EVERETT, JAN. 17: The Everett City Council heard public comments advocating for Hope ‘N Wellness to remain downtown and heard a yearly update from the Everett Public Library.
Mayors Comments
Everett has been chosen as one of nine locations across the state to host a fan zone during the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
The FIFA World Cup is an international soccer tournament held every four years, and this year, it will be hosted in America, Canada and Mexico. Lumen Field in Seattle will host six matches, two in the knockout stage.
Rather than have all activities centered around Seattle, The Seattle FIFA World Cup 26 Local Organizing Committee (SeattleFW26) decided to create fan zones for multiple cities to participate in this historic event.
“This is going to be great for our community, thousands of visitors and also an opportunity for our community to participate in the games in an affordable, fun, meaningful, vibrant way,” Mayor Cassie Franklin said during the city council meeting.
Because Everett is between Seattle and Vancouver, Canada, another city hosting the tournament, Franklin said that the city could be a hub for fun activities and economic development.
This Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and there will be events throughout the weekend.
The Snohomish County Black Heritage Committee (SCBHC) is hosting its long-standing MLK event on Sunday, Jan. 19. SCBHC will also host a March and Rally on Monday, Jan. 20, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Everett Memorial Stadium. For more ways to honor MLK, see here.
Public Comments
Public comments consisted of community members advocating for service center Hope ‘N Wellness to remain in its current location downtown.
Hope ‘N Wellness was asked to relocate in September for violating a city ordinance that prevents service centers from being on the first floor 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 story has garnered attention from The Seattle Times and Fox 13 Seattle.
“I think we all know what is going on here. Hope ‘N Wellness seems to be the target of an anti-homelessness campaign spearheaded by the elected leadership of this city,” one person commented.
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 the city council meeting on Jan. 8.
Hope ‘N Wellness is currently under an agreement with the space owner to solely pay for utilities according to owner Jasmine Donahue.
The low cost of the space is a factor as to why the service center does not want to relocate, citing that other locations are beyond their price range.
The community development and planning department is working with Hope ‘N Wellness to find a location that meets their needs, Willie said. The department has extended deadlines to allow more time for Hope ‘N Wellness to relocate.
Hope ‘N Wellness has been given the deadline of Feb. 28 to relocate as of Wednesday, Jan 9.
Annual Briefing on Everett Public Libraries
Joshua Glasgow, President of Everett Public Library Board of Trustees gave an update on the library’s services in 2024 and updates for the coming year.
The briefing comes after a month since Library Director Abigail Cooley presented expected cuts and changes to the library. The cuts are due to the city limiting funding to services to balance a $12.6 million deficit that was projected for 2025.
In 2024, there were more than 580,000 visits to the library, the highest number of annual visits since 2014, Glasgow said, and nearly 40,000 in-person computer sessions were provided.
Last year patrons saved 8.7 million by borrowing physical and digital items, instead of purchasing them.
In 2024 library staff administered Narcan, provided life-saving CPR, experienced harassment, and witnessed assault. That being said, the Board of Trustees plans to prioritize employee well-being in 2025.
“While we do consider our library staff to be unsung heroes, and know they’re passionately dedicated to the library’s mission and the services they provide, it should be recognized library employees are more and more frequently being put into a position where they have to act as social services… but with fewer and fewer resources,” Glasgow said.
“For every $1 budgeted for the library, the city sees more than 100% return on its investment,” Glasgow said.
Glasgow urged council members to do everything in their power to ensure appropriate funding levels for the library in the coming years.
Other news:
President Don Schwab commented on the city’s lack of a presence in helping with the ongoing L.A. fires. More than 170,000 people are still under evacuation notices as firefighters battle blazes as of Friday, Jan. 17.
On Friday, Jan 10., more than 220 firefighters from 11 local fire teams in Washington drove engines down to California to help contain the fires.
According to Schwab, the Everett Fire Department had the ability to provide resources but ultimately decided not to.
“My understanding is that the City of Everett Fire Department had the ability to contribute to the response in a large scale National mobilization and for whatever reason the decision was not to provide those resources,” Schwab said during the council meeting, “I am disappointed that one of the largest conflagrations, probably in our lifetime happened, and a community that is devastated and we could not contribute.”
Schwab pointed to a levy lid lift for public safety and essential services that failed in August 2024.
Proposition 1 would have helped fund police and fire, park maintenance, libraries and more.
The measure would have resulted in a property tax increase of about $28 per month, based on Everett’s average home value. But ultimately close to 60 percent of voters disapproved.
Without the additional income from Prop 1, the City of Everett had to balance a $12.6 million budget deficit for 2025. In doing so, cuts were made to the parks department, library and more.
“This is another demonstration on how we as a community can’t help because we don’t have the resources,” Schwab said, “And we can make do, but here is another sign that make do is just not enough.”
The council will meet tomorrow, Jan. 18 for their annual retreat from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. at Legion Hall, 145 Alverson Blvd. The public is welcome to attend, but no public comments will be heard during the retreat. The agenda for the meeting can be found here.