2024-01-09 Council PSPHSP MinutesPUBLIC SAFETY, PLANNING, HUMAN SERVICES & PERSONNEL
COMMITTEE MEETING
January 9, 2024
Elected Officials Present Staff Present
Councilmember Neil Tibbott (Chair) Michelle Bennett, Police Chief
Councilmember Chris Eck Loi Dawkins, Assistant Police Chief
Council President Vivian Olson(ex-officio) Amber Brokenshire, Associate Planner
Councilmember Susan Paine Scott Passey, City Clerk
Mayor Mike Rosen
Councilmember Jenna Nand
Councilmember Will Chen
1. CALL TO ORDER
The Edmonds City Council PSPHSP Committee meeting was called to order virtually and in the City
Council Conference Room, 121 — 51h Avenue North, Edmonds, at 3:30 p.m. by Councilmember Olson.
2. COMMITTEE BUSINESS
1. Naloxone Agreement
Assistant Chief Dawkins explained Edmonds Police Department has been using naloxone for several
years, receiving it through Snohomish County in exchange for information regarding its administration.
The attached agreement is a new administrative process added for 2024, perhaps for liability purposes.
The agreement has been reviewed and approved by Sharon Cates. There is an opioid issue in the
region and the Edmonds Police Department has found the use of naloxone very helpful. Edmonds
Police Department's training Corporal Aarron Greenman reported at least 20 naloxone doses were
administered last year of which only 1 was unsuccessful.
Questions and discussion followed regarding support for making naloxone available to front line officers,
support for entering into the agreement, and support for naloxone as a resource.
Committee recommendation: Consent Agenda
2. Proposed Listing of 820 Main Street on the Edmonds' Register of Historic Places
Mr. Clugston provided an introduction.
Ms. Brokenshire, liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), reviewed:
• Effects of listing on the register
o Honorary designation denoting significant association with the history of Edmonds
o Prior to commencing any work on a register property (excluding repair and maintenance),
owner must request and receive a certificate of appropriateness from the HPC
■ HPC may review removal if the owner does not receive a certificate of appropriateness
o May be eligible for special tax valuation on their rehabilitation
• Designation criteria
o Significantly associated with the history, architecture, archaeology, engineering or cultural
heritage of Edmonds
o Has integrity
o At least 50 years old, or has exceptional importance if less than 50 years old
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o Falls into at least one of designation categories, ECDC 20.45.010.A — K
o Formal listings only require the property owner's consent and approval by city council (per
ECDC 20.45.020.E)
820 Main Street (PLN2023-0045)
o Constructed in 1901
o Significance: An intact representation of residential construction from the early 20th Century.
The house illustrates local craftsman building techniques and materials
o The HPC held a public hearing on August 10/September 24, 2023; forwarded a unanimous
recommendation to the city council to list the house on the Edmonds Register of Historic
Places
■ In accordance with ECDC 20.45.010.13, the house embodies the distinctive architectural
characteristics of a type, period, style or method of design or construction, or represents
a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction
Questions and discussion followed regarding the property owner's interest in being on the register, HPC
consideration and recommendation followed by presentation to the PSPHSP committee and approval
on the Consent Agenda.
Committee recommendation: Consent Agenda
3. Proposed Listing of 820 Maple Street on the Edmonds' Register of Historic Places
Ms. Brokenshire reviewed:
820 Maple Street (PLN2023-0062)
o Constructed in 1895
o Significance: Queen Anne style architecture — late 19th Century. The house illustrates local
craftsman building techniques and materials
o The original owner, Dr. Palmer, an Edmonds dentist, lived there until 1922
o The HPC held a public hearing on November 9, 2023; forwarded a unanimous
recommendation to city council for listing
o Property included on register in 2011; following work done in 2018, the house was removed
from the registry as the HPC at that time was focused on architectural accuracy versus an
intact representation.
o Washington State Department of Historic Preservation indicated it was a good candidate to
be included on the register as the window replacement that caused the HPC to remove the
house from the register are still accurate for the timeframe and style of house.
Questions and discussion followed regarding the architectural beauty of these buildings, the gift
provided by having these buildings in the City, and the remodeled historic interior of the house.
Committee recommendation: Consent Agenda
4. Proposed Listing of the Beeson House on the Edmonds' Register of Historic
Places
Ms. Brokenshire reviewed:
• 116- 4th Ave N (PLN2023-0063)
o Constructed in 1902; 20th Century vernacular architecture
o Significance: The original owner, F.R. Beeson, constructed the largest concrete building in
Edmonds in 1919, the Beeson Building (4th & Main St)
o Mr. Beeson served as the mayor of Edmonds from 1918-1923, served on city council and
Chamber of Commerce, active in civic affairs
o The HPC held a public hearing on December 14, 2023; forwarded a unanimous
recommendation to city council for listing
01/09/24 PSPHSP Committee Minutes,
Questions and discussion followed regarding whether the room at the top was part of the original design,
and availability of this house for group rentals.
