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2025-08-12 Council Minutes Edmonds City Council Minutes August 12, 2025 Page 1 EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL MEETING ACTION MINUTES August 12, 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 Ludwig Marz, Acting HR Director Phil Williams, Interim Public Works Director Shane Hawley, Admin Services Commander Jeanie McConnell, Engineering Program Mgr 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 Council President Tibbott 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. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 5. PRESENTATION 1. Mayor’s Finance Update Mayor Rosen commented on finance and budget issues. 6. AUDIENCE COMMENTS Edmonds City Council Minutes August 12, 2025 Page 2 1. Marjie Fields, Edmonds, expressed concerns about open/green space definitions in city code, requesting differentiation between green space and paved "open" areas. 2. Jared Johnson, Edmonds, discussed potential sources for additional park maintenance funding including volunteers, donations, sponsorships, partnerships, and naming rights. 7. RECEIVED FOR FILING 1. JUNE 2025 QUARTERLY 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 AUGUST 4, 2025 2. APPROVAL OF PAYROLL AND BENEFIT CHECKS, DIRECT DEPOSIT AND WIRE PAYMENTS 3. APPROVAL OF CLAIM CHECKS AND WIRE PAYMENTS 9. PUBLIC HEARING 1. Public Hearing on Title 18 and ECDC 20.110 Updates Phil Williams, Interim Public Works Director, Jeanie McConnell, Engineering Program Manager, Mike DeLilla, Acting City Engineer, and Jeff Taraday, City Attorney, provided introductory comments on the Title 18 and ECDC 20.110 updates. Mayor Rosen opened the public hearing. 1. Leila Waka, Portland, raised technical concerns about code impacts on existing infrastructure and grandfathering of non-conforming facilities. 2. Nora Carlson, Edmonds, raised issues about light pollution from street lighting and its effects on wildlife habitats, requesting code changes to respect existing lighting codes. 3. Lora Hein, Edmonds, expressed support for the Title 18 update and the use of police powers to ensure utilities are compliant with city codes related to trees and light pollution. 4. Meridee Pabst, expressed concerns related to grandfathering and potential loss of rights to operate as a legal nonconforming facility. Mayor Rosen closed the public hearing. 10. COUNCIL BUSINESS 1. Ordinance Amending ECC 8.48 Related to Parking, Towing and Impoundment Edmonds City Council Minutes August 12, 2025 Page 3 Commander Shane Hawley, Police Admin Services, described proposed amendments to the Edmonds City Code, reflecting language recently passed by State Legislature and recommended adoption of the ordinance enacting the changes. COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT MOVED TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE REGARDING CITY CODE UPDATES FOR PARKING, ABANDONED VEHICLES AND IMPOUNDMENT AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 5. Ordinance Amending Authorized Employee Positions Emily Wagener, HR Analyst, and Ludwig Marz, Acting HR Director, highlighted proposed amendments to the city’s authorized employee positions and pay ranges, including repealing Ordinances 4390 and 4391. COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT MOVED TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE MENDING THE CITY’S AUTHORIZED EMPLOYEE POSITIONS AND PAY RANGES AND REPEALING ORDINANCES 4390 AND 4391; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND SETTING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. COUNCILMEMBER NAND MOVED TO STRIKE “2.57 FTEs” AND INSERT “2.37 FTEs” IN SECTION 2 AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. MAIN MOTION TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE AS AMENDED CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3. Ordinance to Update ECC 2.10 Confirmation and Duties of Appointive Officers Jeff Taraday, City Attorney, highlighted proposed amendments to Edmonds City Code 2.10 as it relates to the definition of and references to “appointed officers,” and recommended the ordinance be placed on the August 19th consent agenda for adoption. COUNCILMEMBER ECK MOVED TO PLACE THE ORDINANCE UPDATING ECC 2.10 ON THE AUGUST 19TH AGENDA. COUNCILMEMBER NAND MOVED TO INSERT “OR NOT ESTABLISHED” AFTER “NOT FUNDED” IN 2.10.050. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCILMEMBER CHEN MOVED TO DIRECT THE CITY ATTORNEY TO BRING BACK A COMPENSATION PACKAGE FOR DIRECTIVE OFFICERS TO NOT EXCEED THE HIGHEST PAY GRADE CONSIDERING BENEFITS IS AN OPTION TO BE COVERTED TO MONETARY COMPENSATION. COUNCILMEMBER OLSON MOVED AN AMENDMENT THAT ANY EXCEPTIONS TO COMPENSATION AS PREVIOUSLY MOVED MUST BE APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL. MOTION FAILED 3-4 WITH COUNCILMEMBERS OLSON, CHEN, AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT VOTING IN FAVOR. Edmonds City Council Minutes August 12, 2025 Page 4 A VOTE WAS TAKEN ON THE RESTATED MOTION TO DIRECT THE CITY ATTORNEY TO COME BACK WITH LANGUAGE ABOUT COMPENSATION AT THE HIGHEST PAY GRADE WITH CONSIDERATION OF THE BENEFIT. MOTION FAILED 3-4 WITH COUNCILMEMBERS DOTSCH, CHEN, AND OLSON VOTING IN FAVOR. COUNCILMEMBER ECK MOVED THAT THE ORDINANCE RETURN WITH CITY ATTORNEY REFINEMENTS BASED ON TONIGHT’S DISCUSSION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCILMEMBER ECK MOVED TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION MAIN THAT THE DRAFT RETURN FOR DISCUSSION RATHER THAN ON CONSENT. MOTION CARRIED 6-1, WITH COUNCILMEMBER CHEN DISSENTING. MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED CARRIED 6-1, WITH COUNCILMEMBER CHEN DISSENTING. RECESS At 8:06 pm, Mayor Rosen called for a five minute break until 8:12 pm. The meeting reconvened at 8:12 pm. 4. Neighborhood Centers & Hubs Permanent Ordinance Discussion Navyusha Pentakota, Planner, Brad Shipley, Senior Planner, and Mike Clugston, Acting Planning Director, introduced the Neighborhood Centers & Hubs Permanent Ordinance. Council questions and discussion highlighted the following areas: • Pervious pavement, heat islands, more plant and biological material to mitigate impacts • Distinction between open space (natural areas), amenities space (plazas), paved surfaces • Code organization and hierarchy of code regulations • The definition of through-block connections, as amenities • Changes as part of the Comp Plan amendment • Updates to maps and legends MEETING EXTENSION AT 8:54 PM, COUNCILMEMBER PAINE MOVED TO EXTEND THE MEETING UNTIL 9:40. MOTION CARRIED 6-1 WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT DISSENTING. • Concepts for through-block connections as illustrated in the maps • Park and pedestrian amenity potential for through-block connections 5. Presentation of 84th Avenue Street Vacation Edmonds City Council Minutes August 12, 2025 Page 5 Phil Williams, Interim PW Director, and Jeanie McConnell, Engineering Program Manager, gave a presentation on the proposed street vacation process for 84th Avenue W. Council questions and feedback focused on the following areas: • Support for phased process • Timeline of real estate transaction and future development • Compensation MEETING EXTENSION At 9:35 pm, Councilmember Nand moved to extend the meeting until 10 pm. Motion carried 6-1 with Council President Tibbott dissenting. (continued) • Public hearing • Staff time and resources • Parcels 11. COUNCIL COMMENTS Council members commented on various issues. 12. MAYOR’S COMMENTS Mayor Rosen provided comments. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 pm.