Lynnwood, Washington Development News
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Linwood Council Discusses Youth Safety Initiatives and Reimagined School Resource Officer Program
The Linwood City Council heard a presentation on the Access Project, a non-profit focused on youth safety and mental health, and a proposal to reimagine the School Resource Officer (SRO) program. The Access Project, founded in 2020, has implemented programs like Cops versus Youth Basketball, peer mediation training in schools, and a referral system for at-risk youth. The SRO proposal, supported by the Access Project and the Linwood Police Department, aims to pilot a new SRO program in selected schools to prevent serious incidents by building trusted relationships between students and law enforcement, supporting early intervention, and de-escalating conflicts. Data presented suggests an increase in police activity and arrests after the original SRO program was terminated in 2020. The proposed pilot program aims to be data-driven, with community feedback and a one-year review process. Several council members raised questions about the data's causality, the role of SROs versus increased counselors, and the equity of a pilot program. The Police Department is offering one officer at no cost for the pilot, prioritizing it as a proactive measure to reduce crime.
Linwood Faces Potential 143% Water Rate Increase Due to Everett's Proposed Charges
The Linwood City Council received a briefing on a significant proposed increase in water rates by the City of Everett, which supplies water to Alderwood Water District, Linwood's wholesale provider. Everett is proposing a 124% increase (from $1.00 to $2.26 per CCF) for 2025, citing an $80 million project to replace a 100-year-old reservoir with two new ones. This proposed increase is disputed by Alderwood, leading to ongoing non-binding arbitration. Additionally, Everett imposed a 12% utilities tax on wholesale customers, which passed despite opposition. The potential impact on Linwood residents could be a $16.39 increase per bi-monthly bill, bringing the total water cost to $91.92. The city has set aside $1.5 million as a contingency for a potential 'true up' cost if Everett's proposed rates are eventually upheld. Council members expressed concerns about the lack of advance notice, the fairness of the proposed cost allocation and financing, and the potential impact on residents. The city is advocating through Alderwood and direct communication to oppose these increases.
Linwood Council Adopts Protocol for Public Meetings Act Compliance During City Tours
The council discussed the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) in relation to an upcoming Parks tour. To avoid potential violations where more than three council members might attend and inadvertently discuss city business, the council decided to designate specific members to attend. A procedure was established to allow council members to express interest, and a letter will be issued to formally state that business discussions will be refrained from during the tour itself, with discussions to be held in work sessions or business meetings. This aims to ensure compliance with OPMA while allowing for necessary engagement with city departments and events.
Linwood Council Declines to Act on Everett Sports Complex Funding Concerns
Council members discussed the City of Everett's plan to build a $125 million Everett Outdoor Event Center, also known as a regional sports complex, using funds from the Department of Commerce Public Facility Improvement Fund. Petitioners had requested the Linwood council make a statement opposing the use of these funds, suggesting alternative sources. However, research indicated that the funds used were not from the State Youth Athletic Facility Grant Program, as initially alleged, but from a different state fund accessible to cities operating stadiums. The Public Facility Improvement Fund has funded similar stadium projects across the state. Despite some initial concern about the fund source potentially being linked to youth athletic funds, the council ultimately found little interest in pursuing further action on the matter, considering the request concluded due to lack of council interest.
AWC Conference Highlights Inter-City Collaboration, AI Adoption, and New Funding Opportunities
Council President presented an update on the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) annual conference in Spokane. Key takeaways included strategies for managing meeting tension and public comment, the value of inter-city collaboration on budgets and resources, and innovative uses of technology. A significant highlight was learning about Spokane's use of an anonymized traffic analytics platform (Street Vision) to improve traffic management and enforcement efficiency. Another valuable insight was discovering a state funding source for indigent defense that Linwood plans to apply for, potentially offsetting tens of thousands of dollars from the general fund. The conference also covered emerging AI applications in municipal government, emphasizing the need for strong governance structures, clear policies, and transparency to reduce administrative burdens and improve decision-making. The lack of recorded sessions was noted as a way to encourage candid discussions and direct answers from participating cities.
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