2024-02-27 Council Special MinutesEDMONDS CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
APPROVED MINUTES
February 27, 2024
ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT
Mike Rosen, Mayor
Vivian Olson, Council President
Chris Eck, Councilmember
Will Chen, Councilmember
Neil Tibbott, Councilmember
Michelle Dotsch, Councilmember
Susan Paine, Councilmember
ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT
Jenna Nand, Councilmember
1. CALL TO ORDER
STAFF PRESENT
Jeff Taraday, City Attorney
Carolyn LaFave, Mayor's Executive Assistant
Scott Passey, City Clerk
Jerrie Bevington, Camera Operator
The Edmonds City Council special meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Mayor Rosen in the Council
Chambers, 250 5th Avenue North, Edmonds, and virtually.
2. INTERVIEW CANDIDATE FOR APPOINTMENT TO CITY BOARD/COMMISSION
1. INTERVIEW CANDIDATE FOR ESCC APPOINTMENT
Councilmembers interviewed Kiwa Tashiro for appointment to the Edmonds Sister City Commission
(responses in italics).
Council President Olson invited Kiwa Tashiro to tell the council about herself. I am a grad student at the
University of Washington in the Executive Master of International Studies program. I came to Edmonds
last September; before that I was working in Japan for about six years as journalist. My company put me
in different locations in Japan including one close to Hekinan City. I came across the Sister City
Commission booth at the Saturday market last October and asked about the program because I am very
interested in Hekinan and Edmonds' Sister City program.
Council President Olson relayed her appointment to the Sister City Commission is on tonight's Consent
Agenda for approval.
Councilmember Paine asked when she met the Sister City Commission at the Saturday Market booth, did
she have an opportunity to meet any of the Hekinan councilmembers. There were three Sister City
Commissioners at the booth who explained the program, asked about my background and my interest in
the Sister City Commission. That 30 minute conversation led me to apply for the commission.
Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes
February 27, 2024
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Councilmember Paine assumed she got to meet a Hekinan Councilmember who dresses as a clown. Mayor's
Executive Assistant Carolyn LaFave said the Hekinan Council was not at the booth at that time.
Councilmember Tibbott asked if she had ever been to Japan and had an opportunity to engage with the
culture and what part of bridging would she like to see happen between Edmonds and Japan. I had a chance
to meet with the people from Hekinan who came to Edmonds last year. I was asked to join one of their
meetings and had a chance to talk with the people from Hekinan City and help with translating. I really
love Edmonds, the people are very welcoming. Whenever I talk to people at the Saturday Market, they are
heartwarming and welcoming and I love the atmosphere. I also want to share with Edmonds what kind of
city Hekinan is because I lived close by. I can be a bridge between Edmonds and Hekinan City.
Councilmember Chen commented she is a unique candidate as a graduate student at the University of
Washington and having lived in Japan, a good mixture of skills and connections. He asked what she wanted
to accomplish with her skill sets and whether she wanted to foster a connections between the UW and
Hekinan students. I would like to be involved in the program that exists; in speaking with former Mayor
Nelson, he was very interested in Edmonds residents going to Japan and learning how to prepare for
natural disasters, especially earthquakes. I am interested in a professional level study abroad and exchange
program. I am originally from the northern part of Japan where the biggest earthquake happened in March
2011 and I had to evacuate to a shelter for a couple months. Edmonds in the ring of fire and may have big
earthquake in the future.
Councilmember Eck commented her special skill set and experience including j ournalism will be extremely
helpful. She invited Ms. Tashiro to reach out to the council after she is appointed if there was any way the
council can help.
Councilmember Dotsch asked Ms. Tashiro if, after speaking with the Sister City Commission, she had any
ideas she wanted to explore. My only idea was what former Mayor Nelson said. I recently had a chance as
a student volunteer to guide 100 high school students from Japan around the University of Washington and
Seattle. I am interested in a high school or middle school exchange program.
3. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PENDING OR POTENTIAL LITIGATION
PER RC2 42.30.110(1)(D
At 6:10 pm, the Council convened in executive session to discuss pending or potential litigation per RCW
42.30.110(1)(i) for a period of 30 minutes.
MEETING EXTENSION
At 6:47 p.m., Mayor Rosen announced that the executive session would be extended for 5 minutes to 6:52
pm.
3. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION
The meeting reconvened at 6:50 pm.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the special council meeting was adjourned at 6:50 pm.
Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes
February 27, 2024
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