February 2026
Hello!
Exciting news! Mayor's Memo is now the Lynnwood Monthly! New name, same great information about the work going on across our City departments. Enjoy!
Development and Business Services
Lynnwood Hosts Business Builder Expo
The City of Lynnwood is partnering with Economic Alliance Snohomish County to host a one-day expo for entrepreneurs, small business owners, or those thinking about starting a business. Whether you are shaping an idea, launching a new venture, or preparing to scale, the Business Builder Expo will deliver practical education, expert guidance, and meaningful connections to help you move forward with confidence. The Business Builder Expo features targeted panels and hands-on workshops focused on the most relevant challenges and opportunities facing today’s entrepreneurs.
When: Tuesday, March 31, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Lynnwood Event Center 3711 196th Street, Lynnwood, WA 98036
The Business Builder Expo will also host a resource fair featuring lenders, marketing agencies, business advisors, legal services, and other organizations committed to small business success. The resource fair is open to all attendees throughout the event.
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City Council Approves DBS Fee Increases
On December 8, the Lynnwood City Council approved changes to building permit, development, and business license fees. Starting in 2026, the city will implement an increase to building permit and development fees as part of an accelerated effort to ensure fees more accurately reflect the true cost of reviewing and processing permit applications. Most permits were increased 14.7%, however larger permits within increased timelines and complexity were increased by 35%. Through this update, the Development and Business Services department can maintain our service levels while improving our review efficiency and timelines.
DBS will also adjust the fees for obtaining a business license, effective March 1, 2026. This 32.8% fee increase will help DBS maintain our service levels while aligning costs with those in other cities in the region. Lynnwood business license fees were increased to keep up with inflation rates, as our fees have not changed since 2019. For more information about obtaining a business license, call 425-670-5421 or click here to learn more.
If you have questions about the update fees or are planning to apply for permits in 2026, contact our Permits team at 425-670-5400 or by visiting LynnwoodWA.gov/Services/Apply-for-a-permit.
In-Person Office Hours with Small Business Administration at City Hall
It’s now easier than ever to meet with the Small Business Administration! We have partnered with the SBA to host in-person office hours at City Hall. On the fourth Tuesday of each month, the SBA will be available for drop-in and scheduled appointments at no cost. This is an opportunity for small businesses and entrepreneurs to get one-on-one coaching. The SBA offers many resources, including small-business funding, federal contracting, disaster assistance, technical assistance, mentoring, advising, and more. Office hours are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. We encourage you to schedule an appointment in advance to secure time with an advisor.
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Geek Fest West Comes to Lynnwood
The Lynnwood Event Center recently announced that Geek Fest West is coming to Lynnwood July 17-19. GeekFest West is a multi-day celebration of geek culture celebrating creativity, gaming, technology, pop culture, comics, cosplay and more. The event features speakers, interactive exhibits, vendors, gaming tournaments, and hands-on experiences designed for all ages.
Entrepreneurs Co-working and Networking Hours
We’re also hosting monthly coworking and networking hours for all entrepreneurs and small businesses in Lynnwood. This is a chance to connect with other entrepreneurs while co-working or enjoying some coffee from Peace of Mind Brewing. The networking session occurs on the second Thursday of each month at Peace of Mind Brewing from 11:30 a., to 1:30 p.m.
iVista @ Alderwood
Permits were recently submitted to the city for the iVista @ Alderwood project. This 360,000 square foot mixed-use development project will be 8 stories tall and include 256 housing units. This project is expected to have 1,2, and 3 bedrooms. It will also include 2,400 of dedicated ground floor retail space. More information: https://www.lynnwoodwa.gov/Projects/Private-Development/iVista-Alderwood
Profession Contributions
On February 18, 2026, Planner Brian Kirk’s thesis was published as a peer-reviewed article to the Journal of the American Planning Association (JAPA) under the title “How Right-of-Way Adaptations Support Urban Resilience: Pandemic Streateries and Social Interactions in Seattle’s University District” (Abramson, Kirk, Idziorek, Born, and Berney; 2026). This article explores how “streateries”, or the outdoor dining areas established in parking stalls in the right-of-way during the pandemic, contribute to robust and vibrant systems of social interaction. The study observed social interactions in streateries, namely “chance encounters”, and compared them to locations without streateries, finding that both the diversity of social interactions and observations of chance encounters were significantly higher for street spaces with streateries.
