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2025-01-07 Council Minutes Edmonds City Council Minutes January 7, 2025 Page 1 EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL MEETING ACTION MINUTES January 7, 2025 ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT Mike Rosen, Mayor Chris Eck, Councilmember Will Chen, Councilmember Neil Tibbott, Council President Michelle Dotsch, Councilmember Vivian Olson, Councilmember Susan Paine, Councilmember Jenna Nand, Councilmember STAFF PRESENT Shane Hope, Acting Planning & Dev. Dir. Jeff Taraday, City Attorney Scott Passey, City Clerk 1. CALL TO ORDER/FLAG SALUTE The Edmonds City Council meeting was called to order at 7:03 pm by Mayor Rosen in the Council Chambers, 250 5th Avenue North, Edmonds, and virtually. The meeting was opened with the flag salute. 2. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Councilmember Eck read the City Council Land Acknowledgement Statement. 3. ROLL CALL City Clerk Scott Passey called the roll. All elected officials were present. 5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA COUNCILMEMBER PAINE MOVED APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. COUNCILMEMBER DOTSCH PULLED ITEM 8.12, WHICH WAS PLACED AS NEW ITEM 9.5. COUNCILMEMBER PAINE MOVED TO ADD AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AS NEW ITEM 12. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. MAIN MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4. PRESENTATION 1. MAYOR’S FINANCE UPDATE Mayor Rosen reported on recent activity regarding the Finance Director recruitment. 6. AUDIENCE COMMENTS 1. Janet Phillips, Edmonds, spoke in favor of maintaining the Edmonds police department. Edmonds City Council Minutes January 7, 2025 Page 2 2. Daniela Mihali, Edmonds, spoke in support of maintaining the Edmonds police department. 3. Sarah Sullivan, Edmonds, spoke in favor of preserving the gymnastics program for autistic children. 7. RECEIVED FOR FILING 1. WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS 8. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS COUNCILMEMBER OLSON MOVED APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The agenda items approved are as follows: 1. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 3, 2024 2. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 3, 2024 3. APPROVAL OF ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 4, 2024 4. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 10, 2024 5. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 10, 2024 6. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL 5:30 SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 17, 2024 7. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL 7:00 SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 17, 2024 8. CLAIM FOR DAMAGES FOR FILING 9. APPROVAL OF PAYROLL AND BENEFIT CHECKS, DIRECT DEPOSIT AND WIRE PAYMENTS. 10. APPROVAL OF CLAIM CHECKS AND WIRE PAYMENTS. 11. 2025 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 9. COUNCIL BUSINESS 1. REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT CODE UPDATES Shane Hope, Acting Planning & Development Services Director, outlined development code updates the city must address in 2025, including middle housing, residential zoning and subdivision regulations, design standards, review process, multifamily housing, and critical areas regulations. 2. POTENTIAL ACTION ON INTERIM ORDINANCE FOR NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS AND HUBS Acting Director Hope discussed the city's development codes and upcoming legislative actions. She highlighted the need to update the comprehensive plan, implement neighborhood centers and hubs, address middle housing requirements, critical area regulations and co-living housing codes, and the importance of public outreach. She outlined the interim ordinance for neighborhood centers and hubs, which aims to provide capacity for housing needs identified in the comprehensive plan. Following adoption, public hearings, community meetings, and the eventual transition to a more permanent code will occur. COUNCILMEMBER OLSON MOVED APPROVAL OF THE INTERIM ORDINANCE ON NEXT WEEK’S CONSENT AGENDA. COUNCILMEMBER OLSON MOVED TO AMEND BY ADDING THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE TO THE “HEIGHT” SUBSECTION OF 16.120.050 AT THE END OF SUBSECTIONS A, B, AND C: “HOWEVER, FOR ANY LOT ABUTTING OR IMMEDIATELY ACROSS THE STREET FROM A SINGLE FAMILY ZONE, THE HEIGHT OF ANY DEVELOPMENT THAT IS WITH 20 FEET OF THE PROPERTY LINE SHALL BE NO GREATER THAN 30 FEET.” Edmonds City Council Minutes January 7, 2025 Page 3 Following Council discussion, A VOTE WAS TAKEN ON THE MOTION, WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCILMEMBER PAINE MOVED TO AMEND ECDC 16.120.100B MOTOR VEHICLES AS FOLLOWS: B. For a multiple dwelling, off-street parking is required at a ratio of: 1. At least 1.0 0.5 parking space per unit with less than 800 square feet living space; 2. At least 1.25 1.0 parking spaces per unit with 800-1200 square feet of living space; 3. At least 1.75 1.25 parking spaces per unit with more than 1200 square feet of living space. Following Council discussion, A