2025-07-08 Council Minutes
Edmonds City Council Minutes
July 8, 2025
Page 1
EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL MEETING
ACTION MINUTES
July 8, 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
Navyusha Pentakota, 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 Chen 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 PULLED CONSENT ITEM 8.6, WHICH BECAME
COUNCIL BUSINESS ITEM 9.1.
COUNCILMEMBER OLSON PULLED CONSENT ITEM 8.5 FOR PLACEMENT ON A
FUTURE AGENDA.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
5. PRESENTATION
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July 8, 2025
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1. Mayor’s Finance Update
Mayor Rosen commented on finance and budget issues.
6. AUDIENCE COMMENTS
1. Bill Krepick, Woodway, asked the council to delay the police chief confirmation to
evaluate a less expensive contract with Snohomish County.
2. Jim Ogonowski, Edmonds, questioned the lack of monthly financial details and asked
about the allocation of funds after stopping payments to the RFA fire contract.
3. Joe Scordino, Edmonds, urged the council to amend the comprehensive plan to better
protect critical environmental areas.
7. RECEIVED FOR FILING
1. WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS
2. CLAIM FOR DAMAGES FOR FILING
3. PLANNING BOARD 2ND QUARTER REPORT
4. MAY 2025 MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT
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 MEETING MINUTES JUNE 24, 2025
2. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL COMMITTEE A MINUTES JULY 1, 2025
3. APPROVAL OF CLAIM CHECKS AND WIRE PAYMENTS.
4. APPROVAL OF PAYROLL AND BENEFIT CHECKS, DIRECT DEPOSIT
AND WIRE PAYMENTS.
10. COUNCIL BUSINESS
1. Adoption of Levy Lid Lift Resolution
COUNCILMEMBER DOTSCH MOVED APPROVAL OF THE LEVY LID LIFT
RESOLUTION. Following debate, MOTION CARRIED 5-2 WITH COUNCILMEMBERS
DOTSCH AND CHEN DISSENTING.
2. Chief of Police - Appointment Confirmation and Employment Agreement
Mayor Rosen recommended that council confirm the appointment and employment agreement
for Assistant Chief Lloyd Dawkins as the new Chief of Police.
COUNCILMEMBER PAINE MOVED TO CONFIRM LOI DAWKINS AS EDMONDS
POLICE CHIEF.
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July 8, 2025
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COUNCILMEMBER OLSON MOVED TO AMEND THE EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT TO STRIKE THE $900 CLOTHING ALLOWANCE IN SECTION 5.6.
Following debate, MOTION FAILED 1-6 WITH COUNCILMEMBER OLSON VOTING
IN FAVOR.
THE MAIN MOTION WAS AMENDED TO CONJOIN THE CONFIRMATION WITH
THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
A VOTE WAS TAKEN ON THE MAIN MOTION TO CONFIRM LOI DAWKINS AS
EDMONDS POLICE CHIEF AND THE CORRESPONDING EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT, WHICH CARRIED 6-1 WITH COUNCILMEMBER DOTSCH
DISSENTING.
3. Pro/Con Committees for Levy Lid Lift Ballot Measure
CP Tibbott introduced the proposed process to appoint pro con committees.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT MOVED TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED
PROCESS AS OUTLINED IN THE COUNCIL PACKET.
COUNCILMEMBER NAND MOVED TO AMEND THE PROCESS AS FOLLOWS: “3.
ALL APPLICANTS TO THE PRO COMMITTEE WILL BE FIRST NOMINATED BY A
MINIMUM OF ONE COUNCIL MEMBER IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A VOTE ON THE
DAIS, THE COUNCIL WILL VOTE IN THE ORDER NOMINATED.” MOTION
FAILED 2-5 WITH COUNCILMEMBERS DOTSCH AND NAND VOTING IN FAVOR.
MAIN MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED PROCESS AS OUTLINED IN THE
COUNCIL PACKET CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
4. Neighborhood Centers & Hubs Permanent Zoning Code Update - Introduction
Mike Clugston and Navyusha Pentakota, presented the status of permanent zoning code updates
for neighborhood centers and hubs, highlighting community engagement; changes to allow
single-family development; changes to address concerns about commercial requirements,
walkability, and infrastructure; and next steps.
Council questions and feedback focused on the following:
• Community engagement
• Walkability
• Design standards and mixed use
• Transition areas and traffic studies
• Neighborhood amenities
• Connectivity
• Density
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July 8, 2025
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5. Study Results for 2025 Comprehensive Plan Amendment Ideas
Staff outlined options for modifying, removing, or postponing changes to the North Bowl Hub.
