[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6055812,"mediaKeyId","3314938-45f1b3671a774b49487cbd49a55696df","parentId",3314938,"title","Council hears primer on master annexation ILA with Snohomish County; staff say it’s ‘rules of the road,’ not commitment","audioSeconds",454,"startMs",3275000,"endMs",3729000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3314938-45f1b3671a774b49487cbd49a55696df&start=3275&end=3729","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3314938-45f1b3671a774b49487cbd49a55696df/thumbnail_3275000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6055812/Mill-Creek/Snohomish-County/Washington/Council-hears-primer-on-master-annexation-ILA-with-Snohomish-County-staff-say-its-rules-of-the-road-not-commitment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6055812-444f52f8f49225c9978687fc745a04fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771216614&Signature=MJSUk9Ro54Ha6JlkdA~UQHyP1WWwx0Exl5EBmMavLhNAvpLqI2ORasHEKKJZtV-ZkcGkeeQPCBoX7fozSrY847pVjRGF6ahe4W7XmP4qQAbuoO0dPIizbcOjC0lzOtDpAPbZzrzoKPEVmo6VJVmUOqXDqbFmWL0d4mc-ERyWI0Q3lus66rDxTWMw4sS9sjvvy102KSx-jvbeaDCErzucBGuuzj~XQ4rQV8xYm7CowYwf4gRwWF8GZEz-XbDicek~rbkMgoyJYLcEYwVjMjxY7Q~--Px8yFyblMIpLcgLJYmyLCF8rjh67VElE3g6Y46usfQBU4KrSJuwK0k3QUGLFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Mill Creek, Washington","date","2025-05-14T14:28:45Z","article","Mill Creek City Council received a study‑session briefing on May 20, 2025 on a draft master annexation interlocal agreement (ILA) with Snohomish County. Planning Director Jeff Ryan described the proposed ILA as a framework to establish rules for potential future annexations within the city’s municipal urban growth area and said the presentation was informational only, not a commitment to annex.

“This is not a commitment,” Ryan told the council, introducing the ILA as a tool that would set consistent standards for planning, service transitions and cost‑sharing if and when annexation occurs. He said the draft template covers planning and development coordination, transportation and road maintenance responsibilities, parks and open space transfers, stormwater and NPDES responsibilities, police and fire transition issues, and reimbursement for unfinished capital projects.

Ryan said the process would begin with negotiation of the ILA terms between the city and the county, adoption by both bodies, and then use of the ILA to streamline later, area‑specific annexation steps. He explained that a master ILA can reduce repetitive negotiation by “knocking out the big stuff” ahead of a specific annexation and can, in some cases, eliminate the petition‑by‑residents route by using an agreed ILA plus the Boundary Review Board process.

Council members asked several substantive questions. Council member Steckler argued that a master ILA may lack the specifics needed for a particular area and suggested the city might instead wait until it identifies a target annexation area before negotiating detailed terms. Ryan answered that the master ILA is intended to expedite later annexations by resolving broad policy questions up front, while leaving room for area‑specific adjustments.

Other council members raised technical concerns about stormwater and deferred maintenance liabilities in county‑developed areas. Director Todd noted that the county currently operates as an NPDES Phase I permittee and may be more advanced in some stormwater programs, but councilors asked staff to analyze the extent of deferred maintenance risk prior to committing to any agreement. Several council members also noted that the county’s recent comprehensive plan redesignated much of the growth area to medium density, and they asked how that would affect development outcomes prior to annexation.

Ryan said the draft ILA is new statewide (enabled by statute in 2020) and has been used by other cities; he offered to return with a deeper analysis of pros and cons if the council wishes. The briefing was informational; no formal action was taken.

Why it matters: a master annexation ILA could speed future annexations, clarify service transitions and give Mill Creek earlier voice in land‑use decisions inside its growth area. Council members emphasized the need for additional analysis on zoning outcomes, stormwater liabilities and which parks or capital projects the county may wish to retain or transfer.

