LYNNWOOD, Wash., February 23, 2022 – Lynnwood City Council approved its 2022 PARC plan update, Scriber Creek Trail right-of-way administrative settlement memorandum, and scheduled its first in-person meeting back this year, at their business meeting February 14.

Emergency Proclamation

After approving past meeting’s minutes, public comments, a proclamation celebrating Black History Month, and an unanimous consent agenda, council approved the emergency proclamation discussed at a previous meeting, February 7.

Councilman Vice President Jim Smith reiterated his points that the emergency proclamation does not have his support. He explained that there is no longer a state of emergency due to the COVID pandemic, and expressed concern about transferring council decision-making to the Mayor in times of emergency.

“We are not in the middle of an emergency and I don’t think that it’s appropriate for us to support an emergency resolution when the emergency is already gone,” Smith said.

Councilwoman Shannon Sessions added that while she has some of the same concerns as Smith she supports the proclamation, with the 90-day or less requirements, that “nothing irresponsible will be done under the administration that we have.”

Council President George Hurst voiced his support for the proclamation, also under the circumstances of the 90-day limit, making the point that residents, under the proclamation, can apply for special utility rates and avoid services like water being cut off, which could expire without the emergency declaration.

The proclamation passed 6-1 with all but Councilman Smith voting in favor.

The proclamation grants the City broad police powers “to make and enforce within its limits all such local police, sanitary and other regulations as are in conflict with general laws” under the Mayor’s declaration of emergency.

ARPA Funds

The council discussed utilizing $1.5 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds to purchase at-home COVID tests for Lynnwood residents but, after some discussion, Councilwoman Julieta Altamirano-Crosby’s motion failed 1-6 with all but Councilwoman Sessions voting no.

Despite being on the agenda, Strategic Planner Corbitt Loch did not have a presentation prepared to lead a discussion on the use of ARPA fund spending with the understanding that council wished to discuss usage independently. Loch provided council a list of suggestions and was there for council to ask any questions they may have on the matter.

Corbitt responded that the topic was originally scheduled to be discussed at the February 7 meeting, which was a work session, but the agenda was too large to include it. He added that his attendance at the February 14 meeting, a business meeting, was largely due to the business item concerning the use of ARPA funds for COVID testing kits and thought the discussion could “go together.”

Rather than talk specifically on spending suggestions, council mainly discussed the decision-making process proper ultimately deciding to schedule the discussion to the March 21 meeting. Motioned by Council Vice President Smith and seconded by Councilwoman Julieta Altamirano-Crosby, the motion passed unanimously.

Sessions amended the motion to add that the meeting will return to in-person meetings.

“This topic is so important I think for the sake of staff’s time, for the sake of our time, we would get a lot more accomplished if we could do this together, in-person,” Councilwoman said of her amendment.

The motion, as amendment, passed unanimously.

Resolution for PARC plan 2022 update and ROW acquisition

With only 10 minutes left in the meeting, council moved on to vote on resolution 2022-05, a resolution to adopt the 2022 update of the city of Lynnwood parks, arts, recreation and conservation (PARC) plan without discussion.

Councilwoman Sessions spoke to her motion to approve the PARC plan by saying it has been discussed at past meetings in detail and she believed no further discussion was required.

The projects included in the plan are:

2021/2022 Projects:

• Park and Trail Comprehensive Plan (ParksLove Project): Planning
• Strategic Acquisitions: Planning
• Meadowdale Playground Replacement and ADA Access: Design
• Rowe Park: Design
• Scriber Creek Trail Phase 3
• Scriber Lake Park Boardwalk Trail
• Veterans Park
• Deferred Maintenance: Construction
• Heritage Park Water Tower: Construction
• Scriber Creek Trail Phase 2: Construction

2023/2024 Projects:

• Park and Trail Comprehensive Plan: Planning
• Recreation Facilities Plan: Planning
• Strategic Acquisition: Planning
• Trail Master Planning: Planning
• Interurban Trail Improvements: Design
• Senior Center Expansion: Design
• Deferred Maintenance and Playground Replacements: Construction
• Scriber Creek Trail Phase 2 and 3: Construction
• Scriber Lake Park Boardwalk Trail: Construction

Lynnwood Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts is responsible for nearly 420 acres of City parks, athletic fields, trails, open space lands and other civic sites.

The proposed level of service for the city of Lynnwood is 3.5 acres for every 1,000 residents. Since the population of the city is projected to increase to 45,319 residents in the next four years, this leaves the city only 84 percent to standard by 2026.

The resolution passed unanimously.

Council President Hurst then moved to approve $104,325 to go toward the right-of-way passage of the Scriber Creek Trail project, seconded by Councilwoman Altamirano-Crosby.

The resolution passed unanimously without discussion.