Everett City Council adopts rules, elects Robert Van Kampen president and John Burley clerk in unanimous organizational vote

The Everett City Council opened its organizational meeting and, after a roll call establishing a nine-member quorum, adopted the council rules for 2024 and elected new officers.

Councilors voted to adopt the "2020 rules of the city council" as the governing rules for 2024. The motion was approved on a roll-call vote with members recorded in the transcript voting in the affirmative, and the rules were adopted for the year.

In an uncontested leadership election, Councilor Robert Van Kampen was nominated and elected president by a 9–0 roll-call vote. Van Kampen, speaking to the chamber after his election, thanked his family and colleagues and outlined several priorities for his term. "My commitment to you as president is to ensure that our work is done in an orderly, civilized, responsible, and businesslike manner," he said, adding that he wants the council to work on budget and tax issues, support public employees, manage development "in a reasonable and responsible manner," and undertake a review of the city charter.

John Burley was nominated and elected clerk of committees by unanimous roll-call vote. The newly organized council president then appointed Councilors Petrantonio, DiPiro, and Garcia to serve as messengers to notify the mayor that the City Council is organized for 2024.

The meeting opened with a moment of silence as the council read the names of several recently deceased community members, and the session concluded with the council adjourning by voice vote and the president inviting members forward for a group photograph.

The council’s actions were procedural and internal to the organization of the body: adoption of internal rules, election of leadership and clerical officers, and appointment of messengers to notify the mayor. There were no contested ballots or policy votes on the agenda at this meeting. The council adjourned after completing its organizational business.