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Home My WebLink About2025-09-09 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. Edmonds City Council Minutes September 9, 2025 Page 2 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 Edmonds City Council Minutes September 9, 2025 Page 3 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). Edmonds City Council Minutes September 9, 2025 Page 4 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.