RECESS
At 7:27 pm, Mayor Rosen recessed the meeting until 7:34 pm. The meeting was reconvened at
7:32 pm.
COUNCILMEMBER OLSON MOVED TO MODIFY THE NORTH BOWL HUB IN
2025.
Following debate, COUNCILMEMBER CHEN MOVED TO MODIFY THE NORTH
BOWL HUB IN 2025 AND REVIEW OTHER CENTERS AND HUBS IN 2026.
Following debate, MOTION CARRIED 6-1 WITH COUNCILMEMBER PAINE
DISSENTING.
MAIN MOTION TO MODIFY THE NORTH BOWL HUB IN 2025 AND REVIEW
OTHER CENTERS AND HUBS IN 2026 CARRIED 6-1 WITH COUNCILMEMBER
PAINE DISSENTING.
Staff outlined the process it is undertaking in 2025 to update the critical areas ordinance to be
consistent with best available science. The discussion confirmed the city’s existing critical areas
program meets state requirements.
COUNCILMEMBER OLSON MOVED TO ADD A POLICY ON COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT ON CRITICAL AREAS. Following discussion, MOTION FAILED 3-4
WITH COUNCILMEMBERS OLSON, DOTSCH, AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT
TIBBOTT VOTING IN FAVOR.
6. City Administrator – Position Creation
Mayor Rosen explained his rationale for creating the City Administrator position.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT MOVED TO APPROVE THE ELIMINATION OF
THE COMMUNITY, CULTURE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
POSITION AND THE ADDITION OF A CITY ADMINISTRATOR POSITION AND
CORRESPONDING JOB DESCRIPTION.
Following debate, COUNCILMEMBER NAND MOVED TO AMEND THE ESSENTIAL
FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR JOB
DESCRIPTION AS FOLLOWS: “THIS SHALL BE A TEMPORARY POSITION, WITH
A TWELVE MONTH PROBATIONARY PERIOD. AT THE END OF THIS
EXPLORATORY PERIOD, THE ADMINISTRATION MAY PRESENT TO THE
COUNCIL THE DATA IT COLLECTED TO DEMONSTRATE THE ADDED
EFFICIENCIES RESULTING FROM THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR ROLE WITHIN
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July 8, 2025
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ITS SENIOR LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE. AFTER THE ONE YEAR
PROBATIONARY PERIOD, THE ADMINISTRATION MAY RECOMMEND TO THE
COUNCIL THAT IT PERMANENTLY ADD THIS POSITION TO THE CITY
EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION CHART AND REQUEST COUNCIL TO FUND IT ON
AN ONGOING BASIS.”
Following debate, MOTION FAILED 3-4, WITH COUNCILMEMBERS NAND, DOTSCH,
AND ECK VOTING IN FAVOR.
COUNCILMEMBER CHEN MOVED TO ESTABLISH AND FUND THIS POSITION IN
2026.
MEETING EXTENSION
AT 8:55 PM, COUNCILMEMBER NAND MOVED TO EXTEND THE MEETING
UNTIL 9:30 PM. MOTION CARRIED 6-1 WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT
DISSENTING.
Following debate, MOTION FAILED 2-5 WITH COUNCILMEMBERS CHEN AND
DOTSCH VOTING IN FAVOR.
COUNCILMEMBER PAINE MOVED TO VACATE THE COMMUNITY, CULTURE
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR POSITION INSTEAD OF
ELIMINATE IT. MOTION FAILED 3-4 WITH COUNCILMEMBERS ECK, PAINE,
AND NAND VOTING IN FAVOR.
Following debate, A VOTE WAS TAKEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE
ELIMINATION OF THE COMMUNITY, CULTURE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR POSITION AND THE ADDITION OF A CITY
ADMINISTRATOR POSITION AND CORRESPONDING JOB DESCRIPTION; WITH
THE ELIMINATION OF THE CCED DIRECTOR OCCURRING AT THE TIME THE
CURRENT DIRECTOR IS APPOINTED TO THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR; WITH
THE APPOINTMENT OF THE CURRENT CCED DIRECTOR, AND
CORRESPONDING EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT, TO BE APPROVED BY CITY
COUNCIL AT A LATER MEETING. MOTION CARRIED 4-3 WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS CHEN, DOTSCH, AND PAINE DISSENTING.
11. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Council members commented on various issues.
12. MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Rosen provided comments.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 pm.
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July 8, 2025
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