Frequently Asked Questions

You can apply online for a business license on FileLocal.

If you engage in business activity in the city of Everett, regardless of the physical location of your business, you are required to obtain a business license. If you live within Everett city limits and are conducting business out of your residence, you must also comply with the Home Occupation Business regulations.

For more information and links to the applications, see our Business License page. 

A City of Everett Business License is not an authorization to conduct business and is for the sole purpose of assigning you a business and occupation tax identification number. The license is merely one requirement to conduct business within the city. The city's issuance of a general business license does not establish that the operation of your business is permitted, authorized, or lawful. You will need to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations, including but not limited to, zoning, building, and fire regulations. It is the responsibility of the applicant to comply with these codes before conducting business in the City of Everett.

You are advised against investing in equipment or maintaining inventory at your proposed business location until it is determined that your business is a legal use for the property, and that any structure housing the proposed business complies with all applicable codes.

Please fill out our online form, which will be e-mailed for you when you submit it.

Please visit the Federal Railroad Administration’s Blocked Crossing Incident Reporter. There are three public roadway grade crossings:

• Railway Avenue (crossing ID: 084992M)
• Pacific Avenue/Eclipse Mill Road (crossing ID: 084605T)
• Lowell-Snohomish River Road (crossing ID: 084594H)

Please fill out the form link below, and e-mail it to OversizeLoadPermit@everettwa.gov

Snohomish County hosts the traffic counts. Please agree to the disclaimer to see the data.

The traffic camera website is not currently configured for viewing on mobile phones or tablets.

You have the right to have an attorney represent you if you have been charged with a crime that includes a potential jail sentence. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may screen to see if you qualify for a court appointed public defender. The Office of Public Defense holds screenings at the Everett Municipal Court on Wednesdays and Fridays during the arraignment calendar. You can contact their office at 425-388-3500 if you wish to screen prior to your arraignment date. If you do not qualify for a court appointed attorney, you may choose to privately hire an attorney to represent you. By law, court staff cannot give legal advise or refer you to an attorney.

For information, access the online resource on warrants.

Lead enters drinking water primarily through plumbing materials. EPA and state regulations require water systems to monitor for the presence of lead at household taps every three years. Everett conducted its latest round of monitoring in 2024. The EPA action level is a maximum of 15 parts per billion for 90% of the samples. The highest level found in the 109 homes tested was 21 parts per billion. The 90th percentile result—the highest result obtained in 90 percent of the samples—was 4 parts per billion. To request a copy of the most recent lead tap sampling data, email everettpw@everettwa.gov.

Everett’s source water contains virtually no lead and Everett has eliminated lead lines and connections from its distribution system. Therefore, these results indicate that the lead level at household taps is most likely due to the corrosion of household plumbing systems. More information about lead monitoring requirements can be found at the Environmental Protection Agency's website.

Pregnant women and young children can be more vulnerable to lead in drinking water than the general population. If you have concerns about lead levels in your household water, there are several steps you can take:

• If you live in older housing built before the mid-1940s, run your tap at least two minutes after water has sat in the pipes for six hours or more. This will help flush out any lead that may have accumulated in your pipes.
• If you live in newer housing and are concerned about lead, you can flush your pipes by running your tap until the water is noticeably cooler.
• Use only cold water for drinking, cooking and making baby formula. Hot water may contain higher levels of lead.
• Clean the screens and aerators in faucets frequently to remove captured lead particles.
• Use only “lead free” piping and materials for plumbing when building or remodeling.
• You can also have your water tested. Many certified labs in Washington perform these tests for $20 to $40 per test.

For more information on lead in drinking water, or to find a certified lab near you, go to the Washington State Department of Health. Additional information is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) or at the Environmental Protection Agency. 

Some water supplies contain naturally-occurring fluoride. Everett’s does not. Therefore, after a vote of the people in 1992, Everett began adding fluoride to the water supply for dental health purposes. In January 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposed reducing the water fluoride concentration target to 0.7 ppm based on recent research. Based on this recommendation, Everett reduced the target fluoride residual in its drinking water to 0.8 ppm, which was the lowest level currently allowed by state regulations at that time. The Washington State Board of Health adopted 0.7 ppm as the new standard on March 16, 2016. Everett subsequently reduced the target fluoride residual to 0.7 ppm. Information on fluoride in drinking water is available from the Washington State Department of Health.

Each year, a few Everett water customers call to ask about a slimy pink substance that sometimes forms in moist areas around their homes. They most frequently observe it in toilet bowls, on the surfaces in shower stalls and bathtub enclosures, in sinks, and in pet water dishes.

A red or pink pigmented bacteria known as Serratia marcescens is thought to be the cause of the pink stuff. Serratia bacteria are common inhabitants of our environment and can be found in many places, including human and animal feces, dust, soil, and in surface water. The bacteria will grow in any moist location where phosphorus containing materials or fatty substances accumulate. Sources of these substances include soap residues in bathing areas, feces in toilets, soap and food residues in sinks and food residues in pet water dishes. Serratia can also grow in tap water in locations such as toilets in guest bathrooms where the water is left standing long enough for the chlorine residual disinfectant to dissipate. Serratia marcescens is not known to cause any waterborne diseases.

Once established, the organism usually cannot be eliminated entirely. However, periodic and thorough cleaning of the surfaces where the pink slime occurs, followed by disinfection with chlorine bleach appear to be the best way to control it. Scrub the surfaces where phosphorus and fatty substances, or the bacteria accumulate with a brush and a household cleanser. Then disinfect the surfaces where the slime has formed with a strong chlorine bleach solution. Leave the disinfectant solution on the affected surface(s) for 10-20 minutes before thoroughly rinsing it away with clean water.

To control pink “stuff” in toilets, clean the bowl thoroughly and spray chlorine bleach into the bowl and under the bowl rim. Also add 1/4 cup of bleach to the toilet tank. Let the bleach stand for 15-20 minutes. After 15-20 minutes, flush the toilet a couple of times to rinse the disinfectant out of the tank and the bowl. Whenever a pink film starts to reappear, repeat the cleaning and disinfection process. Please note that bleach should not be left in the toilet tank for prolonged periods as it will damage the rubber valves and seals inside.

If you have an emergency, call 911. For non-emergencies during normal business hours, call the Snohomish 911 non-emergency line at 425-407-3999.

Contact the nearest Washington State Patrol Office and/or complete an online report.

Tattoos must be appropriate for the workplace and approved by the Chief of Police.

• Excellent physical condition
• U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Resident status
• Must be 20 1/2 years of age by application and 21 years-old by the date of commission
• Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a valid Washington State driver license within 30 days of hire and the ability to maintain it for the duration of employment
• Not currently on the eligible register for Police Officer Entry-Level (per Civil Service Rule 2.12)
• Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent

City of Everett Human Resources

Wall Street Building
2930 Wetmore Ave
Everett, WA 98201

425-257-8767

Before the background check is complete, your current employer will be contacted. If this is a concern, applicants must let the investigator know so reasonable steps can be taken to postpone employer contact until later in the process.

Parking tickets are paid in the Online Parking Ticket Portal or at the Everett Municipal Court:

3028 Wetmore Avenue

Everett, WA 98201

Questions regarding recreational or mobile vehicle housing units should be directed here: E-Mail

You may not park in any one area continuously over 72-hours.

We are open for fingerprinting services from Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm at our north precinct only.  The cost for fingerprinting is $16.50, which can be paid by a VISA or MasterCard credit or debit card.  

Our north precinct is located at 3002 Wetmore Ave in downtown Everett.  Make sure to bring any fingerprint cards you may have been provided by your place of employment or the person or agency requesting you to be fingerprinted.  If you do not have fingerprint cards, we can provide up to two cards for the standard fingerprint price.  Additional cards may incur an extra fee.

To apply for a CPL, you must be fingerprinted and bring a completed Concealed Pistol Application to the North Precinct during business hours.

CPL’s cost $49.20 and can only be paid with VISA or MasterCard.

INITIAL APPLICATION:
You must be a resident of the City of Everett or live outside the state of WA to obtain a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) from the Everett Police Department. Applications may be picked up during normal business hours but are only processed when fingerprinting is available.

Permits are valid for 5 years.

The cost of an initial CPL is $49.20.

RENEWAL:
The fee for renewal of a CPL by the expiration date is $32.00. A CPL may be renewed up to 90 days after the expiration date by paying a late fee. The late renewal fee is $10.00, making the total fee $42.00.
**If not renewed within these time limits, the process starts over with the initial CPL application to include new fingerprints.**

REPLACEMENT:
The cost to replace a lost CPL is $10.00 but it must have been originally obtained through the Everett Police Department.

ARMED FORCES RENEWAL - OUT OF STATE DEPLOYMENT:
Currently deployed members of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Armed Forces Reserves, who are deployed out of state, can renew their CPL by mail. This must be done within 90 days of the expiration of the existing CPL. The fee for this type of renewal is $32.00 plus a late fee of $10.00, making the total fee $42. The license in this circumstance is only valid for a period of one year.

To renew the CPL in this circumstance, contact the Everett Police Department Records Unit at 425-257-8400 or via email. We will send the application electronically or by standard mail. Completed applications must be submitted with a copy of your original order, designating the period of deployment, a copy of a valid government issued ID. Payment must be made via phone with a debit/credit card for the renewal fee.

The law also allows for members of the Armed Forces to renew their license within 90 days of the expiration if they were deployed but have since returned to the state. A copy of the original deployment order is still required. In this case, the late fee is waived and the standard renewal fee of $32.00 applies.

Complete the Public Records Request process to get a copy of an Everett Police report. The Washington State Patrol can provide collision reports.

Always call 911 for emergencies!

Officers may not be available as they work varied schedules but residents can call the non-emergency Snohomish County 911 number at 425-407-3999 to request an officer contact them.
This phone line routes directly into the 911 call center.

There are several ways:

1. Contact the Office of Neighborhoods
2. Use the Online Reporting System
3. Email the Crime Prevention Unit
4. Call the non-emergency 911 number at 425-407-3999 so an officer can respond

Washington State Accident Reports are only required if no police report was taken at the scene AND the damage exceeds $1,000. Traffic accident reports can be completed & requested from the Washington State Patrol.

For an owner occupied loan, the household income must be less than 80% of median income (view Income Eligibility Guidelines). The home must have sufficient equity available to apply. The property must be owner occupied for at six (6) months prior to the application date and remain owner occupied until the loan is paid in full. Clients must also have a consistent source of income to maintain their home, pay property taxes & insurance, and necessary living expenses.

Applicants with poor credit are still encouraged to apply. A credit report will be pulled as part of the application process, however it is only to identify major concerns that could lead to defaulting on the loan.

For a non-owner occupied loan, the investor is required to fund 50% of project expenses and make housing available to low and moderate income families.

Check to see if you are eligible using this form > (Am I eligible for a CHIP loan?)

Applicants with poor credit are still encouraged to apply. A credit report will be pulled as part of the application process, however it is only to identify major concerns that could lead to defaulting on the loan.

Loan eligibility is not based on a credit score or rating. 

CHIP maintains a list of pre-approved General Contractors. If you are a licensed, bonded, and insured General Contractor and have substantial residential remodeling experience you may qualify to become an approved Contractor.  CHIP is looking for smaller independent remodeling contractors, sole proprietors and the like, that consist of approximately 1 to 5 employees. The ability to prepare and submit competitively priced bids is important.

Unfortunately, CHIP does not maintain a list of specialty sub-contractors and will not accept applications unless you are a general remodeling contractor.

If you are interested, please click here for more information > CONTRACTORS WANTED

In some cases, yes, as explained below.

1. Tree cutting or pruning proposed in critical areas or their buffers.

   Critical areas include streams and wetlands and their buffers and steep slopes (geological hazardous areas). An application to remove hazardous trees or prune trees in critical areas can be found here. Trees can be pruned up to 33% of the tree’s crown. No topping is allowed unless underneath power lines. If trees are deemed hazardous by a certified arborist or by city staff, they can be removed after city approval. The city requires two replacement trees for every tree cut down. In other cases, a limited number of non-hazardous trees in the outer half of a buffer may be removed through a public review process.

2. Tree removal outside a critical area but within any development where the zoning code or condition of approval of a development requires landscaping.

   This includes all commercial and industrial developments, multiple family developments, and usually short subdivisions or subdivisions built after 1990. Tree removal is allowed but the tree must be replaced if it is required by code. Pruning does not need city approval but topping or pollarding is prohibited. Landscape standards can be found here in Chapter 36 of the City of Everett Zoning Code.

You can find the zoning and/or overlay designation of your property by viewing the online zoning map by clicking here. The Map Everett Online Map Viewer that includes zoning and other information such as utilities can be found here.

A recreational vehicle or tiny house may not be used as a residence within the city except as otherwise allowed below.

A recreational vehicle or tiny house may be used as a primary residence in a manufactured/mobile home community which was legally in existence before June 12, 2008 as set forth in RCW 35.21.684 if the recreational vehicle or the tiny house meets the following requirements:

• The recreational vehicle or tiny house meets fire, safety and other requirements of the City Building Official and Fire Marshal;

• The recreational vehicle or tiny house contains at least one internal toilet and at least one internal shower, or the manufactured/mobile home community provides toilets and showers for use of the recreational vehicle or tiny house’s occupants.

(See EMC 19.08.210)

A recreational vehicle or tiny house may be used as temporary shelter for temporary outdoor encampments, safe parking area or tiny home community which may be approved for a period not to exceed four consecutive months or six months during any calendar year. The requirements to establish an outdoor encampment include notice to adjacent property owners, meeting setback, fencing, lighting, parking, resident restrictions, code of conduct and management requirements. Where these temporary outdoor encampments are allowed are limited unless operated or hosted by a religious organization.

(See EMC 19.08.200 and EMC 19.05.080)

You may not park an RV or tiny home in required setbacks, except as follows:

• 1- or 2-unit dwelling. Parking may be located within the front or street side setbacks on a driveway that meets city design standards unless on an easement access lot, in an historic overlay zone or in the front setback for alley access lots.

• Multiple family. Parking may be located within the rear setback when access is from an alley, or within the rear setback when meeting outdoor and communion area requirements, landscaping and screening requirements, and when not abutting a single-family zone.

(See EMC 19.34.100)

Parking that is located outside of the front and street side setback areas may use surface materials in accordance with city design standards, provided, however, that parking in the area between a street-facing façade and the street must be on a paved surface.  (See EMC 19.34.120)

A minimum of 60% of the required front setback fronting a public street and a required street side setback shall be landscaped exclusive of any type of impervious surface or gravel or any other similar material. If a permitted driveway or off-street parking area is within the setback, the required landscaped area can be reduced to 40%. Landscaping shall consist primarily of grass or other living ground cover, shrubs, and/or trees.  (See EMC 19.35.050.D)

No person shall allow on property outside of a fulling enclosed structure any vehicle parts or other articles of personal property which are discarded or left in a state of partial construction or repair, or any utility trailers or unmounted camper tops located in a front yard or side yard abutting a public or private street unless it is located on a lawful driveway.  (See EMC 8.20.020)

Yes, if you propose a development on a property that is within the special flood hazard area shown on the National Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The maps can be found at msc.fema.gov. Development can include buildings, structures, dredging, filling, grading, paving, or storage of equipment or materials.

Placement on the Everett Register encourages preservation of our heritage and honors those who have cared for Everett’s old buildings. Any person may nominate a building, structure, site, object or district for placement on the Everett Register; however, placement on the register requires owner approval.

Please see the Everett Register page for application information.

Land Use Projects can be found here by searching under project number, address, tax parcel number, or owner or developer name. Prior to construction, some projects require notice be given to neighboring property owners. Notices are sent by mail to the property owner, and a "Pending Land Use Action" sign is posted at the project site. The notice will describe the project, the project location, the applicant’s name and address, the project planner and their phone number and the deadline for submitting public comments. In cases of a public hearing, notice is published in the Herald.

To find out about the SEPA process, please select the following link. 

19.43.140 Categorical exemptions—Infill development.   The following exempt levels are established for new construction under RCW 43.21C.229:

A. Residential development up to two hundred dwelling units in Metro Everett, urban residential 4 (UR4) zones, or mixed urban (MU) zones;
B. Mixed-use development in Metro Everett, mixed urban (MU) or business (B) zones;
C. Commercial development up to sixty-five thousand square feet, excluding retail development; or
D. Any minor new construction identified as exempt pursuant to EMC 19.43.130. (Ord. 3774-20 § 5(X) (Exh. 3), 2020.)

Visit Everett Permit Services' webpage to learn about the permitting procedures, requirements, and process for the specific type of construction you are proposing. If you have further questions, email Everett Permit Services or call 425-257-8810 during the listed phone hours. 

Please refer to our Permitting Process Overview (PDF) handout for a detailed step-by-step outline of the complete permitting process and what to expect. Also start at Step 1: Getting Started and click through each step of the process on our webpage. 

A permit is required for most work, except as exempted by code. The type of permit(s) you need depends on what you are trying to do. See the submittal checklists list in Step 2: Prepare and apply for a guideline of which permit you need based on your project's scope of work. See the code and the exemptions documents for additional information.  If you still have questions or would like to discuss your construction project further, email Permit Services, call 425-257-8810 during our listed phone hours, or book an appointment. A permit is required before any construction or work is legally allowed to begin. 

Permit fees vary depending on the type of construction, square footage, and/or valuation of your project. Refer to the permit fees tab on our All documents page to view the permit fee schedule that is applicable to your project.

A Public Works permit is not needed for removal of the tree itself.  However, a Public Works permit is needed for additional construction in the right-of-way such as replacement of damaged sidewalk, etc.  A Traffic Street Use (TSU) is required if you need temporary closure of the right of way in order to accomplish the removal of the tree (sidewalk closure, parking lane closure, vehicular travel lane closure, or need of a dumpster). Always check with the Planning Division to determine if the tree can be removed. In some cases, you may need an assessment and/or the tree may be a required landscaping in order to meet code and may need replacement planting. If required by code, a Public Works permit is typically issued for code compliance and inspection. When removing a tree, always take precaution when there are powerlines or other utilities in the area. Call 8-1-1 before you dig.

