EVERETT, FEB. 10: The Everett City Council approved six action items last week and heard public comments regarding Hope ‘N Wellness and Initiative 24-03.
Public Comments:
Everett residents continued to advocate for Hope ‘N Wellness, asking Mayor Cassie Franklin and the council to reconsider relocating the service center.
Hope ‘N Wellness, located downtown, provides resources for those unhoused and recovering from substance abuse or trauma. In September, they were asked to halt services due to violating a zoning code that does not allow social services on the first floor of buildings in the downtown core.
The move has sparked debate in the community, with some advocating for the service center to remain where it is, claiming the city needs the resources the center provides.
The violating ordinance comes from the Metro Everett Plan passed in 2018. The goal of the plan is to create a “more vibrant, urban downtown that is prepared to absorb more density,” Julie Willie, city community development director said during a previous council meeting.
Public commenters asked for the zoning code to be re-examined or an exemption for the service center.
Hope ‘N Wellness has been given the deadline of Feb. 28 to relocate.
For previous coverage of the topic see here:
Hope ‘N Wellness update, council approves water utility increase
Initiative 24-03 challenged by Master Builders
Everett Initiative 24-03, which gives enforceable rights to the Snohomish River Watershed, has been challenged by the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties.
The initiative gives any Everett resident the power to take anyone negatively impacting the watershed’s health to court. Anyone held responsible for disturbing the watershed would be liable for damages.
The initiative passed in November with a 57% voter approval.
The Master Builders claim that the initiative “falls outside of the legal parameters set for local initiatives in Washington State.” They cite a 2016 case, Spokane Entrepreneurial Ctr. v. Spokane Moves to Amend the Constitution, where the Supreme Court found that their initiative fell outside the scope of local initiative powers.
“Like the Spokane initiative that was unanimously struck down by our State Supreme Court, the Everett initiative seeks to change water use regulations over the Snohomish River Watershed, including its tributaries. It goes far beyond the scope of the local initiative power because it conflicts with federal and state law, and is unconstitutionally vague…,” Rob Maguire of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP said.
Abi Ludwig, the executive director for Standing for Washington, the sponsor for Everett initiative 24-03 argued the lawsuit during Wednesday’s city council meeting.
“The lawsuit claims that this new ordinance conflicts with state law, but I want to clarify that the initiative’s preemption clause explicitly acknowledges that state law would take precedence in any conflict,” Ludwig said.
Ludwig argues that the Spokane initiative mentioned in the lawsuit is a fundamentally different matter than 24-03.
”We designed this initiative to avoid the mistakes of similar efforts in the past, but the Master Builders and their allies are pushing hard to tear it down. This is about silencing the voters and putting corporate interests before the environment,” Ludwig said.
Master Builders maintain that the initiative is too vague and could harm business owners and developers.
“[t]he Initiative, if enacted and enforced, would leave owners, users, and developers of property in Everett in a lurch; given the possibility of damages suits for activities that have virtually any impact—no matter how minor or indirect—on the Snohomish River Watershed,” Clayton Graham, a land use lawyer at Davis Wright Tremaine and co-counsel to the Plaintiffs said.
Cold weather shelters
Cold weather shelters have been open for more than 14 days as temperatures continue to dip below 34 degrees.
The Everett Gospel Mission operates two locations, and over the last two weeks they have served 62 people at the United Church of Christ location and 11 at the Women and Children’s Shelter, Council Executive Assistant Angela Ely said.
On Feb. 6, Volunteers of America, in partnership with the city, opened a temporary additional cold weather shelter. The shelter, 2619 Cedar Street, will have 30 additional beds and will be open for intake from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. This shelter also accommodates pets.
If you are concerned for someone who is outside in the cold temperatures, you can call the non-emergency line at 425-407-3999 to request a welfare check, Ely suggests.
There is also a need for volunteers at both cold weather shelters in Everett. If you would like to volunteer, you can email [email protected].
Everett Cold Weather Shelters:
- Agency: Everett Gospel Mission
- Host Location: United Church of Christ
- Address: 2624 Rockefeller, Everett
- Intake: Opens at 8 p.m. Closes at 10 p.m.
East Everett Cold Weather Shelter – Temporary location between Thursday, February 6th through Friday, February 14th
- Agency: Volunteers of America Western Washington
- Host Location: Henson Hall (Our Lady of Hope)
- Address: 2619 Cedar St, Everett
- Intake: Opens at 8 p.m. Closes at 10 p.m.
Everett Family Cold Weather Shelter
- Agency: Everett Gospel Mission
- Host Location: Women and Children’s Shelter
- Address: 5126 S. 2nd Ave, Everett
- Intake times: Opens at 4 p.m. Closes at 8 p.m.
Youth in need of shelter will be connected with Cocoon House.
Everett Transit and Community Transit are providing no-fare transportation to and from cold weather shelters. Passengers only need to tell the bus driver they are going to or from a cold weather shelter when they board.
The Snohomish County Government public safety hub is updated daily to show cold weather shelters in Snohomish County that are open on any given night: bit.ly/snococold