Preparing for DADUs (Detached Accessory Dwelling Units)
DBS is beginning a program to create preapproved DADU plans to expedite permitting and design timelines. The intent of the program is to increase the housing supply of smaller units that could be sold. The program will allow residents to select from a gallery of preapproved plans for a detached building of up to 1,000 square feet, connect with the designer, prepare the site plan, and submit for a permit.
Executive
 Mayor Hurst's State of the City Scheduled for March 26th
The community is invited to attend the State of the City event featuring Mayor George Hurst on Thursday, March 26th, at 10 a.m. (doors will open at 9 a.m.) at the new Lynnwood Neighborhood Center.
Representatives from the City of Lynnwood departments will also have resource tables with information about upcoming events and available services.
This event is free and open to the public.
Join us as we look ahead to the upcoming year!
 Parks Superintendent Eric Peterson speaking at Hygiene Center Roundtable Discussion
Collaborating with the Community on the Lynnwood Hygiene Center
Last month, the City hosted a roundtable discussion to discuss the Lynnwood Hygiene Center. The roundtable, which took place during the Wednesday, February 25th Council Work Session, included more than 50 community members, including neighbors and business owners near the Hygiene Center, City employees, members of the Jean Kim Foundation, which manages the Center, and Rick Steves, who purchased the property last December. The conversation included previous impacts to the neighborhood around the Center, including Gold Park, the future of the Hygiene Center, and opportunities to partner to create a safe environment for the community and the patrons of the Center.
The roundtable was led by Interim Assistant City Administrator Lynn Sordel, with group discussions facilitated by Mayor Hurst and City Council Members. On March 2nd, the Council began identifying action items following the event, including drafting a possible "Good Neighbor Agreement" in the future. You can watch the roundtable discussion on the City Council's website.
Black History Month Proclamation
During the January 26th Business Meeting, the City Council presented a proclamation recognizing Black History Month. The proclamation was received by local leaders including City of Mountlake Terrace Mayor Dr. Steve Woodard, Vice President of Community Engagement, Volunteers of America, Western Washington; Meisha Wangerin, Site Director, Lynnwood Neighborhood Center, Volunteers of America, Western Washington; Council Member William L. Paige, Jr., City of Mountlake Terrace; Dr. Yvonne Terrell-Powell, Vice President for Student Success, Belonging and Global Engagement, Edmonds College; Megan Watson, Program Specialist, Edmonds College; Tiffany Mphepo, Executive Officer for Administration, Edmonds College; Chelsea Wright, Chair, DEI Commission; Rosa Murillo, Member, DEI Commission.
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Lunar New Year Proclamation
On Monday, February 9th, the City presented a proclamation celebrating the Lunar New Year. The proclamation was received by members of the local Asian community.
Pictured left to right: Kendee Yamaguchi, CEO of Asian Counseling and Referral Services; Robert Gutcheck, Lynnwood Arts Commission; local artist Dr. Koon-Yui Poon; Syvia Hang, artist and secretary of the U.S. Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Association; Tysen Phong Nguyen, Asian Service Center board of directors; Alison Pence, Asian Service Center board of directors chair; Robert Ha, executive director of the Asian Service Center and David Chan, South County Fire commissioner and Asian Service Center board of directors.
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Inside Lynnwood First Issue 2026 is here!
The latest issue of Inside Lynnwood is now available. The new issue includes a message from Mayor Hurst, updates, upcoming City events, and more. You can view the issue here.
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Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts
 From Director Joel Faber:
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we would like to start with two quotes from him. “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.” and “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” I shared these quotes at the welcome to our Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. At the heart of the work of the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Department is service to our community. It is an honor to serve Lynnwood through the programs, parks, and partnerships we provide.
Serving our community at the MLK Day of Service
On Monday, January 19th, the community came together in the spirit of service to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy by making it a day on, not a day off. The City hosted the annual MLK Day of Service along the Mesika Trail, welcoming 125 volunteers who dedicated their time and energy to caring for our shared outdoor spaces.
Volunteers represented a wide cross-section of the community, including Representative Larson, Kaiser Permanente, who brought more than 40 volunteers, and several other community groups and individuals who showed up ready to work. The morning kicked off with a warm welcome from Mayor Hurst, Director Faber, and Parks staff, who thanked volunteers for their commitment to service and emphasized the vital role community members play in keeping Lynnwood’s parks and trails healthy and accessible.
