Clyde Hill News: “Middle housing” and filling vacancies the focus of 2025’s first council meeting
Also: Mayor releases lists of “Strategic Priorities” and “Key Work Items”
Tuesday night’s city council meeting agenda includes a dozen appointments to fill vacancies, as well as a discussion of what to do next with draft legislation to bring Clyde Hill into compliance with state mandates to increase housing density (link).
More context and details on these topics as well as on the city’s larger 2025 plans below, but first: Medina is hosting an event about “middle housing” next Wednesday, January 15th. This event is open to the public and an opportunity for Clyde Hill residents to see another point of view on how a small city approaches compliance with state requirements. Details are available here (link).
Also, this newsletter has reported on a local rat problem previously (link). The city provided an update on the issue:
UPDATE 1/6/2025: Notice of Violation was issued 12/19/25 [sic] under the new Nuisance Code which assessed a $500 fine. On 1/6/25 a site inspection revealed substantial progress on trash removal in front and sides of house. We will continue to work with King County Health on their investigations and will plan on periodic site inspection follow ups in the coming weeks. (link)
Disclaimer: while I am a council member on the Clyde Hill City Council, I write this newsletter in my capacity as an individual resident. Any opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily the position of the city. City information and references here are from public sources. I welcome email responses — and if the topic is about city business I will respond from my city email account.
Appointments and vacancies
City council position 3
The city council will select one of the three residents — Brad Andonian, Sean Hyatt, and Neha Monga — who applied to fill the council seat recently vacated by Kim Muromoto (link). The person appointed will serve until the November 2025 election results are certified.
According to the city’s website,
Clyde Hill’s five-member City Council functions as the City’s legislative body. Tasked with providing policy direction, enacting legislation, and approving a biennial budget, the City Council plays a pivotal role in shaping Clyde Hill’s governance. (link)
Planning commission positions 1-4
The mayor selected four residents — Jared Wheeler, Ashley Eckel, Spencer Hamlin, and Rob Aigner — who applied for these positions. These appointments are subject to council confirmation (link).
According to the city’s website,
“The Clyde Hill Planning Commission serves in an advisory capacity to the City Council on matters involving zoning, land use, and long-range planning.” (link)
Civil service commission positions 1 and 2
The mayor selected two residents — Pat Brzusek and Anna Duff — who applied. These appointments are not subject to council confirmation (link).
According to the city’s website,
“The Clyde Hill Civil Service Commission consists of five members who have jurisdiction over full-time Police Department Officers in matters relating to qualifications and hiring, as well as complaints or appeals by police officers concerning grievances, disciplinary matters, and termination.” (link)
2025 Financial Sustainability Task Force
The city received applications from five residents — Daniel Brzusek, Wayne Burns, Bruce Dodds, James Henningsen, and Neha Monga — and accepted all of them to serve on this new task force (link) focused on addressing the budget deficit.
According to the city’s website,
“The Task Force will be tasked with learning about City operations, identifying opportunities for reducing operating expenditures and raising revenues, and evaluating strategies to achieve a balanced budget by 2026.” (link)
“Middle Housing” legislation
The City of Clyde Hill needs to update its local land use code to comply with several new state laws related to housing density.
According to a memo from city staff (link), the council and community can expect an update at Tuesday night’s meeting to “clarify legal interpretations and available approaches” to complying with the new state laws. In the memo, city staff note that
While an effort has been made to seek further clarification, differences in interpretation remain.
The council has several options, according to the memo, including referring the draft code to the Planning Commission for additional review.
The city’s website has more information about “Middle Housing & ADU Regulations” here (link).
Framing 2025: Key Work Items
Mayor Steve Friedman offered his administration’s “Key Work Items” for 2025, starting with “promote employee satisfaction” at the top of the list:
This is a good list of activities, with priorities, expectations, and specific deliverables left somewhat unclear: for example, it’s not clear specifically what’s included as part of “Prepare for Stormwater Utility launch in 2026.”
From a very operational point of view, the relative emphasis on employee satisfaction (at the same level as addressing the budget deficit or compliance with state law) makes sense, especially if you believe that “motivated” comes along with “satisfied.”
Another approach to a city’s key work starts from a consideration of residents, and then frames goals and results in their context. Residents have been consistent in asking for results: a balanced budget, stormwater repairs, etc.
“The most critical step in any decision-making process is to get the problem right” (link) is an accepted good practice.
Framing is crucial and has a large impact on decisions. For example, there is a one-word difference between the framing of the 2024 and 2025 goals in the Clyde Hill Mayor’s “Budget Message” documents:
“The goal of the 2024 Budget process is to deliver a balanced budget to Clyde Hill residents that maintains or strategically enhances the current quality and level of service for essential functions.” (link)
“The goal of the 2025 Budget process is to deliver a budget to Clyde Hill residents that maintains or strategically enhances the current quality and level of service for essential functions.” (link)
Looking ahead to 2025, “Key Work Items” and “Strategic Priorities” (link) are a great start. Clarity on what results residents can expect will certainly emerge between now and the 2026 budget.
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Dean Hachamovitch