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Cmd101722 spec mtg Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes October 17, 2022 Page 1 EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES APPROVED MINUTES October 17, 2022 ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT Mike Nelson, Mayor Vivian Olson, Council President Will Chen, Councilmember Neil Tibbott, Councilmember Diane Buckshnis, Councilmember Susan Paine, Councilmember Dave Teitzel, Councilmember Jenna Nand, Councilmember (seated at 7:22 p.m.) STAFF PRESENT Jeff Taraday, City Attorney Scott Passey, City Clerk Jerrie Bevington, Camera Operator 1. CALL TO ORDER/FLAG SALUTE The Edmonds City Council special meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Nelson in the Council Chambers, 250 5th Avenue North, Edmonds, and virtually. The meeting was opened with the flag salute. 2. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Councilmember Buckshnis read the City Council Land Acknowledge Statement: “We acknowledge the original inhabitants of this place, the Sdohobsh (Snohomish) people and their successors the Tulalip Tribes, who since time immemorial have hunted, fished, gathered, and taken care of these lands. We respect their sovereignty, their right to self-determination, and we honor their sacred spiritual connection with the land and water.” 3. ROLL CALL City Clerk Scott Passey called the roll. All elected officials were present. 4. COUNCIL BUSINESS 1. APPOINTMENT TO FILL COUNCIL POSITION N0. 7 VACANCY City Clerk Scott Passey read the procedures to be followed: Nominations Each councilmember may nominate one candidate from the list of applicants by placing an “X” beside the name of the applicant of their choice on the form supplied by the city clerk and initialing the form. The city clerk will announce and maintain a permanent record of the nominations and the councilmember nominating each candidate. Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes October 17, 2022 Page 2 The Election Each councilmember may vote for one candidate by placing an “X” beside the name of the candidate of their choice on the ballot provided and numbering and initialing their ballots. The city clerk will announce and maintain a permanent record of each ballot and who voted for each candidate. A Deadlock A deadlock occurs after each councilmember votes the same way on three consecutive ballots. In the event the council should deadlock, previous nominations are declared null and void and the council may begin a new round of nominations. Appointment A candidate is successfully appointed upon receiving four affirmative votes. Mr. Passey advised if councilmembers wished to comment on candidates or the process, the appropriate time would be after he has collected the nominations and read them aloud. He requested councilmembers complete Nomination #1. Nomination 1 Candidate Councilmember Jenna Nand Teitzel & Chen Natalie Seitz Paine Michelle Dotsch Buckshnis Lauren Golembiewski Olson Janelle Cass Tibbott Councilmember Tibbott explained he nominated Janelle Cass as she is uniquely prepared for the job having spent so many hours meeting people across the City and is uniquely ready to work with the council having spent many hours preparing to understand issues. One of her top priorities is a biennial budget which is something he also supports and would like to have the City move toward. Councilmember Teitzel commented this is a difficult decision because all the candidates are extraordinary. He reviewed the previous process on video as well as participated in the additional interviews held last week. He was proud so many great citizens were willing to serve the City. He nominated Jenna Nand because she has lived here for over 20 years, she is multilingual including Spanish, a unique trait on the council. There needs to be a broad base of representation on council, diversity of thought, opinion, from an ethnic perspective, age, etc., elements Ms. Nand would bring to the council. She is very diplomatic, an independent thinker, not wedded to any particular ideology, she makes decisions on a fact basis rather than emotion, and importantly she is focused on the needs of the seniors in the community. The average age in Edmonds is one of the oldest in Snohomish County. Ms. Nand understands those needs as she is the primary caregiver for her two elder parents. She is very bright, up to date on current issues in Edmonds, and he believed she would be an excellent councilmember. Councilmember Paine explained she nominated Natalie Seitz because she has done research and has spoken to council on numerous issues related to the environment, equity, and in support of SR-99 neighborhoods and the uptown neighborhood to ensure voices from all neighborhoods are heard. She found it refreshing to have such a clear and compelling voice that understands issues from a policy level through to an operational level. Councilmember Buckshnis agreed there were a lot of really good candidates and it will be a tough decision to choose one. Like when the late Councilmember K. Johnson’s position was open, she Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes October 17, 2022 Page 3 supported Michelle Dotsch who has lived in Edmonds all her life and has proven time and again that she understands zoning. There is currently a weakness on council related to the understanding of zoning; it is important that a new councilmember be someone who understands the zoning such as the BD zones as well as the comprehensive plan which will include some visioning which will obviously impact zoning. Dr. Dotsch’s practice was on Highway 99 so she is very familiar with that corridor and the equity issues. Councilmember Buckshnis concluded Dr. Dotsch would be a great councilmember as would all the applicants. Council President Olson explained she could endorse a number of the candidates from this amazing pool. She nominated Laura Golembiewski due to the length of time she has lived in the City and her knowledge of the culture and the issues. She is a young mother, volunteers in the schools, has experienced building codes in other cities by being on the other side of it as a construction business owner who bid projects that must meet code requirements. She is also open to possibilities and being fact based. She recalled Ms. Golembiewski saying when she watches council meetings, something she does with some regularity, she has questions for staff that the council is not asking. Either based on an age lens or a work experience lens, she has a different experience level than the current council. She would be proud to serve with many of the candidates, but was interested in a councilmember that wants to be collaborative, weigh the pros and cons, and ideally work together to reach consensus. There will always be pros and cons with any policy decision, but she was looking for the best win for all with all circumstances considered. Councilmember Chen said he was honored and happy there were so many qualified candidates. During the interview process, Council President Olson asked candidates about the time commitment and candidates brought up the pay issue, yet none of those are deterrents for the brave people willing to step forward. He gave his heartfelt thank you to the candidates who applied. He nominated Jenna Nand and echoed Councilmember Tibbott comments about her and add that she is also a very caring person. A year ago he helped at the Lynnwood hygiene center and Ms. Nand's whole family were there multiple times helping the needy, helping with animals, etc., which illustrates her caring side. She is smart, very involved with the City, and no matter how many times she has been rejected, she always shows up. He would be happy to work with any of the qualified candidates, but Ms. Nand was ready to serve on the council. Candidate Votes Councilmember Ballot 1 Natalie Seitz 1 Paine Jenna Nand 3 Teitzel, Chen, & Olson Michelle Dotsch 1 Buckshnis Janelle Cass 1 Tibbott Ballot 2 Natalie Seitz 1 Paine Jenna Nand 3 Teitzel, Chen, & Olson Michelle Dotsch 2 Tibbott & Buckshnis Ballot 3 Janelle Cass 1 Buckshnis Lauren Golembiewski 1 Tibbott Jenna Nand 4 Teitzel, Chen, Olson, & Paine Mr. Passey announced with four affirmative votes, Jenna Nand was appointed to Council position #7. 2. ADMINISTRATION OF OATH OF OFFICE FOR COUNCIL POSITION N0. 7 Mayor Nelson swore in Jenna Nand to Council Position #7. Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes October 17, 2022 Page 4 Councilmember Nand took her seat on the dais at 6:22 p.m. 12. ADJOURN With no further business, the Council meeting was adjourned at 6:23 p.m.