VOTE WAS TAKEN ON THE MOTION, WHICH FAILED 2-5, WITH COUNCILMEMBERS PAINE AND ECK VOTING IN FAVOR. COUNCILMEMBER DOTSCH MOVED TO AMEND ECDC 16.120.010E AS FOLLOWS: E. Where this chapter conflicts with any other, this chapter shall prevail for the designated centers and hubs, except those in the previously adopted Westgate District. Following Council discussion, A VOTE WAS TAKEN ON THE MOTION, WHICH FAILED 2-5, WITH COUNCILMEMBER DOTSCH AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT VOTING IN FAVOR. COUNCILMEMBER DOTSCH MOVED TO AMEND ECDC 16.120.040A, USES, AS FOLLOWS: A. Permitted primary uses are one or more of the following: multiple dwellings, single-family dwellings built or permitted prior to January 1, 2025 and on the same building footprint, other forms of… Following Council discussion, A VOTE WAS TAKEN ON THE MOTION, WHICH FAILED 2-5, WITH COUNCILMEMBERS DOTSCH AND NAND VOTING IN FAVOR. Following comments by Councilmember Dotsch, COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT CALLED A POINT OF ORDER, STATING THAT A MOTION IS IN ORDER FOR DISCUSSION TO CONTINUE. COUNCILMEMBER DOTSCH MOVED TO AMEND ECDC 16.120.040E AS FOLLOWS: E. Multifamily housing that is developed with more than twenty units shall provide ground floor commercial space that is equal to at least ten fifty percent of the ground floor footprint. Following continued discussion, COUNCILMEMBER ECK MOVED TO CALL THE QUESTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. A VOTE WAS TAKEN ON THE MOTION TO AMEND ECDC 16.120.040E, WHICH FAILED 1- 6, WITH COUNCILMEMBER DOTSCH VOTING IN FAVOR. Edmonds City Council Minutes January 7, 2025 Page 4 A VOTE WAS TAKEN ON THE MAIN MOTION TO ADOPT THE INTERIM ORDINANCE AS AMENDED ON THE NEXT CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH CARRIED 6-1, WITH COUNCILMEMBER DOTSCH VOTING AGAINST. 3. INTERIM ORDINANCE FOR STEP HOUSING (FILE AMD2024-0006) Acting Director Hope outlined the need for various forms of housing, including permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, emergency shelter, and emergency housing. She emphasized that state law requires cities to provide opportunities for these types of housing and that there is a need for different levels of income, abilities, and stability for vulnerable populations. She explained that the city's budget and other processes didn't allow for this, but an interim ordinance could be implemented to allow for step housing. She outlined the next steps, including public hearings and community outreach, with the aim of having a longer-term version of the code by spring 2025. COUNCILMEMBER NAND MOVED ADOPTION OF THE INTERIM ORDINANCE FOR STEP HOUSING AS INCLUDED IN THE COUNCIL PACKET. Council members discussed the ordinance, with some expressing support and other concern. COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT MOVED TO AMEND THE MOTION TO PLACE THE INTERIM ORDINANCE ON NEXT WEEK’S CONSENT AGENDA. FOLLWING DISCUSSION, A VOTE WAS TAKEN ON THE MOTION, WHICH CARRIED 4-3, WITH COUNCILMEMBERS ECK, PAINE, AND NAND VOTING AGAINST. 4. RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION CONCERNING ANNEXATION INTO SOUTH SNOHOMISH COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE REGIONAL FIRE AUTHORITY COUNCILMEMBER OLSON MOVED APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION CONCERNING ANNEXATION INTO SOUTH SNOHOMISH COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE REGIONAL FIRE AUTHORITY. Following discussion, Jeff Taraday, City Attorney, stated his intention to strike the last bullet point in the explanatory statement related to the level of service because he is legally responsible for it. Christy Veley, South County Fire Communications Director, participating remotely, was invited to comment on the resolution. COUNCILMEMBER NAND MOVED TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION TO CHANGE THE “NO” to “No” ON THE BALLOT TO ALIGN WITH THE FORMATTING OF THE “Yes”. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 5. RATIFICATION OF EMPLOYEE SEPARATION AGREEMENTS COUNCILMEMBER DOTSCH MOVED TO RATIFY THE EMPLOYEE SEPARATION AGREEMENTS. MOTION CARRIED 6-0, COUNCILMEMBER DOTSCH ABSTAINING. 10. COUNCIL COMMENTS Edmonds City Council Minutes January 7, 2025 Page 5 Councilmembers commented on various issues. 11. MAYOR’S COMMENTS Mayor Rosen provided comments. 12. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor Rosen announced that the Council would recess into Executive Session to discuss pending or potential litigation per RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) until 9:51 pm. Mr. Taraday noted there is a possibility of action following the Executive Session. At 9:51 pm, Mayor Rosen announced the Executive Session would be extended until 10:00 pm. 13. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION At 10:00 pm., Council reconvened in open session. MEETING EXTENSION COUNCILMEMBER OLSON MOVED TO EXTEND THE MEETING UNTIL 10:10 PM. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCILMEMBER TIBBOTT MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IN THE PRUITT MATTER. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:01 pm.