Council approves critical-area updates and North Broadway pedestrian bridge; confirms appointment

The Everett City Council on April 15 voted unanimously to adopt an updated critical areas ordinance (Council Bill 2603-19) and to create a North Broadway Pedestrian Bridge special improvement project (Council Bill 2603-18).

Councilmember Bader moved adoption of the critical areas ordinance following a public hearing; council discussion referenced a recent comment letter from the Tulalip Tribes and staff said they will continue collaborative work and prepare a formal response. The motion passed on roll call with all voting 'Yes'.

On the North Broadway Pedestrian Bridge, Councilmember Bader moved to adopt the ordinance creating the special improvement project and repealing ordinance 4113-25. Councilmembers discussed pedestrian safety tradeoffs, the difficulty of funding all desired crossings and the bridge's importance to students commuting to Everett Community College and WSU Everett. The motion passed on roll call with all recorded 'Yes'.

In other formal actions the Council confirmed Mayor Franklin’s appointment of Louise Ramon Arochi to the CHIP Loan Review Committee (position A3, term expiring Dec. 31, 2029) after a motion by Vice President Ryan; the roll call vote approved the nomination. The Council also approved six consent agenda items and the April 8, 2026 minutes (the minutes approval recorded one abstention by Vice President Ryan).

Staff said the bridge project will advance design and that procurement and funding steps remain to be finalized; the Planning Department will prepare follow-up materials on the adopted critical-area regulations, including next steps for tribal coordination.