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2025-03-11 Council Minutes Edmonds City Council Minutes March 11, 2025 Page 1 EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL MEETING ACTION MINUTES March 11, 2025 ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT Mike Rosen, Mayor Will Chen, Councilmember Neil Tibbott, Council President Michelle Dotsch, Councilmember Vivian Olson, Councilmember Susan Paine, Councilmember Chris Eck, Councilmember Jenna Nand, Councilmember STAFF PRESENT Jeff Taraday, City Attorney (remote) Phil Olbrechts, Hearing Examiner Emily Wagener Senior HR Analyst Rod Sniffen, Acting Police Chief Shane Hope, Interim PDS Director Michael Clugston, Planning Manager Brad Shipley, Senior Planner Navyusha Pentakota, Planner Phil Williams, Interim PW Director Richard Gould, Finance Director Scott Passey, City Clerk 1. CALL TO ORDER/FLAG SALUTE The Edmonds City Council meeting was called to order at 6:00 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 Passey called the roll. All elected officials were present. 4. PRESENTATIONS 1. HEARING EXAMINER REPORT Hearing Examiner Phil Olbrechts reported on the nine projects he examined during 2024, ranging from preliminary plats, conditional use permits, and others. He commented on the challenges associated with certain projects such as determination of setback variances and building footprints measured from easements rather than property lines. While his decisions were based on Edmonds’ precedents, Edmonds hasn’t traditionally allowed much of a building footprint on lots with critical areas. He concluded by requesting code amendments that would Edmonds City Council Minutes March 11, 2025 Page 2 enable the hearing examiner to adopt rules of procedure, and to modify decision time limits from the current 24-hour requirement to 10 days, which is the standard in other cities. Questions and comments followed regarding application and hearing timelines, easements vs. property lines, and examples of hearing examiner rules in other cities. Councilmembers expressed support for expanding the decision timeline to allow more thoughtful decision-making. 2. MAYOR’S FINANCE UPDATE Mayor Rosen provided a brief report, noting that he would provide details of his budget reduction and savings approaches at the March 18 meeting. 5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA COUNCILMEMBER ECK MOVED APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT MOVED TO ADD POLICE DEPT PROMOTION AS COUNCIL BUSINESS ITEM #2. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. A VOTE WAS TAKEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED, WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 6. AUDIENCE COMMENTS 1. Dennis Weaver, Edmonds, urged the city to cancel the permit to remove the redwood tree “Big Red” at the Boardwalk Condos due to defects in the application. 2. Marty Ronish, Edmonds, expressed concern about the North Bowl Hub designation because it does not have the requisite development potential. 3. Gary Pyfer, Edmonds, expressed support for preserving “Big Red” on environmental and legal grounds. 4. Scott Urquhart, Edmonds, opposed the North Bowl Hub designation because it will replace single family neighborhoods with multifamily housing. 5. Georgina Armstrong, Edmonds, urged the city to adopt tree codes as soon as possible to strengthen urban tree canopy protections. 6. Pam Powers, Edmonds, expressed support for preserving “Big Red” and empowering the city to protect significant and heritage trees. 7. Tamara Nelson, Edmonds, read a scripture encouraging the city council to have wisdom so it can lead with integrity. 7. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS COUNCILMEMBER OLSON MOVED APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The agenda items approved are as follows: Edmonds City Council Minutes March 11, 2025 Page 3 1. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL COMMITTEE A MEETING MINUTES MARCH 4, 2025 2. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MARCH 4, 2025 3. APPROVAL OF PAYROLL AND BENEFIT CHECKS, DIRECT DEPOSIT AND WIRE PAYMENTS. 4. APPROVAL OF CLAIM CHECKS. 5. FIRST RESPONDER FLEX FUND 6. SNOHOMISH REGIONAL DRUG TASK FORCE ILA (SRDTF) 7. CONTRACT WITH JCI JONES FOR SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT 8. AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE (1) 2025 ELGIN CROSSWIND SWEEPER 8. PUBLIC HEARING 1. PUBLIC HEARING - INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF MARYSVILLE FOR SURPLUS VEHICLE SALE Interim Director Williams outlined a proposal to execute an interlocal agreement to sell surplus city vehicles to the City of Marysville. The sale involves five (5) 2023 Ford Explorer Police Utility Interceptors for a one-time lump sum payment of $410,000.00. The public hearing tonight is required prior to council authorization. Mayor Rosen opened the public hearing. Seeing no one wishing to speak, Mayor Rosen closed the hearing. 