If the fence is going up within a public right-of-way, you will need to obtain a Public Works Permit. Please refer to our Fence Handout for detailed information about fence requirements. For fences constructed on private property, they still need to comply with all of the requirements listed in the Fence Handout. Always call 8-1-1 before you dig.

Visit the Planning Division's Accessory Dwelling Unit webpage for more information on getting started with an ADU. This page includes many FAQs as well as resources for getting started. Accessory Dwelling Units | Everett, WA - Official Website (everettwa.gov)

To establish an Adult Family Home in your Single-Family Residence, you will need to apply for an Adult Family Home (AFH) building permit. See the Adult Family Home Building Permit submittal checklist & requirements (PDF). 

To get an Adult Family Home building inspection (also referred to as a 'WABO inspection'), you will need to apply for and obtain an Adult Family Home building permit. You will also need to complete an Adult Family Home (AFH) Local Building Inspection Checklist (PDF).

You can use MapEverett to view the utilities at your address. Use the search bar at the top left to type in your property address. Then use the toolbar at the top right, click on the layer list (looks like a stack of papers) and toggle the checkbox to turn on the Utilities layer. The solid lines are mains and the dashed lines are services to properties. A side sewer will appear as a dashed green line connecting from a structure to a main. Any green text that is labeled on that line is data associated with that side sewer. In some cases, the sewer may be served by a jurisdiction other than City of Everett, and will be labeled with the sewer jurisdiction if that is the case. You can view the sewer jurisdiction under the boundaries layer for more information. 

Espresso stands are commercial buildings. Commercial building permits require plan review and you will need to prepare construction documents in accordance with the Commercial building permit submittal checklist (PDF), using the  Espresso Stand Checklist (PDF) as a supplemental reference for preparing the appropriate documents. Apply online through the online permitting portal, selecting commercial building as the permit type.

Apply online through the Online Permitting Portal. Commercial mechanical permits will require plan review and you will need to prepare construction documents in accordance with the Mechanical permit submittal checklist & requirements (PDF). 

Apply online through the Online Permitting Portal. Some electrical permits will require plan review and you will need to prepare construction documents. 

You can apply online for a plumbing permit through the Online Permitting Portal. See the Plumbing permit submittal checklist & requirements (PDF) for required documents and information. 

Apply for a Fire Alarm permit online through the online permitting portal with drawings per the commercial tenant improvement checklist, identifying all new and existing areas of work. This includes alarm locations in each unit, and type, with manufacturers catalog cuts. Refer to the All documents page for more information.

You can use MapEverett to view the approximate locations of your property line. The information from MapEverett is helpful for planning or preliminary purposes, however the exact location is not guaranteed as the line is a shape file imported from Snohomish county overlaid on an aerial image of the property. For an exact location of property line, that must be determined in the field by a licensed surveyor.

Permit applications are reviewed in the order received and by multiple review disciplines for code compliance. The status each discipline's review is viewable through the Online Permitting Portal. For more information about the review process and current review timelines, refer to Step 3: Permit review. 

IRC and IBC requirements:

• Snow load: 25 psf minimum (uniform, non-reducible)
• Basic wind speed: 110 mph (ultimate)
• Frost depth: 18 inches minimum

IRC only—Seismic category D2. 
IBC only—Seismic category D, E, or F, subject to soil, location, risk category and building characteristics.

Each type of building or project has separate permit submittal requirements, which have been summarized on checklists. Refer to the submittal checklists in Step 2: Prepare and apply for more information. 

The plans for most small residential projects, additions, garages and remodels can be done by the homeowner, provided that the drawings comply with the prescriptive requirements of the codes listed on the residential checklist for permit application. Residential or commercial buildings that require engineering, exceed 4 residential units, or exceed 4,000 square feet require a licensed Washington State architect. Additionally, engineering calculations are required for single family residential plans that do not meet the prescriptive requirements for lateral bracing, have other than conventional wood frame construction, are of unusual shape, or have complex supporting structure or site conditions.

Size and height restrictions are part of the Uniform Development Code (Zoning Code) administered by the Planning Division, who can be reached at planning@everettwa.gov or 425-257-8731. The allowed size of a garage is determined by many factors, including: the size of your lot, the location of the proposed garage (or accessory building), and whether you have an existing garage or other accessory buildings on the site.

Setbacks may be different in different zones and for different structures. Contact the Planning Division to determine the setback requirements for a specific location. The building codes also have restrictions on property lines and construction requirements. Refer to the zoning code for more information.

Refer to the change of occupancy checklist (PDF) for more information. For residential structures, a change of use (also called occupancy in the building code) occurs when either converting a house to a nonresidential use or adding units (i.e. conversion of SFR to duplex). In a commercial structure, a change of use (occupancy) occurs when converting from a historical non-conforming use or permitted occupancy. If the use is approved by planning, the building revisions need to comply with the code requirements in the checklist for a change of occupancy. 

1. Complete Building Permit application.
2. Site Plan
3. Foundation plans and details (gravity and lateral design)
4. Structural calculations justifying the lateral anchorage
5. Construction plans for the stairs and ramp (if applicable)
6. For school portables only, we need to see the area of the cluster to determine fire alarm and fire sprinkler requirements

For permits requiring Plan Review, reviews are performed by each department in the order the permit applications are received. The status each discipline's review is viewable through the Online Permitting Portal. For more information about he review process and current timelines, refer to Step 3: Permit review.

For some permit types, an owner can act as the General Contractor and /or perform work on their own property. Check with Permit Services to confirm that your permit type qualifies.

Permit applications expire if they are abandoned after 180 days. This means if a correction letter is not responded to or if it has not been paid for and issued after approved. 

Issued permits expire if no inspections take place for 180 days. Each inspection extends the permit an additional 180 days. To keep your permit valid, continue to request the required inspections through the Online Permitting Portal throughout construction. If work has not begun or is paused, request a Permit Extension in the inspection request drop-down menu with a valid reason for the extension listed in the notes field. 

For more information, see the Permit expiration & extensions tab on the Step 5: Construction & inspections webpage. 

You may obtain an electrical permit for a temporary power pole. Once the temporary power pole is in place and has been inspected and approved, you will need to contact Snohomish County PUD to connect the power. Apply for an electrical permit for temporary power online through the Online Permitting Portal. 

Contact Puget Sound Energy.

Navigate to the Online Permitting Portal and follow the instructions in the linked handout. Instructions to Reset Password on Online Permitting Portal

Navigate to the Online Permitting Portal then follow the instructions in the linked handout. Instructions for Forgot Username on Online Permitting Portal

Payment can be made by either submitting a check or money order to the City of Everett Treasurer at 2930 Wetmore Suite 100, Everett Washington, 98201 or by major credit card (a 2.3% merchant fee is applied to all credit card payments) by contacting the City of Everett Treasurer’s office at 425-257-8610. If unable to pay in full, a payment plan can be arranged by contacting the code enforcement administrative assistant at codeenforcement@everettwa.gov.

A Notice of Violation and Order ("NOVO") can be issued at any time if the code enforcement official deems necessary and contains a directive to bring any code violations into compliance by a specific deadline and assess a fine per violation. The NOVO also includes a statement advising the violator of their right to appeal the issuance of the notice and order. Any appeal must be filed with the city within 14 days from the date of the NOVO.

A Voluntary Compliance Agreement (“VCA”) is a contract between the violator and the City, whereby the violator agrees to abate the violations within a specific timeline and according to specific conditions. If the violator does not bring their property into compliance, then per the terms of the VCA, the City can enter their property and abate the violations at the property owner’s sole expense or issue a Notice and Order. 

The City has established regulations for control of noise in residentially zoned property. Under the City's Noise Ordinance construction related noise is limited to the hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and state recognized holidays. Complaints about noise outside of normal construction hours should be directed to Everett Police by dialing 911. Complaints may also be filed during working hours with the Code Enforcement Unit. 

The City of Everett code allows for no more than two sale events for any residence per year and the duration of each event shall be no more than four consecutive days. Signs should be placed on private property and not create a safety hazard for pedestrian or vehicular traffic. They can be displayed three days prior to the sale event and should be removed within 24 hours after the sale. Garage sale items not sold should be removed from the yards and property stored.

Check out Washington State Courts

Check out Snohomish County Bar Association's

All police reports can be requested through the Public Disclosure Unit; information on how to fill out a Public Disclosure Request and contact their office can be found here.

If you have lost your subpoena, you can contact our office at 425-257-8406 for us to mail you a new one or you will still need to call the witness line at 425-257-8515 anytime after 5 p.m. the Friday before, for a final list of upcoming trials. If the DEFENDANT is listed on the witness line, you need to appear at Everett Municipal Court at 8:10 a.m. on the trial date. If you do not hear the name of the defendant, you do not need to appear. Please contact our office if you do not know the name of the defendant.  You can also check our website.

No Contact Orders are mailed to victims after being issued by the Judge. If you still need a copy, please contact the

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  10 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST

• Email
• Phone: 425-257-8300, ext. 2
• Hours of Service
  Monday - Friday
  9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. PST

• Email
• Phone: 425-257-8780
• Hours of Service
  Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
  8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PST
  
  Wednesday
  8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. PST
  
  Saturday
  8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST

Catholic Community Services exists to serve and support poor and vulnerable people through the provision of quality, integrated services and housing. They focus on those individuals, children, families and communities struggling with poverty and the effects of intolerance and racism

Dawson Place Child Advocacy Center is a not-for-profit multidisciplinary team serving child victims of sexual or physical abuse in Snohomish County, Washington. Law enforcement, child protective services, medial, victim advocacy, prosecution and mental health agencies all work together at Dawson Place to deliver the vey best services to children and their families victimized by sexual or physical abuse.

Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County provides a wide range of services to victims of domestic violence including a 24 hour crisis line, emergency shelter for individuals and families who are in imminent danger, legal advocacy, supportive housing, a thrift store, community outreach, domestic violence prevention work and healthy dating and relationship classes.

Everett Gospel Mission is the largest homeless services center in Snohomish, Skagit and Island Counties and provides comprehensive life recovery programs, meals and shelter for 174 men, and 100 women and children.

Evergreen Recovery Centers works to provide comprehensive, effective treatment and recovery support for those affected by alcohol, drugs and other related problems.

Familias Unidas and the South Everett Neighborhood Center provide bilingual and bicultural services to homeless individuals and families in the Everett area. through our drop in program, Family Support Specialists help people receive access to resources and programs that will meet their needs of housing, hunger and safety. By assisting people on how to navigate the system, the family centers are ensuring that clients gain the skills needed to become healthy and ensure their future stability and success. For more information about Familias Unidas and the South Everett Neighborhood Center contact Crisann Brooks, Director of Family Support for Lutheran Community Services Northwest at cbrooks@lcsnw.org.

The Interfaith Family Shelter operates 5 emergency shelter programs for families with children experiencing homelessness in Snohomish County. All programs are low barrier and non discriminatory. About 70% of our families achieve permanent housing within 90 days. Make a Donation.

The Everett Corps operates a food bank for adult-only households and provides hot meals Monday and Tuesday evenings at 5 p.m. that all are welcome to attend. The corps also has a case manager available to help with referrals and who oversees a housing program for families. Salvation Army offers assistance for prescriptions, hygiene kits, back to school supplies, Thanksgiving food boxes, Christmas food boxes and toys for children 0-12, and an emergency cold weather shelter.

Snohomish County Legal Services is a free legal aid program serving Snohomish County Residents experiencing poverty. Staff, pro-bono attorneys and volunteers provide information, advice and legal representation to ensure meaningful access to justice regardless of individual barriers and needs:

There are many different concurrent actions being taken by different organizations to address the issue of aggressive begging.

The Everett Police Department (EPD) works to educate business owners interested in regulating conduct in their parking lots for the safety of their customers by making more effective use of their authority to enforce laws by partnering with the police department.

Additionally, the EPD and the Snohomish County Department of Human Services have partnered to hire a mental health community support specialist to serve as an embedded social worker, implementing one of the Community Streets Initiative task force recommendations. The community support specialist works with officers, including in the field, to better respond to a variety of street-level social issues, including chronically homeless individuals and individuals with mental illness who come into contact with the criminal justice system. There is also a large range of other responsibilities, including coordinating social service outreach and serving as liaison to the social service community.

In conjunction with the Streets Initiative, the Mayor’s Safe Streets proposal creates a specialized unit within the police department to work on street level social issues and criminal activity. This unit will be composed of four officers, a sergeant, an additional community support specialist and prosecutor resources.

Finally, EPD and the City of Everett are developing a public education and outreach campaign emphasizing alternatives to making direct giving to beggars. The City created a dedicated webpage to educate citizens on making charitable donations in lieu of direct giving to beggars. Also, signage is being developed to assist business owners in discouraging direct giving on their property and to provide information on how to donate.

Not all beggars are homeless and many want money for alcohol or drugs. While opening your wallet or purse to get money, you are more likely to be victimized. There are many ways to help those in need without giving someone cash and the Everett Police Department recommends researching and giving to any of the numerous service organizations who specialize in assisting those in need. The City of Everett website has a list of charities.

Additionally, volunteering time with a charity that focuses on community service helps you better understand the needs of your community and how your efforts support others.

Finally, it is important to understand the involved issues to help make change. In July 2014, Mayor Stephanson convened the Community Streets Initiative Task Force which consisted of community members, business owners and service providers to study and create a comprehensive plan to help those in need.

Yes, all City of Everett employment opportunities listed on NEOGOV.

There are a number of ways to access the City of Everett’s employment opportunities: 

• Your local WorkSource may have computers that you can use. Go to their website for other locations: Work Source locations map 

• You may use the public computers located at most libraries such as Sno-Isle Regional Libraries and the Everett Public Library 

• Family and friends may also have internet access available for your use.

Once you have created a username and password under the Application Login section and have applied for a position through City of Everett’s website, you will be able to log in to check your application status at any time. As the testing process develops, we will be sending email notices to you during the process. You may check the status of your applications(s), update your applications(s), or create a new application, and view all jobs that you have applied for through the City of Everett. To view jobs with other agencies, go to Governmentjobs.com.

• NEOGOV's Online Application Guide • Help (FAQ) – found on the Applicant Login page in NEOGOV • NEOGOV Help Desk – (855) 524-5627 • Live help from Human Resources during regular business hours: Monday – Friday; 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Once you have established your account, you may access your account by clicking "Applicant Login" located on the main City of Everett job opportunities page. You may check the status of your applications(s), update your applications(s), or create a new application, and view all jobs that you have applied for through the City of Everett. To view jobs with other agencies, go to governmentjobs.com. Once you have logged in to the system, you can find the applications you have applied for by selecting your Username and then "Applications & Status" in the drop-down box.

City of Everett records can be requested by using the Everett Public Records Center.

Your request becomes a public record and can be requested and/ or viewed by others.

If a requestor fails to fulfill their obligations to inspect, respond to clarification from by City staff, or make any payment within 30 calendar days, the City may close the request and consider it abandoned.

Large requests may be handled in installments. A 10 percent deposit of estimated costs may be required prior to release of any records.

The Department uses Community Crime Map by LexisNexis which is updated daily. Not all calls for service are entered into the database, only calls where a report is written.

Reduce crime and improve public safety. LexisNexis’s  public crime map, Community Crime Map, connects law enforcement with the community to reduce crime and improve public safety. Crime mapping helps the public get a better idea of the crime activity in their area so they can make more informed decisions about how to stay safe. 

Community Crime Map goes beyond crime mapping by automatically alerting the public about recent crime activity and by improving communication between the public and law enforcement through anonymous tips. Community Crime Map empowers the public to make better decisions about crime by putting the same technology used by law enforcement to analyze and interpret crime activity into the hands of the public.

Law enforcement agencies keep detailed records about each incident that occurs in their jurisdiction. When an incident happens, the officer that responded to the incident writes a detailed report with information about the event including the location, people involved, related vehicles and other useful information. This information is stored in large secure databases within each law enforcement agency, which can make it difficult for two neighboring cities to share crime data and benefit from being able to analyze events and offenders that cross city boundaries. LexisNexis helps centralize and standardize this information to improve regional data sharing analysis.

The information found on Community Crime Map (LexisNexis) is updated daily. Not all calls for service are entered into the database, only calls where a report is written.

No! Some sensitive crimes or cases under investigation are not included in the data. We work hard to provide information to the public but cannot immediately provide information in all instances. Additionally, responses to calls that do not generate a written incident or arrest report are not included in the data.

General information can be obtained on the map, but a Public Records Request is needed to get additional information.

Data is collected, modified to protect victim privacy, and displayed so the public can be aware of events that occur within the City of Everett.

Everett’s 2019 Water Quality Report contains details and results about all of the contaminants, regulated and unregulated, that the City of Everett looks for in our drinking water.

Everett Police officers, vehicles, uniforms, insignia and equipment will not be made available for use on film by film companies without written express consent of the Chief of Police. For approval contact the Film Office at (425) 257-8681

Pyrotechnics (fireworks use) or Class C Special Effects permits for indoor or outdoor displays are issued, as needed, as part of the Master Film Permit. Include the request during the film permit application process. You can find out more and apply online on the Fire Department Permits page.

For questions or assistance, contact the Fire Marshal's Office at (425) 257-8120 or fmo@everettwa.gov.

The permit needs to be filled out at the Everett Utility Center, 3101 Cedar Street, Everett, WA 98201. Open Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A check made out to the City of Everett for a water meter is required as deposit. There is also a monthly fee for use of the equipment. Please contact the Utility Billing office at (425) 257-8999 for the current fee schedule. Once the permit is complete and a deposit check is on file you will receive the water meter, hydrant wrench, garden hose adapter (if requested) and fire hose to access the water. Hydrant Permits allow you to pull from any hydrant within the city limits as long as they are not within a mile of a medical facility. After the meter and equipment is returned in good working order, your deposit will be mailed to you less charges for water used. Alternatively, you can provide your own water truck and have it inspected, by appointment, at 3101 Cedar Street. After inspection and deposit, you will be provided a magnetic permit that allows water to be drawn from any hydrant on our list of approved hydrants. If you have questions, please email utilitybilling@everettwa.gov or call 425.257.8999.

