Everett Common Council

Everett Common Council
Name	Everett Common Council
House type	Unicameral
Body	Legislative branch of Everett, Washington
Jurisdiction	Everett, Washington
Term limits	None
Foundation	1893
Leader1 type	President
Leader1	Brenda Stonecipher
Election1	2020
Leader2 type	Vice President
Leader2	Scott Murphy
Election2	2022
Political groups1	Officially nonpartisan, (5 Democrats, 2 Republicans)
Meeting place	City Council Chambers, Everett City Hall
Website	everettwa.gov/council

Everett Common Council. The legislative governing body of the city of Everett, Washington, the Everett Common Council is a seven-member body responsible for establishing city laws, policies, and budgets. Operating within the mayor–council system, the council serves as a check on the executive power of the Mayor. Its members are elected from geographic districts to four-year staggered terms in officially nonpartisan elections.

History

The council was established with the city's incorporation in 1893, following the approval of a charter by the Washington State Legislature. Early governance was heavily influenced by the city's founders, including Henry Hewitt Jr., Charles L. Colby, and John D. Rockefeller, whose Everett Land Company drove initial development. The council's early decades were marked by rapid growth tied to industries like the Weyerhaeuser lumber mills and the Everett Shipyard. A significant shift occurred in 1971 when the city transitioned from an at-large election system to district-based representation following advocacy by groups like the NAACP to ensure broader geographic and demographic representation. The council has operated from several locations, including the original 1894 City Hall and the current City Hall complex.

Composition and elections

The council comprises seven members, each elected from one of seven single-member districts. Elections are held on a staggered four-year cycle, coinciding with state and federal elections administered by the Snohomish County Auditor. While elections are officially nonpartisan, candidates often receive endorsements from local organizations like the Snohomish County Democrats or the Snohomish County Republican Party. To qualify, candidates must be registered voters and residents of their district for at least one year. Vacancies are filled by a majority vote of the remaining councilmembers, with the appointee serving until the next general election. The council elects from among its members a President and Vice President to lead meetings and represent the body.

Powers and duties

The council's primary authority is derived from the Everett City Charter and the Revised Code of Washington. Its core powers include enacting and amending local ordinances, adopting the annual city budget proposed by the Mayor, and setting property tax levies. The body holds confirmation power over major mayoral appointments, such as the Police Chief and department directors. It also approves contracts, franchises, and land-use decisions, including zoning changes and comprehensive plan updates under the Growth Management Act. The council exercises oversight through public hearings, audits, and the ability to subpoena witnesses and city records.

Committees

Much of the council's preparatory work is conducted through standing committees, which review legislation and policy in specific areas before recommendations are made to the full council. Key standing committees include the Finance Committee, which reviews the budget and fiscal policies; the Planning and Community Development Committee, handling land use and housing issues; and the Public Safety Committee, overseeing the Everett Police Department and Everett Fire Department. The council may also form special select or ad-hoc committees for focused issues, such as homelessness or economic recovery. Committee chairs are appointed by the Council President and meetings are subject to the Washington Open Public Meetings Act.

Recent initiatives and controversies

In recent years, the council has grappled with significant regional challenges. Major initiatives have included passing ordinances related to the homelessness crisis, such as sanctioned encampment sites and funding for the Housing Hope organization. The council has also been involved in complex land-use decisions surrounding the Waterfront Place redevelopment and the long-term future of the Port of Everett. Controversies have included debates over police funding and accountability measures following statewide legislation like Initiative 940, zoning conflicts in neighborhoods like North Everett, and budgetary pressures from mandates like the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. The council's responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic relief efforts were also subjects of extensive public debate.

Notable members

Several councilmembers have later achieved higher office or significant regional prominence. Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson, who later became a renowned U.S. Senator, began his political career on the council in the 1930s. Monrad Wallgren, another council alumnus, served as Governor of Washington and as a U.S. Representative. More recently, Ray Stephanson served as council president before being elected Mayor, a position he held for over a decade. Other notable figures include community advocate Karla K. Nelson and former Snohomish County Council member Brenda Stonecipher, who currently serves as Council President.

Category:Everett, Washington Category:Washington (state) city councils Category:1893 establishments in Washington (state)