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ORDINANCE Page 3 of 19 <br />3. The proposed development regulation amendments promote the best long-term <br />interests of the Everett community <br />P. On April 15, 2026, the Everett City Council held a public hearing, after proper notice, and <br />considered public comment and the entire record related to the amendments contained in this <br />ordinance. <br />NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY OF EVERETT DOES ORDAIN: <br />Section 1. EMC 19.04.110 is hereby amended as follows, with strikeout text deleted and underlined text <br />added. <br />19.04.110, CRITICAL AREAS DEFINITIONS <br />This section defines specific terms to be applied where used in Chapter 19.37 EMC. <br />“Agricultural activities, existing and ongoing” means those activities conducted on lands defined <br />in RCW 84-34-020(2), and those activities involved in the production of crops and livestock, <br />including but not limited to operation, maintenance and conservation measures of farm and <br />stock ponds or drainage ditches, irrigation systems, changes between agricultural activities, and <br />normal operation, maintenance or repair of existing serviceable structures, facilities or <br />improved areas. Activities that bring an area into agricultural use are not part of an ongoing <br />activity. An operation ceases to be ongoing when the area in which it was conducted is <br />proposed for conversion to a nonagricultural use or has lain idle for a period of longer than five <br />years, unless the idle land is registered in a federal or state soils conservation program. <br />“Alteration” means any human-induced action which impacts the existing condition of a critical <br />area. Alterations include but are not limited to grading; filling; dredging; draining; channelizing; <br />cutting, pruning, limbing or topping, clearing, relocating or removing vegetation; applying <br />herbicides or pesticides or any hazardous or toxic substance; discharging pollutants; grazing <br />domestic animals; paving, construction, application of gravel; modifying for surface water <br />management purposes; compaction; excavation or any other human activity that impacts the <br />existing vegetation, hydrology, wildlife or wildlife habitat of the critical area or its buffer. <br />Alteration does not include walking, passive recreation, fishing or other similar activities. <br />“Best available science” means current scientific information used in the process to designate, <br />protect, or restore critical areas, that is derived from a valid scientific process as defined by WAC <br />365-195-900 through 365-195-925. <br />“Best Management Practices (BMPs)” are conservation practices or systems of practices and <br />management measures that: <br />a) Control soil loss and reduce water quality degradation caused by high <br />concentrations of nutrients, animal waste, toxics, or sediment; <br />b) Minimize adverse impacts to surface water and ground water flow and circulation <br />patterns and to the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of wetlands; <br />c) Protect trees, vegetation, and soils designated to be retained during and following <br />site construction and use native plant species appropriate to the site for re- <br />vegetation of disturbed areas; and