Council Districts In Everett Likely Years Away

Here is the city council’s original timeline which called for the kickoff workshop in February.

Last night the Everett City Council held their first study session on their resolution to put a proposal for city council districts before the voters this fall. The council is already two months behind their kickoff city council workshop time line listed on their January resolution. The work getting underway was called a starting point by an adviser retained to help the council with the process. Even Everett Districts Now has said under their plan the first district election would not be held until 2021.

The council has set public workshops this month on April 17th, April 19th, April 25th and April 30th.

Tuesday, April 17, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Everett School District/board room A&B (3900 Broadway) Everett Transit route 8

Thursday, April 19, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Evergreen Middle School cafeteria (7621 Beverly Lane) Everett Transit route 3 or 7

Wednesday, April 25, 3 – 4:30 p.m.
Everett Housing Authority Baker Heights Community Center large room (1401 Poplar)
Everett Transit route 29, 4 or 7

Monday, April 30, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Evergreen Middle School cafeteria (7621 Beverly Lane) Everett Transit route 3 or 7

There will also be resources available on the city’s website and outreach in multiple languages. During the month of May the city plans to offer an online survey to gather feedback on key questions. The workshops will cover district options including 5 districts with 2 at-large positions, 4 districts with 3 at-large positions, if there is a need for districts at all, the rules for creating districts and what other things have to go into the process of implementing districts in Everett.

One thing that came out of the study session last night and has also been highlighted by the Districts Now group is that while voters may want districts the formation is going to take a bit of work.

Here are a few of the points brought up last night:

• There are many ways the City Council could be structured to include districts
• There are legal requirements that must be observed when developing and adopting a council district proposal
• Considerations include timing the transition to the new model, alignment of election cycles, what person draws the actual district map and should a formal districting commission be formed and how are those members chosen?
• Private citizens can contest the local government’s proposed plan
• There is no single “best practice” for council structure including districts.
  

  Some basic rules from Wednesday night’s study session

  

  A look at how some other cities have their council districts set up. 23 cities in Washington State have some form of district representation.

  

  Advice presented to the Everett City Council on moving forward with districts.

  Here is a link to the City of Everett website dedicated to Districting

  Click here to learn more about the Everett Districts Now plan for 5 districts and 2 at large positions with the district elections beginning in 2021.