Everett, Washington Mayor Declares Waits Motel A “Blight On The Surrounding Neighborhood” Asks City Council To Condemn

The Waits Motel at 1301 Lombard in north Everett, Washington has been the subject of complaints to Everett Police, city administration and even mass testimony by neighbors to the Everett City Council regarding problems associated with the property that have caused problems in the neighborhood.

This week Mayor Cassie Franklin is asking the Everett City Council to pass a resolution declaring that the Acquisition of the Property Located at 1301 Lombard Avenue, Everett, Washington, commonly known as the Waits Motel, is necessary to eliminate neighborhood blight.

If passed the resolution would authorize the City to condemn the property and acquire it for fair market value.

The resolution is based on an “Executive Determination” by the Mayor and the sworn testimony of Everett Police Chief Dan Templeman in a declaration that the City of Everett says includes many examples of the Waits Motel as a venue for persons engaging in illegal drug and other criminal activity and as a threat to public health, safety and welfare.

The City says the Templeman Declaration also shows that the Waits Motel has been associated with illegal drug activity during the previous twelve months.

Among things listed in Chief Templeman’s Declaration are:

Lack of smoke detector in at least one room during a Health Inspection on 02/27/2023

Four rooms found contaminated with methamphetamine and fentanyl during a Health Inspection on 03/14/2023 Those units were deemed uninhabitable

Multiple fire code violations found during an Everett Fire Department inspection on 02/15/2023 finding multiple smoke detectors not operational

Multiple firearms violations, drive-by shootings and felony drug violations over the last 12 months.

From March 1, 2022 and June 1st 2023, a total of two hundred thirty six (236) calls for service were dispatched to the Waits Motel property

Editor’s Note: The link above shows the various reports and documentation Chief Templeman provided in his declaration.
 
The Motel has had new managers recently who have reported on social media posts that they are trying to purchase the Motel and clean it up.

There is a public comment period at the Everett City Council meeting this Wednesday July 12th at 6:30 PM in the Everett City Council Chambers at 3002 Wetmore.

Those who want to give the council their thoughts for or against can do that before they take a vote on the proposed resolution.

Here are the other ways to comment before the Everett City Council meeting on Wednesday.
 
PARTICIPATION IN REMOTE COUNCIL MEETINGS

Call in to listen to the Council meetings: 425.616.3920, conference ID: 724 887 726#

Participate remotely via Zoom by registering to speak at everettwa.gov/speakerform. You must register no later than 30 minutes prior to the meeting. Or contact Angela Ely at 425.257.8703 or aely@everettwa.gov and identify the topic you wish to address.

Provide written public comments by email to Council@everettwa.gov or mail to 2930 Wetmore Avenue, Suite 9A, Everett, WA 98201. Emailing comments 24 hours prior to the meeting will ensure your comment is distributed to councilmembers and appropriate staff.

Persons seeking to comment on non-agenda items may be asked to submit the comments in writing if the comment does not address an issue of broad public interest.

AGENDAS, BROADCAST AND RECORDINGS

The Council agendas and meeting recordings can be found, in their entirety, at everettwa.gov/citycouncil.

The Council meetings are broadcast on government-access cable Comcast Channel 21 and Frontier Channel 29. They are rebroadcast on Monday and Tuesday at noon; Thursday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Friday and Sunday at 7 p.m.; Saturday at 10 a.m.

Watch live meetings and recordings at YouTube.com/EverettCity.

CONTACT THE COUNCIL

If you do not wish to participate in the meeting, we provide these other methods of contacting your elected officials: Email the Council at Council@everettwa.gov

Call the Council offices at 425.257.8703
You may call in just to listen to the meeting: 425.616.3920, conference ID 724 887 726#