Film applications involving drones, mini-helicopters, or other UAS (unmanned aircraft), weighing less than 55 pounds, require proof that the operator complies with the FAA’s 14 CFR Part 107 Operating Requirements. UAS that are 55 pounds or larger must comply with FAA 14 Part 11 section 44807. Drone operators must have a current Part 107 Certification and the UAS must be registered with operational Remote ID. Flight within the PAE (Seattle Paine Field) Class D airspace must have LAANC authorization for the time of flight. If required, a Manual Airspace Authorization must be obtained. Other COA (Certificate of Authorization) waivers, such as BVLOS, or flight over people may also be required. FAA authorizations, except LAANC, must be submitted to the Everett Film Office. Once received and approved, the notification requirements for the filming area qualify as “High Impact Filming”.

We are not able to say with certainty the exact cause of most water main breaks. We do know that there are several factors that contribute to water main breaks: age of pipe, type of pipe, soil and construction conditions when the pipe was installed, and temperature.

Pipe age and type: We find that post World War II cast iron pipes in our system made between 1945 and 1955 have a higher occurrence of failure. Cast iron pipes accounted for 70 percent of our repairs and breaks since 1992, but made up 80 to 85 percent of our repairs and breaks in the past five years. Other cities with similar pipe vintage have similar pipe failure rates.

Temperature: As temperatures move in and out of freezing, it’s not uncommon to see breaks occur.

From 2017 to 2022, the City has averaged 23 main breaks per year. The City's average number of water main breaks is 5.54 breaks per 100 miles of pipe for the 2017-2022 period.

Water main breaks per year:

2022 – 24 breaks

2021 – 22 breaks

2020 – 18 breaks

2019 – 24 breaks

2018 – 16 breaks

2017 – 34 breaks

Main breaks are an upset to our distribution system, which means pressure may be lost and sediment can be stirred up in our system during the break. Your service line could be impacted, and if after a break sediment or discoloration is present, we request that you run water until it runs clear (running the water in a bathtub is recommended, if possible). Homes that have been without service should run their water for up to 30 minutes to clear any turbidity and air from the lines once service resumes.

Though water may appear discolored, it is safe, but we recommend that homeowners flush it until it is clear before using. If after 30 minutes if this persists, please call our after hour number 425-257-8821.

The Public Works budget accounts for the need to staff unexpected events. The nature of our work involves responding to unplanned circumstances that demand immediate attention. Crews are accustomed to responding on an on-call basis.

The City has a two-prong plan to proactively address potential water main breaks. We gather and analyze data on main breaks to project what sections show a propensity to break and prioritize replacement based on that. Our Maintenance division performs routine pipe replacement, blocks at a time and uses city crews and small works contractors. Our Engineering division develops those projects with a larger scope, fitting them into our Capital Improvement Program. Current water main replacement projects can be found in the Current and Planned Projects section of the City website.

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) reports the national average is 270 water main breaks per 1000 miles of pipe (or 27 per 100 miles of pipe). The City of Everett’s average number of water main breaks is 5.54 breaks per 100 miles of pipe for the 2017-2022 period.

Rubatino Refuse Removal serves the following Everett zip codes:

• 98201 • 98203 • 98204

Waste Management Northwest serves the following areas in Everett:

• South of 112th Street SE • Eastmont • Silver Lake including the 75th Street Overpass

• Phone 425-259-0044 • Website Rubatino Refuse Removal

 • Phone 1-800-592-9995 • Website Waste Management Northwest

Contact your service provider directly and inform them you have a missed pick-up.

Contact your service provider directly and attempt to address your concerns. If you are unable to resolve the issue, contact the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC). The Washington UTC regulates the rates and services of utility companies and can be reached at 1-888-333-9882 or consumer@utc.wa.gov. You may also use the online complaint form.

No, the City of Everett does not have a contract with Rubatino Refuse Removal or Waste Management. In the City of Everett, they are governed by the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC). 

Contact your service provider for information about receiving recycling bins.

Yes, you can choose to haul your garbage and recycling to a Transfer Station. For locations, hours, and accepted items, visit the Snohomish County Solid Waste Management website.

Bulky items can be picked up curbside by your service provider for an additional charge. Call your hauler a week in advance to receive a cost estimate. Only set your items out for pickup on the agreed upon date.

For information on how to recycle items not collected curbside, visit http://1800recycle.wa.gov/ or call 1-800-732-9253.

Household hazardous waste can be disposed of at the drop-off station located at 3434 McDougall Ave, Everett. For information, visit the Snohomish County Solid Waste Management website.

Some vehicle components and parts can be recycled locally. Please see the Snohomish County recycling page and 1800recycle.wa.gov for information on local companies accepting components and parts. The Snohomish County Junk Vehicle & Boat/RV Disposal Program page provides guidance for Snohomish County residents in removing junk vehicles and boats, as well as information for those in unincorporated Snohomish County get legal paperwork so that their junk vehicles can be property disposed of. 

The local government planning department where the property is located is a good place to start. To correctly identify and remedy drainage problems on properties located near or on steep slopes, you may need to contract with a geologist, an engineer and/or a construction contractor. 

Permits may be needed for drainage work; consult with your local government planning department for help in identifying permit requirements.

Please conduct an Internet search for locating geotechnical consultants.

This varies, so contact your local government planning department to start. 

The City of Mukilteo issues emergency permits, but the City of Everett does not.

Some local government planning departments may have cost-sharing; please call your local planning department. 

Timeframes vary according to the permits and the local planning agency. Many local jurisdictions process permits within 120 days. Contact your local government planning department to determine permits and timeframes.

Washington State University Extension or your local garden club may have plants and volunteers to help identify appropriate plantings. 

City of Seattle

Storms and Flooding in Seattle

Marine Resources Committee, Snohomish County

Washington State Department of Ecology

Surface Water and Groundwater on Coastal Bluffs

Slope Stabilization and Erosion Control Using Vegetation: A Manual of Practice for Coastal Bluffs

Vegetation Management: Guide for Puget Sound Bluff Property Owners

Puget Sound Landslides

Puget Sound Shorelines Slope Stability Maps (see ‘Map slope stability’)

Washington State Department of Natural Resources

Division of Geology and Earth Resources Geological Hazards

Washington State Military Department

Emergency Management Division      

U.S. Geological Survey

Landslides Hazard Program                

Not at this time. For stabilizing slopes, there may be insurance cost savings for homeowners. Local agencies may waive permit fees for low-income residents. 

Local government agencies may have right of way permits or other permits associated with stormwater drainage connection. Contact your local government planning department.

If you are cutting or removing vegetation on a slope there may be a permit or other permission needed depending on the type, size, and location of the vegetation, as well as the height and inclination of the slope. Check with your local government planning department. 

If you are planning on retaining stormwater on your property, a geotechnical report and drainage plan may be required to show that the site soils are suitable for stormwater retention. Consult your local government planning department.

Under state stormwater guidance, found in the current edition of the Washington State Department of Ecology Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington (SWMMWW), there are instances when bioretention of stormwater and rain gardens are either NOT required, or not allowed. These include when professional geotechnical evaluations recommend against infiltration, or in areas of erosion or landslide hazard.  Other requirements related to stormwater may still apply; consult the SWMMWW and your local government planning department. 

Reference: SWMMWW, Volume 5, BMP T7.30: Bioretention Cells, Swales, and Planter Boxes. 

Yes. In disposing of unwanted or excess surface water, landowners may be liable for their action or inaction that results in damage to neighboring properties. Landowners may be responsible for the following:

•Altering a watercourse or natural drainage way

•Collecting and discharging water onto their neighbors' land in quantities greater than, or in a manner different from, its natural flow, including, but not limited to:

• Altering the natural landscape
• Causing water to be trapped by grass clippings or other lawn waste
• Failing to maintain designed drainage pipes and systems

•Exercising their rights in bad faith or failing to avoid unnecessary damage to others' property 

For more information on drainage requirements, check with your local government planning department.

The original model developed by the United States Geological and Survey (USGS) used data from rain gauges installed at Sea-Tac Airport and in Tacoma and Everett. Sound Transit worked with the USGS to install additional rain gauges and monitoring devices along the north rail corridor, with a focus in Mukilteo. These monitoring devices now provide the interested agencies and railroads, as well as the general public, more accurate data on rainfall and soil conditions in the affected corridor. The USGS is in the process of updating their model in order to more accurately assess rainfall and soil conditions; a final report from the USGS is pending.

Several slope stabilization projects have been completed in the Everett and Mukilteo areas by WSDOT and BNSF. The work includes slope stabilization, slide containment walls, slide detection fences and drainage and erosion control improvements. The goal is to reduce slides in the historically slide-prone area, thus reducing passenger rail disruptions.

In addition, local jurisdictions are making improvements, such as the City of Everett’s Shore Avenue Stormwater Outfall Improvements project, completed in 2015.

You can report an encampment on our website or leave a voicemail at 425-257-8800.

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Based on a multitude of studies, scholars note that youth may be “pulled” and/or “pushed” into gang membership. Pulls are features that attract youth, such as the perception of increased reputation and social status, the desire to be with friends and/or family who are already gang-involved, the promise of money, drugs, and/or excitement, and cultural pride and identification with one’s neighborhood. In contrast, because of the high levels of neighborhood crime and violence, some youth perceive gangs as providing protection and/or are fearful of the consequences if they do not join.

It is important to note that the pushes and pulls of gang membership are not necessarily mutually exclusive, in that they may simultaneously impact a youth’s decision to join a gang. However, by and large, numerous studies have found that youth themselves are more likely to report being “pulled” into the gang. This is especially evident in widespread accounts of youth who report joining the gang based on the social desire to be around gang-involved friends and/or family. In comparison, youth less frequently report being coerced or actively recruited to join the gang. This finding is important to note, since the latter is commonly (though erroneously) believed to be the primary reason youth join gangs, with many states developing legislation to criminalize and punish active recruitment.

Finally, it is also important to point out that the process of joining a gang is a gradual one. Youth may begin at a “gang-marginal status” by hanging around other gang members or having older family members in the gang, leading some to join later and others to remain in a marginal status or to disassociate entirely. For those who join, some may become increasingly embedded within the gang life, while others remain at the periphery. That is, gang membership patterns are dynamic and multilayered and are not reliably reducible to a simple gang-versus-nongang perspective.

It is commonly repeated that once a person joins a gang, he or she can never get out (the so-called “blood-in, blood-out” assertion). However, for many youth membership in a gang is a fleeting occurrence, with a large proportion remaining in the gang for only a relatively short period of time (i.e., for a year or two). The processes by which youth leave gangs, often referred to as “desistance,” are similar to the “push” and “pull” processes by which youth join gangs, although the specific reasons are often very different. The reasons individuals report for leaving the gang include growing out of the gang life; disillusionment with the gang life; settling down, getting a stable job, and/or family needs; unanticipated aspects of the gang life; gang violence experienced by the individual or someone close to the individual; and a constant future risk of being a victim of gang violence. While the topic of gang desistance is relatively newer across the field of gang research, preliminary evidence indicates that youth are more likely to be “pushed” out of the gang life because of the very same factors that “pulled” them into the gang in the first place—fear of the consequences of violence and victimization.

How youth leave a gang is also instructive in understanding the gang process. Similar to the gang-joining process, desisting from gang membership is best described as gradual, taking place over an extended period of time. This is understandable, after all, since desisting from gangs involves disassociating and severing social ties with friends and/or family members who are gang-involved and may entail many attempts, both cognitively and behaviorally. Also, this process may be interrupted or entirely negated because of outside influences, such as the perception by rival gangs and/or law enforcement that the individual is still an active gang member. Importantly, although it is commonly repeated otherwise, the available evidence demonstrates that most individuals stated that they left the gang without the fear or experience of physical consequences from the gang.

In order to properly assess changes in the national gang problem over time, reliable indicators of the gang problem must be collected from a large and representative sample of law enforcement agencies across the United States. Between 1996 and 2012, the National Youth Gang Survey (NYGS) provided the only national data source for assessing long-term and annual changes in the gang problem across the following areas: (1) the emergence, presence, and stability patterns of gang problems within jurisdictions over time (prevalence measures); and (2) the relative size of the problem across such indicators as the number of gangs, the number of gang members, and the number of gang-related homicides and other crimes (magnitude measures).

In terms of the prevalence measures, the latest estimate from the NYGS finds that gangs are present in approximately 30 percent of the jurisdictions across the United States. This figure represents a sizeable drop from the mid-1990s, when 40 percent of jurisdictions reported a gang presence. Following a steady decline throughout the late 1990s, the gang prevalence measure reached its lowest point in 2001, steadily increased in subsequent years, and has remained relatively stable in recent years. The least amount of change occurred in the largest cities and suburban counties, where gang activity remains most prevalent, while the greatest amount of change has occurred in rural counties and smaller cities—especially the latter, where the gang prevalence rate fell nearly 10 percentage points from 2010 to 2012. Further, gang activity in smaller cities and rural counties is more likely to be transitory and unstable in nature, such that gang activity may emerge and dissipate in just a few years’ time. The frequency of this transitory pattern suggests that the emergence of gang activity does not necessarily indicate a protracted presence over time.

While prevalence measures provide a straightforward and simplified assessment of the gang problem, a better measure pertains to the size, or magnitude, of the gang problem in terms of the number of gangs and gang members, as well as the number of gang crimes (discussed separately below). From the latest NYGS estimate provided by law enforcement agencies, there are approximately 30,000 gangs and 850,000 gang members across the United States. Compared with the previous five-year average, the estimated number of gangs has increased 8 percent and the estimated number of gang members 11 percent. Accounting for the largest share of these increases are larger cities—more than 50 percent of the net increase in gangs and gang members over the past five years was due to overall increases in larger cities.

The decline in gang prevalence rates across smaller cities and rural counties, coupled with increases in the number of gangs and gang members in densely populated areas (especially larger cities), suggests that the gang problem is becoming more concentrated nationally in urban areas. While local reports to the contrary are not uncommon, it must be remembered that these results are based on a nationally representative sample of all law enforcement agencies across the United States, which is the only appropriate method to assess nationwide changes in gang activity.

As has been observed and written about extensively, the racial/ethnic composition of a community’s gang problem is largely a reflection of the racial/ethnic composition of the community itself, once socioeconomic factors are taken into account. Gangs tend to emerge in the most disadvantaged areas and thus naturally attract the disadvantaged youth residing in those areas. Therefore, a discussion of the racial/ethnic composition of gangs is largely a discussion of the socioeconomic variables of that area.

Reflecting the racial/ethnic divide along socioeconomic lines across the country, the largest percentage of gang members in the New York Gang Study belong to minorities, with around half reported as Hispanic/Latino and approximately one-third as African American/black. Around 10 to 15 percent of gang members are reported as white/Caucasian. A multisite study of school-aged youth finds comparable proportions. In contrast, a national survey of youth reports a much lower percentage of blacks (25 percent) and Hispanics (19 percent). Clearly, there is much variation across cities, counties, and states in the racial/ethnic composition of gangs, but ultimately, this descriptive characteristic of the gang problem is best regarded as a reflection of the social and economic inequalities that persist across the United States.

There is no agreed-upon gang typology. Numerous attempts at classifying the various types of gangs have been made. Two common features of these attempts are: (1) classifying gangs by the type of criminal activity they are involved in; and (2) classifying gangs based on their names and whether they are derived from national gang names or localized, neighborhood gang names. Both of these methods are subject to a critical flaw frequently observed regarding street gangs. In terms of the first type of classification, by and large, gangs as a group are involved in a variety of criminal activities. During active periods of membership, the offending rate of youth and young adults involved in gangs increases for a multitude and wide range of offenses. The phenomenon is referred to as “cafeteria-style offending,” serving as a reminder that reducing gang types to one offense or another is substantially misleading. The method of classifying gangs by their names is also inherently flawed, since many gangs with national-sounding names have little if any connection to the larger, long-standing gangs from which their names are derived. In many instances, the connection between local and national gangs based on the similarity in names is merely assumed rather than conclusively demonstrated and documented. Local gang members state that they typically adopt larger gang names to project a more widespread and powerful presence in their area. Gangs frequently adopt a mixture of cultural signs and symbols based on their appeal to local gang members, resulting in what has been referred to as a “hybrid gang” culture.

The types of gangs that often receive the most attention from media are characterized as gangs with nationally recognized names, portrayed as highly organized, extremely violent, and focused on one criminal operation, such as drug trafficking. The public is often left with the impression that all gangs, and their gang members, are excessively violent and out of control. These characterizations do more than enough to promote fear and little to help develop successful responses to the gang problem in any given community. In reality, there are a variety of gangs across the United States. Understanding how gangs and their members are both different and similar is essential in developing and implementing appropriate prevention and intervention programs, as well as targeted control strategies.

Due to inherent limitations in law enforcement data and ethnographic studies, determining the proportion of adolescents and young adults who join street gangs is best accomplished through self-report studies of a specified target population. Based on a national study properly weighted to be representative of all youth, recent research finds that approximately 8 percent of all youth have joined a gang by their twenties. This estimate is also highly dynamic. In a multisite study in cities with known and significant gang problems, the percentage of youth who joined a gang peaked in the early teens and declined precipitously thereafter. These estimates, of course, vary across localities and are highly contingent on the type of gang problem observed in a given community. Studies conducted in some urban cities with long-standing gang problems have found that 15 percent or more of youth joined a gang at some point during their adolescent and youth-adult years.

A common misconception surrounding gangs is that once a person joins, he or she stays in the gang for an extended period of years. By following subjects over time, longitudinal research studies provide the only reliable method to determine the duration in which a person remains in a gang. Based on multiple studies, in multiple cities, across multiple research projects, it is repeatedly found that most youth who join a gang do not remain in it for an extended period of time. For the majority of youth who join a gang, the average amount of time they remain active in the gang is one to two years, and fewer than 1 in 10 gang members report involvement for four or more years. However, the more embedded a person is in a gang—e.g., the more his or her self-identity is derived from the gang—the longer that person will remain in the gang, which negatively impacts efforts at severing gang ties.

