Holly Garcia

At the Everett City Council Budget Hearing for Admin and Finance on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, Council Member Holly Garcia participated actively on procedural matters and budget questions. She opened one exchange with, “Thank you, Mr. Chair,” and later told a participant, “Yes, when you’re ready to present that, let us know, we’ll make sure you’re on the agenda,” offering procedural guidance about future placement on the agenda.

Garcia focused several questions on the advertising budget. She said, “Very quickly, in the budget for advertising, I just wanted to double-check,” and asked whether the line item was “for all the legal notices, or is that also just like city events?” After hearing the explanation, she responded, “Alright. Because I did see we spent $75,000, and we’re asking for $100,000. But are you anticipating that’s going to be all we need?” She later added, “It makes sense. I appreciate that. Thank you.”

She also sought clarification about communication after hours, asking, “And then just to clarify for the weekend calls, because I know I’ve made calls on the weekends, is there still going to be some type of communication on the weekend?” After being assured about the process, she replied, “Perfect,” and added, “I’m happy you said that because I do know the police does have a non-emergency line for situations like that. But thank you so much.”

Garcia raised a constituent concern about the farmer’s market, stating, “My question was just asked. It was actually a question from a constituent asking about the farmer’s market.” She suggested, “I would just suggest when you do have the plans for that, make sure that it’s advertised well.”

She also asked, “Thank you Madam president, my question is, are you returning any unused money?” toward the end of the budget discussion.

Garcia participated in several procedural motions. She seconded motions during the meeting and made multiple motions to excuse guests, including “Motion to excuse our guests with a customary thanks,” “Motion to excuse our guest with a customary thanks,” “Motion to excuse our guest Mr. Monty,” and related motions. She also seconded the motion to accept the budget as presented and was recorded voting “yes” on all listed votes, including excusing guests, inviting Ms. Ford, and “Accept the budget as presented.”

At the Everett City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Holly Garcia participated actively in both ceremonial and legislative items, often moving the agenda forward and speaking to several proposals. During a citation recognizing Joe and Jesse Polson, she said, “So tonight, we are going to recognize two individuals who make a difference throughout our community,” adding that the council was “grateful for everything that you’ve done” and that she was “really proud to call you both my friends.”

Garcia made multiple procedural motions throughout the meeting. She moved to open public participation, to take item 1 out of order, to take items 17 and 18 out of order and collectively, and then moved for favorable action on those items contingent on approval from the license commission at its June 1 meeting. She also moved to take item 22 out of order, accept the committee report, and later take items 22 and 32 collectively. In addition, she moved to refer items to the Committee on Legislative Affairs, take items 4 and 5 collectively, and later to take items 19 and 21 out of order and collectively, as well as item 23 out of order. She moved to excuse the guests “with a customary thank” and to take items 11 through 14 collectively. Every recorded vote associated with these motions was approved.

Garcia also raised a substantive question during discussion of item 21, asking, “This is a different project than what we already did the study on?” She said she wanted that clarification “for the public.”

On the later presentation item, Garcia confirmed, “this is just a presentation, we’re not voting on anything right now?” She said she had opposed the proposal when first presented and was “still leaning on saying no now.” While noting that additional funding meant it would not cost taxpayers, she asked whether that money could instead be used to help businesses update their storefronts. She added concerns about traffic, driveway access on Broadway, and construction impacts, saying, “I like the idea. I just don’t love the location.”

Council Member Holly Garcia was active throughout the Everett City Council Budget Hearing on Small Departments on May 20, 2026, offering support, asking procedural and budget questions, and participating in multiple motions and votes.

Early in the hearing, Garcia seconded the motion to invite Mr. Palma before the committee and praised his work, saying, “You do amazing work for years and years. Keep it up.” She then asked about a new van program: “I did have a question about the van. Is it going to be a door to door service, or is it going to be a stop?” After hearing the response, she said, “And I know it’s been requested, so it’s great to see it. That’s awesome. Thank you.”

