By Mellow DeTray

At the Normandy Park City Council meeting on Aug. 12, 2025, councilmembers discussed a variety of issues, from new nationwide research on homelessness to the return of a popular local summer program for kids.

The meeting included the allocation of funds for the demolition of a dilapidated property and a discussion over the cost of potentially renovating City Hall.

The council also approved new ordinances to address motorized scooter safety and hold utility providers accountable for timely repairs.

These decisions reflect the city’s ongoing efforts to improve public services and address community concerns.

Mayor’s Report: Homelessness Study

Mayor Eric Zimmerman shared that he had recently met with leading national experts on homelessness, who have published a groundbreaking study. Their study looked at evidence of what is actually happening regarding homelessness, and shows that contrary to popular belief, the rise in homelessness is not caused by a shortage of housing. These researchers found that instead of being rooted in a housing shortage, homelessness is linked to rising rates of drug addiction, as well as mental health issues.

This finding shows that the problem which needs to be solved is drug addiction, rather than simply providing housing. According to their data, moving the homeless indoors does nothing to improve mortality rates, income, or other tangible outcomes. These researchers want to study Washington State specifically as well, to assess local data. This could reshape the statewide framework for responding to homelessness.

Fun Fridays To Return

City Manager Amy Arrington shared that the recent Fun Fridays program was quite successful, and will likely be repeated in future summers. The drop-in program, which was held at the Marvista Park gazebo, ran for three weeks in July and offered kids an opportunity to do crafts and games together for free.

Miller Creek Home Abatement & Demolition

Earlier this year, the city purchased a property along Miller Creek, at 17522 13th Ave SW. This property has a decrepit home that is slated for demolition. The council unanimously approved $110,000 for the asbestos abatement, demolition, and some minor restoration of the property. The entire project has been grant funded, and using the remainder of the funds will be discussed at a meeting in September.

Franchise Agreement Fines

Utility contracts will now have new terms that include instituting a $500 daily fine for providers that don’t comply in a timely fashion with issues like pavement repair. Other cities have found this to be an effective way to get service providers to promptly finish the jobs they are supposed to do. The council was requested to waive the second reading, which they don’t like to do because it limits the public’s ability to weigh in on topics. In the end they unanimously agreed to waive the second reading in order to immediately move forward on a contract with an awaiting utility provider.

Change To Law Regarding Motorized Scooters & Bikes

Chief Dan Yourkoski presented an issue to the council, along with a proposed solution. According to the chief, complaints regarding ebikes and motorized scooters have seen a strong uptick, with at least 4 or 5 calls a week about dangerous behavior on the devices. Chief Yourkoski said that far and away, most of the problems are caused by children riding dangerously.

Yourkoski said that currently, 12-15 year olds are not even legally allowed to operate these motorized vehicles. By passing this new ordinance, this age group can legally continue to ride them, but they must follow certain rules of safe road behavior. These rules include wearing helmets, having proper lighting if it’s after dark, and riding in a “safe manner.” That last rule is at the officer’s discretion. Children under 12 can also operate these vehicles, as long as a parent is actively supervising. Confiscation will be the result of breaking the rules of the road.

Chief Yourkoski said that this is mainly a problem from June through September, when kids go back to school. They plan to offer some kind of education to kids and parents early in 2026, so families know what is expected for safe road behavior. The council voted, in a 6-1 vote, to waive the second reading of this decision as well, in order to give officers some time to see how it works. The police want to see if it has an effect on road safety, before the summer is over. Councilmember Mike Bischoff voted against it, believing that the council should not quickly push another ordinance through without a second reading.

City Hall Renovation Discussion

Public Works Director Ken Courter said the city has been in a holding pattern of deferred maintenance for the last decade, only doing the bare minimum necessary to keep the building operational. Courter said it’s now time to spend some money and get everything in order. However, recent analysis of the building shows that it could cost from $500,000 to more than $1 million to fully renovate City Hall.

The council voted 6-1 to accept the report, with Councilmember Shawn MacAvoy voting no. He expressed multiple times that this analysis was inadequate fluff, it was unrealistic, and it was not what the council was looking for when they ordered the report.

City Manager Arrington said the council will be fully discussing what to do about the building during the September study session.