In sum, joining a gang is not a rare event, relatively speaking. However, a corollary finding also emerges from these systematic studies: Even in the most gang-ridden areas across the United States, most youth do not join a gang. Comparatively, law enforcement agencies report older, more adult-aged gang members in the New York Gang Study (in 2011, approximately two-thirds were 18 and over), reflecting the tendency of agencies to focus primarily on the more embedded (hard-core) members of gangs. This is especially the case in urban areas with long-standing gang problems, where adult-aged members make up a clear majority; in newer gang-problem areas outside the larger cities, this proportion is noticeably smaller.

A common assertion regarding all gangs is their involvement in drug trafficking, distribution, and/or sales. However, while the overlap of gangs and drugs is well-documented, the proportion of gangs that are centered around drug distribution and that effectively control the operations thereof is relatively small. To be sure, gang members are significantly more likely to be involved in drug sales, but numerous research projects have revealed that these members rarely reinvest drug-sale profits into the gang as a whole; rather, they typically keep the profits for themselves. This finding, replicated over time and place, suggests a more nuanced description of the gang-drug connection, such that gangs provide an entrance into drug sales, primarily in street-level distribution, which when viewed superficially perpetuates the assertion that gangs control the distribution of drugs.

A related topic is the gang-drug-violence connection. Incidents involving gangs and drugs, resulting in the use of violence, attract greater coverage by the media, thus reinforcing this connection to the public. Gang violence, however, entails both expressive crimes and instrumental crimes. Expressive crimes pertain to incidents arising from ongoing conflicts and rivalries between gangs (e.g., disrespect, symbolic dominance), while instrumental crimes pertain to incidents surrounding economic functions (e.g., drug sales). While it is difficult to determine with precision the proportion of gang violence related to each, it has been demonstrated convincingly that instrumental-type incidents are much rarer than widely believed. In multiple studies over the past 25 years, a repeated finding is the lack of a drug component surrounding gang-related homicides. That is, in a large majority of these cases, the motives for the events pertained to the expressive and not the instrumental nature of gang violence. Thus, similar to drug sales, while the connection between gangs and violence is well-known, it is important to remain aware of the form this violence typically takes and not overgeneralize based on a few incidents, which can jeopardize the development of effective responses to local gang activity.

Risk factors are variables increase the likelihood of the outcome in question—in this case, gang membership. Gang research scholars have discovered a multitude of risk factors that are statistically linked to gang joining. These individual risk factors span the many dimensions in a youth’s life and are typically grouped into five categories (called “domains”): individual, family, school, peer, and neighborhood/community. Importantly, however, these extensive research studies have demonstrated that there is no one risk factor (or even domain) responsible for gang joining; rather, it is the accumulation of multiple risk factors across multiple domains that greatly increases gang joining. Thus, put another way, gang joining is not reducible to a single risk factor (e.g., single-parent household), since some youth with the risk factor may not join a gang, and some youth without the risk factor may join. It is far more profitable, then, to assess (and ultimately address) the collection of risk factors across the five social domains to prevent gang joining.

Gangs and gang violence have become increasingly complex, lethal, and resistant to prevention and control over the years. Overreliance on one strategy is unlikely to produce fundamental changes in the scope and severity of a community’s gang problem. Instead, communities should adopt a comprehensive, multifaceted, collaborative approach that involves prevention strategies for youth at risk of gang joining, intervention strategies for youth and young adults who are gang-involved, and suppression strategies in areas where gang violence threatens the public safety of a community.

A community’s responses to its gang problem must be based on a solid theoretical understanding of gangs—their social patterns and individual member behaviors—as well as programs and practices supported by systematic research and successful experience in the field. Once a community acknowledges that a youth street gang problem exists, a thorough assessment is needed to identify specific components of the problems, analyze the causes, and identify the resources currently available, as well as the resources needed. Such an assessment can reliably measure the scope and depth of the youth and street gang problem in a given community.

Community stakeholder participation should ideally include active engagement from law enforcement agencies, schools, grassroots organizations, youth agencies, government agencies, and civic organizations. Using the assessment as a foundation, key stakeholders can develop a plan to respond to their gang problem that is tailored to the unique needs and resources of that community. Ideally, a community should develop a continuum of developmentally appropriate programs and strategies to target gang-involved individuals at all ages and risk levels. A community should implement strategies that have been demonstrated to work.

There is no quick, easy fix when responding to street and youth gang problems in a community. Both emerging and entrenched gang problems are the consequence of years of compounding, complex factors. A comprehensive, systematic approach to address these complexities will take focused determination and hard work.

Youth often report joining a gang for protection. However, as numerous research studies have shown, the risk and rate of victimization, especially violent victimization, increases substantially while youth are in a gang. This finding is notably similar to that of the increase in the criminal offending rate during periods of active gang membership. Thus, there is a seemingly paradoxical relationship between the expectation that joining a gang will provide protection from violence and the fact that actual rate (and risk) of victimization while in a gang increases. Research specifically examining this issue points to a compelling explanation: Given the “choice” between seemingly random acts of street violence when not in a gang versus the more structured and less random acts within the gang culture (including the sense of group protection that being part of a gang engenders), individuals are more likely to choose to belong to a gang. That is, the source of the risk of violence is qualitatively different (e.g., from a rival gang) while in a gang, which individuals cognitively perceive as being more predictable and manageable, and thus preferable. This explanation is important to consider when developing effective interventions with current gang members, since increased levels of neighborhood street violence may counteract incentives for individuals to leave the gang.

Following individuals over time (i.e., longitudinally) has also afforded researchers the opportunity to examine the long-term consequences of gang membership. The effects of gang membership, especially for members who remained in the gang for longer periods and/or were deeply embedded in the gang life, have been shown to negatively impact individuals well after leaving the gang. Some of the negative outcomes linked to prolonged gang membership include dropping out of school, early parenthood, and lack of or unstable employment. These long-term consequences are supplemental to the increased risk of being arrested, having a criminal record, and incarceration—which stems from the increased involvement in criminal offending while in a gang—which further reduces the probability of a successful transition from adolescence to adulthood. Further, in a recent study specifically examining this issue, researchers found that adolescent gang membership was linked to other public health issues, such as alcohol and drug abuse and/or dependence, poor general health, and poor mental health during adulthood. Thus, gang membership, especially long-term membership and/or increased embeddedness in the gang, exacts a toll that extends far beyond periods of active membership.

We are open for fingerprinting services from Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm at our north precinct only.  The cost for fingerprinting is $16.50, which can be paid by a VISA or MasterCard credit or debit card. 

Our north precinct is located at 3002 Wetmore Ave in downtown Everett.  Make sure to bring any fingerprint cards you may have been provided by your place of employment or the person or agency requesting you to be fingerprinted.  If you do not have fingerprint cards, we can provide up to two cards for the standard fingerprint price.  Additional cards may incur an extra fee.

To apply for a CPL, you must be fingerprinted and bring a completed Concealed Pistol Application to the North Precinct during business hours.

CPL’s cost $49.20 and can only be paid with VISA or MasterCard.

INITIAL APPLICATION:
You must be a resident of the City of Everett or live outside the state of WA to obtain a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) from the Everett Police Department.  Applications may be picked up during normal business hours but are only processed when fingerprinting is available

Permits are valid for 5 years.

The cost of an initial CPL is $49.20.

RENEWAL:
The fee for renewal of a CPL by the expiration date is $32.00. A CPL may be renewed up to 90 days after the expiration date by paying a late fee. The late renewal fee is $10.00, making the total fee $42.00.
**If not renewed within these time limits, the process starts over with the initial CPL application to include new fingerprints.**

REPLACEMENT:
If you are an Everett or an out-of-state resident and your Washington State CPL is lost, stolen or destroyed, you may apply for a REPLACEMENT CPL from the Everett Police Department regardless of where your CPL was originally issued. The replacement cost is $10.00.

ARMED FORCES RENEWAL - OUT OF STATE DEPLOYMENT:
Currently deployed members of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Armed Forces Reserves, who are deployed out of state, can renew their CPL by mail. This must be done within 90 days of the expiration of the existing CPL. The fee for this type of renewal is $32.00 plus a late fee of $10.00, making the total fee $42. The license in this circumstance is only valid for a period of one year.

To renew the CPL in this circumstance, contact the Everett Police Department Records Unit at 425-257-8400 or via email. We will send the application electronically or by standard mail. Completed applications must be submitted with a copy of your original order, designating the period of deployment, a copy of a valid government issued ID. Payment must be made via phone with a debit/credit card for the renewal fee.

The law also allows for members of the Armed Forces to renew their license within 90 days of the expiration if they were deployed but have since returned to the state. A copy of the original deployment order is still required. In this case, the late fee is waived and the standard renewal fee of $32.00 applies.

Complete the Public Records Request process to get a copy of an Everett Police report.

The Washington State Patrol can provide collision reports.

Always call 911 for emergencies!

Officers may not be available as they work varied schedules but residents can call the non-emergency Snohomish County 911 number at 425-407-3999 to request an officer contact them.
This phone line routes directly into the 911 call center.

The Parking Enforcement Unit enforces city parking ordinances. The unit is staffed Monday - Friday and supported after-hours by patrol officers.

Parking tickets are paid at the Everett Municipal Court

The Online Reporting System is designed for citizens to provide crime tips and saves time for victims of non-emergent crimes. Crime tips are routed to the appropriate unit for processing while Online Reports are reviewed by an officer who generates and returns a case number (typically within 72 hours).

Washington State Accident Reports are only required if no police report was taken at the scene AND the damage exceeds $1,000. Traffic accident reports can be completed & requested from the Washington State Patrol.

• Excellent physical condition
• U.S. Citizenship
• Attainment of the age twenty-one (21) years on or before the application deadline
• Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a valid Washington State driver license within 30 days of hire and the ability to maintain it for the duration of employment
• Not on the current eligible register for Police Officer Entry-Level (per Civil Service Rule 2.12)
• Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent

The Department uses Community Crime Map by LexisNexis which is updated daily. Not all calls for service are entered into the database, only calls where a report is written.

No. All alley parking is prohibited as they provide access for emergency vehicles and service vehicles. However, they may be used while actively loading or unloading.

Citizen volunteers provide a valuable service by checking the homes of residents who are out of town. Volunteers inspect enrolled residences several times a week to make sure all entrances are secure. If something unusual or suspicious is found, patrol officers are called to investigate.

Get more information on the Vacation Crime Watch program

A claim is a request for payment for a loss, injury, or damages that you incurred in an incident/accident. 

You must file your claim within the Washington State statute of limitations. There are different statues of limitations for different types of claims. See RCW 4.16 for the various statutes of limitations. 

Yes, in most circumstances where you seek money damages, you must file a claim if you believe the City of Everett is responsible for your loss, injury, or damages. 

Claims for damages (tort claims) forms are online or pick up a copy at the City Clerk’s Office, 2930 Wetmore Ave, Suite 1A, during regular business hours. 

It will help your claim to include any supporting records, such as medical records or bills for personal injuries, receipts, estimates and invoices, along with any additional evidence, such as photos, diagrams, etc. Please note that all submitted documents, including the claim form itself, are subject to release under the Washington State Public Records Act (RCW 42.56).

Claims for damages against the City of Everett must be filed with the City Clerk's Office in person or by mail. An original pen and ink signature must be on the form. Faxed or emailed forms will not be accepted. 

Your claim will be sent to the City's Risk Management Office the following business day after the date you filed the claim. In most cases, your claim will be assigned to a claims adjuster to begin an investigation. You will receive a claim acknowledgement by mail, email or telephone call. Possible resolutions are that the City:

1.) Pays a sum of money

2.) Transfers the claim to another party or entity

3.) Denies the claim where there is no evidence of City negligence 

The length of time will vary by claim. On average, claims can take two weeks to two months to resolve, but some claims may take longer. 

Contact your claims adjuster. If you do not have your adjuster's contact information, call 425-257-8702 during normal business hours. 

Contact the person listed on your claim denial and express your concerns. You may also contact the City Risk Manager at 425-257-8702. You also have the right to consult an attorney of your choosing and at your own expense. 

If you are unsure if your event qualifies as a special event, or need assistance in identifying the appropriate category for your event, please contact the City Clerk's Office at specialevents@everettwa.gov or 425-257-8610. 

If you are interested in hosting a Special Event in Everett, first visit our webpage to review event types, guidelines, fees, . You may then contact Tyler Chism, Placemaking Coordinator, to set up a pre-application meeting. 

A Special Event Permit is a non-construction related full closure of any portion of a right of way. 

A right of way permit, or street use permit, is issued directly from Traffic Engineering, and is typically for a partial closure of a right of way, street, parking lane or sidewalk for a short-term basis, and typically for a construction project. 

If you have any questions about which permit to obtain, you may contact Traffic Engineering for more information and they can assist you. 

Applicants may request a pre-application meeting with city departments to discuss matters related to a possible special event with a particular focus on matters necessary for the submittal of complete application.  The city may require such a meeting after determining an application is incomplete.  By way of example only, such discussions may include traffic control, traffic barriers, security, first aid, clean up, special event dates, and special event routes. You may contact Tyler Chism, Placemaking Coordinator, to set up a meeting. 

Except for shorter time frames that are authorized for expressive activity special events and spontaneous special events, a completed application for a special event permit must be filed with the City Clerk’s Office pursuant to the following schedule:

• Neighborhood block parties.  Not less than 30 calendar days before the proposed event.
• Small special events.  Not less than 60 calendar days before the proposed event.
• Large special events.  Not less than 90 calendar days before the proposed event.
• An application may not be submitted more than 18 months in advance of the proposed special event.
• Upon good cause shown and provided that no risk or burden to the city ensues, the Mayor or the Mayor’s designee has discretion to allow a later filing.

Special event permit fees are found on our webpage under the event type. Late filing fees may apply if application is submitted after the required time frame.

Special Event Permit fees may be paid after an application is submitted.  All special event permit fees must be paid prior to or upon the issuance of the special event permit, but in no case later than 10 business days prior to the date of the special event.

Fees charged from the special event fee schedule are refundable if the special event is cancelled after the permit is issued and written notice is received by the City Clerk’s Office 15 days prior to the date of the event.

The City’s Risk Manager will inform you of if insurance is required for your event. You will be informed of any specific or additional insurance requirements for your event. Additional information can be obtained by contacting your insurance provider or the City's Risk Manager, Chris Muth- Schulz, 425-257-8702.

• Issuance of a special event permit in accordance with the information submitted in the application; or
• Issuance of a special event permit in accordance with the information submitted in the application, as modified by mutual agreement between the City Clerk and the applicant, and/or with conditions imposed by the City Clerk pursuant to this ordinance; or
• Denial of the special event permit application by the City Clerk pursuant to section 15 of the ordinance.

To report water, sewer, road or traffic control problems (including potholes), call City of Everett 24/7 dispatch at 425-257-8821 or submit a service request online.

Please visit the utility services webpage.

View the utility services webpage and utility bill payments webpage. 

The City’s most recent  Snow and Ice Control Plan can be found here.

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Visit the water conservation and education programs page to learn about water conservation.

View the Everett City Clerk's webpage, File a claim for damages.

View the current and planned projects webpage. 

View the backwater device program webpage. 

View Everett's sewer webpage then go to the tab, "Environmental lab." View or download the driving directions map.

View the tree program webpage.

Visit the permit applications, submittal checklists and fee schedules webpage. 

Visit the transmission line right-of-way webpage for information and the permit application.

View Everett's water conservation and education programs webpage. 

Contact Operations at the Water Pollution Control Facility by calling 425-257-8220 to schedule a tour and/or receive additional tour information.

Visit the Adopt a Street webpage for information on available routes and the volunteer commitment. 

View the CSO real time overflow monitoring webpage.

The ordinance applies to alarm systems used to initiate a law enforcement response. These include intrusion or burglary alarms, robbery alarms, monitored alarm systems that call the police department when an alarm is activated, and local alarm systems that are not monitored. It does NOT include fire alarms, medical alarms, personal alarms, vehicle alarms and alerting doorbell cameras, unless those doorbell cameras are part of a security system that is designed to detect and alert unauthorized entry.

Based on the total number of law enforcement alarm calls in 2017 (4,966), Everett Police respond to approximately 13.6 alarm calls per day, slightly more than one every two hours. Dispatch data shows that response and on-scene time averages 12.5 minutes per call, with two officers usually present. Assuming an average of two officers per call, the department is expending 2,070 hours per year in call time for alarm calls - slightly less than the amount of hours one full-time officer works each year.  

These calls are considered priority responses and take resources away from other calls. They also often involve code responses: patrol cars travelling at higher speeds creating greater risk of accidents and injuries.

A study conducted by the Urban Institute in 2012, of which the City of Seattle was a participant, reported that at least 90% of all police alarm calls were false alarms, and less than 2% of all the alarm calls police were dispatched to were related to criminal conduct. Those results match our experience in Everett. Our data shows that in 2017 the police department had 4,966 law enforcement alarms that year.  Of those:

• 4,322 or 87% were audible intrusion type alarms
• 336 or 7% were robbery/holdup/duress alarms
• 306 or  6%, were silent alarms

Of those 4,966 alarms in 2017:

• Only 1.3% resulted in a case report indicating criminal or attempted criminal conduct
• All others were cancelled prior to law enforcement arriving, were referred to another agency or were false, unfounded, or settled without indication of criminal activity

No, we have a law enforcement alarm ordinance that was enacted in 1978. The ordinance requires alarm registration and fines for repeated false alarms, and the ordinance was enforced through 1991. In 1991, enforced was stopped because the new software system utilized through our regional dispatch center did not support management of alarm registration, alarm tracking, and alarm billing. Since then, alarm systems have become very common, but have a high incidence of false alarms, making it a critical time for us to reevaluate the existing ordinance and associated practices. 

We believe that by adopting the recommendations of the National Burglar Fire and Alarm Association (NBFAA) and the False Alarm Reduction Association (FARA) we can maintain the positive aspects of law enforcement alarm systems while significantly reducing their negative impacts.  

The Urban Institute reports that where their false alarm reduction strategies have been employed, police agencies report a 60% or greater reduction in the number of false alarms. That experience has been replicated locally with the City of Seattle false alarm program. 

The proposed ordinance updates the existing law to reflect three false alarm reduction strategies.

