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2025-05-27 Council Minutes Edmonds City Council Minutes May 27, 2025 Page 1 EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL MEETING ACTION MINUTES May 27, 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 Vivian Olson, Councilmember STAFF PRESENT Jeff Taraday, City Attorney Mike Clugston, Acting Planning Director Brad Shipley, Senior Planner Rob English, City Engineer 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. APPROVAL OF AGENDA COUNCILMEMBER ECK MOVED APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. COUNCILMEMBER DOTSCH MOVED TO REMOVE ITEM 5.1, COMMUNITY POLL RESULTS PRESENTATION FROM THE AGENDA. MOTION FAILED 2-5, WITH COUNCILMEMBERS DOTSCH AND NAND VOTING AGAINST. MAIN MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 5. PRESENTATIONS 1. COMMUNITY POLL RESULTS ON CITY BUDGET Edmonds City Council Minutes May 27, 2025 Page 2 Community volunteers Adel Sefrioui, Elise Randall Hill, Mackey Guenther and Erik Hauser shared compiled ideas, data and analysis from the Keep Edmonds Vibrant (KEV) community poll. Council questions and feedback focused on the following areas: • Camera revenue estimates • Survey methodology and assumptions • Expertise in statistically valid surveys • Data interpretation • Trends • Public support for additional revenue options • Edmonds’ ranking on property tax rates • Polling software • Near and long-term revenue sources 2. MAYOR’S FINANCE UPDATE Mayor Rosen commented on finance and budget issues. 6. AUDIENCE COMMENTS 1. David Chan, Lynnwood, thanked the city for joining South County Fire RFA. 2. Bill Derry, Edmonds, urged the council to support renewal of the WRIA 8 agreement. 3. Phillip Witte, Edmonds, thanked KEV for its rational approach and considering the interests of young families. 4. Todd Anderson, Everett, thanked the city for voting to annex into the South County Fire RFA. 5. Bill Krepick, Woodway, said that revenue streams won’t solve the city’s problems, which are due to lack of due diligence. 6. Theresa Hollis, Edmonds, commented that the proposed promotion of the CCED director to City Administrator is because he’s a tall white male. 7. Megan, Edmonds, asked the council to thoughtfully consider the KEV poll and recommendations. 8. Evan, Edmonds, said that increasing density with multi-family zoning is the reason many residents can afford to live in Edmonds. 9. Drew Hill, Edmonds, urged the city to include on its retreat spreadsheet a cost-benefit analysis of selling the Frances Anderson Center. 10. Pete Gibson, Edmonds, thanked KEV and urged the city to carefully look at the numbers. 11. Christi Kreft, said the future of the Edmonds Montessori in the Frances Anderson Center depends on the city. 12. Matt, Edmonds, commented favorably on the KEV survey and urged the city to commit to improvement rather than the staying the same. 13. Kat Wittam, Edmonds, asked the city to be more transparent about the tradeoffs with an increased property tax levy and impacts on Edmonds residents. Edmonds City Council Minutes May 27, 2025 Page 3 7. RECEIVED FOR FILING 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/RETREAT MINUTES MAY 9, 2025 2. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MAY 13, 2025 3. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL COMMITTEE B MINUTES MAY 20, 2025 4. APPROVAL OF PAYROLL AND BENEFIT CHECKS, DIRECT DEPOSIT AND WIRE PAYMENTS. 5. APPROVAL OF CLAIM CHECKS AND WIRE PAYMENTS. 6. 4TH OF JULY PARADE & RACE, PORCHFEST EDMONDS AND EDMONDS BLOCK PARTY (FORMERLY TASTE EDMONDS) SPECIAL EVENT AGREEMENTS 7. FIBER PARTNERS ILA CONSENT 8. APPROVAL OF ILA FOR THE COMMUTE TRIP REDUCTION PLANS AND PROGRAMS 9. SOUTH COUNTY FIRE RFA ANNEXATION IMPLEMENTATION 10. AWARD CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO SHORELINE CONSTRUCTION FOR THE PHASE 15 WATERLINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT 9. PUBLIC HEARING 1. DESIGN REVIEW CODE UPDATE: PUBLIC HEARING (PLN2024-0009) Mike Clugston, Acting Planning Director, noted that the May 13 public hearing was continued because the correct attachment was not included in the packet materials. Brad Shipley, Senior Planner, explained which issues are required for design review compliance and which are not required. Mayor Rosen called for speakers. 1. Kim Bayer Augustavo, Edmonds, urged the city to include the Architectural Design Board in design review or staff and developers will decide what Edmonds looks like. 2. Christine Weir, Edmonds, received confirmation that the middle housing public hearing will be held June 10th. Mayor Rosen closed the public hearing. 10. COUNCIL BUSINESS 1. MAIN ST. OVERLAY PROJECT UPDATE (6TH AVE-8TH AVE) Edmonds City Council Minutes May 27, 2025 Page 4 Rob English, City Engineer, explained the soil problems that require additional management reserves of $70,000 in the REET 126 Fund to complete the extra work. COUNCILMEMBER PAINE MOVED TO AUTHORIZE $70,000 FROM THE REET 126 FUND TO THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT RESERVE. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 2. MIDDLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CODE UPDATE: PLANNING BOARD RECOMMENDATION Brad Shipley, Senior Planner, and Mike Clugston, Acting Planning Director, were joined by Lee Hankins, Planning Board chair, who outlined the Planning Board recommendation for the Middle Housing Code amendments. Council questions and feedback focused on the following areas: • Street frontage requirements • Affordability component • 45% vs 35% lot coverage requirement • Distinction between townhomes, triplexes, and cottages • Housing type options provided by the Planning Board • Setbacks and encroachments • Preservation of open/green space • Objective design standards • Department of Commerce involvement in design standards • Planning director guidance in the process • ADUs vs middle housing types MEETING EXTENSION COUNCILMEMBER OLSON MOVED TO EXTEND THE MEETING UNTIL 10 PM AND STRIKE ITEM 10.4 CITY REORGANIZATION - CITY ADMINISTRATOR CREATION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Council questions and feedback (continued): • Parent lots and subdivisions • Co-living concepts (part of Phase 3) • Lot coverage, side setbacks, and easements 3. WRIA 8 SALMON RECOVERY COUNCIL INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT RENEWAL (2026-2035) Acting Dir. Clugston outlined the draft WRIA 8 agreement which extends the term an additional 10 years. Edmonds City Council Minutes May 27, 2025 Page 5 COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT MOVED APPROVAL OF THE DRAFT WRIA 8 AGREEMENT. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 11. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmembers commented on various issues. 12. MAYOR’S COMMENTS Mayor Rosen provided comments. 13. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PENDING OR POTENTIAL LITIGATION At 9:26 pm, Mayor Rosen announced that the council would recess into an executive session to discuss pending or potential litigation per RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) until 9:55 pm. 14. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION At 9:55 pm, the meeting reconvened. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:56 pm.