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2026-01-06 Council Minutes Edmonds City Council Minutes January 6, 2026 Page 1 EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL MEETING ACTION MINUTES JANUARY 6, 2026 ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT Mike Rosen, Mayor Erika Barnett, Councilmember Will Chen, Councilmember Michelle Dotsch, Councilmember Susan Paine, Councilmember Chris Eck, Councilmember Jenna Nand, Councilmember Vivian Olson, Councilmember STAFF PRESENT Mike De Lilla, City Engineer Bertrand Hauss, Transportation Engineer Todd Tatum, Acting City Administrator Andy Rheaume, Public Works Director Mike Clugston, Planning & Development Director Brad Shipley, Planning Manager Jeff Taraday, City Attorney Luke Lonie, City Clerk Emily Villata, Deputy 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 Eck read the City Council Land Acknowledgement Statement. 3. ADMINISTRATION OF OATH OF OFFICE FOR NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS Deputy City Clerk Villata administered the ceremonial Oath of Office to Councilmember Chris Eck. Snohomish County Councilmember Jared Mead administered the ceremonial Oath of Office to Councilmember Will Chen. Deputy City Clerk Villata administered the ceremonial Oath of Office to Councilmember Erika Barnett. 4. ROLL CALL Deputy City Clerk Villata called the roll. All elected officials were present. 5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Edmonds City Council Minutes January 6, 2026 Page 2 COUNCILMEMBER PAINE MOVED APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. COUNCILMEMBER PAINE MOVED TO ADD DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION ON TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES AS NEW ITEM 11.2 UNDER COUNCIL BUSINESS. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCILMEMBER PAINE MOTIONED TO MOVE THE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT SALES TAX DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION TO JANUARY 13TH. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. MAIN MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 6. PRESENTATIONS 1. Resolution of Appreciation to Neil Tibbott for Service as Council President 2025 Councilmember Paine read the Resolution of Appreciation and presented it to 2025 Council President Neil Tibbott. 2. Mayor’s Finance Update Mayor Rosen reported on budget and finance issues. 3. Transportation Impact Fees and revisions to Section 3.36 of Edmonds City Code Mike De Lilla, City Engineer, and Bertrand Hauss, Transportation Engineer, introduced guest presenters from Transpo Group, Patrick Lynch and Paul Sherman. The presentation provided an overview of transportation impact fees, the methodology followed when updating fees, and eligible projects based on individualized criteria. 7. AUDIENCE COMMENTS 1. Marci Volmer, Snohomish, Boys and Girl Clubs of Snohomish County, commented in opposition to new fees. 2. Bill Krepick, Edmonds, urged council to view an online petition from residents. 8. RECEIVED FOR FILING 1. WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS 2. RESOLUTION APPOINTING AN EDMONDS REPRESENTATIVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY TRANSIT BOARD SELECTION PROCESS 3. PLANNING BOARD QUARTERLY REPORT 9. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS Edmonds City Council Minutes January 6, 2026 Page 3 COUNCILMEMBER NAND MOVED APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The agenda items approved are as follows: 1. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 9, 2025 2. APPROVAL OF SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 16, 2025 3. APPROVAL OF CLAIM CHECKS AND WIRE PAYMENTS. 4. APPROVAL OF PAYROLL AND BENEFIT CHECKS, DIRECT DEPOSIT AND WIRE PAYMENTS 5. NEW UPDATES AND REVISIONS TO THE RULES OF PROCEDURE 6. MHFR – SOCIAL WORKER GRANT AMENDMENT 10. PUBLIC HEARING 1. Public Hearing on Transportation Benefit District Sales Tax Todd Tatum, Acting City Administrator, and Andy Rheaume, Public Works Director introduced the proposed Transportation Benefit District (TBD) sales tax. The brief presentation highlighted utilization of revenue to the Street Fund as a crucial method of improving sidewalk accessibility and ensuring compliance with state and federal standards. Mayor Rosen opened the public hearing. 1. Heidi Daughtery, Edmonds, commented in opposition to the sales tax. Mayor Rosen closed the public hearing. 2. Public Hearing on Draft Critical Areas Ordinance Periodic Update Mike Clugston, Planning & Development Director, provided background on previous iterations of the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) brought before council, noting community support of all sections other than those involving the Critical Aquifer Recharge Area (CARA). Brad Shipley, Planning Manager, stated the staff’s recommendation for Council to adopt Option 3 provided in the packet which would allow for the completion and review of a crucial scientific study before amending the CARA section. Mayor Rosen opened the public hearing. 1. John Brock, Woodway, Edmonds Environment Council board member, expressed concern with the current CARA language, supporting Option 2. 