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2025-04-21 Council Minutes Edmonds City Council Minutes April 21, 2025 Page 1 EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL MEETING ACTION MINUTES April 21, 2025 ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT Mike Rosen, Mayor Will Chen, Councilmember Neil Tibbott, Council President Michelle Dotsch, Councilmember Susan Paine, Councilmember Chris Eck, Councilmember Jenna Nand, Councilmember STAFF PRESENT Jeff Taraday, City Attorney Shane Hope, Interim PDS Director Mike Clugston, Planning Manager 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 Paine read the City Council Land Acknowledgement Statement. 3. ROLL CALL City Clerk Passey called the roll. All elected officials were present except for Councilmember Olson. COUNCILMEMBER PAINE MOVED TO EXCUSE COUNCILMEMBER OLSON. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4. PRESENTATIONS 1. RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING EARTH DAY 2025 Councilmember Paine read the resolution and presented it to representatives of the Climate Action Committee and Sierra Club. 2. CLIMATE RESILIENCY PRESENTATION Interim PDS Director Hope presented climate activities that the city carries out as Edmonds City Council Minutes April 21, 2025 Page 2 parts of its internal operation, and actions by the City to influence others in the community or region. 3. MAYOR’S FINANCE UPDATE Mayor Rosen provided information on finance and budget issues. 5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA COUNCILMEMBER ECK MOVED APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 6. AUDIENCE COMMENTS 1. Patrice Raplee, Edmonds, spoke in opposition to the Medical District Expansion Center. 2. Kathleen Lester, Edmonds, spoke in opposition to the Medical District Expansion Center. 3. Dave Millette, Edmonds, spoke in opposition to the Medical District Expansion Center. 4. Laurie Thomas, Edmonds, spoke in opposition to the Medical District Expansion Center. 5. Margo Radovich, Edmonds, spoke in opposition to the Medical District Expansion Center. 6. Christine Hurley, Edmonds, spoke in opposition to the Medical District Expansion Center. 7. Jack Faris, Edmonds, stated that this meeting exemplifies the spirit of cooperation. 8. Chelsea Rudd, Edmonds, spoke about efforts to save the parks from budget cuts and the Edmonds Activated community group. 9. Kevin Fagerstrom, Edmonds, spoke about the importance of voting and the Edmonds Can Do Better community group. 10. Ann Christiansen, Edmonds, urged the council to adopt the interim tree ordinance. 11. Kat Woodham, Edmonds, advocated for better city communication on important issues to restore the public trust. 12. David Ahlvers, Edmonds, urged the city not to sell valuable community assets such as Wade James Theater. 13. Jim Ogonowski, Edmonds, noted the Edmonds Can Do Better community group will be donating any surplus to charity. 14. Marjie Fields, Edmonds, urged the city to adopt permanent protections for trees, open space and the environment in general. 15. Nora Carlson, Edmonds, urged the city to protect the environment and not consider cutting parks from the budget. 16. Pam Tauer, Edmonds, spoke in support of the interim tree ordinance and work plan. 17. Gayla Shoemake, Edmonds, spoke in support of the interim tree ordinance. 18. Thomas Brehmer, Edmonds, expressed concern about potential misuse of data collected by the Flock camera system. 19. Kathleen Sears, Edmonds, spoke in support of the interim tree ordinance. 20. Lora Hein, Edmonds, spoke in support of the interim tree ordinance and work plan. 21. Grant Hazard, Edmonds, urged the city to preserve its parks and community centers and explore options for new revenue sources. Edmonds City Council Minutes April 21, 2025 Page 3 22. Heather Knauss, Main Street Kids, spoke in support of the programs offered at the Frances Anderson Center. 23. Kassie Goforth, Edmonds, urged the city to honor its ideals by preserving the environment. 24. Dennis Weaver, Edmonds, spoke in support of the interim tree ordinance. 25. Colleen McDonald, Esperance, encouraged the city to work creatively to protect parks and find other revenue streams. 26. Joe Scordino, Edmonds, urged the city to bundle the centers and hubs into one Comp Plan amendment. 27. Arnie Warnick, Edmonds, spoke in opposition to the Medical District Expansion Center. 28. Chris Ziobro, Edmonds, encouraged more community outreach and fairness on issues such as parks assets and neighborhood centers and hubs. 29. Isabelle, Edmonds, encouraged more transparency and communication regarding city issues, including potential sale of park assets. 7. RECEIVED FOR FILING 1. WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS 8. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT MOVED APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, INCLUDING REMOVAL OF ITEM 8.7 PLANNING DEPARTMENT POSITION RECLASSIFICATION. MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The agenda items approved are as follows: 1. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES APRIL 8, 2025 2. APPROVAL OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES APRIL 15, 2025 3. APPROVAL OF CLAIM CHECKS AND WIRE PAYMENT. 4. APPROVAL OF PAYROLL AND BENEFIT CHECKS, DIRECT DEPOSIT AND WIRE PAYMENTS. 5. RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING EARTH DAY 2025 6. APPROVAL OF SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH SCJ FOR HWY 99 REVITALIZATION STAGE 3 7. ORDINANCE AMENDING AUTHORIZED EMPLOYEE POSITIONS 9. PUBLIC HEARING 1. PUBLIC HEARING ON PERMANENT STEP HOUSING CODE Mike Clugston, Planning Manager, introduced this item. Mayor Rosen opened the public hearing. Edmonds City Council Minutes April 21, 2025 Page 4 1. Christi Samard, Edmonds, expressed concern about potential negative impacts resulting from the STEP housing code. 10. COUNCIL BUSINESS 1. INTERIM ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT THE REMOVAL OF CERTAIN LANDMARK TREES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY Councilmember Paine introduced the interim ordinance and work plan. COUNCILMEMBER PAINE MOVED APPROVAL OF THE INTERIM ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT THE REMOVAL OF CERTAIN LANDMARK TREES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. Council questions and feedback related to the MU3 Zone, a community task force, and application of the interim ordinance versus the existing tree code. A VOTE WAS TAKEN ON THE MOTION, WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 2. PRIORITIES FOR 2025 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT IDEAS COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT MOVED TO REMOVE FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT IDEAS #1, #2, #3, #6, #26, #27, #28. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT MOVED TO REMOVE AMENDMENT IDEAS #9, #11, #12, #20 AS SUGGESTED BY STAFF. MOTION CARRIED 5-1, WITH COUNCILMEMBER DOTSCH VOTING AGAINST. COUNCILMEMBER NAND MOVED TO TABLE INDEFINITELY AMENDMENT IDEAS #7, 5, 8, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. MOTION CARRIED 4-2, WITH COUNCILMEMBERS CHEN AND DOTSCH VOTING AGAINST. COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT MOVED TO DIRECT COUNCIL STAFF TO DRAFT A RESOLUTION DOCUMENTING THE COUNCIL’S PREVIOUS ACTION TO ADVANCE NORTH BOWL HUB AND ESTABLISHING A CRITICAL AREAS PROGRAM FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION. MOTION FAILED 3-3, WITH COUNCILMEMBERS ECK, PAINE, AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT VOTING IN FAVOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS NAND, CHEN, AND DOTSCH VOTING AGAINST. 10. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmembers commented on various issues. 11. MAYOR’S COMMENTS Edmonds City Council Minutes April 21, 2025 Page 5 Mayor Rosen provided comments. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:58 pm.