EVERETT, FEB. 25: The Everett City Council heard the latest update on the city’s Comprehensive Plan, a policy document that will guide the growth of the city. The Mayor’s office also addressed questions regarding the city budget.
Mayors’ Comments
Firstly, Mayor Cassie Franklin and the council welcomed two new officers to the Everett Police Force. They swore in Officer Prasanti Yerramilli and Officer Chris Cruce.
Everett Police reminded residents that they continue to look for new hires. You can contact their recruiter at [email protected] or call 425-257-8412 for more information.
Lori Cummings with the Mayor’s office shared some insights into the city budget to help educate Everett residents about what can and cannot be done with funds.
“It is one of our goals to help Everett residents understand the city budget…” Cummings said.
Money and resources come from two main sources, Cummings said, the first being leftover money from the previous year. The second is revenue, which is income expected to be brought in during the year, such as property and sales tax.
Expenditures are what the city plans to spend during the year. The city adopts a statutorily balanced budget each year, ensuring total budgeted resources are exactly equal to total budgeted uses, Cummings said.
Cummings explained the difference between the budgeted fund balance and the actual ending fund balance saying, “The budgeted ending fund balance is an estimate that is in line with the council resolution that was adopted in 2004 that requires the city to maintain an ending fund balance equal to 20% of revenues.”
For the actual fund balance, it represents what the city has as a true fund balance. It is the real amount of money left in a fund at the end of the year.
“The city of Everett does not and will not borrow money for operations due to cash flow challenges. A healthy fund balance helps the city manage cash flow smoothly throughout the year,” Cummings said.
To learn more about the city budget you can watch the discussion here.
Comprehensive Plan Briefing
The Everett Planning Department has been working on the periodic update to the Comprehensive Plan, a policy document that will help guide the growth of the city up until 2044. For the 2044 plan, there will be significant policy changes to housing and zoning, as reported in June.
The update is prompted by a few key forces. One is that the city is expecting significant population growth within the next decade. Legally, they also have to incorporate new state laws, such as House Bill 1110, which requires certain cities to allow a broader range of housing types.
During the briefing, Planning Director Yorik Stevens-Wajda shared an estimated increased population growth of 65,000 by 2044. As for housing, the planning department anticipates 36,500 additional housing units during the same time.
The city needs to plan for 19,364 housing units that accommodate Area Medium Income (AMI), Stevens-Wajda said. They will also need to plan for 2,731 Permanent Supportive Housing units as well as 2,383 Emergency Housing Need, such as shelter beds.
Part of the comprehensive plan lays out zoning and land use which includes regulations on where said housing can be built. Last year the city council approved three growth alternatives. These alternatives essentially lay out options on where potential growth could be located in accordance with HB 1110 and the Growth Management Act.
After discussions with the community, city and the planning department, there has been a preference for the Dispersed Growth Alternative, Alternative 3. This alternative would designate urban corridor fames as low-rise (up to four flours) housing. It would also introduce increased housing capacity along connectors including 19th St and E Marine View Dr.
To review the Comprehensive Plan Update and to follow along with the city, see here.
There will be an open house at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Weyerhaeuser Room at 3201 Smith Avenue. This is a way for the public to ask questions and learn more about the plan.
The complete public draft is expected to be released in late March. A public hearing will be held on April 16.