Next steps: staff offered to return with a more detailed evaluation of benefits and risks and with recommendations for any council direction on pursuing an ILA with Snohomish County.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Regular Meeting - 13 May 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Planning director Jeff Ryan outlined a draft master annexation interlocal agreement (ILA) with Snohomish County at a study session, saying the agreement would set predictable rules for future annexations but does not commit the city to annex any area; council members asked for more analysis of pros, cons and stormwater liabilities.","taxTitle","Mill Creek, Snohomish County, Washington","taxId",71062,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6055817,"Council approves $41,460 Alta amendment to pursue Safe Streets demonstration grant; budget, CIP amended",686,2512000,3198000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3314938-45f1b3671a774b49487cbd49a55696df&start=2512&end=3198","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3314938-45f1b3671a774b49487cbd49a55696df/thumbnail_2512000.jpg","/articles/6055817/Mill-Creek/Snohomish-County/Washington/Council-approves-41460-Alta-amendment-to-pursue-Safe-Streets-demonstration-grant-budget-CIP-amended","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6055817-7273459598af2ab9b0052883ea2e0b54/orig.mp4?Expires=1771216614&Signature=MG8PN-y~QDORXWfmXKGpEogAImHDfo6k1lW4QG~IbdaBpGm3eMvwAVpHkwuTx9nAecXKW2inHffpE1cnOCaAZullnaupAjaByawB2h6hLEERs3zEAn7ROya5JAIBujUjHpca6aKyJJgy4oYawzlbANCgS1n4BPxAQnIiD~dc0DLU6AmWNhsguEXDtGjwv7F1AQq3kZX3YVbrjq2dxZkvX7Y1MifdZY0UQZlbssZCszhHJLWGJ1QgeEGgRGxR21yZ3~bXxXykIRC9uLhLBkyyzddNqu1flTIqlgP0jCPuAhPFfv523msYvp5ft2N~WbKIEsDw5tgwoWOTYJeJL~g4NA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mill Creek City Council on May 20, 2025 approved a $41,460 contract amendment with Alta Planning and Design to prepare conceptual designs, cost estimates and grant narratives to support a federal Safe Streets demonstration and implementation grant application. The council also adopted budget and capital improvement plan amendments to provide $40,000 of additional funding for the safety action plan project; both measures passed on unanimous 6‑0 votes.

Presenting the request, the city’s project lead (identified in the meeting as Mr. Bean) told the council Alta will complete conceptual design plans and budgets for potential demonstration projects — including intersection and corridor options discussed in the prior meeting — and prepare narrative, budget and schedule materials required by the grant. Bean said the grant deadline is June 26 and that Alta must deliver draft materials to the city on a tight timeline to allow final revisions before submission.

Bean stated the consultant work “is a lot of effort just to get this done in 5 weeks” and gave a total contract figure of $41,466 (the council motion capped the amendment at $41,460). Finance staff recommended funding the amendment from the road improvement fund (fund 318) rather than the general‑purpose ARPA/one‑time funds; staff said there is sufficient surplus in fund 318 for the 2025–26 budget year.

Council members asked how large a grant the city might pursue; staff said the final grant target is not yet known but that they anticipate “something in the millions” depending on the conceptual design and cost estimates Alta produces. Council member Steckler clarified that the requested $40,000 amendment appears in two budget lines but the net cash increase is $40,000; staff confirmed the CIP project ST0003 will increase from about $240,000 to roughly $280,000 to reflect the amendment.

Mayor Pro Tem and others framed the amendment as an investment to pursue potentially larger federal matching funds that could change project scope; as one council member put it, the city would spend a modest amount now to try for a grant that could enable a more extensive safety project rather than a small crossing that the current capital plan funds.

Two formal motions were made and passed. The first authorized the city manager to execute the contract amendment with Alta not to exceed $41,460; the second ordinance amended the 2025–26 budget and the 2025–2030 capital improvement plan to provide the additional funding for the safety action plan project. Both measures passed 6‑0.

Why it matters: staff told the council the Alta work will create substantive conceptual designs and cost estimates needed to compete for federal demonstration funds that could finance multi‑hundred‑thousand to multi‑million‑dollar safety projects on corridors such as 30th Avenue and Mill Creek Boulevard. If awarded, the grants would require a local match and would change the city’s capital‑project sequencing.

