2024-06-18 Council PSPHSP MinutesPUBLIC SAFETY, PLANNING, HUMAN SERVICES & PERSONNEL
COMMITTEE MEETING
June 18, 2024
Elected Officials Present Staff Present
Councilmember Neil Tibbott (Chair) Susan McLaughlin, Planning & Dev. Dir.
Councilmember Chris Eck Amber Brokenshire, Associate Planner
Council President Vivian Olson(ex-officio) Ally Ahlert, Executive Assistant
Councilmember Susan Paine Emily Wagener, Senior HR Analyst
Councilmember Will Chen Jesse Curran, Parks Maintenance Mgr.
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 pm by Councilmember Tibbott.
2. COMMITTEE BUSINESS
1. Committee Updates
a. Emergency Response - EOC - Police/ Chief Bennett
No staff was available to provide an update.
b. Comprehensive Plan - Planning/ Director McLaughlin
Ms. McLaughlin advised of plans to publish a newsletter/briefing memo under council agenda item
Received for Filing. She anticipated an initial staff review of the EIS prepared by Herrera in late June
and release to the public the third week of July following staff revisions. She reported on work being
done on a waterfront vision, refining the content goals and policies for each element, public meetings
held in late May to review key goals and policies, plans to present the updated elements to the planning
board in June and July, involvement of Community Champions who represent under -represented
communities within the City, collaboration on the Transportation element to identifying project lists for
the comprehensive plan and the CIP, and June 27 webinar on HB 1110 regarding middle housing.
In response to emailed questions, Ms. McLaughlin advised the comprehensive plan update is on
schedule and on budget. Consultant costs have been reduced with the receipt of a $62,000 Department
of Commerce grant. The consultant contract is being amended to refine their work and recognize repeal
of Ordinance 4079 regarding the planned action EIS. With regard to facilitating a successful public
process, she assured Edmonds goes well beyond community engagement requirements which requires
incredible staff resources. The interested party email list has 900+ people. Jeff Levy, the term limited
employee who has been assisting with the comprehensive plan, has accepted a full-time position
elsewhere.
Questions and discussion followed regarding ways to get the word out, support for a newsletter on
Received for Filing, the comprehensive plan email list, information available on Everyone's Edmonds
webpage, the DEIA Commission's appreciation for outreach, including a timeline of outreach on the
Everyone's Edmonds webpage, incorporating the Climate Action Plan into the Sustainability and
Environment Element.
2. Arlington Airport Use Agreement
06/18/24 PSPHSP Committee Minutes, Page 2
Ms. Ahlert advised the PSPHSP committee previously recommended moving this agreement to the
consent agenda; however, due to a $30 rate increase, the agreement with the $30 rate increase had to
be reconsidered. Arlington has not had a contract related to use of the airport prior to 2024.
Committee recommendation: Consent Agenda
3. Municipal Employees Benefit Trust (MEBT) Updates
Ms. Wagener provided an introduction, explaining employees and councilmembers contribute to MEBT
in lieu of social security.
Mr. Curran, MEBT committee member for 9 years and Edmonds' MEBT president since 2019, reviewed
the history of MEBT; started in October 1972 by the City of Bellevue to manage assets of employees in
the retirement system in lieu of social security, partners municipalities include Bellevue, Edmonds,
Federal Way, Kirkland, Mill Creek, Redmond, and Woodinville and Norcom. MEBT has 5,800 members
and approximately $1 billion in assets. The portfolio is managed by UBS Institutional Consulting Group
Northwest. In addition to MEBT, employees also have Public Employees Retirement System (PERS).
Employees and the City contribute to MEBT what would have paid to Social Security. MEBT is a 401A
plan, mandatory participation by all employees. Employees are also offered an optional 457 deferred
compensation plan. The City's MEBT plan currently has a 7-year vesting schedule for employee
contributions; over the past decade, some cities have reduced their schedule. He reviewed the
investment advisory committee, quarterly MEBT committee meetings, and MEBT performance in 2024.
Questions followed regarding whether employment with a partner municipality can be added to vesting,
whether a change in the vesting period affects all participants, UBS's investment portfolio, number of
participants in MEBT, employee eligibility for MEBT, and number of vested employees in Edmonds.
Ms. Wagener relayed at their May 2024 meeting, the MEBT committee voted to change the vesting
period from 7 years to 3 years with a schedule matching Bellevue. This change does not result in an
additional cost to the City, but will likely affect forfeitures, the amount not vested when an employee
separates. The MEBT committee also voted to provide the option for MEBT enrollment for limited term
employees whose work assignment is expected last more than five months. This change does not result
in an additional cost to the City.
Questions and discussion followed regarding term limited employees currently not being eligible to
enroll in MEBT, and information to include in the packet and in the presentation to council.
Committee recommendation: Full council
4. Proposed Listing of 428 3rd Ave N on the Edmonds' Register of Historic Places
PLN 2024-0018
Ms. Brokenshire reviewed
Effects of listing on the register
o Honorary designation denoting significant association with the history of Edmonds
o Prior to commencing any exterior work on a register property (excluding repair and
maintenance), owner must request and receive a certificate of appropriateness from HPC
o HPC may review removal if the owner does not receive a certification of appropriateness
o May be eligible for special tax valuation on their rehabilitation
Designation criteria
o Significantly associated with the history, architecture, archeology, engineering or cultural
heritage of Edmonds
o Has integrity
06/18/24 PSPHSP Committee Minutes, Page 3
o At least 50 years old, or has exceptional important if less than 50 years old
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
20.45.020. E
428-3rd Ave N
o Constructed in 1926
o Significance: an intact representation of Dutch Colonial residential construction from the
early 20th Century. The house illustrates local building techniques and materials. Style of
Merritt Homes
o The HPC held public hearing on April 11, 2024; forwarded a recommendation to the city
council to list the house on the Edmonds' Register of Historic Places
Excerpt from HPC April 11, 2024 meeting minutes and the HPC unanimously recommendation
for approval to the Register of Historic Sites.
Conclusion and Recommendation
o HPC found property met the criteria and eligibility for designation on the Edmonds Historic
Register
o HPC recommends the property be listed on the Edmonds Register of Historic Places
o The ordinances would be included on council Consent Agenda in July.
Questions and discussion followed regarding whether the house was a "kit house," whether the house
is a Merritt Home, minor upgrades that are permitted such as solar panels, other historic buildings with
solar panels, the detached garage, and support for listing the house on the Edmonds' Register of
Historic Places.
Committee recommendation: Consent Agenda.
3. ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 4:46 pm.
S^4(-
SCOTT PASSEY; CLERK