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2025-01-28 Council MinutesEDMONDS CITY COUNCIL MEETING ACTION MINUTES January 28, 2025 ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT Mike Rosen, Mayor Will Chen, Councilmember Neil Tibbott, Council President Michelle Dotsch, Councilmember Vivian Olson, Councilmember Susan Paine, Councilmember Jenna Nand, Councilmember ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT Chris Eck, Councilmember 1. CALL TO ORDER/FLAG SALUTE STAFF PRESENT Shane Hope, Interim Planning & Dev. Dir. Jeff Taraday, City Attorney Scott Passey, City Clerk Jessica Neill Hoyson, HR Director Kim Dunscombe, Acting Finance Director Phil Williams, Interim Public Works Director Thom Sullivan, Facilities Manager The Edmonds City Council meeting was called to order at 7 pm by Mayor Rosen in the Council Chambers, 250 51h Avenue North, Edmonds, and virtually. The meeting was opened with the flag salute. 2. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Councilmember Dotsch read the City Council Land Acknowledgement Statement. 3. ROLL CALL City Clerk Scott Passey called the roll. All elected officials were present except for Councilmember Eck. COUNCILMEMBER CHEN MOVED TO EXCUSE COUNCILMEMBER ECK. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4. PRESENTATIONS 1. LUNAR NEW YEAR EDMONDS PROCLAMATION Mayor Rosen read the proclamation. Lina Luu and Diana Fuentes of the Multicultural Association of Edmonds accepted the proclamation and thanked the city for this recognition. 2. MAYOR'S FINANCE UPDATE Edmonds City Council Minutes January 28, 2025 Page 1 Mayor Rosen reported on financial and budget issues impacting the city. 5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA COUNCILMEMBER CHEN MOVED APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT PULLED ITEM 8.12 ORDINANCE AMENDING ECC 1.04 COUNCIL MEETINGS, WHICH WAS ADDED AS ITEM 9.7. MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 6. AUDIENCE COMMENTS 1. Marlin Phelps, Marysville, commented on issues related to court, police, county law enforcement, and US attorneys. 2. Finis Tupper, Edmonds, requested more openness and transparency regarding council meetings, hearing examiner appeals, and legal settlements. 7. RECEIVED FOR FILING 1. CLAIM FOR DAMAGES FOR FILING 2. APPOINTMENT OF BOARD AND COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES FOR 2025 3. CITYWIDE STREETLIGHT STUDY 8. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS COUNCILMEMBER PAINE MOVED APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The agenda items approved are as follows: 1. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 7, 2025 2. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 7, 2025 3. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 14, 2025 4. APPROVAL OF PAYROLL AND BENEFIT CHECKS, DIRECT DEPOSIT AND WIRE PAYMENTS. 5. APPROVAL OF CLAIM CHECKS AND WIRE PAYMENT. 6. FRANCES ANDERSON CENTER USE AGREEMENT - OLYMPIC BALLET 7. APPROVAL OF GRANT AWARD FOR CITYWIDE LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS 8. APPROVAL OF TIB GRANT AWARD FOR PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS ON 7TH AVE N FROM BELL ST TO SR-524 9.2025 ANIMAL KENNELING SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH PAWS (PROGRESSIVE ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY) 10. ORDINANCE TO UPDATE ECC 2.15.060 JUDGES PRO TEM Edmonds City Council Minutes January 28, 2025 Page 2 11. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT - EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO CITY COUNCIL 9. COUNCIL BUSINESS 1. EXTENSION OF INTERIM PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR APPOINTMENT COUNCILMEMBER OLSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE EXTENSION OF SHANE HOPE AS INTERIM PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR 6 MONTHS OR UNTIL THE POSITION OF PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR IS FILLED IF SOONER. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 2. EXTENSION OF INTERIM PUBLIC WORKS & UTILITIES DIRECTOR APPOINTMENT COUNCILMEMBER PAINE MOVED TO APPROVE THE EXTENSION OF PHIL WILLIAMS AS INTERIM PUBLIC WORKS & UTILITIES DIRECTOR FOR 6 MONTHS OR UNTIL THE POSITION OF PUBLIC WORKS & UTILITIES DIRECTOR IS FILLED AND APPROVE THE CORRESPONDING EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3. FRANCES ANDERSON CENTER INVESTMENT GRADE AUDIT Mr. Sullivan invited Shelby Hinkle and Novella Randall of McKinstry to provide the results of the investment grade audit of the Frances Anderson Center. The audit identified five major challenges with the building: 1. Existing natural gas boilers are beyond their useful life 2. Lack of cooling 3. Lack of mechanical ventilation 4. The building management system is antiquated 5. The hot water plant runs on natural gas, an undesirable fossil fuel The audit recommended installing an upgraded HVAC system, a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS), and new fans, coils, filters and VFDs (variable frequency drives)for the gym air handling units. The preliminary project budget is estimated at $9.1 - $10.2 million. There was discussion about potential funding sources and grant opportunities, though the current environment is challenging and competitive. 