Garcia later made a motion to excuse the guest, and the motion passed. She also seconded a motion for favorable action as presented on the city clerk’s budget, which was approved. During discussion of other departmental issues, she raised a question about the health and wellness coordinator, saying, “I’m assuming it is put as $0 I’m assuming. Was that just moved to a different department?” After receiving clarification, she acknowledged the explanation and noted that the flu shot vaccine efforts were “great.” She also commented that school nurses are especially busy after recess and said she was “happy that we are fully staffed with that.”

Garcia participated in another motion to excuse the guest with customary thanks, which passed. She then made a motion to invite Sabrina Firicano up. In discussion of substance misuse services, she said, “having extra hands is never a bad thing,” and suggested having “a peer recovery coach somewhere, just to help.”

On the city clerk budget amendment, Garcia seconded Smith’s amendment to reduce salary lines by $10,000, but the amendment failed. She later stated that “this isn’t the appropriate forum” for the back-and-forth exchange then occurring and suggested the council indicate concerns before July 1 so changes could be made later. She recommended moving the conversation along rather than continuing the exchange.

Garcia voted yes on the motion to accept the budget, and she also moved to adjourn at the end of the meeting.

At the Everett City Council budget hearing on schools on May 19, 2026, Holly Garcia participated briefly but substantively, beginning by seconding the motion to invite the superintendent and presenting administration. She then thanked the presenters, saying, “Thank you for everything that you’ve been saying so far.”

Garcia’s questions focused on preschool capacity and scheduling. She asked, “My question is, are you going to need more classroom space if it’s going to be full day?” and followed up to clarify whether the morning and afternoon sessions could be combined, asking, “So, you can combine the morning and the afternoon where you’re still studying that?” After receiving clarification, she responded, “Perfect.” She also noted that, at that point, “most of my questions are asked and answered.”

Garcia also raised the issue of residency checks in connection with full-day preschool. Referring to her background, she said, “As a former attendance officer, a lot of surrounding communities do not offer full-day preschool, so definitely keep up with the residency checks on that.” She then added context from her prior work experience in school settings: “And just to shed some light on getting creative with spaces, as I said, I used to work for every public schools. I’ve worked for other districts. I am a support staff role, so sitting in a hallway with a child in a Chromebook doing their dibbles is very much the norm. So, it’s not just in Everett. I know it’s not ideal, but we make it work.” Her remarks indicated support for practical space-sharing arrangements while acknowledging they are not ideal.

Garcia voted yes on the motion to adopt the school department’s budget as presented. She also voted yes on the motion to adjourn. During the meeting, she seconded both the budget adoption motion and the adjournment motion.

At the April 27, 2026 Everett City Council meeting, Councilor Holly Garcia was active on several procedural and substantive items. Early in the meeting, she moved “to open the public hearing” on Item 1 and then asked the petitioner whether the work was “at the request of a customer.” She followed up by asking when the work would occur and how long it would take, including whether it would be “during the day” and whether it would last “a couple days” or “a couple weeks.” The hearing was opened, and Garcia later moved to invite the petitioner up and then to excuse the guest after testimony. She also voted yes on the motions to open the hearing, invite the petitioner, and excuse the guest.

Garcia then clarified the location of the work for the public, stating: “I just wanted to clarify that this work is being done at Woodland Street Playground. Correct?” After confirmation, she added that “there are many residents that are happy that work is finally starting to be done over there,” and emphasized that the project was at Woodland Street Playground and “not 7-Acre Park.” She voted yes on the motion to invite the petitioner and on the motion to excuse the guests.

Later, Garcia reported the committee’s recommendation on the petition, saying there was favorable action “so long as they submit a plan with their working hours, their planned staging areas, and they repave from the center line to the sidewalk.” She noted that this had been discussed at the 6:00 meeting. She then moved to take item number 11 out of order and voted yes on that motion. She also voted yes on the motion to close public participation and later on “favorable action on the petition pending conditions.”

Garcia made the motion to open public participation and later moved to close public participation. She also accepted the committee report. In the votes recorded for the meeting, she supported the procedural motions and the substantive petition outcomes, including favorable action on the National Grid petition for underground facilities on Chalton Street and Broadway, and favorable action on the petition with conditions.