Committee recommendation: Consent Agenda
5. Proposed Listing of the Schneider Buildinq on the Edmonds' Register of Historic
Places
Ms. Brokenshire reviewed:
• 100 — 5t" Ave N (PLN2023-0064)
o Constructed in 1925
o Significance: Association with early commercial development in Edmonds
o Home of Skaggs United Grocery, then merging with Safeway to become Skaggs Safeway
o Home to Edmonds' first post office in the northern portion
o The HPC held a public hearing on December 14, 2023; forwarded a unanimous
recommendation to city council for listing
Questions and discussion followed regarding interior renovations that do not apply to buildings on the
register, and support for having a commercial building on the historic registry.
Committee recommendation: Consent Agenda
6. Employment Agreement - Executive Assistant to City Council
Council President Olson relayed the HR Director and Sharon Cates participated in preparing and
reviewing the contract. The original contract was based on staff progression and positions in the City.
The position reports to council instead of the mayor via the mayor's delegating to council the authority
to hire and renew the contract. She relayed a correction related to the timing of the step increase; the
contract renews on February 1, therefore the step increase is also effective February 1 which is different
than other staff. She described the criticality of this position; approximately 50% supports the work of
the entire council such as preparing agenda items, interfacing with staff, etc. The other 50% is related
to supporting individual councilmembers including onboarding, training, research, etc. In addition to the
intellect and competence this job requires, the executive assistant works well with many different
personalities and feedback from council regarding the executive assistant was unanimously favorable.
Questions and discussion followed regarding the incredible list of responsibilities, her knowledge of
legislative process, and why the contract date is February instead of January like other employees.
Committee recommendation: Consent Agenda
7. Fire Feasibility Assessment Presentation
Councilmember Tibbott relayed he, Council President Olson, Mayor Rosen and other City staff
members met with Mr. Sturgeon yesterday to discuss foundational issues regarding how to move
forward with the provision of emergency services. Mr. Sturgeon will provide an overview of their scope
of work and will return later this year with a complete study.
Bill Sturgeon, Senior Associate, Fitch & Associates, described his background: over 35 years in
government, U.S. Airforce firefighter, and firefighter/paramedic in Orange County, Florida, where he
reached the rank of division chief in his 25' year. When he retired, he was hired as the fire chief for St.
Cloud, Florida, for 4'/2 years and their city manager for 5 years and he retired in September 2022. He
described Fitch & Associates, in business for 40 years, provides EMS and fire consulting, operates
LifeFlight Eagle air medical program for the State of Missouri, and provides management services for
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ambulance companies. He summarized the information they provided has been tested in their own
laboratories, they have a wealth of experience, all their analysts have PhDs, and their diverse team is
able to provide great recommendations. He provided an overview of the feasibility study that Edmonds
has requested Fitch & Associates perform:
• Introduction
o Background information on Edmonds, WA
o Current fire/EMS services in Edmonds
o Purpose of the feasibility study — provide options for the city council to make informed policy
decisions
Elements of the feasibility study
o Element 1: Establishing current and desired performance
o Element 2: Evaluate the efficacy of annexing into the RFA
o Element 3: Evaluate the efficacy of providing fire services as a City department
o Element 4: Evaluate the potential for contracting for services with another provider
o Element 5: Prepare an executive summary report and presentation with recommendations
and options
Methodology
o Data collection
o Interviews with stakeholders
o Review existing fire service agreements and contracts
o Analysis of fire/EMS incident data in the City of Edmonds
o Benchmarking with comparable cities of similar size and demographics
Timeline for study
o April 2024 if request data is received
Analysis
o Assessment of current fire service in Edmonds
■ Response times
■ Risk assessment
■ Coverage area
■ Equipment and resources
o Identification of gaps or deficiencies in the current system
Financial Analysis
o Cost Estimation for alternatives
■ Equipment and apparatus
■ Personnel salaries and benefits
■ Facilities and infrastructure
■ Additional costs
o Assessment of funding options
o Projection of long-term financial sustainability
Provide options
o Provide options to the City of Edmonds to provide fire and EMS services
o Consider alternatives to current service model
Mr. Sturgeon advised in addition to meeting with City of Edmonds elected officials and staff, they met
with South County Fire (SCF) yesterday and with the SCF labor organization today.
Questions and discussion followed regarding Fitch & Associates providing monthly updates between
now and April, communication with SCF commissioners, the City's request for annexation occurring
concurrently with Fitch's analysis, contact councilmembers can have with SCF during Fitch's analysis,
Fitch's plans to provide a draft report to the mayor and council for errors and emission review by the
end of April and a presentation to full council in June/July, sense of urgency due to SCF's notification
letter to the City, Councilmember Tibbott's experience with the transition from Edmonds' inhouse fire
department to SCF, and the number of projects Fitch does annually.
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Mr. Sturgeon introduced other members of the team, David Johnsen and Dan Gordon, who described
their backgrounds and experience.
Committee recommendation: For information
3. ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
SCOTT PASSEY; CLERK