Matt Lattanzi

At the Everett City Council Budget Hearing for Administration and Finance on May 27, 2026, Matt Lattanzi, director of the Planning and Development Department, introduced himself and summarized the department’s broad responsibilities. He said, “the planning and development department does quite a lot,” describing it as a frequent first stop for residents at City Hall and a central hub for planning board support, conservation commission and Everett Food Policy Council staffing, grant application and management, and master plan studies. He also identified department priorities as “sustainability, conservation, affordable housing, housing creation, housing assistance, utility assistance, electrification efforts.”

Lattanzi discussed staffing and budget requests in detail. He said the department would return about “$85,000 to $100,000” in operating funds through professional services. He explained that a proposed senior planner position would staff both the planning board and zoning board of appeals, generate reports, monitor communications, and coordinate with developers and board members ahead of meetings. He said that role would also handle community development block grant management, which is currently outsourced. He noted the department already has “a full-time grant writer and administrator,” whose job is to research grants, apply for them, monitor expenditures, and submit reports.

He provided examples of grant activity, citing “over about $500,000 through state forestry grants” and “$1,800,000 for conservation grants” received in the past fiscal year. Asked about professional services funding, he said the budget is intentionally padded to allow for required grant matches and to avoid missing larger awards because of insufficient local match dollars.

Lattanzi also addressed staffing levels, saying the department has “seven full-time employees and, right now, one part-time employee.” He defended keeping the coordination position within planning because it touches multiple departments. He clarified that his salary funding is shifting from city funds to CDBG funds and that this is “not” a pay cut. He said no current budget proposal would add staff or create a separate affordable housing department, though he supported more dedicated staffing.

On housing programs, he confirmed the affordable housing coordinator oversees rental assistance, mortgage assistance, and first-time homebuyer programs, but those duties are temporarily being split while she is on maternity leave. He also said the only contracted-out housing function is the CDBG housing rehab program.

No votes were taken.