2022-04-13 Planning Board MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS PLANNING BOARD
Minutes of Webinar Meeting
April 13, 2022
Vice Chair Pence called the virtual meeting of the Edmonds Planning Board to order at 7:00 p.m.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
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.
Board Members Present Staff Present
Roger Pence, Vice Chair Kernen Lien, Interim Planning Division Manager
Todd Cloutier Angie Feser, Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Director
Judi Gladstone
Mike Rosen
Lily Distelhorst (student rep)
Board Members Absent
Alicia Crank, Chair (excused)
Matt Cheung (excused)
Richard Kuehn (excused)
READING/APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION MADE BY BOARD MEMBER GLADSTONE, SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER
ROSEN, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MARCH 23, 2022 AS PRESENTED. MOTION PASSED
3-0 WITH BOARD MEMBER CLOUTIER ABSTAINING.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF AGENDA
THERE WAS UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS
Natalie Seitz stated she is looking forward to hearing more about the acquisition program. She also offered
congratulations to whoever will be joining them on the Planning Board.
Peter Steinbrueck stated he was just observing the meeting to learn about local planning activities and topics.
Planning Board Meeting Minutes
April 13, 2022 Page 1 of
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
A. Parks, Recreation, Cultural Arts & Human Services Department — Q1 Update
Parks, Recreation, Cultural Arts & Human Services Director Angie Feser gave an overview of the department's
Q1 activities including: Administration/Park Planning/Projects; Parks Maintenance; Programming —
Recreation, Environment Education & Cultural Arts; Human Services; and upcoming work.
Administration/Park Planning:
• 2022 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan — Director Feser expressed appreciation to the
Planning Board for their hard work on this topic. Council held their public hearing(s) in March, and
staff and the consultant are working on a revision at the request of the Council.
• Francis Anderson Center (programs/rentals) — The Center opened up for business again on March 16.
Tenant lease agreements have been renewed.
• Agreements — Concessionaires and Special Events agreements have been finalized.
• Civic Park Project — This project was updated on March 1. Due to rain, there have been 30+ "no work"
days. The budget is within allocation so far. The Civic Arts project is also associated with this project.
Director Feser reviewed aerial images of the project from pre -construction to present. The Yost
infiltration project is a mitigation project associated with this site. Due to groundwater limiting
stormwater detention at Civic Park, this project will detain stonmwater through infiltration within the
same Shell Creek Watershed. The City will be going out to bid in May for the Yost infiltration project
with construction happening hopefully over the summer.
• Land Acquisition
• Brackett's Landing North restroom repair/upgrade is finished.
• Greenhouse — A variance application has been submitted.
• Yost Pool Replaster- The bid is completed, and contractor has been selected.
• Parks Maintenance Operations Assessment has been selected.
• Beautification Program — 88 flower baskets, 74 corner parks — These are all adopted out.
Parks Maintenance:
• Yost Pool — The pool operated through the winter with Cascade Swim Club. Staff replaced the chlorine
injector.
• Seasonal/FTE staff recruitment
• Volunteer projects
• Bench Replacement/Table refurbishment
• Highway 99 Project
• Tree Removals
Recreation Programming:
• New PT staff for Francis Anderson Center
• Reservations are active — 13 0 shelter rentals, field rentals (1700 hours), gym rental (300 hours)
• Branding/marketing guide put together by the recreation team
• Communication enhancement — Facebook, newsletter (new)
• Summer Camp — reinstated for 2nd-6d' grades for 10 weeks
• Programs — pickleball league, fitness/wellness classes, gymnastics program
Planning Board Meeting Minutes
April 13, 2022 Page 2 of 5
• Environmental Educations — 3 ranger naturalists, Salmon Safe Certification project, Environmental
Resources Portal
Cultural Arts Division:
• Best Book Poster Program/Exhibit
• On the Fence Exhibits (4 new)
• Summer Concerts (19) with some new locations
• 4t' Avenue Cultural Grant Corridor grant
• Highway 99 Gateway project design
• Public Art projects — Floretum Club 100t' Anniversary and Civic Art Project
Human Services:
• Homelessness Task Force Recommendation
• Urgent Needs Program/Care Kits (50)
• Homelessness Assessment Report — updated
• ARPA Funding — reopening grant portal, ordinance revisions, and potential allocations by Council
• Snohomish County — south county housing enhancement
• Connected 42 individuals with needed services
• Maintain long-term motel vouchers (5) for emergency shelter
Upcoming in Q2:
• Civic Park construction will continue.
• 2022 PROS Plan adoption hopefully in May
• Parks small capital projects
• Yost Bridge repair
• Recreation and Cultural Arts Program
• Special Event Support
• Human Services Program expansion
Comments/Questions:
Board Member Gladstone asked about hours for the Kids Camp this year. Director Feser explained they have
been extended somewhat beyond 10-3 although she was not sure of the exact times. In addition to that, more
hours have been added at the beginning and the end to accommodate working families.
Board Member Gladstone asked about some art the Planning Board had commented on for Veterans Plaza.
Director Feser replied that they have decided not to move forward with that sculpture in that location.
Vice Chair Pence asked if the Human Services staff person could be part time at the new office up on SR 99.