Strategy 1:  Mandating alarm companies to use Enhanced Call Verification. This requires the alarm company to make at least two phone calls to numbers on a contact list to verify the validity of the alarm before calling 911. This proposed ordinance mandates all alarm companies use that process for a standard intrusion alarm, which at 87% is the majority of the alarms received. It does not mandate that process for robbery or panic type alarms, of if an alarm company is monitoring by sound or video and can visually or audibly confirm a crime is occurring.

• Companies that fail to use enhanced call verification for most alarms will be subject to a $250 penalty

Strategy 2:  Requiring registration/permitting for alarm systems, which is already part of our current ordinance. It is important that law enforcement know where alarm systems are in the city, who is responsible for them, and how to contact those responsible parties when needed. Along with permitting, the proposed ordinance institutes an annual fee for the alarm systems that would help account for the higher level of police protection and response provided to those with alarm systems, and help offset the costs of responding to and checking on those alarms when they occur, and help offset the cost of administering the permitting and false alarm review and billing processes.

The proposed fee scale for permits is as follows:

• Normal residential permit: $30 annually
• Residential permit, alarm user disabled or over age 65: $15 annually
• Business or other than residential: $50 annually
• Registered non-profit entity: $25 annually 

Permits will be valid for the year in which they were obtained.  After June 30th of each year the cost for new permits are reduced by ½. Permit costs are not refundable, so a person that discontinues alarm use is not eligible for a refund for the remainder of the year.

Strategy 3:  Creating penalties for repeated false alarms by assessing fines to alarm users for repeated false alarm responses. This is currently in the existing ordinance. The proposed ordinance updates this process and the penalties.

Officers are required to investigate any alarm response and to make a reasonable determination as to what caused the alarm and report whether it was a false alarm or a valid alarm. We would send monthly bills for documented false alarm responses. There is an opportunity to waive one false alarm fee every 12 months by taking an alarm awareness class which we anticipate offering online. The proposed ordinance has a system for alarm users to appeal charges first to a reviewing officer within the department, and then next to the city hearing examiner at the alarm users request.

• Any panic, duress, robbery, holdup, or silent alarm response false alarm charge is $200 each false alarm
• Any regular business or residential intrusion alarm is charged at $100 for each false alarm
• Penalty amounts double for response to unregistered alarm sites and require permitting in addition to the penalty amount
• The first false alarm in 12 months may be waived with a false alarm reduction class

Yakima, Burien, Bellingham, and Seattle all utilize “Verified Response.” Verified Response means that for any intrusion alarm, there must be actual physical proof of an alarm activation, typically by a third party confirming a valid alarm. These agencies do still respond to panic and robbery alarms. Seattle charges $10 each year for all permits and no discounts. Seattle still has false alarm fees at $230 for panic and robbery alarms and $115 for intrusion alarms. They also have a “first time waiver” for one alarm every 7 years with an alarm awareness class. 

Tacoma has a flat rate of $40 annually for all types of alarms, no discounts, and a flat $100 fee for response to any type of false alarm. There are no waivers for “first time” alarms. The alarm company charges alarm users for all permit and false alarm fees, and passes those costs on to the alarm user through their monthly billing.

The ordinance proposal for Everett is somewhere in the middle, with the residential permit fee a little lower than Tacoma, and the business permit fee a little higher. We have proposed numerous discounts to those fees for senior citizens, disabled residents, and non-profit organizations.

The Transportation Advisory Committee, a volunteer citizen advisory board, completed a public hearing process and made recommendations redefining the RPZ boundaries. This recommendation was based on citizen requests and input.

Maps of the previous RPZ boundaries (Zones 1 through 9), as well as the new RPZ boundaries (Zones A through E), are available online. 

If you wish to implement an RPZ time limit on your block, please contact Traffic Engineering at (425) 257-8810 and press 7. 

The first two RPZ parking permits will be available to each residence free of charge. A $20 fee will apply for each additional permit.

The holder of a residential parking zone permit may apply for a temporary visitor permit for guest vehicles. This permit is valid for ten days and is free of charge. If you have more than one visitor in one month, the fee for an additional permit is $10 per vehicle. To apply for a visitor permit, please visit the Everett Parking Permit Portal.

Residents in student housing do not qualify for RPZ parking permits.

• If you have questions about the change to the new expanded zones, contact Public Works at (425) 257-8810 and press 7 for Traffic Engineering.
• If you have questions about residential parking permits or need to apply for a permit visit everettwa.gov/rpzpermits or call the Clerk’s Office at 425-257-8610.

You may apply for a residential parking permit online on our Everett Parking Permit Portal. 

Open data was a recommendation from the Envision Everett 2037 report. It was also included in Mayor Franklin's direction on Community Engagement and Inclusion, as a potential tool to increase government transparency and create an inspired, empowered and engaged community.

Open data and content can be freely used, modified, and shared by anyone for any purpose. 

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or information exempt from the Washington Public Records Act is not considered open data.  

Data will be available from several city departments, including Library, Public Works, Police, and Fire. Not all City departments will have datasets available at launch, but they will be added afterward on an ongoing basis.

New data will be added on a continuous basis, likely quarterly, or as it becomes available.

Data already added to the portal will be updated on regular schedules, which will vary depending on each particular dataset.

The City will provide an online form for requesting new datasets, and the open data platform will include tools to provide feedback on data quality or contact the person responsible for publishing the data.

An alarm is presumed to be false if police units were dispatched to a location reporting an alarm activation, and the resulting investigation at the location finds no evidence of either intrusion, the commission of or an attempt to commit a crime, or a situation that warrants an emergency police response.

Everett Police responds to about 5,000 alarm activations every year. More than 90% of them are found to be false. Additionally, many alarm sites generate repeated false alarms due to poor maintenance or improper use.

Alarm responses are a high priority for police and preempt many other 911 calls for service. When the alarm turns out to be false, it wastes time and valuable public resources, and can also delay responses to other important calls. By charging a fee, the police department expects to see a meaningful reduction in the number of false alarms, improved service delivery and enhanced public safety.

• For a duress or panic alarm, a robbery or hold-up alarm, or a silent alarm: $200 per occurrence.
• For all other audible alarms: $100 per occurrence.

No.

No.

Fees are billed to the alarm company, or to the alarm user if there is no alarm company monitoring the alarm system.

Yes.

National and local statistics show that fines paid directly by homeowners and businesses do not always have a significant impact on reducing the number of false alarms. Alarm monitoring companies have benefited from police response to their customers’ alarms without any accountability for the accuracy or reliability of those alarms.

Everett Police expects our False Alarm Reduction Program to reduce false alarms and the number of unnecessary police responses to alarm activations by holding both alarm monitoring companies and alarm users accountable for reporting alarms which are determined to be false.

There will be no fee if the call is cancelled before police are dispatched to the alarm. Once officers are dispatched, a fee will be assessed if it is determined the alarm was false.

If you feel that a false alarm fee has been assessed incorrectly, you can request a review of the incident. Instructions for requesting a review are included with the false alarm notice. Instructions for review and appeals may also be found at everettwa.gov/AlarmAppeals.

You will need to provide the police department with a reason for the dispute along with evidence that there was an actual crime, attempted crime, or emergency (example: evidence of a burglary or attempted burglary). The police department will take a written statement for the investigation of any incident where it is determined there was an actual crime or emergency.

False alarm penalties will not be waived for accidental activations or human error.

If you have been notified that your alarm will be assessed a false alarm fee and you have questions, you may contact Central Square Technology at 866-683-0824 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday or by email.

Additional information about the False Alarm Ordinance, tips to reduce false alarms, and data about false alarm responses can be found at everettwa.gov/FalseAlarms.

For public records requests, visit the City of Everett website to obtain a copy of the police incident, or go to the Everett Police Department public records counter located at 3002 Wetmore Ave., Everett, WA 98201.

No.

Companies providing alarm monitoring services for sites in the City of Everett are required to have an alarm company operator license:

Alarm companies are also required to provide updated subscriber information to the City of Everett monthly, among other requirements.

Operator licenses are available online. Central Square Technologies will assist alarm companies by phone at 866-683-0824 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, by email or mail at PO Box 35146; Seattle, WA 98124-5146.

If you use a false alarm monitoring company, false alarm response fees will typically be paid by the monitoring company, and the monitoring company may add the fee to your monthly bill.

If you do not use a false alarm monitoring company and received an invoice for a false alarm response fee, instructions for making payment are included with the invoice. You may pay the invoice online or by mail at: PO Box 35146; Seattle, WA 98124-5146. Fees paid online by credit card are subject to a $3.00 convenience charge for amounts of $100.00 or less, or a 3% convenience charge for all amounts over $100.00. 

Please contact Central Square Technologies at 866-683-0824 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, or by email for assistance with billing.

Non-profits and public agencies may apply for a LTAC grant. For-profit event producers may apply by partnering with a non-profit or public agency. This is called a “cooperative project” where the non-profit or public agency serves as a sponsor of the event.

We estimate that it takes about 90 minutes to read, comprehend and thoughtfully answer the questions. We strongly suggest that you read the application info guide in its entirety before filling it out the application. Make note of any questions you may have and reach out to Tyler Chism tchism@everettwa.gov for answers. You’ll have a much easier time with the application if you prepare all pertinent information before putting “pen to paper.”

LTAC is an acronym for the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. The acronym gets used several ways when discussing the lodging tax grant program and is commonly used to describe the grant fund. For example, people may say, “you may want to consider applying for LTAC to help promote your event.” In this scenario, you apply to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) who oversees the grant funds distribution.

The grant program is made possible through taxes paid by consumers when they stay in paid lodging in the city of Everett. It is a percentage of revenue and changes with hotel rates and occupancy. 

The LTAC grades all applications using the same grading criteria which can be found on pages six and seven of the application. Applicants earn “bonus points” for programs and events that occur in the off-season (Sept. 1 – June 30) and generate overnight visitation where guests stay in paid accommodations.

Information regarding lodging taxes may be found in RCW 67.28.

Per Washington State law, hotel/motel tax grant funds are dedicated to supporting efforts that increase tourism spending and generate paid overnight stays in Everett. LTAC grants fund projects that boost tourism, including special events, festivals, tourism attraction improvements, film production, meetings and conventions, and sporting events. Please see RCW 67.28.1816.

You can approach this in several ways. 

If your event or program requires attendees to register or buy a ticket, you can include the following survey questions when they check out:

• Are they staying in overnight paid accommodations?
• Are they traveling over 50 miles and staying overnight in unpaid accommodations (with friends or family)?
• Are they traveling over 50 miles and staying for the day only?

You can work with hoteliers on “special rates” for those who attend your event or program. At the end of your program or event, you can get reports from hotels that show how many times guests used your special rate.

If you’d like to take a more analog approach, you can also survey attendees during your event.

The Pallet Shelter Pilot is funded for one year through a grant from the Washington State Commerce office and a 1/10 of 1% sales tax allocation. It is funded by WA Dept. of Commerce grant funds and Snohomish County Human Services for upfront site development, purchase of 21 Pallet Shelters and operating cost for one year.

$ 985,149 from Washington State Dept. of Commerce grant + $55,000 from 1/10 of 1% Sales Tax Allocation- MAC = $1,040,149

We will be doing outreach virtually and will invite the greater Smith Avenue area, as well as the Everett community at large.  In addition, the land use application process will require reaching out specifically to those businesses within 500ft, however that will be done by the Everett Gospel Mission, as they will be in control of that process.

Pallet residents must agree to site rules and behavior expectations, including guest policies and limiting accumulation of property.  In addition the individual must agree to enroll in the County’s Coordinated Entry. 

Individuals will be referred from Community Outreach and Enforcement Team for entry to the Pallet community.

The managing agency will be responsible for the Pallet Shelter Pilot site and program management. This will include staffing, security, sanitation (hygiene services/ restrooms), waste management, site conduct, and bridging residents to current social services.  

The City’s role is to ensure we meet the contractual agreements that exist between Washington State Department of Commerce, Snohomish County Human Services, the City of Everett, and the managing agency. This includes ensuring the management plan agreement is adhered to and to reimburse the managing agency for the expenses they incur to manage the site.  

As this is a new program we do not have statistics on how long Pallet residents will live in these shelters, however we do know some will move on to other shelter or housing options. One of requirements to live in these shelters is to enroll in the Snohomish County Coordinated Entry System. Coordinated Entry is a process for people to access the prevention, housing and/or other services that they need. Coordinated entry incorporates uniform screening and assessment, prioritization and program matching, and connections to mainstream services to help those seeking housing and services access appropriate programs more efficiently. 

Pallet residents will not be required to receive services. The managing agency will ensure the residents know where they can obtain any services they may need. In close proximity is the Everett Gospel Mission which serves daily meals, can provide access to shower and laundry facilities, and can refer to other services as needed.

There will be 20 Pallets, and we intend to shelter 30 individuals.  

The management agency will enforce the rules and established consequences if they are broken.

This is an organized and funded pilot project using Pallet units not tents to shelter individuals. Also, the city is requiring a management agency to oversee the shelter community and to ensure safety, security and sanitation on the site.

The Pallet Shelter project is a one year pilot with funding from the Department of Commerce and Snohomish County. At this time, we don’t know if this program will continue. We will be evaluating program success and challenges throughout the year.

If we find Pallets prove to be a viable and successful way to shelter and create stability for our homeless residents, the City would be open to expanding this location or working to develop a site in a different location.  In addition, the City would like to explore if Pallet Shelters could support students and families who are homeless.  

AmpliFund is an external grant management software program that centralizes the grant process into one portal and program. City of Everett Community Development grants are managed through this program. 

AmpliFund is the grant management system that supports the applicant portal and award. The AmpliFund ZenDesk is a separate website that provides user guides, FAQs, instructional videos, help desk support, and more to help you use and get the most out of your AmpliFund account.

Yes; the Applicant Portal is for open opportunities and applications only. Select information, such as the Performance Plan and Budget, will transfer from your application to your Award Account.

You can use the built-in functionality of browsers like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. For more details, see these links.

 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/use-microsoft-translator-in-microsoft-edge-browser-4ad1c6cb-01a4-4227-be9d-a81e127fcb0b

 https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/173424?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform=Desktop 

AmpliFund budget categories are ‘master’ categories that carry across funding sources. If you require a budget category that is otherwise not listed, please reach out to City staff to discuss.

Starting with the 2026 Program Year, projects that display a 100% match of funds from other sources will be prioritized, but a match is no longer a requirement.

Board authorization to apply for the funding source is a requirement for City of Everett federal (CDBG and HOME) and state (AHTF 2060) applications. Supporting documentation for this attachment requirement may be a copy of Board meeting minutes giving such approval or a letter on agency letterhead from the Board's Executive authority stating approval. 

For questions, please reach out to Community Development staff at communitygrants@everettwa.gov. 

The "Designation of Authorized Official" (DAO) is a standard document for federal (CDBG and HOME) and state (AHTF 2060) applications that declares authorization of signature for the organization. This may or may not be applicable to your organization based on your organization's Bylaws and/or Articles of Incorporation. 

The DAO is typically provided when the CEO or Executive Director and/or their designee, who hold the common powers to sign on behalf of the organization, are either unavailable or otherwise need someone else to sign on behalf of the organization. A letter from the organization's executive authority (typically the Board of Directors) on letterhead attesting the authorization is acceptable for this document. 

The Designated Official (DO) who has the authority to submit the application should sign this form to be uploaded in the Application Attachments. Must be a scanned wet ink signature or it can be signed with verified e-signature.

At the bottom of each section of the application, be sure to click 'Mark as Complete' and then click 'Save and Continue'. The application, attachments, budget, and performance plan sections all need to be marked as complete and then saved in order to submit the application.

If the problem persists, please reach out to the AmpliFund ZenDesk at support@amplifund.zendesk.com. 

Please contact City staff as soon as possible. Based on the situation, staff may re-open the funding opportunity for corrections to applications during the application process. Failure to timely submit corrections may result in an incomplete application that is unable to move forward for Committee review and possible award.

Parks has received numerous requests from the residents along Colby Avenue to remove the Colby Avenue median trees because of root invasion that has cracked and elevated streets and sidewalks. Additionally, there have been reports of limbs falling, and some residents are reporting allergic reactions to the leaves and hairs that come from the trees. As a result, the Parks and Facilities Department hired two independent consultants to conduct a tree study to assess the health of the trees along Colby Avenue.   In addition, the departments’ Arborist also did an assessment.  This information was shared with the Park Board/Tree Committee who felt that Parks needed to come up with a long-term plan for the Colby median trees.

Eventually all the existing trees will need to be replaced, as they are near the end of their productive life span and are in steady decline.  However, this process will happen slowly and with lots of opportunities for community input.   Our Parks Arborist will continue to monitor the condition of all the trees along Colby Avenue annually.  Parks will contract with an independent consultant to evaluate the conditions of all trees along Colby Avenue every five years and will update the plan with any change in the condition of the trees in the report.   Trees that are considered dead, dying, or diseased would be removed. Once there is a significant ½ or full block of Colby with no trees, then soil remediation and replanting will occur.  Parks has gained public support to remove 1 declining tree, remediate soils and replant 3-4 new trees on the 1700 Block as a “demonstration area” to see how the public likes the trees selected.  We hope to start this project in the Spring of 2022.  If the demonstration area is well received, then progress on the steady replacement of the trees could move faster than what is outlined above.

The trees that were removed were identified by the Tree Study as trees that were dead, dying, or diseased.  As a result, Parks staff removed the trees that were considered high risk or in a critical condition.

In an effort to set the new trees up for success, Parks plans to remove the compacted nutrient depleted clay-based soil in the medians and replace it with soil that is well draining, healthy, and nutrient enriched that will allow the new tree root systems to grow deep down into the earth offering a strong, stable anchor, and better access to water, rather than crawling along the surface, searching for water and causing street and sidewalk damage, as they have in the past.  

Construction for the 1/2 block demonstration area will likely start in the Fall of 2022/Spring of 2023 based on the acquisition of trees that meet project specifications.

