Finance committee moves five items to consent, including $244,100 tourism contract

The Snohomish County Finance, Budget and Administration Committee on March 10 moved five administrative motions and contracts to the consent agenda for upcoming General Legislative Sessions, the committee’s chair, Dunne, said at the meeting.

Jim Martin, council staff, presented the items and described their purposes. Martin said Motion 26-117 "would require council staff to post notices of ordinances that increase taxes ... on all council social media accounts and to submit detailed notices for publication to Snohomish County news outlets," a transparency measure the committee agreed to place on the March 18 consent agenda.

The committee also moved Motion 26-095, the 2025 grant work plan reconciliation report from the county executive, to the March 18 consent agenda. Martin referenced Snohomish County Code 4.26.025 as the statutory basis for council consideration of grant work plans.

A contract to support tourism promotion was among the items advanced. Martin said Motion 26-084 "approves and authorizes the executive to sign the Snohomish County tourism promotion area agreement with EVA," describing a scope that includes media strategy, digital media management, optimization and reporting; the contract term runs through Dec. 31, 2026, with a not-to-exceed amount of $244,100. The committee set that item for the March 11 General Legislative Session consent agenda.

Two economic development contracts were also placed on the March 18 consent agenda. Motion 26-106 would authorize a contract with Economic Alliance Snohomish County "to strengthen the economic development ecosystem" with a not-to-exceed amount of $100,000 through Dec. 31, 2026; Martin said the amount is the same as last year. A separate agreement with Greater Seattle Partners, also for up to $100,000 through Dec. 31, 2026, was presented as a regional effort to increase global trade benefiting Pierce, King and Snohomish counties and to attract foreign direct investment.

There were no in-person or online public comments at the meeting. After completing the agenda, Chair Dunne recessed the committee until the 11:00 a.m. Health and Community Services Committee meeting.

Actions at a glance:
- Motion 26-117: Require posting notices for ordinances that increase taxes; moved to consent for GLS, March 18 (presented by Jim Martin).
- Motion 26-095: Accept 2025 grant work plan reconciliation report; moved to consent for GLS, March 18 (presented by Jim Martin; referenced Snohomish County Code 4.26.025).
- Motion 26-084: Authorize tourism promotion area agreement with EVA; term through 12/31/2026; not to exceed $244,100; moved to consent for GLS, March 11 (presented by Jim Martin).
- Motion 26-106: Authorize contract with Economic Alliance Snohomish County; term through 12/31/2026; not to exceed $100,000; moved to consent for GLS, March 18 (presented by Jim Martin).
- Motion (Greater Seattle Partners): Authorize regional economic development contract; term through 12/31/2026; not to exceed $100,000; moved to consent for GLS, March 18 (presented by Jim Martin).