Resolution 1585RESOLUTION NO. 1585
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON,
EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE EDMONDS DOWNTOWN BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT WITHOUT NEED FOR REESTABLISHMENT AS
CONTEMPLATED BY RESOLUTION 1543 AND ADOPTING THE BID'S
RECOMMENDATION #1.
WHEREAS, on April 2, 2024, the Edmonds City Council adopted Resolution 1543, which
contemplated the development of a workplan to reestablish the BID; and
WHEREAS, on July 23, 2024, the Edmonds Downtown Alliance, in coordination with City staff
and the consultant, Uncommon Bridges, presented an outline of the process to achieve a final
work plan; and
WHEREAS, on August 14, 2025, the BID/Ed! Advisory Board met and approved several
recommendations, as outlined in Attachment 1 hereto; and
WHEREAS, on September 16, 2025, the BID's President presented to the City Council the
recommendations outlined in Attachment 1; and
WHEREAS, the Edmonds City Council considered these recommendations again on January 27,
2026 and directed staff to bring closure to the directives expressed in Resolution 1543; now
therefore,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLOVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS,
WASHINGTON AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Edmonds City Council adopts recommendation number 1 from Attachment 1
and expresses support for the BID as -is, without need for reestablishment as contemplated in
Resolution 1543.
Section 2. The purpose of Resolution 1543 is hereby deemed satisfied. No further action
needs to taken to implement Resolution 1543.
RESOLVED this 10th day of February, 2026.
CITY OF EDMONDS
MAYOR, MIKE ROSEN
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED
CITY CLERK, LUKE LONIE
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: FEBRUARY 10, 2026
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: FEBRUARY 10, 2026
RESOLUTION NO. 1585
ATTACHMENT 1
The BID/Ed! Advisory Board met on Thursday, August 14, 2025 and passed the
following recommendations that will be forwarded to Edmonds City Council for
consideration when the matter of R-1543 comes back for its review.
1) That the Board not re-establish the Business Improvement District using the method
proposed by Uncommon Bridges and outlined in R-1543.
Discussion: The Ed! Board does not agree that the Business Improvement District
(BID) should be re-established based on the following reasons:
• In 2023 the City Attorney confirmed that the BID was legally established;
• There is not broad demand among the community to re-establish it; and
• The BID lacks the capacity to undertake a petition form of re -initiation as
proposed by City Council.
2) Ed! adopt a three -five year work plan to address the issues covered in R-1543.
Discussion: The Ed! President has drafted a detailed work plan for the Board's
review and approval this Fall that acknowledges and addresses the issues outlined
in R-1543.
3) Request Council commitment that disbandment of the Business Improvement
District will not be pursued during the three -five year workplan period.
Discussion: The Ed! Board is reluctant to undertake a 3-5 year plan if there remains
a possibility that the Council may choose to disband Ed! during that timeframe.
4) Recommend that the completion of the three -five year work plan which addresses
the issues in R-1543 serve as a defacto re-establishment of the Business
Improvement District.
Discussion: The Ed! Board has been addressing this issue since 2023 and does not
want to be faced with revisiting it again shortly after the work is completed. This
concern could be resolved through the Sunset Clause, which will be developed as
part of the workplan.
5) Request a budget adjustment to fund additional hours for the Ed! consultant to assist
the Board complete the 3-5 year work plan.
Discussion: Unfortunately, even a "simplified" approach to "refreshing" the Business
Improvement District (BID) does not change the core issue: the Ed! Board does not
have the capacity to complete the proposed 3-5 year workplan without additional
resources. Ed! is an advisory board —not a working board —and its current structure
limits its ability to carry out such an extensive effort.
! Packet Pg. 3
2A.a
Ed! estimates that hiring Uncommon Bridges, a recognized expert in this field, to re-
establish the BID for Edmonds would carry a total package cost of between
$100,000 - $350,000. That work would also require additional time being pulled from
our small businesses who are trying to remain in downtown Edmonds. In light of
this, Ed! recommends investing in the infrastructure it already has in place by
increasing its paid staff's consultant hours to support completion of the "refresh" and
ensure progress toward the goals outlined in the workplan.
6) Recommend that the Edmonds Business Improvement District disband if the Council
is unable or unwilling to approve Ed!'s recommendations 1-5.
Discussion: The reality is that the Ed! Board does not have the capacity to
undertake the work required to re-establish the Business Improvement District (BID)
using the methodology outlined by Uncommon Bridges. The efforts undertaken
between 2023 and the present have left the organization weary and at a
crossroads —where disbandment appears to be the only viable option if re-
establishment through the collection of signatures remains the sole path forward.
This conclusion was not reached lightly. It reflects the toll of a Board stretched too
thin, operating in the face of an uncertain future —factors that have significantly
strained the Board's ability to sustain its work.
7) Declare support of a 501c3 to take on the Main Street Affiliate Status of Edmonds
and the BID's interest in working closely with the non-profit to leverage sources of
available funding.
Edmonds Main Street Affiliate Status
The current governing members of the Edmonds Downtown Business District
Association, a 501(c)(3) formed in 2016 by then -active Ed! members, are exploring
the possibility of activating the Main Street Program in Edmonds.
The non-profit, which was set up to complement the work of the BID, would like to
work with other interested parties within the BID boundaries and (beyond to the
waterfront) to participate in discussions after the start of the new year.
A joint meeting with the Edmonds Downtown Business District Association and Ed!
Board will also be held to start explaining the Main Street Program to all interested
parties and gathering interest. Following these discussions, the group will come back
to Edmonds City Council with a new item for discussion.
Packet Pg. 4
r-
2.1.a
The current governing members of the Edmonds Downtown Business District
Association a 501 c3 formed in 2016 by then active Ed! members are exploring the
possibility of activating the Main Street Program in Edmonds. The non-profit which
was set up to compliment the work of the BID would like to work with other
interested parties within the BID boundaries to participate in discussions after the
start of the new year, provided the City transfers the status. A joint meeting with the
Edmonds Downtown Business District Association and Ed! will also be held to start
explaining the Main Street Program to all interested parties and gathering interest.
Following these discussions the group with come back to Edmonds City Council with
a new item.
Packet Pg. 5