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2024-02-13 Council PSPHSP MinutesPUBLIC SAFETY, PLANNING, HUMAN SERVICES & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE MEETING February 13, 2024 Elected Officials Present Staff Present Councilmember Neil Tibbott (Chair) Michelle Bennett, Police Chief Councilmember Chris Eck Rod Sniffen, Assistant Police Chief Council President Vivian Olson(ex-officio) Shane Hawley, Police Commander Councilmember Susan Paine Shannon Burley, Deputy Parks, Rec. & Human Serv. Dir. Councilmember Jenna Nand Ross Hahn, WWTP Division Manager Councilmember Will Chen Emily Wagener, Human Resources Analyst Scott Passey, City Clerk 1. CALL TO ORDER The Edmonds City Council PSPHSP Committee meeting was called to order virtually and in the City Council Conference Room, 121 — 5th Avenue North, Edmonds, at 3:30 p.m. by Councilmember Tibbott. 2. COMMITTEE BUSINESS 1. Committee Updates • Update on Social Services during January Cold Weather Ms. Burley explained the Edmonds human services department is not a direct service provider; it serves as a hub to connect those in need with services which are often provided by nonprofits and faith based institutions. The cold weather shelter in Snohomish County at Maple Park Church is run by Volunteers of America. During January's cold snap, it reached the 50 persons capacity multiple days, but no one was turned away. She referred to additional written information provided to council. In addition to January, the cold weather shelter also opened on February 9 when temperatures were below 34 degrees. During the cold snap, several daytime warming shelters were available including the Waterfront Center, libraries, and the neighborhood community office. Snohomish County has a cold weather website. Questions and discussion followed regarding referring people in need to the City's Human Services Manager Mindy Woods, percentage of people at warming centers that were seniors, helping people who are not seeking support, appreciation for the work human services provides to vulnerable populations, efficiency of volunteers at Maple Park Church, whether there were any teens at the cold weather center, resources available for children and teens, hours for neighborhood city hall, unhoused persons seeking shelter at Safeway during weather events, and resources available at the neighborhood city hall. Ms. Burley encouraged councilmembers if they encounter an unhouse individual, to contact the City's human services to connect them with services appropriate to their current situation. • Update on Fire Contract Assessment Councilmember Tibbott reported Fitch has received all the data they requested from South County Fire (SCF) and it has been forwarded to their analyst along with information from SCF regarding estimated taxes if the City joined the RFA. He expected a report to either the PPW committee or full council in March. Councilmember Chen requested an update at a future meeting regarding Snohomish County providing bridge housing in the hotel on Highway 99. 02/13/24 PSPHSP Committee Minutes, Committee recommendation: Information 2. ILA - First Responders Flex Fund Chief Bennett advised Snohomish County provides funds annually to address homeless individuals' urgent needs through first responders. The agreement in the packet will grant Edmonds Police Department $4100 of reimbursable funds. Assistant Chief Rod Sniffen advised the First Responders Flex Funds are an important part of the social worker outreach. The funds can be used to address unique needs not covered by other services. Questions and discussion followed regarding whether there is an ability to request more funding next year, whether the funds can be used for hotels, and process for using these funds. Committee recommendation: Consent agenda 3. WWTP Job Descriptions Ms. Wagener explained the WWTP asset/project management specialist was approved in the 2024 budget. The operator series classification was approved through the collective bargaining process to allow room for growth. Mr. Hahn explained during collective bargaining the general plant operator position was changed to an operator 1, 2, 3, but only one job description existed for plant operator. There is a pay scale difference based on certification level so a job description was developed for each level based on certification level, years of experience, competency with process and equipment, etc. The operator 3 is almost a lead position; the WWTP is required to have at least one grade 3 operator on shift. Ms. Wagener advised the operator series positions are Teamsters and although the positions were approved in the collective bargaining process, she will send the union the complete job description to allow for bargaining of any impacts. She did not anticipate any impacts will need to be bargained. Questions and discussion followed regarding changing the operator position to an operator series with the same number of positions, and funding WWTP employees via an enterprise fund. Committee recommendation: Consent agenda 4. Interlocal Agreement with Alliance for Housing Affordability (AHA) Councilmember Tibbott advised the City of Monroe and the Town of Darrington want to be added as parties to the ILA which under the current rules, requires a vote of the entire membership. This amendment will add Monroe and Darrington as parties to the ILA as well as streamline the procedure for the future addition of parties to the ILA. Committee recommendation: Consent agenda 5. Amending ECC 1.03.020 Posting of Notices Mr. Passey explained there are three official posting places: city hall, public safety complex and Edmonds Library. With the public's increased reliance on notices/announcements on the City's website, paper notices with links are not as functional or informative. Edmonds Library staff expressed support for removing City notices at library. The Port has also discontinued posting public notices at the library. The ordinance in the packet will amend the code to eliminate the Edmonds Library as a posting place. 