Eventually, all trees in the Colby strip will need to be replaced and replanted with a species that is more appropriate for the median.  While removing all the trees at once may be less expensive ultimately, Parks feels taking all the trees down at once would be a significant and abrupt change in aesthetic appearance.  Park’s funding is limited, and the removal and replanting process will likely happen over the next decade, as funding and project management time is available.   Parks would like to acknowledge that public support for this project is mixed, with as many people wanting the trees to be preserved as removed.  Parks has established parameters to assist with decision making process moving forward.   For example, for a ½ block remediation, the following parameters where presented:

• Once a block has 120 feet or more with no trees standing; or
• When 3 or fewer trees are remaining on a ½ block, and one of the trees has a risk rating above low, or a tree condition rating below fair, or the Park Arborist has determined one tree is in steady decline; and
• Parks has the money to perform the work; then
• Community outreach will begin around tree, stump and root removal, remediation of soils and replanting of new trees for that ½ block.

For the best outcomes, trees should be planted in soil that is permeable, so that roots can grow down, rather than expand out.  Additionally, trees should be spaced generously so they have room to grow out.  Finally, different species should be planted so that diseases common to some species are not spread through the entire block.  When Parks eventually replants, the soils will be remediated so roots can grow deep, the trees will be planted so there are no more than 7 per block, and at least 3 different tree species will be selected for variety.

Replanting will only start to happen as the public approves ½ and full blocks for soil remediation and replanting.   Part of the issues with the current trees along Colby Avenue involve over-crowding of trees, forcing them to compete for space and water. New trees will need to be spaced in a way overcrowding will not be a factor in the future.  Soil remediation will not be successful on a single tree basis because of the root system from other trees.  There are currently 68 trees standing on the Colby Avenue median. If we plant 7 trees per block, that will bring the total to 63 trees, or a net reduction of only 5 trees.  

Parks’ recommendation is for the following 3 tree species to be planted in place of the London Planes:

• Emerald Sunshine Elm (Ulmus Propinqua)
• Copper Beech (Fagus Sylvatica Atropupurea)
• Scarlet Oak (Quercus Coccinea)

Elm	Beech	Oak

Washington’s large native deciduous trees will not fit into the criteria that was developed when Parks is deciding on an appropriate tree for the Colby strip.  The criteria included:

• Tree must have a behaved root system
• Tree must still allow for good sight lines at intersections
• Tree must be a large shade tree
• Tree must be heat and drought tolerant
• Tree must be resistant to disease and pest infestation
• Leaves must not cause skin or lung irritation

Parks is recommending mulched beds between trees.  Mulch provides a more hospitable environment for trees to grow and is easily maintained, prevents damage from mowers to the tree trunks and roots.   Additionally, the breakdown of this organic debris will introduce further nutrients into the soil and reduce compaction.   If the public has interest, Parks is open to investigating other landscape options to fill in open areas between trees near the middle of the block.  However, these options must be low or no cost to maintain.

If the public had an interest in evergreens, Parks would suggest a short pyramidal shaped tree such as Austrian Pine (Pinus nigra) or columnar shaped trees such as Korean Fir, Weeping Alaska Cedar, or Columnar Spruce. These smaller conifers will be less likely to block sight lines and would be less likely to have people camping out under them.

This is a highly complex project that involves removing a 366-foot-long, 60-foot-tall concrete bridge and building three new bridges: the new Edgewater Bridge and two work platforms to the north of the existing bridge. Using the platforms, they will build the new seismically resilient Edgewater Creek Bridge, then remove the two work platforms after the bridge is complete. All of this work has to be done over a deep ravine, and the contractor must work while protecting sensitive habitat in the creek below and the steep slopes on each side of the creek. It involves four 100-foot columns/shafts, and the contractor has such a tight construction zone to move heavy equipment in and out of, that they will have to use a crane to turn the rigs around in order to leave the site. There’s no other way to build the bridge that wouldn’t both significantly increase the construction cost and require the City to purchase land from adjacent property owners. 

There is no economically feasible way to keep the bridge partially open while we rebuild it. The same geography that makes this bridge an essential neighborhood transportation link also makes a detour unavoidable. You can view maps of the general detour route and school detour route when the bridge will be closed during construction. Common driving trips will take 5 to 15 minutes longer during the closure, based on your origin and destination.

There is no pedestrian access from one side of the project to the other. Due to safety concerns, the City of Everett is not providing a path down the ravine. Access has been provided along the closed portion of W Mukilteo Blvd and Mukilteo Lane on the Mukilteo side of the project, to allow pedestrians and bicyclists to access the Mt. Baker crossing. Click here to view a map of the construction area.

We know closing the bridge affects many daily routes and travel patterns, and we ask for your patience during construction so we can strengthen our transportation system against seismic events and provide better multimodal travel options along Mukilteo Blvd.

The project team is coordinating closely with the Mukilteo School District and the City of Mukilteo, among other stakeholders, to minimize disruptions to the school transportation network and other construction projects in the area. We anticipate that school bus routes will be detoured for at least part of the 2025-2026 school year, and we are working with the Mukilteo School District on that planning. Major routes have well-marked detour signs, and we have made sure the closure is captured by popular mapping and wayfinding apps.

General services

• Washington 2-1-1 (wa211.org)
• Find a list of local resources and service providers, compiled by the Everett Public Library
• COVID-19 resources in Snohomish County
• Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
  https://www.realchoices.com/
• Pregnancy Resource Center
• Esther's Place for women and children
• Recovery Cafe
• Carnegie Resource Center
• Financial Assistance for Hearing Aids: National Council on Aging

Community information and data

• Community Crime Map
• Find crime data and much more from Everett's Open Data Portal
  /documentcenter/view/22980

Housing

• Everett Gospel Mission 
• Interfaith Family Shelter
• Cocoon House for youth
• Catholic Community Services
• AssistedLiving.org
• Senior Housing - Information and assistance
• Cold Weather Shelters in Everett - Snohomish County
• Veterans' Assistance Program - Snohomish County Human Services
• YWCA Housing and Shelter for Snohomish County:
  • Shelter Plus Care for disabled adults and families
  • Landlord Engagement Project for low income families facing housing barriers

Food

• Everett Food Banks flyer
• VOAWW Food Bank Calendar - North and South Everett
• The Salvation Army Food Bank
• Hot Meals List in Everett

Behavioral health services

• Community Health Center of Snohomish County
• Compass Health
• Sunrise Services
• Evergreen Recovery Centers
• Sea Mar Behavioral Health
• Providence Behavioral Health Urgent Care
• Catholic Community Services
• Providence Regional Medical Center - Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Snohomish County
• Homage Senior Services
• Alcoholics Anonymous | Narcotics Anonymous | Cocaine Anonymous

Victim support services

• Northwest Justice Project for legal resources
• Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County
• Providence Intervention Center for assault and abuse
• Helping Hands Project for Black crime victim services
• Protection Order Program - Snohomish County
• Victim Support Services

Narcan

• Washington Standing Order to Dispense Naloxone
• To learn more about naloxone or Narcan, click here.
• Find naloxone near you by visiting http://stopoverdose.org/section/find-naloxone-near-you/

No. Any decision to consolidate transit service would be subject to approval by the Everett City Council and the Community Transit Board.

A core consideration of the study is whether a consolidated transit system would be better for Everett residents and businesses and the rest of the county than the current status as two separate and cooperating transit systems. A consolidated transit system would nearly double transit service in Everett and provide many other improvements such as:

1. More connections – Make it easier to travel between the City of Everett and other places in the county
2. More destinations – Provide transit to more people and more   locations where they want to go
3. More possibilities – Provide new ways to get around with micro transit and other innovations 
4. More frequent bus service, shorter wait times
5. Fewer transfers
6. Connections to light rail – Provide more bus service that links with light rail coming to Lynnwood in 2024 and prepares for the extension of light rail to Everett

Pet waste is raw sewage that can spread disease. Pet waste can contain disease-causing organisms, including roundworms, ringworms, tapeworms, hookworms, Giardia, Salmonella, E. coli, Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasma and Parvovirus. Even when pet waste looks like it has washed away, many of these pathogens can survive for days, weeks, months or sometimes even years in soil and water waiting for a host.

People and pets can come into contact with pathogens found in pet waste while playing in grass, walking barefoot, playing sports, gardening, swimming, fishing or boating. Children are most susceptible since they often play in the dirt and put things in their mouths or eyes. Infections from pet waste bacteria often cause fever, muscle aches, headache, vomiting and diarrhea in humans.

High levels of fecal bacteria can also cause closures in commercial shellfish beds and spread illnesses to pets and wildlife. In addition, the nutrients in pet waste can create harmful algal blooms in lakes that turn the water green and cloudy, use up dissolved oxygen, kill fish and other marine life, and make the water unappealing for recreation

When you're outside on a walk and your dog poops, it's your responsibility to do three things:

1. Scoop it.
2. Bag it.
3. Trash it.

And when your pet poops in your own yard, don't let it linger. Pick up pet waste right away if it's going to rain (or is already raining) and pick it up from your entire yard at least every 24-hrs regardless of the weather forecast. An easy solution to having to scoop, bag and trash it every time in your yard is to put out a 5-gallon bucket with a liner and lid so you can scoop the poop every time and once you're ready, take your bagged poop to your trash can.

We certainly want to reduce our waste stream to landfills. When it comes to pet waste, however, there is currently no better alternative. There is nothing “natural” about 169,900 dogs concentrated in an area the size of Snohomish County’s urban and suburban areas. Native wildlife populations do not reach that density. The question, then, is how we deal with the waste produced by this unnatural concentration of animals. Burial, composting, waste digesters, and letting it lay in yards contaminate water and jeopardize human and pet heath. Flushing is impractical for most people. At some point in the future, commercial composting technology may be sufficient to treat pet waste, enabling curbside pickup along with yard waste. Until then, landfilling is the best alternative for pet waste. Landfills are designed to safely handle substances such as dog waste, cat litter, and dirty diapers. Yards are not. Scoop the poop, bag it, and place it in the trash.

No. Composting doesn't remove the hazardous pathogens from pet waste and can contaminate the rest of your compost pile. Most home compost piles don't reach temperatures that are hot enough to kill the hazardous pathogens. Killing E. coli and Salmonella requires extended exposure at 140-degree temperatures. Giardia can survive temperature extremes, chlorination, and drying. Cryptosporidium, Leptospira, Salmonella, and E. coli can all survive for months in feces or soil, and roundworms can survive for up to four years in soil.

Most commercial compost processors also don't reach a temperature high enough to kill the hazardous pathogens, and they don't accept pet waste because it can contaminate the rest of the composted material.   

Yes. Like most other cities in the Puget Sound area, Everett has a municipal code that prohibits leaving pet waste on public property or on another person's private property or not carrying the necessary equipment to remove said fecal matter. Violators are subject to a $250 fine per incident when witnessed by the City's Animal Control Officer.

Learn more about the scooping laws in the Everett Municipal Code EMC 6.04.070 and EMC 9.06.055.

No. Fireworks are illegal year-round in Everett, including southwest Snohomish County.

Yes! The City of Everett is hosting the annual Fourth of July festival at Legion Memorial Park with live music, food trucks, a beer garden and fun for the whole family. Festivities begin at 3pm with the fireworks display planned for 10:30pm. More information at visiteverett.com/july4

Violator’s fireworks will be confiscated, and you will be criminally cited.  Penalties include criminal citations with large fines and/or jail time.

Fireworks are illegal year-round in Everett and unincorporated southwest Snohomish County.

To report the illegal discharge of fireworks, call the non-emergency number: 425-407-3999.

If there is an immediate threat to life or property, including fire or injuries, call 911.

Report it by calling the non-emergency number: 425-407-3999. Police/fire will respond as call load allows to confiscate the fireworks. In an emergency, call 911.

Leave the device where it is, do not pick it up and immediately call 911.

No sky lanterns are banned in Washington. They pose a high fire risk.

If a house is involved, alert the homeowners to get out and stay out, and immediately call 911.

Fireworks are illegal year-round in Everett and unincorporated southwest Snohomish County. That includes on and around the Fourth of July!

To report illegal discharge of fireworks, call the non-emergency number: 425-407-3999.

If there is an immediate threat to life or property, including fire or injuries, call 911.

Novelty or trick devices like "pop-its" and "snappers" are OK to use in most areas.

The City of Everett’s I-5/US 2 Interchange Planning Study looked at how to improve travel through the I-5/US 2 interchange and the surrounding City streets in Everett. The WSDOT US 2 Trestle Capacity Improvements & Westbound Trestle Replacement project is studying potential improvements to the I-5/US 2 interchange, the US 2/SR 204/20th Street SE interchange, and the US 2 trestle. The WSDOT study is expected to conclude in 2025 and will consider the recommendations from the City of Everett’s I-5/US 2 Interchange Planning Study.

This study evaluated improvements at the I-5/US 2 interchange, the highway ramps that connect to the City streets and the City streets around the interchange. The City considered the many ways people travel through this area (be it driving, riding transit, walking or biking), how their travel could be impacted in the future and evaluated improvements for each of those travel modes. 

More information on the concepts this study considered is available in Section 5.1 of the I-5/US 2 Interchange Planning Study final report. 

The goals of this study were to meet current and future demand for all modes of transportation; improve safety for all modes of transportation; improve multimodal access between downtown Everett, I-5 and US 2 as well as between the two highways and be environmentally sustainable. 

These goals were based on the technical analysis prepared for the study and were coordinated with other agencies and the public through our open house events. More information on the study’s goals is available in Section 3.1 of the I-5/US 2 Interchange Planning Study final report. 

We hosted two online open houses in winter 2022 and fall 2023 and hosted an in-person open house in November 2023. These open houses provided opportunities for members of the public to offer input on their experience travelling through the I-5/US 2 interchange and feedback on the concepts we considered to improve travel for vehicles, transit and active transportation (biking, rolling and walking). 

More information on the study’s community outreach events is available in Section 2.3 of the I-5/US 2 Interchange Planning Study final report. 

We received input from 715 survey submissions and 25 in-person open house attendees. We learned that the primary mode of transportation is via car or motorcycle and that respondents desire reduced travel times, improvements to exit and entrance lanes and reduced highway congestion. Some respondents expressed the desire to add more lanes to relieve congestion, while others wanted to see improvements to the other ways people travel through this area. Some respondents supported improved options to access the local system and some respondents desired to see safety improvements in the area. 

More information on the findings from the community outreach events is available in Section 2.3 of the I-5/US 2 Interchange Planning Study final report. 

We are recommending two alternatives (Alternatives 2 and 3), as they depend on what the future US 2 westbound trestle looks like, which is currently being studied by WSDOT. Both Alternatives 2 and 3 recommend several improvements to the I-5/US 2 interchange, the interchange’s ramps to and from the highway system and the City’s street system to improve safety and travel for vehicles, buses and active transportation users (biking, rolling and walking). The two alternatives are shown below. These two alternatives would eliminate bottlenecks and improve travel times between I-5 and US 2 by 55% to 60% during the morning commute and 10% to 15% during the evening commute. Travel times for buses going through this interchange to Everett Station would improve by 45% to 60% during the morning commute. More information on the recommendations for this study is available in Section 6.2 of the I-5/US 2 Interchange Planning Study final report. 

As the City continues to advance its recommendations with additional planning, design and environmental review, the community and affected property owners would be contacted. As of publishing this final report, there is no timeline for when these upcoming efforts would occur.

In September 2024, we published our study report, which included recommended alternatives. There are other planning efforts in the area, including WSDOT’s US 2 Trestle Capacity Improvements & Westbound Trestle Replacement Planning and Environmental Linkages Study, Sound Transit’s Everett Link Extension and WSDOT’s I-5 Corridor Study, which could influence the selection of a preferred alternative for the I-5/US 2 interchange. 

The next steps for advancing the recommendations of this study include the following:

• Advance early implementation efforts on local streets, such as the Active Connections: California Street project.
• Incorporate near-term improvements to the US 2 westbound to I-5 southbound ramp and the I-5 northbound to US 2 eastbound ramp, subject to state and federal approvals.
• Coordinate with WSDOT to incorporate the recommendations from this I-5/US 2 Interchange Planning Study.

Some parts of the city are actually maintained by other agencies or entities. It isn't always easy to know if something is on a piece of land that is maintained by someone else, so here is the contact information for a few common ones:

• BNSF Railways - https://www.bnsf.com/about-bnsf/contact-us/
• Washington State DOT - https://wsdot.wa.gov/about/contacts 
• Port of Everett Port of Everett
• Snohomish County Litter Wranglers Program | Snohomish County, WA - Official Website (snohomishcountywa.gov)

No, please only file one copy of your request. This will help us route it to the correct department and avoid possible duplicate work which can slow down our overall response time. 

Sometimes a request may not be something we can address. We try to provide more context in these situations, but can't always for a number of reasons. For example:

• The issue may not have been visible the person who responded to it, either in person (e.g. out on the street) or virtually (e.g. a technology issue). 
• The issue may not have been something that the City of Everett is able to address (see the FAQ for other entities that may be able to help)

The free app is available at these links. You can also use the generic "See Click Fix" app, though it lacks some of the custom links to other city services. 

Android - Google Play Store link

Apple iOS - Apple App Store link

When a request made via Everett at Work has been assigned as a work order it means that we will be working on it, but it will take a little longer to get a resolution. If your contact information was provided, City Employee may reach out to you for more information regarding the report. 

The timeline for the resolution of this report is dependent upon current capacity, and its urgency as related to other tasks within Everett.  

Our department is aware of the concern you reported, it is an ongoing matter, and we are currently working towards a resolution.  

Thank you for your patience as we work to resolve/complete this task. City employees will continue to work together as we work towards resolution.  

These sorts of report reported through Everett at Work are sent to the City of Everett Park Rangers. You may be contacted by them if there is a need for follow-up communication. These reports are reviewed during Ranger works hours which vary due to the season, and time of dusk.  

If this is urgent and you or someone you know is not safe, please call 911. If you or someone you know is experiencing a behavioral health concern, please call 988.  If you are looking for housing, shelter, or other resources please call 211. 

Thank you for taking the time to report to us.  

A buffer zone is a tool the City of Everett has created that regulates use of public property and encourages acceptance of support/services through focused outreach and enforcement, as necessary. A buffer zone is a defined radius (2-blocks or less) around designated service locations or high-impact locations. See online maps for actual boundaries.

