2025-09-09 Council Minutes Edmonds City Council Minutes September 9, 2025 Page 1
EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL MEETING ACTION MINUTES
September 9, 2025
ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT
Mike Rosen, Mayor
Will Chen, Councilmember
Neil Tibbott, Council President Michelle Dotsch, Councilmember Susan Paine, Councilmember Chris Eck, Councilmember
Vivian Olson, Councilmember
ABSENT Jenna Nand, Councilmember
STAFF PRESENT
Jeff Taraday, City Attorney
Sharon Cates, City Attorney
Richard Gould, Finance Director Mike Clugston, Acting Planning Director Brad Shipley, Senior Planner Todd Tatum, City Administrator
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 Nand.
COUNCILMEMBER OLSON MOVED TO EXCUSE COUNCILMEMBER NAND. MOTION CARFRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
COUNCILMEMBER ECK MOVED APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT MOVED TO ADD AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT THE END OF THE MEETING. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. MAIN MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
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5. PRESENTATIONS 1. Proclamation for Cascadia Art Museum Day
Mayor Rosen read the proclamation recognizing Cascadia Art Museum Day in the City of Edmonds and presented it to Cascadia Art Museum President Lindsey Echelbarger. 2. National Suicide Prevention Month Proclamation
Mayor Rosen read the proclamation recognizing the month of September as National Suicide Prevention Month in the City of Edmonds and presented it to Courtney Colwell, Director of Volunteers of America Western Washington.
3. Mayor’s Finance Update
Mayor Rosen commented on finance and budget issues.
6. AUDIENCE COMMENTS
1. Deborah Ashland, Edmonds, expressed concern about the piecemeal approach and inconsistencies with the tree code amendments. 2. Arlene Williams, Edmonds, opposed and questioned several elements of the proposed
tree code amendments.
3. Jim Ogonowski, Edmonds, suggested alternatives to the cultural access tax, which wouldn’t address budget shortfalls or strengthen city finances. 4. Ann Christensen, Edmonds, advocated postponing minor tree code changes and researching stronger tree codes in surrounding cities.
7. RECEIVED FOR FILING 1. CLAIM FOR DAMAGES 2. WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS
8. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS COUNCILMEMBER ECK MOVED APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The agenda items approved are as follows:
1. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES JULY 15, 2025 2. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JULY 22, 2025 3. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 4, 2025
4. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 12, 2025 5. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 13, 2025 6. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL COMMITTEE B MINUTES AUGUST 19, 2025 7. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 19, 2025
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8. APPROVAL OF CLAIM CHECKS AND WIRE PAYMENTS. 9. APPROVAL OF PAYROLL AND BENEFIT CHECKS, DIRECT DEPOSIT AND WIRE PAYMENTS. 10. APPROVAL OF PAYROLL AND BENEFIT CHECKS, DIRECT DEPOSIT
AND WIRE PAYMENTS. 11. URBAN FOREST PLANNER JOB DESCRIPTION UPDATE 12. COMBINATION BUILDING INSPECTOR JOB DESCRIPTION UPDATE 13. TEAMSTERS GRIEVANCE SETTLEMENT - JW-25-008 14. ORDINANCE AMENDING ECDC 19.25 FIRE CODE
10. COUNCIL BUSINESS 1. Opioid Settlement Participation Forms and Allocation Agreement IV
Richard Gould, Finance Director, and Sharon Cates, City Attorney, outlined the terms of the agreement which allows the city to participate in the nine new settlements related to the Opioid Settlement.
COUNCILMEMBER ECK MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 2. July 2025 Monthly Financial Report
Richard Gould, Finance Director, presented the monthly report on the city’s financial status.
Council questions and feedback focused on sales tax revenues, reports and reporting formats, financial policies, red light camera program accounting, staffing levels and overtime.
3. Minor Tree Code Revisions (AMD2025-0008)
Mike Clugston, Acting Planning Director, and Brad Shipley, Senior Planner, provided a presentation of the proposed minor tree code amendments.
Goals, net ecological gain, no net loss, definitions, tree replacement ratios,
Council questions and feedback focused on piecemeal vs holistic amendments, net ecological gain,
RECESS At 7:45 pm, Mayor Rosen called for a seven-minute break until 7:52 pm.
4. Cultural Access Sales Tax Ordinance
Todd Tatum, City Administrator, provided a brief presentation on the draft ordinance adopting the cultural access sales tax (CAST).
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COUNCILMEMBER OLSON MOVED TO POSTPONE INDEFINITELY. MOTION FAILED 2-4 WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT AND COUNCILMEMBER OLSON VOTING IN FAVOR.
COUNCILMEMBER ECK MOVED TO POSTPONE UNTIL NOVEMBER 12. MOTION CARRIED 4-2 WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT TIBBOTT AND COUNCILMEMBER DOTSCH DISSENTING.
11. COUNCIL COMMENTS Council members commented on various issues. 12. MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Rosen provided comments. 13. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mayor Rosen announced that the council would recess into executive session to evaluate the
qualifications of applicants for public employment per RCW 42.30.110(1)(g) for 30 minutes until 8:38 pm. 15. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION
The meeting reconvened at 8:37 pm. ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:37 pm.