Snohomish City Council takes final action before new administration

Published 1:38 pm Monday, December 29, 2025

EVERETT — The Snohomish City Council’s vote to approve a new member to the planning commission during a special meeting on Dec. 23 drew criticism from one council member.

The meeting was scheduled after Terry Lippincott was appointed to Position 1 on the City Council Dec. 3, leaving a vacant seat on the planning commission. Maygen Hetherington announced her resignation from that position on Oct. 21 but continued serving until Lippincott could take over.

During the special meeting, current mayor Linda Redmon recommended the council appoint Zachary Schrempp, a consulting engineer and primary author of the City of Snohomish 2020 Water System Plan. However, council member David Flynn said the meeting was inappropriate before the start of a new administration.

“I respectfully disagree with the decision to call a special meeting so close to the start of a new administration,” he said. “In a healthy democracy, the will of the voters must be honored by allowing the newly elected council to deliberate and decide on major issues rather than having an ongoing body act at the last minute.”

In the November general election, Redmon’s challenger, Aaron Hoffman, won the mayoral race by 5.5 points and will take office on Jan. 1. City Council incumbent Karen Guzak also lost to Anup Deol by 7.5 points and new city council member Gabe Jacobs was elected to Position 6.

“Calling a special council meeting with an action item at 3 p.m. mid-week — on a holiday week — with a minimal amount of public announcement, I feel is not appropriate,” Flynn said.

He attempted to postpone the meeting for the new year, but the rest of council disagreed.

“I think everybody here is glad to be here and it’s certainly within our purview to do this appointment here before our mayor’s term ends and before mine ends,” Guzak said. “We have excellent candidates here — I was really pleased to see that.”

The city council voted 6-0 to appoint Schrempp to the planning commission with Flynn abstaining.

The City Council received five applications from within the city’s urban growth area. Redmon met with Planning and Development Services Director Brooke Eidem who recommended Schrempp because of his knowledge in utilities engineering and water and wastewater comprehensive plans.

“She felt that that was going to be very important, especially with opening up the northeast corner of the city there in the annexation,” Redmon said, referencing the North Lake Annexation, for which the city approved an agreement on Aug. 19 and the County Council approved Sept. 24.

The council members agreed that all applicants were of high quality. In response, City Attorney Emily Guildner informed the council that the planning commission, which currently has seven members, may have up to 12. Council member Lippincott said the number of members could be increased to nine at a later meeting.

Taylor Scott Richmond: 425-339-3046; taylor.richmond@heraldnet.com; X: @BTayOkay