9. COUNCIL BUSINESS 1. AUTHORIZATION FOR MAYOR TO SIGN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF MARYSVILLE FOR SURPLUS VEHICLE SALE COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF MARYSVILLE FOR THE PURCHASE OF SURPLUS VEHICLES. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 2. POLICE CORPORAL APPROVAL Senior HR Analyst Emily Wagener and Acting Police Chief Sniffen proposed an ordinance that would temporarily reflect seven corporal positions in the police department, which would later revert to six. By doing so, the city can avoid the costs of providing a civil service assessment center, estimated at $20,000-25,000. The proposed process will cost approximately $3,600. The city’s one-year extension of the promotion eligibility list expires soon, so the city must promote now or provide another assessment center. The city attorney will prepare an ordinance for next week’s council agenda. COUNCILMEMBER ECK MOVED TO APPROVE THE PROCESS TO TEMPORARILY INCREASE THE CORPORAL POSITIONS. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Edmonds City Council Minutes March 11, 2025 Page 4 3. 2024 TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT REPORT Interim Director Williams reported that the Transportation Benefit District (TBD) received $1,199,155 in revenue from local license fees in 2024. These collected funds are authorized to be spent only for street maintenance, preservation, and signal system maintenance. The Street Fund also receives approximately $630,000 from State Gas Tax receipts and $440,000 from the General Fund. The publishing of this report fulfills the requirement within RCW 36.73.160(2). TBD‐funded activities included localized pavement repairs, pothole repairs, signage management, maintenance of pavement markings (buttons, curb paint, etc.), crosswalk maintenance, and traffic signal maintenance and repair. Council questions and comments focused on the pavement condition index (PCI), value and effectiveness of pavement preservation strategies such as chip sealing, costs and cost controls, and other funding options for the transportation system. 4. 2025 CODE UPDATES: COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND INFORMATION Interim Director Hope, Michael Clugston, Planning Manager, Brad Shipley, Senior Planner, and Navyusha Pentakota, Planner, outlined activities that are being planned around the topics of Neighborhood Centers and Hubs and Middle Housing. The Planning Board is currently working on new codes, in addition to Design Review and STEP Housing, which they plan to recommend by mid-year. The Middle Housing effort features a collaborative approach that will provide options for the Planning Board to consider relative to building types on different sized properties, scale, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and subdivisions. The Hubs and Centers effort is similarly collaborative in that staff has received helpful Planning Board feedback on the interim ordinance. Neighborhood centers and hubs are meant to encourage small-scale commercial and multifamily uses that will mix in with existing homes and businesses. The effort will focus on important issues such as transition zones and existing single-family expansion. Outreach activities will include an online open house with a Q&A component, an updated webpage with interactive maps, and walking tours within each of the nine centers and hubs that were adopted into the Comprehensive Plan. Ms. Pentakota provided a demonstration of the website and interactive map feature. Councilmembers commented favorably on the approach regarding the community outreach efforts and complimented staff for the website and interactive map work. There were also comments, questions and suggestions related to the online open house Q&A process, affordable housing criteria, and website navigation. 5. LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT POOL RESOLUTION Director Gould outlined a proposal to adopt a resolution authorizing investment of the City of Edmonds monies in the Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP). The City has been investing Edmonds City Council Minutes March 11, 2025 Page 5 surplus funds in the Washington State Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP) for several years. All local governments who invest money in the LGIP are required to have a Council Resolution approving the investments, and to designate authorized individuals to administer the investments. The past resolutions have named the Finance Director and included their direct name. According to LGIP staff, the city may also list only the title and can include more than one. The proposed resolution includes the Finance Director along with the Mayor. COUNCILMEMBER ECK MOVED APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING INVESTMENT IN THE LGIP. Following brief discussion, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 10. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmembers commented on various issues. 11. MAYOR’S COMMENTS Mayor Rosen provided comments. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:12 pm.