a critical area and will be dedicated to Arlington as part of this development. Per City code, Harmony must extend a 12-inch water main beneath Portage Creek and reconnect into the city water distribution system on the north side of Portage Creek. Due to the nature of the water main extension construction and permitting, the Water Utility agreed to share costs for this extension. This agreement outlines the terms for cost sharing in this project. Discussion followed with Mr. Kelly answering Council questions. 188th Street & Smokey Point Boulevard Roundabout (RAB) Project; Change Order No. 3 - Adjusted Public Works Director Jim Kelly explains the adjustment to Change Order #3 to the 188th Street Roundabout Project for additional expense for sanitary sewer extension to Lift Station 6, correction of CCD-013.1 credit amount and adding sales tax. Public Works publicly bid the 188th Street & Smokey Point Boulevard Project in Fall 2025, the contract was awarded to SRV Construction Inc. Change Order #2 was issued to extend the 18-inch sewer main approximately 1,100-feet to Lift Station 6. During the extension, parts of the underlying old SR-99 concrete roadway collapsed and caused an increase in excavation, backfilling and surface restoration costs. To cover these additional costs, project Change Order #3 was issued and approved by City Council. After Change Order #3 approval, staff discovered two errors; a credit issued in Construction Change Directive 13.1 (CCD-013.1) included an incorrect quantity and Washington state sales tax was not included. This correction amends the approved amount of Change Order #3 by $34,793.83. All of the sewer costs will be paid for by the Sewer CIP fund; there is sufficient funding in the Sewer CIP fund to cover this change order. Police Department Quarterly Report Police Chief Jonathan Ventura presented the Quarterly Report for the Police Department. Discussion followed with Chief Ventura answering Council questions. North County Regional Fire Authority Quarterly Report Fire Chief Dave Kraski presented the Quarterly Report for North County Regional Fire Authority. Discussion followed with Chief Kraski answering Council question. ADMINISTRATOR AND STAFF REPORTS None. Page 3 of 4 Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Workshop July 13 2026 MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Vanney commended the Downtown Arlington Business Association (DABA) on a successful street fair. COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS /COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS Councilmember Nathan Senff thanked the vendors and community for attending the Street Fair and also acknowledged other events hosted by small businesses throughout the City. Councilmember Leisha Nobach thanked everyone involved in hosting the Street Fair, including the Arlington Police Department. PUBLIC COMMENT None. REVIEW OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING Councilmembers discussed and agreed to put the following items on the Consent Agenda for the July 20, 2026 Council meeting: 1.Ordinance Approving Amendment to AMC Chapter 20.44 Supplemental Use Regulations 2.Ordinance Approving Amendment to AMC Chapter 20.48 Density and Dimensional Regulations 3. Ordinance Approving Amendments to the Arlington Development Design Standards 4. Utility Extension Agreement for Harmony at Arlington, LLC S. 188th Street & Smokey Point Boulevard Roundabout (RAB) Project; Change Order No. 3 Adjusted EXECUTIVE SESSION City Administrator Paul Ellis announced the need for an executive session for discussion of a pending litigation matter pursuant to [RCW 42.30.110(1)(i)], with no action to be taken afterward, to begin at 6:35 p.m. and last 15 minutes until 6:50 p.m. Mr. Ellis announced that five more minutes would be required and the session will end at 6:55 p.m. Council was dismissed at 6:35 p.m. Council reconvened at 6:55 p.m. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 6:56 p.m. .r Don E. Vanney, Mayor Page 4 of 4