A specific address or service location could qualify for a buffer zone if it has had six or more qualifying events. “Qualifying events” may include 911 calls, complaints from the community, negative impacts to the neighborhood or criminal behavior.

Service location buffer zones are created around a designated social service provider and are intended to allow for safe access to service facilities.

High-impact buffer zones are created around a designated address (or addresses) and are intended to reduce negative activities in/around this area.

The Everett Police Department will make contact with individuals engaging in prohibited conduct on City property to educate them about the regulations within buffer zones and will refer individuals to social services. Community Support team members will provide ongoing outreach to individuals within the identified buffer zones, offering resources and support, and will partner with community organizations to maximize outreach efforts.

Enforcement would occur after education and outreach efforts should it be needed.

Requiring a Right of Way Use permit for distribution of goods or services in a buffer zone allows the City to understand who is providing goods or services and what they are providing. The City of Everett is working with community partners to mitigate negative impacts to our residents, businesses, and individuals by ensuring order, safety and sanitation.

A City of Everett Public Works Right of Way Use permit is required for distributing goods or services on City property within designated buffer zones. Apply for a Right of Way use permit here.

If you have questions about the permit application or the permit process, please reach out to City of Everett Permit Services, permitservices@everettwa.gov or 425-257-8810. 

If you are in a buffer zone, you can be a part of the solution to street-level issues!  Here are a few options for you to consider:

• Call the EPD non-emergency line (425-407-3999) to report issues or concerns.  Call 911 to report any illegal activity.
• Download the Everett At Work app to report any encampments.
• Implement Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles that promote safety and activate your neighborhood.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) uses various tools to evaluate environmental conditions and utilize intervention methods to control human/criminal behavior and reduce the fear of crime.  This includes lighting assessments, landscape maintenance, and developing appropriate ownership of your space.  To learn more click here, or contact the City: 425.257.7014

A water service line is a pipe that connects the water main in the street to the interior plumbing of homes and businesses. The water main is the larger pipe that is typically located under the road and carries water to multiple homes. The portion of the service line from the City water main to the water meter is owned and maintained by the City. The portion from the water meter to the home is owned and maintained by the homeowner. 

You can find out what service line is made of by finding where it enters your home. This is typically in your basement or crawlspace. The following video (courtesy of Highland Park Public Works) contains instructions that can help you identify your service line material.

If you're unable to determine your service line material, please contact Everett Public Works at (425) 257-8800. 

No, your water service should not be impacted.

Everett’s City Council initiated an automated traffic safety camera program for the purpose of reducing the number of accidents and injuries resulting from excessive speed and failure to obey traffic signals. 

You will not receive a ticket for running a yellow light. The traffic signal cameras activate when a vehicle enters the intersection after the light turns red. Entering the intersection before the light turns red is not a violation and will not trigger the camera. 

Every violation is reviewed by an Everett police offer. If a police officer determines that no violation occurred, a ticket will not be issued to that driver. 

All camera locations must be clearly marked at least 30 days before the camera is activated. As many other municipalities have done, the City of Everett will impose temporary grace periods after the cameras are activated to educate drivers without ticketing them. During this time, warnings will be issued to drivers instead of fines. 

If you received a notice in the mail from Everett Municipal Court that is stamped with “This is a warning notice, no fine is due,” no further action is needed. For each camera location, our system will issue warnings for the first 30 days that the cameras are on.

The City ordinance and state statute only allow the cameras to take pictures of the vehicle and the vehicle’s license plate and only while the infraction is occurring. The photos must not show the face of the driver or passengers, and the City must consider installing the cameras in a manner that minimizes the impact of the camera flash on drivers.

Photographs, electronic images or any other personally identifying data from automated traffic safety cameras are for the exclusive use of law enforcement and are prohibited under the statute from release to the public or to the media.  

The Horizon Elementary school zone along Casino Road will be the first active photo enforcement location. This site was chosen after consulting with the Everett Police Department and Traffic Engineering since Casino Road is a major arterial with documented speeding issues during school drop-off and pick-up times. 

In analyzing the locations and approaches for photo enforcement, the City of Everett chose the locations with the highest number of crashes with citations for failure to obey the signal. Public Works staff reviewed the latest crash data and narrowed the potential locations down to intersections with traffic signals that were in the top 20 for overall crashes in the City of Everett. Next, the City looked at intersections with the highest crash rate, the highest injury crash rate and the highest number of crashes that were cited for failure to stop at a red light. Based on this review, six locations were selected: 

•    Northbound and eastbound Evergreen Way at Casino Road. 

•    Northbound Evergreen Way at 4th Avenue West.

•    Northbound and southbound Broadway at 16th Street. 

•    Eastbound Evergreen Way and 112th Street SW. 

•    Northbound and southbound Rucker Avenue at 41st Street.  

•    Westbound 7th Avenue SE at Everett Mall Way. 

All proposed red light photo enforcement locations are a mile or more apart, and they are on busy roads with high traffic volumes and higher operating speeds.

Washington state law has specific reporting requirements. Following installation of photo enforcement, the City is required by law to post an annual report on our website showing:

• The number of traffic accidents that occurred at each camera location.
• The number of notices of infraction issued for each camera.

Only zip code and information about the specific infraction (speed, time, location, etc.) are reported. Names, faces and demographic information is redacted.  

The data collected will be used to help guide the future of photo enforcement. Private info is confidential and is removed from all reporting. Crash reduction information and zip codes will be used to assess the efficacy of the program. 

The City’s outreach efforts are geared toward the goal of making sure every Everett resident who lives near a photo enforcement camera is aware of their presence and location. To this end, the following outreach is being carried out before cameras are activated: 

• Clear and easy-to-read signage
• Presentations at neighborhood meetings
• Public surveys and questionnaires
• Mailings and door hangers to residents 
• Meetings with community groups and other stakeholders
• Additional public meetings and information sessions

In analyzing the locations and approaches for photo enforcement, staff chose the locations with the highest number of crashes with citations for failure to obey the signal. 

The penalty is $124, which will be the same for school speed zones and red-light violations. 

A police officer reviews the footage before notice of infraction is mailed to the vehicle owner. Like a parking ticket, the violations are not reported to insurance companies.

The court has the option for payments over time by requesting a payment plan.  A payment plan can be requested without a hearing for traffic, parking, red light and school zone infractions up to 30 days after the citation date. By requesting a payment plan, you admit responsibility for the infraction and may be requested to submit evidence of current inability to pay in full. 

A payment plan can be requested after a hearing where the court has established fines and/or fees. A payment plan can be requested at the front counter, by mail or by email. The application and payment plan information sheet can be completed and emailed to municipalcourt@everettwa.gov for one or more cases.

Our ordinance contains a rare provision; any proceeds from photo enforcement must go toward traffic safety projects or programs. Potential safety projects include school speed beacons, enhanced crosswalks, lighting, sidewalks and traffic safety enforcement programs.

Data will be provided in an annual report on the photo enforcement website. 

From 1984 to 2020, the Everett Aquasox provided professional athletic events, business partnerships, local business impacts, community pride and entertainment for all ages and income levels as a Class A Short Season baseball team. They played about 35 home games per season, between late May and early September, at the Everett School District-owned Funko Field. They are currently affiliated with the Seattle Mariners, but originally, the AquaSox were affiliated with the San Francisco Giants.

In 2021, Major League Baseball reconfigured Minor League baseball, eliminating 40 teams and two levels of leagues. In the process, MLB promoted the Everett AquaSox to Class High-A, the third highest level of players and teams in Minor League Baseball. 

• The Everett AquaSox season was extended from a short season (late-May to early-September) to a long season (mid-April to late-September). The AquaSox now play 66 home games, almost twice as many games as in a short season. 

• The Everett AquaSox were given new stadium requirements. The MLB’s stadium requirements are expansive, affecting nearly every aspect of the stadium. The stadium upgrades are meant to provide more inclusive facilities, a better fan experience and foster a more professional working environment for the players and staff.

No, Funko Field does not meet the standards required by Major League Baseball for a High-A minor league team. As such, we are evaluating the feasibility of rebuilding Funko Field to ensure it’s in compliance with MLB’s requirements and comparing that to the feasibility of constructing a new stadium on an alternative site. If the latter, then the current Funko Field would remain to serve the needs of the Everett School District and Everett Community College.

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No. Significant scheduling challenges would persist even with a new stadium. Financing a new stadium could be challenging since the site is owned by the school district, not by the City of Everett. Finally, rebuilding Funko Field is estimated to require 12 – 18 months of displacement of the AquaSox, Everett School District, and Everett Community College teams. 

The City of Everett and Snohomish County are partnering with the owners of the Everett AquaSox to lead a public-private effort to investigate the feasibility of a new outdoor multipurpose facility located in the City of Everett. To that end, on September 28, 2022, the City and County passed Joint Resolution No. 22-056 in support of a new Everett outdoor multipurpose stadium. They are supported by the Seattle Mariners. 

The owners of the Everett AquaSox are willing to sign a lease of at least 30-years in length as an anchor tenant of a new Everett outdoor multipurpose stadium to play 66 games per year as well as make typical future physical improvements as required by MLB. The lease will be used to pay debt service and operational costs of the stadium.

Cities and counties are collections of residents who need safe, large, quality, and inclusive public places for fun, relaxation, local identity, entertainment, and celebrations. Quality public spaces capitalize on a city and county’s assets, inspiration, and potential to contribute to resident’s health, happiness, and wellbeing.

No. A new Everett outdoor multipurpose facility could ideally be used to host a wide range of entertainment and athletic events in addition to the anchor minor-league baseball tenant playing 66 games. Comparable facilities in the nation host well over 100 non-baseball events per year. Not only could a multipurpose facility provide a wonderful community amenity, but additional events could provide revenue to operate the stadium and create commerce for the surrounding community. If the current school district site is used, most of these additional events are the school-related events already planned; however, in partnership with the school district, there may be opportunities for additional outdoor entertainment activities and enhanced public access during the summer months. 

Some of the benefits of a new Everett outdoor multipurpose facility could be: • Creating jobs from construction, maintenance, customer service, and engineering; 

• Attracting residents who bring new spending power within the community;

 • Growing tourism that further increases local spending and jobs within the community;

• Creating a multiplier effect on other venues within the city and county; and

• Improving the overall economy and attractiveness of the City of Everett and Snohomish County.

The following are the initial physical criteria:

• Any new outdoor multipurpose facility should be built and operated to be inclusive and accessible with a broad range of affordable opportunities.

• Any new outdoor multipurpose stadium should be built on a site that creates the strongest possible economic multiplier impact on the surrounding real estate, businesses, and venues.

• Any new outdoor multipurpose facility should meet the minimum stadium requirements of a High-A Minor League baseball club.

• The facility should provide 2,800 – 3,200 fixed seats for baseball fans and should easily convert to an “amphitheater” setting with up to 5,000 seats for a concert or community event.

• Robust public transportation should be available to the facility and sufficient parking should be provided or available within comfortable walking distance of the stadium. 

Construction of a cost-effective minor league stadium will likely be between $60-80 million. The facility itself needs 7 – 8 acres of land area, and parking (if not available in adjacent areas) could double the area needed. Land cost is estimated between $20 – 40 million.

The Henry M. Jackson Community Garden is open to City of Everett residents for individual use. The gardens are a community-driven effort. Staff will coordinate with a group of dedicated volunteer gardeners to manage the program.  

10ft X 13ft ground level plots - $45 per season
5ft X 5ft raised beds (primarily reserved for differently abled persons)- $35 per season

Scholarships are available to those who might not be able to participate because of financial constraints.

Any vegetables, small fruits, flowers or herbs you choose. Just remember if something grows fast and spreads, you must contain it. No trees, shrubs or invasive plants are allowed.

No. The sale of what you grow is not permitted. We encourage the donation of excess produce.

If you do not actively work your garden, and the weeds are invading the common areas or their seeds are in danger of spreading to other gardens, you will be asked to address it. If you do not, or violate other garden rules, your gardening privileges may be revoked without a refund

Volunteers are welcome! Volunteers are needed to assist with garden oversight, contacting gardeners for work parties, tracking volunteer hours, keeping an extra eye on the communal garden areas etc. Please contact Andie Allred at aallred@everett.gov if you are interested.

For more than two decades, the City of Everett has navigated its way through revenue challenges. The City’s budget deficits are structural – meaning they are persistent and unshakable from one year to the next.  This is not an issue of overspending or lack of fiscal responsibility.   

As a full-service city, Everett is proud to offer so many important services to our community, but the costs continue to rise faster than revenues. Demand for services has also increased, especially in crucial areas like public safety, human services, and economic development.   

Without adequate revenue, Everett will face further cuts. 

In 2001, State law set a new limit on property tax increases at 1% per year, though the cost of providing services generally increases by 2 to 4% each year, depending on the rate of inflation. Though other factors play a role in budget shortfalls, this major revenue restriction is by far the most impactful. 

Everett is not alone in facing these challenges. Since 2001, more than 60 cities in Washington have requested property tax levy increases to overcome the 1% limit imposed by the State.

This property tax increase would cost the average taxpayer $28 per month, based on Everett’s average home value. The City worked to find a rate that would reduce the impact on residents while setting the City on a path towards a more financial stabile future. 

State law requires that voters approve any property tax increase greater than 1%. When cost and demand for services all rise faster than revenues can accommodate, voters can approve an increase to the property tax levy rate. This “lifts the 1% lid” of that levy to offer more financial sustainability.

For more than two decades, Everett has worked to address the deficit. We’ve done the hard work of streamlining, cutting, and finding efficiencies in every possible area of the budget. We have exhausted all options.

Despite our best efforts, services have been impacted. Since 2018, nearly all recreation programs, lifeguards at Silver Lake, the swim center, the petting zoo and the Bookmobile have been eliminated.  

Without new revenue, the City of Everett will need to identify $12.6 million in cuts for the 2025 budget. In 2026, that number will jump to $16.8 million in cuts, with deficits snowballing each year beyond that. 

These cuts would impact services and programs that aren’t legally required and could include: neighborhoods support, park maintenance, libraries, animal services, the arts, social services, support for non-profits serving those in need, and more.  

The type, size and location study evaluated the attributes of three locations being considered for bridge construction. These attributes are scored and then compared against each other to determine the most appropriate location for bridge construction. Only one bridge will be constructed.

Economic development. Land uses are currently extremely limited because of the single access point crossing the rail line. In addition to the planned relocation of Public Works operations to the EPIC site, we anticipate this being a job center, which will enhance Everett’s vitality. This project has also been referred to as “EPIC Green” due to the clean energy businesses that are showing interest in the site. All of this is made possible with a new primary access.

Yes, we are planning transportation facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles.

No. That would make for a prohibitively long and expensive curved structure.

The EPIC site is very close to the river, where soils are poor. Poor soils increase design and construction costs when tunneling, making it an unattractive and extremely expensive option.

Our stormwater group is working on a project to upsize capacity of the existing stormwater system to minimize flooding risk.

Our regional transportation network is meant to carry that traffic. The City favors supporting its regional network capacity, and we will employ traffic design measures to keep through-traffic on the arterials and to discourage it on local streets like East Grand.

There are some downsides to speed humps. Speed humps are noisy; data show people increase speed in between them to make up time. We will look at all manner of treatments to reduce speeds on East Grand Avenue.

The bridge will be used for access to the EPIC site for everyone, including City vehicles. The railroad crossing would likely be fenced off, according to Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) standard practices, and only available in the event of an emergency.

At-grade crossings can be a safety issue for the railroad. BNSF will likely eliminate the ability of vehicles and pedestrians to cross the tracks unless emergency access is required.  

A trail will be added as part of site development, not the bridge project. Our intent is to ultimately have a contiguous trail along the perimeter of the EPIC site.  

We are required to mitigate the impact to the neighborhood of the loss of park space.  The replacement park area will be as close to the existing park area as practical and feasible.

It can be overwhelming knowing when and how to help someone struggling with substance use disorder. Our partners at Snohomish Overdose Prevention have materials on how to help yourself, others, resources and more.

No, unfortunately the settlement funds that the City and other municipalities are receiving won’t make the opioid crisis go away, but it’s a step in the right direction for holding pharmaceutical companies accountable and making investments in the communities most devastated by this.

The Mayor’s Drug Crisis Task Force had a workgroup focused on identifying advocacy and policy recommendations. The Mayor, staff and the City’s lobbyist are working hard to solidify the 2025 legislative priorities that directly intersect with these recommendations.

Click here to find out where a drobox is located near you to safely dispose of unwanted and expired medications.

For a list of treatment options available in Everett, click here. 

To learn more about naloxone or Narcan, how to access it, or more information about knowing the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose, click here.

To learn more about naloxone or Narcan, how to access it, or more information about knowing the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose, click here  Narcan          .

We've partnered with the Snohomish Health District to provide free needle cleanup kits to community members and businesses. Used needles left in public and private places are both a nuisance and potential safety concern. Whether they're used to inject medicines like insulin or for illegal drugs, needles can spread blood-borne pathogens through accidental needle pokes. While the risk of contracting a disease from a needle-stick injury is very low, there are ways to further reduce that risk.

For a list of treatment options available in Everett, click here. 

There is no easy answer when it comes to stopping the opioid epidemic. Snohomish Overdose Prevention was created to be a one-stop shop for resources. Whether you’re trying to understand the problem, prevent addiction, or save a life, this is a place to find information for that first next step. 

No, the CARE team is 100% funded through a grant awarded to the City of Everett through Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 

The purpose of this program is to enhance the availability and quality of behavioral health responses and reduce the reliance on police, fire and EMS so they can respond to 911 calls that better fit their public safety role. 

Someone who is having a mental health crisis and is not a threat to themselves or others; someone in an immediate situation who lacks basic needs (wintertime with no socks/shoes); residents experiencing homelessness or those living in high-risk situations (in a car, hoarding situation); active mental health crisis.

The City of Everett has a rich history of incorporating social services into our public safety efforts, helping us to address the changing needs within our community. Our City, like so many others around the country, need more tools and better options to address the escalating mental health and drug crisis that is impacting our City. This program provides a bridge for a person in crisis to the most appropriate services. These programs offer tools not otherwise available and freeing up time and capacity for law enforcement to pursue violent and serious criminal behavior and fire and EMS to address medical and life safety issues. 

