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2025-07-01 Council Minutes Edmonds City Council Minutes July 1, 2025 Page 1 EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL MEETING ACTION MINUTES July 1, 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 Phil Williams, Interim Public Works Director Mike Clugston, Acting Planning Director Brad Shipley, Senior Planner 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. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA COUNCILMEMBER OLSON MOVED APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT MOVED TO ADD A LEVY LID DISCUSSION AS ITEM 10.1. MOTION CARRIED 6-1 WITH COUNCILMEMBER DOTSCH DISSENTING. MAIN MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 5. PRESENTATION 1. Mayor’s Finance Update Mayor Rosen commented on finance and budget issues. 6. AUDIENCE COMMENTS Edmonds City Council Minutes July 1, 2025 Page 2 1. Ken Reidy, Edmonds, expressed concerns about proposed changes to street vacation codes and the city’s adherence to existing laws. 7. RECEIVED FOR FILING 1. WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS 2. OUTSIDE BOARDS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS 8. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS COUNCILMEMBER CHEN MOVED APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The agenda items approved are as follows: 1. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL COMMITTEE B MINUTES JUNE 17, 2025 2. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL COMMITTEE W MINUTES JUNE 17, 2025 3. APPROVAL OF CLAIM CHECKS AND WIRE PAYMENT. 9. PUBLIC HEARING 1. Public Hearing On A Resolution Providing For The Submission To The Voters At The General Election A Proposition Authorizing The City To Increase Its Regular Property Tax Levy Above The Limit Otherwise Allowed By State Law Mayor Rosen presented information on the property tax revenues, followed by comments from Council President Tibbott. Mayor Rosen opened the public hearing. 1. Robert Chaffee, Edmonds, opposed the levy lid lift because it represents a significant hardship that homeowners cannot afford. 2. Becky Brauer, Edmonds, said despite the budget cuts, staffing still outpaces the population increase so the city should revert to 2022 staffing levels. 3. Roger Pence, Edmonds, supported putting the levy on the ballot but urged the city to convey a more effective message and provide comparisons. 4. Elise Hill, Edmonds, thanked the council for giving residents a choice with a ballot measure, noting that young families are willing to pay for city services. 5. Don Randall, Edmonds, supported putting the levy on the ballot but requested better communication and detail about what the city gets with a levy increase. 6. Jerry Whitmarsh, Edmonds, expressed disgust with the city’s disregard for the law and lack of accountability for its finances. 7. Janelle Cass, Edmonds, urged the city not to put the levy on the ballot because the city’s financial problems are due to recent mismanagement and it will perpetuate income inequality. 8. Kelly Haller, Edmonds, said she will vote yes on the levy if residents have assurance about what the money will be spent on. 9. Bill Krepick, Woodway, opposed the levy because residents are already suffering under tax increases and lack of due diligence by the city. Edmonds City Council Minutes July 1, 2025 Page 3 10. Jim Ogonowski, Edmonds, suggested the city should reduce the levy amount because a higher amount may increase the risk of an unsuccessful election result. 11. Ken Reidy, Edmonds, opposed the levy ballot because it will significantly burden the average homeowner and the city must prove accountability before asking for more. 12. Finis Tupper, Edmonds, opposed the levy because the city has wasted funds on severance packages, moving expenses, and other staff related issues. 13. Patricia Avolet, Edmonds, urged the city to provide an itemized accounting of the levy funds, noting its financial problems are due to wasteful spending. 14. Joe Scordino, Edmonds, said a single-digit amount of a $6 million levy is much safer and a figure more people are familiar with. Mayor Rosen closed the public hearing. 10. COUNCIL BUSINESS 1. Levy Lid Lift Discussion CP Tibbott opened the discussion on the proposed resolution on the levy lid lift. Council debated the amount, language, and scope of the levy. COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT MOVED TO INSERT “PLANNING” INTO THE PURPOSE STATEMENT. COUNCILMEMBER CHEN MOVED TO ADD A CLIMATE PROTECTION COORDINATOR TO THE PURPOSE STATEMENT. MOTION FAILED 2-5 WITH COUNCILMEMBERS CHEN AND NAND VOTING IN FAVOR. MAIN MOTION TO INSERT “PLANNING” CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCILMEMBER PAINE MOVED THAT THE AMENDED RESOLUTION BE PLACED ON THE NEXT CONSENT AGENDA. COUNCILMEMBER DOTSCH MOVED TO STRIKE “SAFE STREETS” AND INSERT “ROADS AND SIDEWALKS”, WHICH WAS RESTATED AS “STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.” MOTION CARRIED 4-2-1, WITH COUNCILMEMBERS PAINE AND ECK DISSENTING AND COUNCILMEMBER NAND ABSTAINING. COUNCILMEMBER OLSON MOVED TO STRIKE FROM THE TITLE “…ABOVE THE LIMIT OTHERWISE ALLOWED BY STATE LAW” AND INSERT “…MORE THAN THE AMOUNT THE STATE ALLOWS BY COUNCILMANIC ACTION.” MOTION FAILED 1-6 WITH COUNCILMEMBER OLSON VOTING IN FAVOR. MAIN MOTION THAT THE AMENDED RESOLUTION BE PLACED ON THE NEXT CONSETN AGENDA CARRIED 5-2 WITH COUNCILMEMBERS CHEN AND DOTSCH DISSENTING. 2. Residential Parking Code Update - Discussion and Final Revisions (AMD2025-0005) Edmonds City Council Minutes July 1, 2025 Page 4 Mike Clugston, Acting Planning Director, outlined parking code updates to comply with recent state legislation. COUNCILMEMBER PAINE MOVED TO DIRECT STAFF TO ELIMINATE PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR AFFORDABLE AND SENIOR HOUSING. MOTION CARRIED 4-3 WITH COUNCILMEMBERS CHEN, DOTSCH AND NAND DISSENTING. COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT MOVED TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO REMOVE ITEM 10.4 RELATED TO STREET VACATIONS. MOTION CARRIED 6-1 WITH COUNCILMEMBER OLSON DISSENTING. 3. Edmonds Marsh Estuary Planning Study – Project Update A presentation was given by Bill Derry, who was joined by Russell Lynch, Capital Projects Manager, and Phil Williams, Interim Public Works Director. The update touched on the findings, goals, private-public partnership, grant opportunities and volunteer contributions. Consultant Kathy Cateridge, Blue Coast Engineering, provided a report on hydraulic modeling, simulations and mitigation options. MEETING EXTENSION AT 8:56 PM, COUNCILMEMBER NAND MOVED TO EXTEND THE MEETING UNTIL 10 PM. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Council members expressed strong support for all aspects of the project. 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 PER RCW 42.30.110(1)(I) At 9:17 pm, Mayor Rosen announced that the Council would convene in executive session to discuss pending or potential litigation per RCW 42.30.110.(1)(i) until 9:48 p.m. At 9:47 pm. Mayor Rosen announced that the executive session would be extended until 9:55 p.m. 14. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION The meeting reconvened at 9:55 pm. Edmonds City Council Minutes July 1, 2025 Page 5 ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:56 pm.