Bothell City Council Meeting - October 20, 2026

The Bothell City Council meeting on October 20, 2026 included a study session on the draft 2027–28 state legislative agenda, public hearings on the proposed biennial budget and an EMS levy, and a housing action plan discussion. The proposed budget is a $469 million spending plan and funds the first two years of a seven-year, $253 million capital facilities plan covering 100 projects; 39% of the plan’s funding is secured through grants. The budget proposal also assumes utility rate increases of 6.25% for water, 5.75% for stormwater, and 8% for sewer, plus a 1% increase in property-tax levies. Council heard proposals for a 0.1% criminal justice sales tax, estimated to generate about $2 million annually, and a 0.1% human services sales tax. No budget or tax action was taken at these hearings; further hearings and decisions were scheduled for November. The agenda listed three professional services contracts related to construction and real estate and human services grant recommendations on the consent calendar, but the transcript does not establish whether those items were approved or provide vendors or amounts. The council did approve bike-parking standards by a 6–0 vote; the amendments adjust requirements for new development.

In the legislative agenda study session, staff presented four draft priorities, including preserving Shelton View Forest, protecting and expanding funding for the Bothell Way multimodal project, tax reform, and housing affordability. The city previously received $7 million for the multimodal project, with $5 million allocated to the 2027–29 biennium; council members also discussed annexation funding, housing incentives, workforce development, and traffic safety. Staff will revise the agenda and policy manual based on feedback. In the housing action plan discussion, several council members opposed including a citywide inclusionary-zoning strategy in the current draft, citing concerns about effects on housing construction and affordability. Staff will revise the plan and consider a future study session on existing inclusionary requirements and incentives; no final action was taken on the plan.