June 22 City Council Meeting
Cait’s Council Comments 6-22-26
UPDATED PARK IMPACT FEE (PIF) METHODOLOGY
Debbie Bent and Todd Hall presented. This is a continuation of the conversation from two prior meetings; there was no clear direction/consensus at the last meeting. They need consensus to get to a public hearing, and ultimately adopt this into the Kenmore Municipal Code.
Staff requested direction on the method of calculation and the percentage of the maximum rate to be implemented. Staff again recommended the square footage approach because it is easy to administer and to set it at 70%, as it is comparable to 2025 and 2026 rates. PIF is applied to new residential development to pay for their proportionate share of growth and expanded capacity (not to fund the entire share of park infrastructure). King County levy, REET and other forms of funding provide the balance of the funding needed for parks.
Questions
CM Culver cited a portion of the legislation that said that new growth should pay for new growth; he wanted to know what it meant. Consultant Tom Beckwith said that the legislation doesn’t mandate the percentage rate, it just says that it can’t be the only source. Tom said that there were three places you can go for money: impact fees, REET or levy. REET is difficult since you’re taking from other capital projects, and levies can be dicey. Seventy to 75% is fine, if you lower it much more you’re too dependent on REET and levy funding.
DM Sasson said her preferences during the last chat were square footage and 70%, and she could support up to 75%.
Motion
Mayor Herbig said he would “entertain a motion” to direct staff to put together the park impact fee for 70%, square footage, and move towards a hearing and update to the municipal code. CM Loutsis seconded.
CM Culver moved to amend the main motion to 80%, CM Marshall seconded.
CM Culver said that we are subsidizing market rate housing and anything we collect less than the maximum is dollars we could put towards other things. We could put more money from the general fund towards affordable housing so he wants at least 80%.
CM Loutsis said he’s glad that we have carveouts for affordable housing but a lot of the fees are passed through; a lot of the brunt is borne by the people who purchase the home. He thinks 70% is a fair percentage. We don’t want these to make other forms of housing less affordable.
CM Marshall thinks 80% is a reasonable increase for parks.
CM O’Cain thinks that the 70% is appropriate. We are going through a number of increases, and this does pass through to the person owning the home, so we need to be mindful of rising costs. She said that affordability impacts all forms of housing; even people who do not require affordable housing are impacted by the affordability of our city. Council has already increased public safety tax and is going out for a levy lid lift.
Mayor Herbig is more comfortable with 70-75%.
CM Culver said that if we don’t pass through more, it puts it on residents through a MPD. He doesn’t think that market rate housing is affordable. He doesn’t think this is a good equitable housing outcome.
Amendment to increase to 80% failed 3-3; CM O’Cain, CM Loutsis and Mayor Herbig opposed.
DM Sasson moved to amend the main motion to 75%, CM Loutsis seconded.
Motion passed 4-2, Mayor Herbig and CM O’Cain opposed
Main motion amended: 75%, square footage approach. Motion passed 5:1 with CM O’Cain opposed.
STAFF REPORTS
Teri Killgore said that there is a “State of the City” breakfast at 7:30am this Thursday. It does require pre-reservation but there are spots still available. Mayor Herbig will be the main speaker.
COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS
CM Marshall thanked the staff for great work on 61st; it feels like you want to go slower in the narrower lanes.
CM Culver said that there were a few initiatives on the ballot in November. The City Attorney interrupted and cautioned council members about speaking positively about ballot measures. CM Culver said he would love to take a position on these at some point.
Mayor Herbig seconded CM Culver’s request to bring them back, when they’re on the ballot. There were no objections.
CM Culver said Stephanie Lucash is now the Regional VP of Cities and Counties.
CM Loutsis said NPRSA met last week and took a walking tour of the site of a potential future community center/aquatic center/athletic center in Woodinville. We may get a public pool for the north end in the near future.
DM Sasson said she really enjoyed the Juneteenth Celebration.
Mayor Herbig said that he was appointed by Executive Zahilay to the transit safety implementation task force, and they are talking about implementing things that will make transit safer for everyone. He commends everyone who is taking time to work on all of this. For our region to succeed, transit needs to succeed and for transit to succeed, people need to trust it.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mayor Herbig requested a motion for the City Manager to draft a comment letter for Federal Regulation Two CFR 200 on behalf of the City for signature by the Mayor. CM O’Cain and CM Culver seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
