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Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes
February 1, 2022
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EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL VIRTUAL ONLINE MEETING
APPROVED MINUTES
February 1, 2022
ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT
Mike Nelson, Mayor
Vivian Olson, Council President
Kristiana Johnson, Councilmember
Will Chen, Councilmember
Neil Tibbott, Councilmember
Diane Buckshnis, Councilmember
Susan Paine, Councilmember
Laura Johnson, Councilmember
STAFF PRESENT
Frances Chapin, Arts & Culture Program Mgr.
Scott Passey, City Clerk
Dave Rohde, GIS Analyst
1. CALL TO ORDER
The Edmonds City Council special virtual online meeting was called to order at 6:45 p.m. by Mayor Nelson.
2. INTERVIEW FOR APPOINTMENT TO A CITY BOARD OR COMMISSION
1. ARTS COMMISSION CANDIDATE INTERVIEW
Arts & Culture Program Manager Frances Chapin introduced Harry Kirchner, advising his resume is in the
packet. The Arts Commission is excited to have someone interested in participating in the literary arts as
Write on the Sound Writers Conference (WOS) is one of the key programs for the Edmonds Arts
Commission. WOS is unique; no other city art commissions put on a nationally known writers conference.
Mr. Kirchner brings a tremendous amount of experience and talent to the commission.
Councilmembers interviewed Harry Kirchner for appointment to the Arts Commission (responses in
italics):
Councilmember Buckshnis said she likes publishers and reading and it will be great to have Mr. Kirchner
on the commission. She asked if he had any ideas he wanted to try in 2022 even though there is still a
pandemic. I’m just getting my feet wet, so I’m trying to be led by what happened in the past before I put too
big an imprint on anything. I was involved in a preliminary meeting of the steering committee for Write on
the Sound. I look forward in the future to using some of my contacts in the publishing industry to continue
to bring top level talent for participants and sessions offered at WOS as well as getting more involved in
other projects. I love the art on the fence concept and the historic plaques. I’m trying to figure out where
my talents can be best used and then jump in.
Council President Olson offered Mr. Kirchner an opportunity to introduce himself to the council. If you
have seen my resume, there is not a lot to add. I have a lot of experience in the publishing industry and am
looking forward to bringing that to bear. I am currently self-employed, semi-retired, so I have the time to
Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes
February 1, 2022
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devote to the Arts Commission. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to bring those things to my new
community. My wife and I moved here three years ago from north Seattle, although we have had a long
connection with Edmonds; my wife was a business manager for Rick Steves for 25 years before she retired.
We have always had one foot in Edmonds and one foot in Seattle, now both are in Edmonds.
Councilmember Chen said downtown Edmonds has a lot of art, the Edmonds Center for the Arts and the
4th Avenue Corridor, a lot of rich culture. His office and home are close to Highway 99 and he is interested
in finding ways to bridge the downtown art and Highway 99 art. Do you see a connection between the
Creative District and how it relates to broader Edmonds instead of just 4th Avenue and downtown? Fourth
Avenue and the downtown area create a create good model that can be easily pushed out to the Highway
99 corridor and the areas between. Wherever there is community, there is an opportunity for community
art. Everything that has been done in the downtown can be used as a model and pushed out to other
neighborhoods. That is definitely a direction the Arts Commission should go in, look for opportunities to
display and encourage art and artists in those neighborhoods.
Councilmember L. Johnson read from the Arts Commission webpage, ensure the arts are a vital part of the
community’s quality of life, economic vitality and central identity. She asked him to expand on ideas that
would help further the Arts Commission’s offerings, outreach, engagement and accessibility throughout
Edmonds. One obvious place to start is the school districts. There are already some interesting programs
to encourage participation from younger readers; participation from younger artists could also be
encouraged. Displaying and sending local art talent to the schools to do presentations for student where
possible through playgrounds, other organizations that can reach out to those communities. There is ample
talent and no dearth of opportunity, it’s just a matter of finding the path to get to it.
Councilmember K. Johnson commented the council interview is an opportunity for the council to meet and
have a one-on-one exchange with candidates because the council confirms the mayor’s appointment. She
asked if he specialized in any type of book during his publishing career. My career started primarily through
sales and marketing. I have always been involved with independent publishers, the publishers outside the
five mayor houses in New York. As I transitioned to more editing and direct publishing, I have always
concentrated on what is widely referred to as fiction and long-form nonfiction memoirs, etc., but my primary
focus now is bringing new voices into publishing. I do acquisitions for a publisher in California,
Counterpoint, and have brought in a number of writers all of whom are under 40 and members of every
ethic group imaginable. I’ve tried to foster diversity and young talent.
Councilmember Paine said she was glad to hear him mention the school district. Scriber Lake High School
has a have writers’ group that does some publishing. She encouraged him to see if they were still doing
that; students would write parts of their life story and publish a book. She commented he is well equipped
for this position and may not be semi-retired for long as there are a lot of writers and people who are
interested in the arts. She assured he would enjoy his time on the Arts Commission.
Councilmember Tibbott asked what was his favorite book published in last five years. A very recent
publication of Jim Harrison’s collected poems by a publisher in Port Townsend. I highly recommend any
of Jim Harrison’s work; that collection of poetry is a real eye opener and mind bender.
Council President Olson advised his appointment will be confirmed on the Consent Agenda tonight.
3. ADJOURN
With no further business, the council meeting was adjourned at 6:59 p.m.
____ ____
MICHAEL NELSON, MAYOR SCOTT PASSEY, CITY CLERK