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2025-03-18 Council Special Minutes Edmonds City Council Minutes March 18, 2025 Page 1 EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING ACTION MINUTES March 18, 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 Angie Feser, PRHS Director Jessica Neill Hoyson, HR Director Rod Sniffen, Acting Police Chief Shane Hope, Interim PDS Director Phil Williams, Interim PW Director Rob English, City Engineer Richard Gould, Finance Director Todd Tatum, CCED Director Scott Passey, City Clerk 1. CALL TO ORDER 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. ROLL CALL City Clerk Passey called the roll. All elected officials were present. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA COUNCILMEMBER ECK MOVED APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4. AUDIENCE COMMENTS: none 5. COUNCIL BUSINESS 1. JANUARY 2025 MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT Director Gould responded to questions and comments regarding the monthly financial report. The following points were made: • Dir. Gould will bring ideas to council committee on ways to refine the monthly reports to ensure council receives the information it wants. Edmonds City Council Minutes March 18, 2025 Page 2 • Council places a high priority on visibility and transparency in tracking funds the city is borrowing from utilities and staff is open to various approaches in how that information is reflected. • The interfund loan was needed due to the negative fund balance at the beginning of 2025 caused by several large payments. • City staff will bring forward ideas to modify the revenue forecasts to increase accuracy and reliability. • New development and other indicators may be helpful in forecasting city revenues. 2. FEBRUARY 2025 MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT Director Gould responded to comments regarding the February report, highlighting that the street fund negative balance must be addressed in the April 1 budget amendment. 3. MAYOR’S BUDGET REDUCTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES Mayor Rosen outlined proposed budget reductions and organizational changes aimed at ensuring fiscal responsibility and operational efficiency for the upcoming fiscal year. He shared details of the $1.8 million in budget reductions, which were realized through a combination of layoffs, retirements, resignations, reductions in hours, positions left unfilled or new people being hired at a lower salary. Impacted departments include the Mayor’s Office, Human Resources, Administrative Services, Police, Planning, Public Works Engineering and Facilities, and Information Technology. While the Council directive was to find $1.5M in savings, the Mayor was able to find $1.8M, which provides a buffer if sales tax and red-light traffic cameras impact expected revenues. He then presented a proposal for citywide reorganization, including combining the work of some departments, modifying job responsibilities and creating a City Administrator position, with Todd Tatum servicing as Acting Director. He proposed changing the name of the Parks department to Asset Management, which would include Facilities. Planning and Development would change to Community Placemaking, which would also include Economic Development. The Public Information Officer would include community engagement and be renamed Public Engagement Officer. The Mayor would oversee Police, Finance, Human Resources and the City Clerk while Asset Management (Parks), Community Placemaking, Public Works, Public Engagement, Public Records and Information Services would report to the City Administrator. Council questions, comments, and concerns focused on the renaming conventions, salaries and comparables, financial implications, and the relationship between staffing levels and risk management. There were additional comments and questions about impacts on building and deferred maintenance, police staffing and the community engagement function, the possibility of outsourcing certain city functions to the community, reevaluating all contracted services, jail, video court, sustainability, cuts to the Parks department, public engagement, economic development, and the merits of having a City Administrator in addition to a strong mayor. MEETING RECESS Edmonds City Council Minutes March 18, 2025 Page 3 At 8:28 pm, Council President Tibbott called for a recess until 8:35 pm. COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT MOVED TO POSTPONE INDEFINITELY AGENDA ITEM 5.5, TITLE 18 CODE UPDATES. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4. MAIN ST. OVERLAY PROJECT UPDATE (6TH-8TH AVE) Mr. English outlined the proposal to authorize $115,000 in Stormwater Funding to the project management reserve for the Main Street Overlay Project. The reason for this change is due to the discovery of soil instability requiring trench backfill, compaction, and pavement restoration prior to completion of the overlay work. Staff is working with the contractor on pricing the extra work needed to complete the trench repair and pavement patch. COUNCILMEMBER OLSON MOVED TO AUTHORIZE $115,000 IN STORMWATER FUNDING TO THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT RESERVE FOR THE MAIN STREET OVERLAY PROJECT. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. MEETING EXTENSION AT 8:52 PM, COUNCILMEMBER OLSON MOVED TO EXTEND THE MEETING TO 9:15 PM. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 5. ORDINANCE AMENDING AUTHORIZED EMPLOYEE POSITIONS Director Gould noted that the ordinance addresses the temporary increase to the number of authorized police corporals, which council approved last week. COUNCILMEMBER ECK MOVED TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AMENDING AUTHORIZED EMPLOYEE POSITIONS ADDING AN ADDITIONAL POLICE CORPORAL POSITION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 6. RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT AND RECOGNITION OF WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH For information only. This resolution is scheduled to be presented and approved during the March 25TH council meeting. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:56 pm.