4. ADOPTION OF INTERIM ORDINANCE FOR STEP HOUSING Ms. Hope reviewed that the interim STEP ordinance is required by HB 1220, which requires changes to the city's development regulations to allow four specific housing types: 1) emergency shelter; 2) transitional housing; 3) emergency housing; and 4) permanent supportive housing. Because it's an interim action, the council must hold a public hearing within six months of Edmonds City Council Minutes January 28, 2025 Page 3 adoption; February 11 has been proposed. After that, the council could do more community outreach and consider further refinement. The council must then hold a final public hearing before approving a permanent code. COUNCILMEMBER NAND MOVED TO ADOPT THE INTERIM ORDINANCE FOR STEP HOUSING. COUNCILMEMBER TIBBOTT MOVED TO AMEND THE PROPOSED ECDC 17.125.030 (REGULATIONS) BY ADDING A NEW SUBSECTION B(1) (EXPECTATIONS). THE NEW SUBSECTION WOULD READ: B. Expectations. 1. Nuisances and criminal behavior are subject to enforcement to the full extent of the city's code and State law. Following Council discussion, MOTION CARRIED 4-2, WITH COUNCILMEMBERS PAINE AND NAND VOTING AGAINST. COUNCILMEMBER TIBBOTT MOVED TO AMEND THE PROPOSED ECDC 17.125.030 (REGULATIONS) BY ADDING A NEW SUBSECTION B(2) (EXPECTATIONS). THE NEW SUBSECTION WOULD READ: 2. Evictions of residents for unsafe actions are not precluded by city codes. Following discussion, MOTION CARRIED 4-2, WITH COUNCILMEMBERS PAINE AND NAND VOTING AGAINST. MOTION TO ADOPT THE INTERIM ORDINANCE FOR STEP HOUSING AS AMENDED CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 5. INTERFUND LOAN UTILITY ANALYSIS Kim Dunscombe, Acting Finance Director, provided an analysis of the utility funds to ensure the interfund loan policy requirements can be met. The $5 million interfund loan to the general fund is needed to assist with Edmonds' budget shortfall. She shared a spreadsheet outlining operating expenses, target reserve amounts, budgeted capital needs, restricted and unrestricted net totals, and net position of both water and stormwater utility fund. According to the analysis, the utility funds can sustain the loan. The purpose of this analysis is to assure the public that the city's utility funds will be sound, which include $2.5 million from the water fund and $2.5 million from the stormwater fund. 6. SPECIAL ELECTION PRO/CON COMMITTEES CRITERIA REVIEW OF CRITERIA AND APPOINTMENT The Council has the legislative responsibility to appoint two committees to write ballot measure argument statements that appear in the election voters' pamphlet. The pro committee writes the statement supporting the measure; the con committee writes the statement opposing the measure. Each committee is allowed up to three volunteer members who must be residents of Edmonds. Edmonds City Council Minutes January 28, 2025 Page 4 Two options to select the committee members were identified and explained: 1) random drawing of names/voting in the order of the random drawing; and 2) ranked choice voting. COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT MOVED TO USE OPTION 1 TO APPOINT THE PRO AND CON COMMITTEES. Following discussion, MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 7. ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE AMENDING ECC 1.04 COUNCIL MEETINGS COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT MOVED TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE AMENDING ECC 1.04 COUNCIL MEETINGS. COUNCILMEMBER PAINE MOVED TO AMEND SECTION 4 TO STRIKE PROPOSED LANGAUGE 4(B)2 RELATED TO ASSIGNED SEATING. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. MOTION TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE AMENDING ECC 1.04 COUNCIL MEETINGS AS AMENDED CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 10. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmembers commented on various issues. 11. MAYOR'S COMMENTS Mayor Rosen provided comments. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:54 pm. cs;� SCOTT PASSEY;i CLERK Edmonds City Council Minutes January 28, 2025 Page 5