EVERETT, OCT. 29: Last week the Everett City Council discussed enforcement of public safety measures around the block of 3301 Lombard Ave after concerns from a resident were presented last week. The council also approved a rezoning of the former Waits Motel allowing townhomes up to three stories.
Lombard Ave. Buffer Zone
Chief of Police John DeRousse addressed a public comment about the city’s enforcement of the buffer zone on the block of 3301 Lombard Ave., a concern brought by Everett resident Jose Vilalaz in last week’s council meeting.
Buffer zones were established in the city of Everett in May of 2023 as a way to “improve community safety, address encampments… and to mitigate negative activities in specific areas.” There are buffer zones on Rockefeller, Evergreen Way and Lombard Ave.
“Each part of our city comes with its own set of unique challenges,” DeRousse said, “This particular neighborhood has had a lot of factors in play.”
DeRousse explained that the block of Lombard in question is near the county jail, transitional housing, and Broadway.
One program that the Everett police have initiated to address crime in the area is Area Emphasis Patrols (AEP). DeRousse said that when officers are not on an active call, they are dispatched to areas in need of additional patrol.
DeRousse explained that sometimes AEP doesn’t lead to a data point, and police presence is what the neighborhood needs.
Another way to address the crime in the area, DeRousse said, is working with parking enforcement. In the last four weeks, there have been more than 948 vehicles in violation of parking laws. The vehicles flagged were ones where criminal and drug activity were apparent, DeRousse said.
19 vehicles were impounded, some of which were stolen DeRousse said.
Compass Health also addressed its role in enforcing public safety in the area, announcing a new Neighbored Advocacy Advisory group. Compass Health owns Andy’s Place, a permanent supportive housing building in the area.
Port Gardner resident Alexis Boies said that the neighborhood is skeptical of Compass Health as a whole.
“We have a lot of fear coming up with their new hospital that is going to be opening. As a neighborhood, we have not had the response from Compass that we would have expected… there is no one for us to call. There is no one that can help… Compass needs to step up,” she said.
Waits Motel Rezone
The council also voted to approve a rezone of Waits Motel, allowing for 14 to 16, three story fee simple townhome units, adding middle housing to the area.
The potential rezone was proposed by Mayor Cassie Franklin and her team earlier this month.
The council voted to condemn Waits Motel in July of last year, buying the location in January for $1.85 million. There were no plans for the location until an ordinance was proposed during a city council meeting earlier this month.
The briefing of the proposed ordinance had some council members frustrated with the “lack of council involvement”.
Community Support Coordinator Kelli Roark gave additional insight into the previous relocation efforts for Waits Motel.
“I hope it’s understood that Waits Motel was not a safe living environment for many of its residents and hasn’t been for years,” Roark said.
Roark oversaw relocation efforts for several months, leading a team to provide options for long-time residents of the motel.
The council also heard the third and final reading of the proposed ordinance, as well as opened the floor to public comment. Long-time Lombard Ave. resident said that since the demolition of Waits Motel, “it is undeniable that peace has returned to our neighborhood.”
The council voted 6-1, approving the rezone.
Other News:
The next Everett City Council meeting will be at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow, Oct. 30 at the Council Chamber at 3002 Wetmore Ave.
Two officers were sworn into the Everett Police Department. Benjamin Weaver was born and raised in Snohomish County and had his own business until pursuing a career in law enforcement in 2023, DeRousse said.
Jayland Roxas was born in Tacoma and raised in Renton, DeRousse said. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a radio operator before returning to Washington to pursue an education in business.
To view the entire city council meeting from Oct. 23, see here.
