LYNNWOOD—For its upcoming city council meeting on February 10, President Nick Coelho will present outcomes from Saturday’s Council Summit that was held at Verdant Health Commission. The council will also be voting/discussing the following other matters listed below:
Council vacancy selections
A total of 19 applicants are vying for the Lynnwood City Council Position 5, formerly held by Julieta Altamirano-Crosby, who voluntarily resigned in January 2025 to commence her new role as a Snohomish County Public Utility Commissioner.
The Lynnwood City Council will be disclosing their top 8 candidates who will be interviewed on February 18th and February 24th. The top 8 candidates were based on rankings by all council members which were tabulated by the City Clerk.
The 8 successful candidates will be selected form the following applicants: Jennifer Maria Osburn, Diana Lynne Marker, Gray Petersen, Jeremy Ravetz, Bryce Carl Owings, Audrey Ann Tanberg, Robert Leutwyler, Naz Lashgari, Ryan Paul Stevens, Trevor William Carlson, Rebecca Anne Thornton, Marie MacCoy, Chelsea Deone Wright, Gary Carrasco, Forrest Baum, Diodato Alexander Boucsieguez, Dorina Katro, Jessica Roberts and Loni Rogers.
The city of Lynnwood is delaying providing the applications of the 19 applicants stating that it must notify parties named in records or to whom the records specifically pertain. However, the City has provided applications to the Lynnwood Times in the past and no other city has ever cited this reason to the Lynnwood Times for delaying fulfilling a public records request.
The public has a right to know the background of the candidate the council is appointing. The Lynnwood Times is seeking legal counsel on the matter of potential obstruction by the City of Lynnwood to disclose public information. The city stated that it will attempt to provide this information by February 28, 2025.
Review of the LMC: Duties and Qualifications for Elected City Officials
The Council will review and discuss the following specific sections of the LMC:
- 2.04.060 Qualifications to hold city elective office.
- 2.04.070 Qualifications in addition to state law.
- 2.24.090 Liaisons and administrative support
- 2.10.010 Duties of the Mayor
- 2.10.020 Full-time position
Supporting documentation for addenda item:
Pause Transition from the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission Solid Waste Tariff
The council is expected to vote on a motion to pause the changing of the solid waste hauler contract structure with the Washington Utilities and transportation Commission to City Services as initiated by Ordinance No. 3436.
The WUTC “regulates intrastate residential household movers, solid waste collection companies, private ferries, as well as the safety of charter buses, railroads, railroad crew transportation, and transportation for persons with special needs such as private, non-profit transportation providers.”
In 2022 after a very difficult winter season with extended periods of time where curbside service, and other options for solid waste pick up, was unavailable, Public Works staff presented to council the options to take over the garbage hauler contracts.
This would require Lynnwood staff to start a 7- to 1- year process including notifying the haulers and WUTC of intent to change, going out for an independent contract, and hiring an additional staff member to manage the new program.
The benefits to making this change included: possible lower rates for our community members, discount programs for low-income, seniors, and disabled, and one contract across the City (currently under two) that would address these difficult situations, such as weather.
Following an engagement effort with the community, the top complaints were customer service and pick-up service during weather events. Based on the outcome of this outreach, staff recommended to mayor and council at Council Work Session February 3, 2025, that work on the process to change the hauler contract structure be discontinued, keeping curbside pickup with the WUTC.
Council to consider less than three persons for the position of Public Works Director
Lynnwood Mayor Christine Frizzell is proposing a motion to the council to waive the LMC requirement 2.06.030 for the referral of three candidates for appointment to Lynnwood Public Works Director and to authorize the referral of one candidate for appointment of Lynnwood Public Works Director.
After 30-plus years serving the city of Lynnwood, and Public Works Director for the last 16 of those years, Bill Franz officially retired December 13, 2024. Since his retirement, Marcie MacQuarrie has been interim Public Works Director.
Author: Mario Lotmore
2 Responses
It comes as no surprise the city is not receiving quality candidates for these important positions. The salary and compensation package is second to none for the region. Why is this happening? Just look at Frizzels’s 4 years as Mayor. What has she accomplished? The Light rail project was not hers as it was started years ago. She just happened to be the Mayor when it was completed. The CJC project cost overruns were under her leadership. The city’s fiscal situation is very concerning. The new biennial budget was full of new very costly expenses, especially in the hiring of new employees which will need to funded going forward. Anyone who does their homework as part of their job search will quickly see she is not a leader and has no vision for the city. Only internal candidates will fill these positions.
The lack of quality external candidates should be a wake-up call for the City Council and the Lynnwood community. Qualified individuals who do their homework will clearly see Mayor Frizzell’s weaknesses. She is not a visionary leader. Just look at her 4 years which has produced higher taxes and no real effort to reduce the costs of her organization. She talks about her experience as an accountant, but, in reality, she is a tax and spend leader. She did nothing to reign in the cost overruns of the CJC which the community will be paying on for 30 years. The project’s costs escalated from $35-$40M to over $70M. This city needs new leadership, and it is my hope the community will agree in November.