Next steps: Alta will prepare 10–15% conceptual plans, budgets, and grant narratives on the timetable presented; staff expects to submit the grant application in late June. The council amended the budget and CIP to ensure the project is funded through the grant application phase.","The Mill Creek City Council voted 6‑0 to authorize a contract amendment with Alta Planning and Design for up to $41,460 to prepare conceptual designs and grant materials for a federal Safe Streets application; council amended the 2025–26 budget and the 2025–2030 CIP to add $40,000 to project ST0003.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6055821,"Mill Creek study finds public works needs 15,000 sq. ft. building and 3–5 acre yard; five parcels shortlisted",922,503000,1425000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3314938-45f1b3671a774b49487cbd49a55696df&start=503&end=1425","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3314938-45f1b3671a774b49487cbd49a55696df/thumbnail_503000.jpg","/articles/6055821/Mill-Creek/Snohomish-County/Washington/Mill-Creek-study-finds-public-works-needs-15000-sq-ft-building-and-35-acre-yard-five-parcels-shortlisted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6055821-ed7ad4ce7080397cda01c456285a1e82/orig.mp4?Expires=1771216614&Signature=NoV9Jg3YbDXGL2AF-saxRucJRgDaypyHDcRnZbJYagUP-AMb0~0laUuaiayCZmTAg9G1ueHSuf29E5sLyfes7Z96HiGhEohshe1BNkrYVJXA8XGbhVAK5qVZ4CBpSLfBKNOfQK3EX7bIQ8mt7sCw9BWB1pbYtFuhZcFNTj4PqC~rsRauo6sw9c-qfh705Cs6Bo2zB4KOOmhhnkidelR2VhNTbCHEbS25YGkyeiuUr0eA-VbJsKSeQysCZ5G2bfyYQDan1-E3zmG02d6lBaXrD-pf26giqu-Gc-WRn1VGsw1edKIHmBQdEZMHso6xGAux0yirD9cV7sJpu1GuqBeiew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mill Creek City Council heard a needs‑assessment update on May 20, 2025, on a planned replacement facility for the city’s public works operations. Consultants from Makers presented findings that the existing maintenance shop at City Hall is undersized and that Mill Creek should plan for a roughly 15,000‑square‑foot building and a minimum 3‑acre site (5 acres preferred) to meet 20‑year growth and potential annexation scenarios.

The study, presented by Rish Akhil, project manager for Makers, said the maintenance shop “is out of capacity” and that current arrangements — with crew offices and shop functions dispersed in and around City Hall and fleet parked outdoors — increase maintenance costs and operational risk. Diego Rodriguez, a planner with the consultant team, described logistics problems at City Hall that require occasional traffic control for deliveries and leave large vehicles parked in spaces intended for compact cars.

The report compares Mill Creek’s facilities to peers and found that Mill Creek currently operates from roughly 5,000 square feet and ‘‘a little over an acre’’ of site area while peer cities typically operate with larger staff, buildings and yard areas. “We estimate you would require about 15,000 square feet to meet your 20‑year growth projections,” Akhil said, and recommended an additional roughly 20,000 square feet of covered storage and parking that can be phased in as budget allows.

Consultants screened about 40 parcels in the city and the urban growth area and, after filtering for size (minimum ~3 acres), zoning compatibility and access to arterials, short‑listed five candidate sites. Those five include the city‑owned Dobson site, two privately owned parcels inside city limits and two in the urban growth area. Staff noted some candidate parcels are active businesses (Pacific Topsoils) or have development constraints; the Silver Lake site and the Cook property were set aside because Silver Lake was too small and Cook lacks adequate size and would be constrained by wetlands and buffers.

Council members pressed consultants on annexation timing and whether to wait for a formal annexation decision before acquiring land. Akhil recommended planning for flexibility: selecting a site that can accommodate annexation scenarios and advising a 5‑acre target to preserve options. Council member Steckler and others emphasized the advantage of pursuing a city‑owned option (Dobson) and asked whether adjacent parcels such as Cook could be combined with Dobson for yard space; Keegan, the city’s operations representative, said storage across the street from Dobson would be feasible and that “we don't currently have enough room” to store materials, gravel and asphalt at scale.

Council also discussed cost differences between raw land and repurposing existing industrial buildings; the consultants said acquisition feasibility and a cost comparison of developing raw land versus rehabbing existing structures will be part of the next analysis phase. Consultants said the site selection and acquisition feasibility work will continue over the coming months and the final findings are expected in late summer or early fall, with another briefing in approximately September.

Why it matters: a consolidated, modern public works facility would allow more preventive maintenance, reduce contracted work, and provide covered, secure storage for fleet — changes consultants said will decrease lifecycle costs and improve crew safety. The council asked staff and consultants to evaluate combinations that use city‑owned property first and to include annexation scenarios and cost tradeoffs in the next report.

Next steps: consultants will continue site evaluation and acquisition feasibility for the five shortlisted parcels and will return to council with a recommended site and refined cost estimates in the coming months.","City consultants told the Mill Creek City Council that the current public works facilities are undersized, recommended a roughly 15,000‑sq. ft. building plus covered storage and at least 3 acres (ideally 5) of site area, and shortlisted five potential parcels including the city‑owned Dobson site.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council hears primer on master annexation ILA with Snohomish County; staff say it’s ‘rules of the road,’ not commitment

Council approves $41,460 Alta amendment to pursue Safe Streets demonstration grant; budget, CIP amended

Mill Creek study finds public works needs 15,000 sq. ft. building and 3–5 acre yard; five parcels shortlisted