2. Dianna Maish, Edmonds, urged council to preserve the CAO language presented during the November 25th, 2025 meeting. 3. Bill Westgard, Edmonds, expressed concern regarding aquifer pollution. 4. Bob Danson, General Manager of the Olympic View Water and Sewer District, urged council to retain the prohibition on UICs (Underground Injection Controls) in the Deer Creek area as part of the CAO update. 5. Joe Scordino, Edmonds, spoke in favor of Option 2, requesting council also update the ordinance language to allow further updates only if deemed necessary. 6. Marjie Fields, Edmonds, urged council to protect the aquifer and maintain clean drinking water. Edmonds City Council Minutes January 6, 2026 Page 4 7. Gayla Shoemake, Edmonds, expressed confidence that the council will support whatever is safest for citizens and requested they protect the Deer Creek aquifer. 8. Pete Adams, Edmonds, echoed Bob Danson’s comments and expressed concern over the finality of the referenced study currently in progress. 9. Arlene Williams, Edmonds, expressed concern over the scientific validity of comments made during the previous council meeting and urged the city to focus on drinking water safety over street maintenance. 10. Kathleen Sears, Edmonds, noted her comments were emailed directly to council and urged them to protect the city’s drinking water. 11. Dana Twight, Edmonds, urged council to protect the aquifer, speaking in favor of Option 2, and expressed concern over the use of undefined acronyms during council meetings. Mayor Rosen closed the public hearing. 11. COUNCIL BUSINESS 1. Selection of 2026 Council President and Council President Pro Tem Deputy City Clerk Villata read the election process for Council President and Council President Pro Tem before calling for nominations for Council President. COUNCILMEMBER CHEN NOMINATED COUNCILMEMBER DOTSCH AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT. COUNCILMEMBER PAINE NOMINATED COUNCILMEMBER NAND AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT. With no further nominations, Deputy City Clerk Villata declared nominations closed. Councilmembers were given the opportunity to speak in favor of the nominees. Voting took place in the order nominations were made. WITH A MAJORITY OF FOUR VOTES, COUNCILMEMBER DOTSCH WAS ELECTED COUNCIL PRESIDENT. Deputy City Clerk Villata called for nominations for Council President Pro Tem. COUNCILMEMBER PAINE NOMINATED COUNCILMEMBER NAND AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM. COUNCILMEMBER OLSON NOMINATED COUNCILMEMBER ECK AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM. COUNCILMEMBER DOTSCH NOMINATED COUNCILMEMBER CHEN AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM. Edmonds City Council Minutes January 6, 2026 Page 5 With no further nominations, Deputy City Clerk Villata declared nominations closed. Councilmembers were given the opportunity to speak in favor of the nominees. Voting took place in the order nominations were made. WITH A MAJORITY OF FOUR VOTES, COUNCILMEMBER NAND WAS ELECTED COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM. 2. Transportation Impact Fees and revisions to Section 3.36 of Edmonds City Code Presenters rejoined Council for questions and discussion of Transportation Impact Fees following the public hearing. COUNCILMEMBER ECK MOVED TO APPROVE THE FEES AS PRESENTED WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF JULY 1, 2026. COUNCILMEMBER DOTSCH MOVED TO AMEND THE IMPACT FEES TO BE PHASED IN THIRDS EVERY 8 MONTHS FROM WHEN IT TAKES EFFECT. MOTION FAILED UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCILMEMBER DOTSCH MOVED TO AMEND THE MOTION TO HAVE THE FIRST THIRD OF THE FEES TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY UPON ADOPTION AND THE NEXT TWO THIRDS OCCUR ANNUALLY AFTER. AMENDMENT FAILED 2-5 WITH COUNCILMEMBERS DOTSCH AND OLSON VOTING IN FAVOR. MAIN MOTION CARRIED 5-2 WITH COUNCILMEMBERS BARNETT AND OLSON DISSENTING. 3. Discussion and Possible Adoption of the Critical Areas Ordinance Periodic Update Mike Clugston, Planning & Development Director, and Brad Shipley rejoined Council for questions and discussion on the CAO following the public hearing. COUNCILMEMBER NAND MOVED TO ADOPT THE PROPOSED CRITICAL AREAS ORDINANCE AND DEFER CONSIDERATION OF THE CARA (CRITICAL AQUIFER RECHARGE AREA) UNTIL COMPLETION OF THE PFAS STUDY. MOTION FAILED 1-5 WITH COUNCILMEMBER NAND VOTING IN FAVOR. COUNCILMEMBER CHEN MOVED TO ADOPT OPTION 2 OF THE CRITICAL AREAS ORDINANCE WITH THE AMENDED CARA SECTION. COUNCILMEMBER DOTSCH MOVED TO AMEND OPTION 2 TO REPLACE THE WORD “AGAIN” WITH “IF NECESSARY.” AMENDMENT CARRIED 4-3 WITH COUNCILMEMBERS ECK, PAINE, AND NAND DISSENTING. COUNCILMEMBER NAND MOVED TO EXTEND UNTIL 9:30 PM. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Edmonds City Council Minutes January 6, 2026 Page 6 THE MAIN MOTION TO ADOPT OPTION 2 AS AMENDED OF THE CRITICAL AREAS ORDINANCE CARRIED 4-3 WITH COUNCILMEMBERS ECK, PAINE, AND NAND DISSENTING. 12. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmembers commented on various issues. 13. MAYOR COMMENTS Mayor Rosen provided comments. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:23 pm.