Director Feser stated they have had some conversation about that. Staff is also asking for Council to approve
this part time position going to full time. She envisioned the person having some office hours up on Highway
99 in that new office.
Vice Chair Pence asked if there are any counts on how many visits the CRAZE newsletter has generated for the
website. Director Feser wasn't sure, but noted they distributed 25,000 newsletter pieces. She thought that they
Planning Board Meeting Minutes
April 13, 2022 Page 3 of 5
could possibly track how people are getting to the website and the registration system. She remarked they have
discovered that a lot of times people register on the phone with staff assistance, but then when they come back
to the system they go straight online to register.
Board Member Gladstone raised a question about how the City is addressing populations that don't necessarily
have regular access to the internet. Director Feser explained that was one of the reasons they mailed out the
mailer with basic information so people can pick up the phone and work through the system without internet
access. There will also be computer workstations at the neighborhood office on Highway 99.
Board Member Rosen thanked Director Feser for the report and all the work done by staff as they have navigated
through these past couple years. He asked why there was a three-month delay in hiring the planner position.
Director Feser explained the position was originally approved in the 2022 budget. Council decided to do a
budget amendment process early in the year and pulled 35 items out of the budget to revisit. The park planner
position was one of those items and was not approved until early March. She expects they will be able to start
recruitment next week and have someone hired by July.
B. Parkland Acquisition Presentation
Director Feser gave an overview of land acquisition covering 2021 acquisitions, acquisition methods,
confidentiality, the acquisition process, and post -acquisition work. She stated that the acquisition of land for
conservation of natural resources has been a priority of the Mayor and hers since she arrived at the City. The
draft PROS Plan includes three recommendations that touch on land acquisition. She explained that in 2021
they discovered that there are 20 acres of tideland (1100 linear feet of shoreline and beach) that the City has had
a use deed to since 1968. The Shirley Johnson property was donated in 2021 with the purposes of being used
as a park and/or a community garden.
Acquisition methods for property include purchase, donations, conservation programs (Transfer of
Development Rights (TDRs), Public Benefits Rating System (PBRS), Conservation Futures Grant Program),
and other (public easement, lease, land trade, dedication, concomitant agreement, partnerships, eminent
domain/condemnation). Director Feser reviewed situations when confidentiality is required surrounding land
acquisition when it would put the city at a disadvantage if the information was known publicly. In these cases,
the topics are discussed during City Council's executive sessions. Once that happens, the topic cannot be
discussed again publicly unless the Council approves making it public. She then reviewed the evaluation criteria
used for property acquisition and the rest of the land acquisition process.
Comments/Questions
Vice Chair Pence asked about the use of eminent domain. Director Feser explained that eminent domain is
rarely used for parks, but generally for things like utilities, streets, right-of-way, etc.
Vice Chair Pence then commented that the code governing the Planning Board states that the Board shall advise
the Mayor and City Council on all matters related to the acquisition and development of all city parks and
recreation facilities. It has been his perception on the three years he has been on the Board that they have not
been doing that. He asked if there is a way the Planning Board could be more aligned with what the code seems
to be saying. Director Feser thought that "advising on land acquisition" was subject to interpretation. Her
understanding is that they do that regularly; for example, last month the Board suggested that the Council should
Planning Board Meeting Minutes
April 13, 2022 Page 4 of 5
look at acquiring South County Park. Vice Chair Pence commented that his understanding of the code is not
just high-level comments. He suggested that the Planning Board can hold executive sessions like the Council
does to address confidential issues. Director Feser suggested having the City Attorney look at this topic if the
Planning Board wants to look at this further. Vice Chair Pence did not think that was necessary unless other
Board Members requested it.
Board Member Gladstone asked if there was a way the Board could get regular general updates on the property
acquisition process without violating the confidentiality aspect. Director Feser indicated she could do that.
Board Member Gladstone then asked for clarification about one of the evaluation criteria points regarding the
property characteristics and scope. Director Feser replied generally and indicated she could follow up with more
information about this. Board Member Gladstone expressed an interest in learning more about the evaluation
criteria. Board Member Rosen also expressed interest in this.
Board Member Rosen asked if there is a metric to determine a goal for acquiring land. Director Feser explained
the criteria was developed before the PROS Plan. She thought it would be good to look at the criteria again now
that the PROS Plan is done and incorporate the goals, objectives, and key recommendations into the criteria.
Board Member Gladstone asked how partnerships and other agreements fit into overall planning and dedication
of resources and priorities. Director Feser explained that the flexibility of the PROS Plan combined with the
evaluation criteria makes the City ready to take advantage of opportunities when they come up. Getting the
PROS Plan done will help feed the evaluation criteria for land acquisition.
PLANNING BOARD EXTENDED AGENDA
The extended agenda was discussed.
PLANNING BOARD CHAIR COMMENTS
None
PLANNING BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
Board Member Gladstone thanked Director Feser for her presentations today and requested a tour of some of
the parks and where work is being done.
Board Member Rosen concurred with Board Member Gladstone's comments and thanked Vice Chair Pence
for leading the meeting.
Board Member Cloutier thanked Director Feser for the presentations.
Student Representative Distelhorst thanked Director Feser for the insightful presentation.
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was adjourned at 8:38 p.m.
Planning Board Meeting Minutes
April 13, 2022 Page 5 of 5