Throughout the day, volunteers accomplished an incredible amount of work—laying bark, planting trees, picking up litter, and removing invasive plants along the trail corridor. Thanks to their collective efforts, the Mesika Trail is now cleaner, greener, and better prepared for future users to enjoy. Events like this underscore the importance of community service and reinforce that stewardship of our parks and trails is a shared responsibility. We thank all who participated and helped make MLK Day a productive day of service, creating a positive and lasting benefit for the community.
Recreation Updates
January began with a planned closure of the Aquatics facilities during the first full week of the month to complete annual maintenance. During this time, staff focused on deep cleaning, disassembling and rebuilding pool filters, and completing other preventive maintenance tasks to support safe operations and water quality. The facilities reopened on schedule following the completion of this work.
At the Recreation Center and Lynnwood Senior Center, winter quarter classes are getting underway, and participation is picking up. Swim lessons are also fully up and running as we head into the new year.
On January 17, we hosted a free Group Fitness Workout Party to preview our Group Exercise classes. These events are offered three times each year and provide an opportunity for participants to experience the variety of formats we offer. Each class format was featured for approximately 20 minutes, helping to build excitement and encourage future participation.
We are entering one of our busiest registration periods of the year, with several key programs opening in early March.
Important Registration Dates!
Adult Softball registration opens March 2. On March 6, we will launch Summer Camp registration, including Kamp Kookamunga, TACO, and Preschool Summer Camp. Lynnwood residents will have priority access from 5:30–8:59 a.m., with registration opening to the general public at 9:00 a.m. Spring class registration will also open that day. Registration for the 55+ Softball League begins March 9. Spring Swim Lesson registration opens March 29 for Lynnwood residents and March 30 for the general public.
Healthy Communities Update
We are pleased to present several upcoming opportunities for artists to contribute to Lynnwood’s growing arts and cultural landscape. These initiatives are designed to engage creatives of diverse backgrounds and disciplines, while advancing the City’s commitment to accessible and community-centered arts programming.
Current opportunities include:
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Community Garden Mural – A mural project at the Lynnwood Community Garden/Senior Center designed to enhance a shared public space through vibrant, community-reflective artwork.
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Lynnwood Idol – A vocal performance competition for youth, providing emerging singers an opportunity to showcase their talent and perform at a major community event.
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World Cup Soccer Ball Art – An artist-designed large-scale soccer ball art installation project celebrating the excitement of FIFA World Cup games coming to our region.
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Lynnwood Artist – A spotlight and engagement opportunity recognizing and elevating local Lynnwood artists to exhibit at City Hall Gallery this summer.
Police
In January and February 2026, the Lynnwood PD’s community team had many wonderful opportunities to meet with our community members to talk about safety and get to know one another better. This included a visit to GenCare Lifestyle Lynnwood at Scriber Gardens, Goddard School Lynnwood, College Place Middle School Career Day, and a book donation to Cedar Valley School 1st through 3rd graders.
We also held our year’s first Cops and Clergy meeting in early February. And as always, our Lynnwood Police Volunteers continued to meet, train, conduct vacation house checks, patrol, and hold car seat checks year-round. We are grateful for an eventful two months to kick off 2026, and we look forward to what eventful moments the spring will bring for the PD and to all who live and visit Lynnwood! If you would like to schedule our community health and safety officers or crime prevention team to come to your business, school, community, or group to discuss safety, email crimeprevention@lynnwoodwa.gov.
Public Works
The City of Lynnwood Fish Hatchery and Environmental Education Center Welcomes 30,000 Coho Salmon Babies!
In January, Public Works staff picked up 30,000 Coho salmon eggs from the Issaquah State Hatchery and are now caring for the newly hatched fry in preparation for their releases in March, April, and May.
The City partners with Nature Vision to provide City-funded environmental education programs for Lynnwood students, while also offering additional educational programs and public tours at no cost to the community.
To find out more about this program, or to sign up to visit the hatchery, follow the link below!
Poplar Way Bridge Project
The City of Lynnwood, Washington’s Poplar Way Bridge Project will construct a new, multimodal, six-lane bridge over Interstate 5 between the intersections of 196th Street SW (State Route 524)/Poplar Way and 33rd Avenue W/Alderwood Mall Boulevard. Prior studies have identified this project as the highest priority transportation investment needed to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow in the area.
In January, Public Works staff completed the project bid solicitation and review process, and the City Council awarded the construction contract to Max J Kuney Company at the January 26, 2026, Council meeting.
A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for April 8, 2026.
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For questions regarding the Lynnwood Monthly, please email communications@lynnwoodwa.gov.
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