Council Retreat: Day 1

The council had their annual retreat today at Seabrook, Washington on the Ocean. After 7 long hours, here’s my recap.

Morning session: Kenmore Planning

Council discussed city planning, CM O’Cain sees Seabrook and the Seaside Prize community as examples of what she’d like to see in Kenmore. DM Sasson pointed to communities like Snohomish, Wallingford and Edmonds as good examples. Mayor Herbig pointed out that these were built in pre-zoning eras.  Seabrook was all developed at one time, by the same developer.  CM Loutsis brought up infill development, and Mayor Herbig suggested pre-approved ADU plans as a way to help with infill.

Council briefly discussed the Cozy Inn property and what to do with it. Council would like something to be done, even if it’s just planting trees so it isn’t such an eyesore in the Kenmore Approach. Discussion on selling it looked to the future when there is more value in the property.
CM Loutsis brought up the idea of creating a “Creative District” in Kenmore which could open various funding opportunities for the city.  CM Culver was the least enthusiastic, citing the discontinued business incubator program.  Council agreed to send this to staff for further work. 

Afternoon Session: Kenmore Planning and Businesses

They reconvened with reflections on the Seabrook tour.  CM Loutsis’ takeaways included the importance of downtown retail in creating a thriving community. DM Sasson reminded council that they came there to be inspired, but this isn’t realistic to Kenmore.  Seabrook is a resort community.  She supports an aspirational vision and downtown plan, including walkability, but chafes at the public language of private ownership of Seabrook. CM Culver said he didn’t see a mention of permanent-supportive housing or good neighbor agreements at Seabrook. 

CM O’Cain requested that we look into creating a community pea patch, or a network of them.  CM Adman supported the idea.  City Manager Killgore said that they could look into how this would work and added they are typically community-managed, not city-managed. 

CM Marshall said he connected with a lot of small businesses over the summer and fall, and many felt that a business advisory committee would be great for Kenmore.  A few council members suggested having a consistent council representation at the Kenmore Business Alliance meetings to update them.  DM Sasson said she wanted to be careful about giving businesses too much of a voice because they aren’t citizens. 

Budget and New Taxes

City Manager Killgore presented the budget options for discussion. There was some support for transportation tax as part of a package.  Council discussed public safety and hiring a consultant to review our current cost, and see if there was an opportunity to save.  CM Culver said that it was much cheaper to bring public safety (police) services in-house. CM Loutsis challenged this and asked to see his research, as everything that he has seen suggests it’s much more expensive (infrastructure setup, for one). CM Loutsis also pointed out that public safety ballot measures have failed around Kenmore; parks districts have been more successful.  CM Culver does not support a metropolitan parks district (MPD), and wants the climate action plan funded. DM Sasson asked about providing a rebate for seniors/low income for parks districts. CM Loutsis pointed out that once you set up a MPD, it is a dependable revenue stream where the levy lid lift has to come back every six years at a minimum. The MPD has no set project; this is a revenue shift, and the facilitator suggested that communication with voters could center around what we’d lose if we do not establish the MPD. 

Council also talked about the “KenMORE <3” option for a ballot measure to fund climate action, affordable housing, economic development and human services. There was concern that some people who support one of these priorities may not support the others.  Killgore clarified that economic development includes things like the business incubator. 

Mayor Herbig recommended enacting councilmanic measures now, and then waiting until 2028 to put something on the ballot so it doesn’t interfere with council elections.  He thinks getting it on the ballot this year is too soon to do the community work necessary.  DM Sasson does not want to keep kicking this can down the road. CM Marshall brought up budget cuts and pointed out that we can incorporate values from our priorities and we need to make cuts before we go to voters.  CM O’Cain pointed out that when we raise taxes it makes Kenmore less affordable, even if voters do it to themselves. 

City Manager Killgore presented some fallback approaches for what happens if no revenue measure goes forward.  CM Marshall advocated for cuts, CM Adman prefers increasing revenue and likes the straightforwardness and speed of the public safety levy. CM Adman expressed that he’s comfortable coming back to the voters multiple times for funding.

DM Sasson said that she is all in on the MPD when it comes time, but is ready to vote now on: councilmanic transportation sales tax, levy-lid lift, and KenMORE <3 go to the voters in 2026, if those fail we go for reduction of service letters, and then in 2028 we go to the voters for the MPD. CM Culver wants to add B&O tax. Mayor Herbig said he can’t support two ballot measures but is OK with it otherwise. 

TOMORROW:  Council will start with the budget discussion, and then move on to other items, like e-scooters and youth council!