Sept 28 City Council Meeting

Cait’s Council Comments 9-28-26

Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 

Public Comment

Fourteen people signed in for public comment, with one online, and the majority focused on the Arrowhead Speed Cushions project.  Responses were mixed; some residents supported the project, citing safety concerns, where other residents opposed it. 

Former Councilmember Deb Srebnik spoke about a recent meeting she attended and asked the City to use their resources to encourage residents to vote early and use the ballot dropboxes. 

Consent Agenda 

Passed unanimously.  This included a withdrawal from the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) interlocal agreement, due to their changing structure, which had been in effect since 2022. 

Public Hearing

Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).  Staff overviewed the presentation from last week with minor changes.  Two people commented; one was on Arrowhead Dr. speed cushions. 

Planning Commission Applications 

Todd Hall presented. Four positions on Kenmore’s Planning Commission are up at the end of this year (Commissioners Dorrian, Thompson, Olson and Banaszynski). Commissioners Dorrian and Thompson reapplied, along with 13 other applicants. 

Council was asked to choose who they would like to interview. CM O’Cain requested to not take too deep of a cut, and interview 10 applicants.  At Mayor Herbig’s suggestion, Council each gave a list of their top six candidates to the City Clerk to determine the top vote-getters.  

Candidates who will be interviewed on October 26th are:

Steven Grim 
Odra Cardenas
Danielle Olson
David Dorrian
Derek Wycoff
Rachel Hogan
Collin Carter
Aife Sullivan
Jon Hall

All applications can be found here: City Council Regular Meeting of Monday, September 28, 2026 • City of Kenmore Agendas and Minutes • CivicClerk 

Staff Updates

Public Works Center Update

Jennifer Gordon presented an update on the $22m Public Works Center.  This included background, milestones and challenges, and current status.  Kenmore brought public works in-house in 2019.  The site will be using a high-efficiency geothermal system (which came with some challenges on groundwater) and they tried to retain trees, set the facility up for rooftop solar, and added EV chargers as well as future expansion capacity.  Some challenges have impacted project and budget, including relocation of the driveway because of the slope severity, high ground water (which made geothermal well draining difficult), saturated soils because of rain (causing delay).  They hope to have this completed in June of next year and move in by the end of summer.  They will be able to substantially use the site at that point; they are hoping to have funds left to construct some covered areas. 

Due to challenges that have impacted the schedule and budget, Staff will be bringing a contract amendment in a few weeks to increase the “not to exceed” amount and extend the contract duration. 

CM Adman asked about the new green features and whether there was anything they needed to do from a stormwater perspective.  Richard Sawyer said they did the highest level of stormwater management and made the site ready for future expansion.  They utilized low impact BMPs, and it would take a substantial storm to create flow off the site. 

Boathouse Rent Update

They are still working with Kenmore Community Rowing Club on rent; the first proposal from KCRC was a sliding formula based on membership and the City wanted something more straightforward.  The City asked for clarity on who uses the club and what the split is, and they plan on starting to collect rent in October.  They hope to meet with the Boosters group and their rent would start in Spring 2027. 

City Manager Report

They are in full force budget development mode.  She said that they are getting a lot of questions about property taxes and the upcoming levy and explained that property tax is a lot different than sales tax.  Sales tax is a direct rate times the amount spent.  Property tax in Washington is a levy; when you’re looking at how to calculate what is due and payable, you have to think about all the taxes collected, and this is the levy. Then there is a growth rate attached to the levy, and the lid lift goes on top. The 6% rate cap is a protective mechanism in terms of how much it can grow each year.  That is a protective mechanism that you don’t have in years where there isn’t a proposition in play. They are seeking to clarify this along with 42 other questions they’ve received in the last few weeks.

Councilmember Reports

CM O’Cain thanked people for showing up for public comment on the issues in Arrowhead and other issues.  She was glad to see our community engaged.  She also appreciated former CM Srebnik’s comments about voting, and making our voices heard through our votes.  Free Palestine.  She thinks that we should be aware that the majority of our federal tax dollars are going to the military.

CM Marshall agreed with CM O’Cain’s comments on the importance of us speaking out.  He said he speaks with friendship and that we need to support Israel and crush terror, and support some reasonable measure of freedom for the Palestinians. Peace has broken out before. When MTV started in 1980 there were these pale guys from Ireland named U2. Northern Ireland has moved towards peace, despite the horror that happened.  He wasn’t saying that the situation was analogous, but the common element is that peace is possible.

CM Culver thinks Council should consider chicanes for the Arrowhead project.  It’s only $250k in the context of a $23m transportation budget over the next two years and he thinks we can recover the grant money.

CM Loutsis thanked everyone who applied for the Planning Commission, and expressed gratitude for the commissioners whose terms have come up.

CM Adman thanked people for expressing their opinions, and engineering staff for all the work that they have done on this project.

DM Sasson said it’s time to make nominations for NUHSA awards for outstanding contributions to health and human services.  She echoed former CM Srebnik’s request to vote early and use the ballot boxes.   She appreciates the recognition during the domestic violence awareness month.  She encourages anyone who has questions about city issues to look to the City website for the answers.  She doesn’t think there’s a clear understanding of what the Arrowhead project is.  She’s on the board for KCRHA and the dissolution for the interlocal agreement is concerning; the five cities involved are continuing their commitment to the emergency shelter.

Mayor Herbig said he appreciates everyone.  He said coming up with the right answer for Arrowhead isn’t easy, since there is documented speeding. Executive Zahily is putting together a K4C elected officials meeting this Friday.  Applications are open for the 2027 regional boards and committees.