EVERETT—The Snohomish County Council adopted Ordinance 24-011 at its Public Hearing on May 1, with a vote of 3-2, that will now require annual drug testing of county-owned supportive housing facilities for hazardous chemicals. The ordinance, introduced by Councilmember Nate Nehring was adopted on a 3-2 vote with Council Chair Jared Mead and Councilman Sam Low also voting in majority; Councilmembers Megan Dunn and Strom Peterson dissented.

The ordinance reads: “Testing shall be performed on all individual housing units, whether contained within single-family residences, multiplexes, condominiums, apartment buildings, motels or hotels, transient accommodations, pallet shelters, emergency shelters that operate more than thirty days per year or manufactured homes, as well as unsecured shared areas, including but not limited to, bathrooms, laundries, and lobbies.”

The new requirements direct the County Department of Facilities and Fleet to carry out methamphetamine and other drug testing and at the discretion of the Director, perform additional tests for other hazardous substances. The testing is intended to identify the presence of dangerous drugs in county-owned housing, including the hotels purchased in Edmonds and Everett.

“Since the county has decided to move into the role of landlord for affordable and supportive housing, it is critical that we ensure safe and healthy spaces are being provided for tenants and staff,” said Councilmember Nehring. “This testing requirement will give county staff the information they need to detect contamination early and, if necessary, take action to remedy the contamination before further damage is caused.”

After approximately 2 hours of public testimony, the Snohomish County Council with a vote of 3-2 on August 17, 2022, moved forward with the agreement to purchase two hotels to significantly boost bridge housing—with 129 units—with access to behavioral health services. The county used the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to purchase both hotels – the America’s Best Value Inn in Edmonds for $9,075,000 and the Days Inn facility in Everett for $10,823,000. However, prior to finalizing the agreement, it was discovered that both hotels were contaminated with methamphetamine, a Schedule II stimulant under the Controlled Substances Act, for which the seller agreed to shave off $1.6 million from the closing price.

Persons exposed to illegal methamphetamine commonly experience headaches, respiratory and eye irritation, nausea, and vomiting. Prolonged methamphetamine exposure is also associated with neurotoxic effects, including neuropathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s disease.

“The County should never have gotten into the housing business,” Councilman Sam Low told the Lynnwood Times. “We have great partners that are experts in housing that have been successfully providing these services.  To protect those who will be living in the hotels and our employees working in this environment, we do not want a repeat of Claire’s Place, where dozens of residents were displaced due to health issues related to drug residue.”

The ordinance comes following documented reports of meth contamination in supportive housing facilities in Everett and Snohomish. More than 60 residents of Claire’s Place alone were displaced after tests revealed that 48 units tested positive for dangerous levels of methamphetamine and fentanyl in October 2022.

The councilmen feel that earlier detection and awareness of the contamination may reduce the impacts to residents adversely affected by the evacuation of the buildings.

“It is my hope that this requirement will allow the County to keep vulnerable individuals safe and ensure that we are being good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” added Councilmember Nehring.