02/13/24 PSPHSP Committee Minutes, Page 3 I Committee recommendation: Consent aqenda I 6. Council Rules of Procedure Councilmember Tibbott explained the intent is for various committees to review one procedure/month for the next several months. Mr. Passey explained best practices dictate rules beyond Roberts Rules of Order provide greater understanding and transparency about the roles, rights and responsibilities of councilmembers and the public and facilitate the orderly conduct of business at council meetings. The rules address many areas including duties of officers, agenda preparation, meeting management, decorum, motions, etc. Sections 6, Council Conduct, and 7, Code of Ethics, have been previously approved and will be incorporated into the final version of the Rules of Procedure. Mr. Passey explained the council is already following most of the rules that will be proposed; this will be an effort to memorialize current practices. For the rules that are already governed by other laws or rulings, a citation is include for ease of reference. Once all the sections have been reviewed, a resolution will be prepared adopting them all as one package. Council's Rules of Procedure may be amended at any time by subsequent resolution. Mr. Passey continued, today's discussion is regarding section 3, agenda preparation, and section 8, public testimony. As proposed, section 8 includes a definition for disorderly conduct from a 9th Circuit Court decision in 2013, Acosta v. City of Costa Mesa. If the council intends to enforce disorderly conduct, he recommended including a definition in the council's rules. There have been numerous reports and concerns in the region about hate speech expressed in public meetings; this proposed rule will not prevent it from occurring in Edmonds, but will set up the council to respond in a responsible way without risk of speech restrictions or viewpoint discrimination. With regard to enforcement, speaking permission can be removed for virtual speakers and for in -person comments, the chair would have the discretion to take action to address violations in real time. Council input regarding Section 8 included: • Section 8.2: limit public comment to 2 minutes when large numbers of people are signed up to speak on the same topic • Council is not required to publish public comments in the minutes • Written instructions at podium regarding procedures for public comment • Section 8.1: add opportunity for public comment on council business items after presentation, especially if information in the packet was updated(Council President Olson provided proposed language via email). Separate signup sheets would be provided for audience comment and for agenda items • Add language to revised language for section 8.1 that members of the public speaking during audience comments or during an agenda item would still be allowed to speak during a public hearing Council input regarding section 3 included: • Support two readings for ordinances Questions and discussion followed regarding using the verbatim definition of disorderly conduct from the court case in the council rules, pros and cons of having public comment during council business items, allowing the public to make comment on agenda items during audience comments or during the council business item, concern allowing comment during agenda items will not provide equitable access to meetings, current ability for constituents to reach councilmembers in multiple ways to comment on council business before the meeting as well as early in the agenda, and concern with he said/she said statement/rebuttal discussion. 02/13/24 PSPHSP Committee Minutes, Page 4 I Committee recommendation: Full council 7. Abandonment of a Dependent Person Commander Hawley advised Items 7, 8 and 9 are city code updates adopting the RCW by reference; the city attorney has reviewed all three. The RCW regarding abandonment of a dependent person has existed since 2003. This amendment also strikes cyberstalking. The RCW changed and no longer includes cyberstalking; a new cybercrime code section will be introduced in the future which includes cyberstalking. Committee recommendation: Consent agenda 8. Interfering with Health Care Commander Hawley advised this exists in city code; the RCW has been updated so the city code also needs to be updated to adopt the RCW allowing it to be charged in municipal court as well as add definitions. This includes a non -chargeable RCW that covers legal picketing at healthcare facilities. Questions and discussion followed regarding lawful (non -chargeable) versus unlawful picketing, and the definition of lawful picketing. Committee recommendation: Consent agenda 9. Possession of Another's ID Commander Hawley explained this is to adopt the RCW regarding possession of another's identification, a misdemeanor crime. Typically when someone is arrested for possession of another's identification, they have other fraud related charges related to car prowling, purse theft, etc. Questions and discussion followed regarding use of another's identification for fraud, working with the new prosecutor to adopt criminal code into City's code, future code updates to adopt RCWs, inability to charge crimes in municipal court unless the RCW is adopted in the City code, exception for family members holding ID for a disabled family member, and whether enforcement has impacts on the undocumented population. Commander Hawley advised section 3 of the ordinances for Items 7, 8 and 9, should read, "This ordinance, being an eXeFGiSe of a PE)Wer SpeGifiGally delegated to administrative function of the City Council legislative body, is not subject..." An updated version of the ordinance will be on the consent agenda. Councilmember Nand relayed she met with Snohomish County Councilmember Strom Peterson in Olympia and requested a town hall regarding Snohomish County's purchase and conversion of America's Best Value Inn on Highway 99 to bridge housing. Committee recommendation: Consent agenda 3. ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 4:59 p.m. 02/13/24 PSPHSP Committee Minutes, SCOTT PASSEY; CLERK