At this time, no. Someone calling 911 can certainly make a request for a specific resource, but the decision about which teams are dispatched to your specific call is made the 911 dispatch team. 

You should always call 911 if someone is in immediate danger of harming themselves or others. Other crisis resources include:

• 988: call or text 24/7/365, connecting those experiencing a mental health, substance use, or suicidal crisis with trained crisis counselors
• 211: call to be connected to food and community needs, housing, social services and more. 
• 425-252-2873: Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County 
• 800-562-6025: Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline

Under this redesigned structure, qualified behavioral health specialists will respond directly to low-risk incidents involving individuals in crisis.  This will free up time and resources for Police, Fire and EMS and will benefit our residents in situations where behavioral health services are more suitable.

1. Large Employers that employ more than 500 employees regardless of where those employees are employed, and
2. Covered Employers that either (1) employ at least fifteen employees regardless of where those employees are employed or (2) has annual gross revenue over two million dollars.

Tips, gratuities and service charges paid to an employee are in addition to, and may not count towards, the employee’s hourly minimum wage.

Full ordinance text available below and as a PDF.). 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF EVERETT

Section 1. Findings.

1. The people of the City of Everett hereby adopt this citizen initiative addressing labor standards for certain employees for the purpose of ensuring that, to the extent reasonably practicable, people employed in Everett have good wages and access to sufficient hours of work.
2. The City of Everett is one of the largest job centers in Washington State, with thousands of shoppers and workers visiting daily to participate in the local economy.
3. The statewide minimum wage of $16.28 is not sufficient to afford rising rents and costs of living in Everett. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s Out of Reach 2023 report, a worker making Washington’s minimum wage would have to work 77 hours each week (up from 70 hours each week in 2021) to afford a modest one-bedroom rental home at Fair Market Rent.
4. When working families earn insufficient income due to low wages and involuntary under-employment, they struggle to pay for basic necessities like health care, child care, and groceries, and they are more likely to be evicted and become homeless.
5. The nearby cities of SeaTac, Bellingham, Seattle, Renton, and Tukwila have enacted higher minimum wages.
6. Children growing up in poverty experience insecurity with housing, nutrition, and health care while enduring other hardships that prevent their ability to learn in school. Full time working parents must be able to reasonably provide for their family to ensure access to the opportunities and promise of public education.

Section 2. A new Chapter is added to the Everett Municipal Code as follows:

NEW SECTION 1. Intent.

It is the intent of the people to establish fair labor standards and protect the rights of workers by: (1) ensuring that the vast majority of employees in the City of Everett receive a minimum wage comparable to employees in the nearby cities of Renton, Tukwila, SeaTac, and Seattle; (2) requiring covered employers to offer additional hours of work to qualified part-time employees before hiring new employees to fill those hours; and (3) adopting enforcement requirements.

NEW SECTION 2. Large Employers Shall Pay Minimum Wages Comparable to Those in Nearby Cities.

1. Effective July 1, 2025, every large employer shall pay to each employee an hourly wage of not less than $20.24 per hour.
2. On January 1, 2026, and on each January 1 thereafter, the hourly minimum wage shall increase by the annual rate of inflation to maintain employee purchasing power.
3. By December 31, 2025, and by October 15 of each year thereafter, the City of Everett shall establish and publish the applicable hourly minimum wage for the following year using the annual rate of inflation.
4. For purposes of this chapter, the annual rate of inflation means 100 percent of the annual average growth rate of the bi-monthly Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Area Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, termed CPI-W, for the 12-month period ending in August, provided that the percentage increase shall not be less than zero.
5. An employer must pay to its employees:
   1. All tips and gratuities; and
   2. All service charges as defined under RCW 49.46.160 except those that, pursuant to RCW 49.46.160, are itemized as not being payable to the employee or employees servicing the customer.
6. Tips, gratuities, and service charges paid to an employee are in addition to, and may not count towards, the employee’s hourly minimum wage.

NEW SECTION 3. Other Covered Employers Shall Have a Multiyear Phase-In Period.

Other covered employers shall phase in the new minimum wage, as follows:

1. Effective July 1, 2025, other covered employers shall pay employees not less than the hourly minimum wage established under NEW SECTION 2 minus Two Dollars ($2) per hour.
2. Effective July 1, 2026, other covered employers shall pay employees not less than the hourly minimum wage established under NEW SECTION 2 minus One Dollar ($1) per hour.
3. Effective July 1, 2027, and thereafter, all covered employers shall pay employees not less than the hourly minimum wage established under NEW SECTION 2.

NEW SECTION 4. Coverage and Employer Classifications.

1. Covered employers must pay employees at least the minimum wage established by this chapter for each hour worked within the City.
2. Employer classification for the current calendar year will be calculated based upon the average number of employees during all weeks in the previous calendar year in which the employer had at least one employee. For employers that did not have any employees during the previous calendar year, classification will be based upon the average number of employees during the most recent three months of the current year. In this determination, all employees will be counted, regardless of their location, and including employees who worked in full-time employment, part-time employment, joint employment, temporary employment, or through the services of a temporary services or staffing agency or similar entity.
3. Employer classification for the current calendar year will be calculated based upon the gross revenue for the previous year. For employers that did not have gross revenue during the previous calendar year, an annualized gross revenue will be projected based on the gross revenue during the most recent three months of the current year in which the employer did have gross revenue.
4. For the purposes of employer classification, separate entities will be considered a single employer if they form an integrated enterprise or they are under joint control by one of those entities or a separate entity. The factors to consider in making this assessment include, but are not limited to:
   1. Degree of interrelation between the operations of multiple entities;
   2. Degree to which the entities share common management;
   3. Centralized control of labor relations; and
   4. Degree of common ownership or financial control over the entities. 

NEW SECTION 5. Part-Time Employees Shall Have Fair Access to Additional Hours.

1. Before hiring additional employees or subcontractors, including hiring through the use of temporary services or staffing agencies, covered employers must offer additional hours of work to existing employees who, in the employer’s good faith and reasonable judgment, have the skills and experience to perform the work, and shall use a reasonable, transparent, and nondiscriminatory process to distribute the hours of work among those existing employees.
2. This section shall not be construed to require any employer to offer an employee work hours if the employer would be required to compensate the employee at time-and-a-half or other premium rate under any law or collective bargaining agreement, nor to prohibit any employer from offering such work hours.

NEW SECTION 6. Retaliation Prohibited.

1. No employer or any other person shall interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of, or the attempt to exercise, any right protected under this chapter.
2. No employer or any other person shall take any adverse action against any person because the person has exercised in good faith the rights under this chapter. Such rights include but are not limited to the right to make inquiries about the rights protected under this chapter; the right to inform others about their rights under this chapter; the right to inform the person’s employer, union, or similar organization, and/or the person’s legal counsel or any other person about an alleged violation of this chapter; the right to bring a civil action for an alleged violation of this chapter; the right to participate in any investigation under or related to this chapter; the right to testify in a proceeding under or related to this chapter; the right to refuse to participate in an activity that would result in a violation of city, state, or federal law; and the right to oppose any policy, practice, or act that is unlawful under this chapter.
3. For the purposes of this section, an adverse action means denying a job or promotion, demoting, terminating, failing to rehire after a seasonal interruption of work, threatening, penalizing, retaliating, engaging in unfair immigration-related practices, filing a false report with a government agency, changing an employee’s status to nonemployee, decreasing or declining to provide additional work hours when they otherwise would have been offered, scheduling an employee for hours outside of their availability, or otherwise discriminating against any person because the person has exercised their rights under this chapter. An adverse action against an employee may include actions which impact any aspect of employment, including pay, work hours, responsibilities, or other material change in the terms and conditions of employment.
4. No employer or any other person shall communicate to a person exercising rights protected under this chapter, directly or indirectly, the willingness to inform a government employee that the person is not lawfully in the United States, or to report, or to make an implied or express assertion of a willingness to report, suspected citizenship or immigration status of the person or a family member of the person to a federal, state, or local agency because the person has exercised a right under this chapter.
5. There shall be a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation if an employer or any other person takes an adverse action against a person within 90 days of the person’s exercise of any right protected in this chapter. However, in the case of seasonal work that ended before the close of the 90- day period, the presumption also applies if the employer fails to rehire a former employee at the next opportunity for work in the same position. The employer may rebut the presumption with clear and convincing evidence that the adverse action was taken for a permissible purpose.
6. Proof of retaliation under this chapter shall be sufficient upon a showing that an employer or any other person has taken an adverse action against a person and the person’s exercise of rights protected in this chapter was a motivating factor in the adverse action, unless the employer can prove that the action would have been taken in the absence of such protected activity.
7. The protections afforded under this section shall apply to any person who mistakenly but in good faith alleges violations of this chapter.

NEW SECTION 7. Enforcement.

1. Any person or class of persons that suffers financial injury as a result of a violation of this chapter or is the subject of prohibited retaliation under this chapter, or any other individual or entity acting on their behalf, may bring a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction against the employer or other person violating this chapter and, upon prevailing, shall be awarded reasonable attorney fees and costs and such legal or equitable relief as may be appropriate to remedy the violation including, without limitation, the payment of any unpaid wages plus interest due to the person and liquidated damages in an additional amount of up to twice the unpaid wages; compensatory damages; and a penalty payable to any aggrieved party of up to $5,000 if the aggrieved party was subject to prohibited retaliation. For the purposes of this section, an aggrieved party means an employee or other person who suffers tangible or intangible harm due to an employer or other person’s violation of this chapter. Interest shall accrue from the date the unpaid wages were first due at the higher of twelve percent per annum or the maximum rate permitted under RCW 19.52.020.
2. For purposes of determining membership within a class of persons entitled to bring an action under this section, two or more employees are similarly situated if they:
   1. Are or were employed by the same employer or employers, whether concurrently or otherwise, at some point during the applicable statute of limitations period;
   2. Allege one or more violations that raise similar questions as to liability; 
      and
   3. Seek similar forms of relief. 
      Employees shall not be considered dissimilar solely because their claims seek damages that differ in amount, or their job titles or other means of classifying employees differ in ways that are unrelated to their claims.
3. Each covered employer shall retain records as required by RCW 49.46.070, as well as such information as the City may require to confirm compliance with this chapter. If an employer fails to retain such records, there shall be a presumption, rebuttable by clear and convincing evidence, that the employer violated this chapter for the periods and for each employee for whom records were not retained.
4. Employers shall permit authorized City representatives access to work sites and relevant records for the purpose of monitoring compliance with the chapter and investigating complaints of noncompliance, including production for inspection and copying of employment records. The City may designate representatives, including city contractors and representatives of unions or worker advocacy organizations, to access the worksite and relevant records.
5. Complaints that any provision of this chapter has been violated may also be presented to the City Attorney, who is hereby authorized to investigate and, if they deem appropriate, initiate legal or other action to remedy any violation of this chapter.
6. The City has the authority to issue administrative citations and to order injunctive relief including reinstatement, restitution, payment of back wages, or other forms of relief.
7. The City may, in the exercise of its authority and performance of its functions and services, agree by contract or otherwise to participate jointly or in cooperation with Washington State, Snohomish County, or any city, town, or other incorporated place, or subdivision thereof, or engage outside counsel, to enforce this chapter.
8. The remedies and penalties provided under this chapter are cumulative and are not intended to be exclusive of any other available remedies or penalties, including existing remedies for enforcement of Everett Municipal Code chapters.
9. The statute of limitations for any enforcement action shall be five (5) years.

NEW SECTION 8. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

1. “City” means the City of Everett.
2. “Covered employer” means an employer that either (1) employs at least 15 employees regardless of where those employees are employed, or (2) has annual gross revenue over $2 million.
3. “Effective date” is the effective date of this ordinance.
4. “Employee” is defined as set forth in RCW 49.46.010. To establish that an individual is an independent contractor, and thus not an employee, the alleged employer bears the burden of proof to show that the individual is, as a matter of economic reality, in business for oneself rather than dependent upon the alleged employer.
5. “Employer” is defined as set forth in RCW 49.46.010.
6. “Employer classification" includes the determination of whether an employer is a covered employer and whether a covered employer is a large employer.
7. "Franchise" means an agreement, express or implied, oral or written, by which:
   1. A person is granted the right to engage in the business of offering, selling, or distributing goods or services under a marketing plan prescribed or suggested in substantial part by the grantor or its affiliate;
   2. The operation of the business is substantially associated with a trademark, service mark, trade name, advertising, or other commercial symbol; designating, owned by, or licensed by the grantor or its affiliate; and
   3. The person pays, agrees to pay, or is required to pay, directly or indirectly, a franchise fee. The term, "franchise fee" is meant to be construed broadly to include any instance in which the grantor or its affiliate derives income or profit from a person who enters into a franchise agreement with the grantor.
8. “Hour worked within the City” is to be interpreted according to its ordinary meaning, including all hours worked within the geographic boundaries of the City, excluding time spent in the City solely for the purpose of traveling through the City from a point of origin outside the City to a destination outside the City, with no employment-related or commercial stops in the City except for refueling or the employee’s personal meals or errands.
9. “Large Employer” means all employers that employ more than 500 employees, regardless of where those employees are employed, and all franchisees associated with a franchisor or a network of franchises with franchisees that employ more than 500 employees in aggregate.
10. “Other covered employer” means a covered employer that does not qualify as a large employer.
11. “Service charge” is defined as set forth in RCW 49.46.160(2)(c).
12. “Tips” means a verifiable sum to be presented by a customer as a gift or gratuity in recognition of some service performed for the customer by the employee receiving the tip.
13. “Wage” is defined as set forth in RCW 49.46.010.

NEW SECTION 9. Rulemaking.

Within 180 days after the effective date of this chapter, the City shall adopt rules and procedures to implement and ensure compliance with this chapter, including but not limited to rules requiring employers to maintain adequate records and to annually certify compliance with this chapter. The City shall seek feedback from worker organizations and covered employers before finalizing the rules and procedures.

Section 3. A new section is added to Chapter 5.04 of the Everett Municipal Code (EMC) as follows:

NEW SECTION. Labor Standards Noncompliance.

1. In addition to the grounds listed in section 5.04.080, The City Clerk, or designee, may deny, suspend, or revoke any license under this chapter based on a licensee’s failure to comply with the requirements of the new chapter created by this ordinance.
2. The City Clerk, or designee, must deny, suspend, or revoke any license under this chapter for repeated intentional violations of any requirement or right under the new chapter created by this ordinance.
3. Any action by the City Clerk, or designee, under this section shall be subject to the same appeal procedures that apply to the denial, suspension, or revocation of a license as applicable under this Chapter.

Section 4. A new section is added to Chapter 3.19 of the Everett Municipal Code (EMC) as follows:

NEW SECTION. Labor Standards Noncompliance.

1. In addition to the grounds listed in section 3.19.240, The director, or designee, deny, suspend, or revoke any license issued under the provisions of this Chapter based on a licensee’s failure to comply with the requirements of the new chapter created by this ordinance.
2. The director, or designee, must deny, suspend, or revoke any license under this chapter for repeated intentional violations of any requirement under the new chapter created by this ordinance.
3. Any action by the director, or designee, under this section shall be subject to the appeals procedure for the denial, suspension, or revocation of a business license as applicable under this Chapter.

Section 5. Other Legal Requirements.

This measure shall not be construed to preempt, limit, or otherwise affect the applicability of any other law, regulation, requirement, policy, or standard that provides for greater wages or compensation; and nothing in this ordinance shall be interpreted or applied so as to create any power or duty in conflict with federal or state law.

Section 6. Constitutional Subject.

For constitutional purposes, this measure’s subject “concerns labor standards for certain employers.” See Filo Foods, LLC v. City of SeaTac, 183 Wash. 2d 770, 783, 357 P.3d 1040, 1047 (2015) (upholding this statement of subject for an initiative that set a minimum wage and addressed employees’ access to hours).

Section 7. Election date.

In the event that the election on this measure takes place later than November 5, 2024, but before July 1, 2025, the initial minimum wage shall take effect as provided under this ordinance. If the election on this measure takes place on or after July 1, 2025, the minimum wage established by this ordinance shall take effect 30 days after the effective date of the ordinance.

Section 8. Severability.

The provisions of this measure are declared to be separate and severable. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section, subsection, or portion of this ordinance, or the application thereof to any employer, employee, or circumstance, is held to be invalid, it shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this ordinance, or the validity of its application to other persons or circumstances.

The annual rate of inflation means one hundred percent of the annual average growth rate of the bi-monthly Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Area Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, termed CPI-W, for the twelve-month period ending in August; provided, that the percentage increase shall not be less than zero.

The City developed the following proposed rules which include procedures for implementing and certifying compliance with City of Everett Initiative Measure 24-01. 


CHAPTER 1: PURPOSE AND CONSTRUCTION

The purpose of this rule is to implement the citizen-led City of Everett Initiative Measure 24-01 approved by voters in November 2024, which is codified within Chapter 5.08 of the Everett Municipal Code (“the Ordinance"). Employers should consult and be familiar with the Ordinance to ensure their compliance. This rule is not intended to replace or modify the Ordinance but only clarify critical terminology and address procedural requirements contemplated by the Ordinance. The clarifications provided by this rule will apply as to City initiated enforcement of the Ordinance, but Employers should be aware that courts enforcing the Ordinance in actions brought by employees may not defer to these rules and could interpret the applicability of the Ordinance differently than provided herein.

Accordingly, employers are cautioned to seek their own legal counsel as to interpretation of the Ordinance.

CHAPTER 2: TERMINOLOGY

As used in the Ordinance with respect to covered employers, “gross revenue” means revenue generated from sales made, services performed, and other business activities that occur within the Everett city limits.

CHAPTER 3: RULES AND PROCEDURES

3-1 Establishment of Minimum Wage Rates

The City’s Finance Department will establish and publish the applicable hourly minimum wage rate for the following year by October 15 of each year on its website, file a copy with the City Clerk, and notify the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.

3-2 Employer Certification of Compliance

Employers are required to certify compliance with the Ordinance at the time of submitting their annual Everett business license renewal application. Failure to certify compliance may result in denial or revocation of an employer’s business license.