June 15 City Council Meeting

Cait’s note: Monday’s Council meeting was short and focused on the upcoming Proposition 1 Levy Lid Lift and updates on environmental monitoring. Council is sending the Prop. 1 Levy on to voters; they are currently taking applications for the pro/con statement committees

CM Marshall was excused for his son’s graduation.

Where’s the Fun?  

Juneteenth and Pride celebrations are upcoming. Farmers market in full swing. 

There were 2,500 people in attendance in the Shoreline Fire Department Pancake Breakfast. 

Inglemoor Vikings Women's Rowing Team won their first championship. 

Public Comment

Planning Commission Chair Tracy Banaszynski spoke in support of Proposition 1 levy. She voiced support for all three programs; they are all about taking care of one another, and they all deserve our time, attention and robust funding. She said that lowering emissions at the City level is essential because cities account for more than 60% of global greenhouse gas emissions. She wants Council to send the levy to the ballot so that she can organize the money into existence.  

KenMORE <3 LEVY: Proposition 1

City Manager Terri Killgore presented.  This is the City’s first ever levy lid lift and would be on the November 2026 ballot. She emphasized that putting something on the ballot is a critical part of our democratic process. Prop. 1 would add a dedicated revenue stream for three areas: environmental stewardship, affordable housing, and human services. It would add about $30/mo or $360/year to the taxes for the average ($1m) home.  Funds would be for climate (education, stewardship), funding affordable housing (additional funding to ARCH, since there is no affordable housing agency within Kenmore), human services (through contracts and grants, including KCRHA and Northshore Senior Center). 

More information can be found here: Kenmorewa.gov/prop1

DISCUSSION 

CM O’Cain emphasized fiscal responsibility; we should go through our budget process and understand our KAPE revenue before going out for a levy.  She noted that our community has concerns about inflation and costs of living, and when we bring forward a levy it has to be a good product.  We need to demonstrate positive action on the budget side and that we have been mindful in taking cuts where we can. 

CM Culver moved to adopt the proposal; CM Adman seconded. 

CM Loutsis recognized that this isn’t an easy ask for the community; the City has been looking at ways to make cuts, and is committed to making cuts this next budget cycle. They have made cuts and used reserves; the levy is an opportunity to pose the question to the community on how we should proceed.  Putting this on the ballot is an opportunity to engage the community and see where our residents are at. Kenmore’s portion of the over-all property taxes is fairly small, and going for a levy isn't something that is unique to Kenmore - a lot of cities are doing the same thing. 

CM Culver said that he was a firm “yes”.  He believes that we have committed to these items and 2026 is going to be a more “ripe terrain” for a supportive measure than odd years.  The items on the levy have been top priorities and they require resources.  

DM Sasson would encourage anyone who has questions to reference the presentation City Manager Killgore just gave. 

Mayor Herbig believes the work that we are doing is important and that we need to continue doing it.  He thinks the community is with this generally and this is how we afford to continue the important work. Mayor Herbig overviewed how property tax collection works; our mechanisms for tax collection were pushed on Cities and he hopes the State creates a more fair tax collection tool for cities. 

VOTE: Passed 5 to 1, CM O’Cain opposed (CM Marshall excused)

Staff Reports on the Water: 

Lakepointe: no agreement with the property owner yet. 

Water quality monitoring:  The city was given an EPA grant for monitoring.  They had hoped to use the funds for Lakepointe, but are going to work on others in the interim. 

Glacier NW Dredging: this was just completed and included sediment testing.

City Dredging: this is a longstanding project with the Army Corps of Engineers. The City is also looking at dredging the river up to the bridge which is the flood control project.  This would potentially be a new project.  This would be a five-year funding timeline with the ACE, or the City could do it with their own funds. The project itself would take about five years.

CM Adman asked why they’re monitoring water temperature and asked if the things that are floating in the lagoon are algae. The temp impacts what the bacteria is doing, and this also mirrors what the other monitoring agencies are looking at so it’s an apples-to-apples comparison. Some of it is algae, the treatments and manual scrapers have been effective.  This is warm water with low circulation, which causes the growth.  The algae treatment removes some of the nutrients.  CM Adman also asked about the EPA grant and the dredging.  The EPA grant contract is for four years, and they like to see substantial progress by about the two year mark. There is no obligation to dredge, but the navigation channel portion has been deemed an important commerce stretch.  

CM Culver said he’s glad that the brownfields money is being put to work other than Lakepointe. 

CM Killgore said that it is construction season, and if you’re curious about a project, each construction project has its own page on the city website. You can also follow the City on social media.  Most of these projects are funded with state/federal money - they are protected revenue streams that have to be put to use in certain areas. The city is paying a piece of the cost, but in one recent project it was as low as .14 on the dollar.

Councilmember Reports

CM O’Cain spoke about a recent presentation on deep sea mining.  Over 70% of our oxygen comes from the ocean - every second breath we take. It takes millions of years to recover from the impacts of deep sea mining.  Our salmon depend on the ocean, we depend on the ocean. It’s a very complex and convoluted process and our government supports.  They are looking at putting AI data centers and nuclear power plants in our oceans.  She hopes that we can come together to find a better way to meet our energy needs.

CM Culver mentioned that AI data centers have been coming up as moratoriums and that Seattle just passed one. 

CM Loutsis congratulated the IHS rowing team that just won the championship in Florida. He recently heard that Woodinville is having discussion about policy about drone delivery, and that might be something that we should consider as policy or a moratorium until policy is enacted.  Last Wednesday there was a RACR meeting, and they are looking for people to serve on their advisory committee who have had contact with RACR.  LFP is working on a letter to King Co Metro about the 372 bus, which is scheduled to be discontinued.  It’s the only direct route to UW, and a connection to Lake City.

DM Sasson said she is so stoked about the IHS rowing team.  She loves a “she beast.”  King county severe weather protocols were put in place this week; the Hangar, library and city hall are places people can cool off if needed.  NHUSA sent a letter in support of a North King Co ban on selling Kratom products. 

Mayor Herbig said that he had emailed Debbie about data centers a few weeks back.  They would fall under Business Services: intensive.  It’s banned in all areas except parks, PSP, and golf courses and they’d have to jump through a lot of hoops in order to build one. He stressed the importance of the 372 bus, since this is our only link to Lake City.  NE Seattle is becoming a grocery and pharmacy desert, and it will be harder for folks to get to the grocery and Ostroms here. He would like to sign on to the letter.