At the Everett City Council meeting on Monday, April 13, 2026, Councilor Holly Garcia was active on both ceremonial and legislative matters. During the recognition for Sam Amato and the fifth anniversary of Way Better You, Garcia spoke in support of the honoree, saying, “I think councilor Martins did a great job highlighting all of your achievements,” and adding, “You’ve actually taken a few of your classes, and he is the guy to see if you’re looking to get in shape.” She also read the formal citation honoring Amato and the studio for “providing accessible, inclusive fitness and health programs for all individuals of all ages and backgrounds,” concluding with “Congratulations.”

Garcia also made several procedural motions. She moved to take items 1 and 5 through 10 collectively and out of order, moved to invite up the petitioner, and moved to excuse guests/petitioners. She later moved to take items 3 and 4 collectively, and then moved to refer an item to the committee on legislative affairs. The record shows she voted yes on opening public participation, closing public participation, and referring to legislative affairs. She also voted yes to take items 12 through 17 collectively and out of order, and yes to take items 22 through 25 collectively.

During discussion, Garcia asked, “Madam president, through you, do we have any department heads signed in?” She also told participants, “You can contact councilors anytime outside of council meetings.”

On a later agenda item, Garcia said the item concerning the library board trustee had “been placed on by accident,” explaining that the board was already designated as a special municipal employee and that she would refer it back to the sponsor. She moved to send item 29 to Ways and Means, and she seconded reconsideration on item 30.

In final remarks, Garcia aligned herself with Councilor Matewsky’s concerns about Encore, saying, “I do agree with what Councilor Matewsky was saying.” She added that if the venue wanted more people to attend, “they gotta change,” and said, “I think Encore needs to step it up and offer the five-star experience that they promised.”

At the Everett Special City Council meeting on Thursday, April 9, 2026, Councilor Holly Garcia was active in the procedural parts of the session, but did not offer extended policy remarks in the extracted record.

Garcia began by moving “to open public participation.” She voted yes on that motion. Later in the meeting, she again took the floor to move “to close public participation,” and she also voted yes on that motion. During the council’s handling of the candidate proceedings, Garcia seconded the motion “to invite the candidates up,” and she voted yes on that action as well.

Her role continued during the nomination process. Garcia moved “to open nominations” and voted yes on that motion. She then seconded a motion to “close nominations,” again voting yes when the council acted on it. The available record also captures brief procedural language from Garcia, including “Second.” and “So moved,” reflecting her participation in making and supporting motions as the council moved through the agenda.

Across the meeting, Garcia’s contributions were centered on managing the sequence of public participation, candidate introductions, and nominations. She consistently supported each procedural step with affirmative votes and formal motions or seconds. No substantive questions, objections, or policy positions were captured in the extracted activity provided.

At the Everett Government Operations meeting on Monday, April 27, 2026, City Councilor Holly Garcia played an active chairing role during discussion of the item before the committee. She opened the proceedings by saying, “I would entertain a motion to invite, the petitioner up,” and later noted, “If there are no more questions, I would suggest we motion to excuse our guest.”

Garcia also referenced her personal familiarity with the issue, stating, “If I may, from the chair, and this is because I live where the Glendale Square project was going on for a year and four months.” Drawing on that experience, she raised practical concerns about how construction work is carried out in neighborhood settings. She asked, “When you all are doing the work, is it possible to start at one side and then finish and then move on to the next?” She also requested advance notice for affected residents, saying, “And also make sure notices go out ahead of time because with the Glendale project, I didn’t get the notice about it until three days after you all started.”

Garcia acknowledged responses from the discussion with brief thanks, including, “Yes. Thank you for that,” and “Yes. Thank you.” She then added an ordinance-based concern tied to prior experience with the Glendale Square project: “And one final piece, if there’s no more questions, because I was just reminded, we do have an ordinance in place that construction materials cannot be left in the same spot for more than three days, and that is because of the Glendale Square project where there were pipes blocking four parking spaces in front of a business for months.” She concluded that point by saying, “So definitely need a staging area, not our street.”

Garcia made and called for a vote on a motion to excuse the guest. The motion was: excuse the guest. The outcome was yes.