2026-06-16 Council Special PacketEdmonds City Council Agenda
June 16, 2026
Posted: 6/15/2026 4:19 PM Page 1
Agenda
Edmonds City Council
Special Meeting
Council Chambers
250 5TH AVE NORTH, EDMONDS, WA 98020
ZOOM: HTTPS://ZOOM.US/J/95798484261 PHONE: +1 253 215 8782 MEETING ID: 957 9848 4261
JUNE 16, 2026, 5:30 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. COUNCIL BUSINESS
1. Board/Commission Appointment Interviews First Reading – Mayor's Office (30 minutes)
2. Letter to Everett City Council and Everett Mayor from Edmonds City Council and Edmonds
Mayor First Reading – City Council Office (15 minutes)
ADJOURNMENT
For disability accommodations, materials in alternate formats, accessibility information, or language interpretation/ translation needs, please
contact the City Clerk at 425-775-2525 at your earliest opportunity. Providing at least 72-hour notice will help ensure availability.
City Council Agenda Item 2.1
June 16, 2026 - Special Meeting
TITLE:Board/Commission Appointment Interviews (First Reading)
DEPARTMENT:Mayor's Office
PRESENTER:Lisa Takach, HR Director
NEEDED FROM COUNCIL:Input
RECOMMENDATION:Interview Mayor’s appointments to the Salary Commission (Alica Kone
and Jerry Masters)
BUDGET:
Total Dollar Amount:N/A ☒Approved in Budget
Fund(s):N/A ☐Budget Reallocation Required
☐No Budget Impact
PROBLEM/ISSUE STATEMENT:
Council will interview the appointees and will vote on their confirmation on the June 23, 2026 consent
agenda.
CONTEXT, ANALYSIS, & ALTERNATIVES:
The Salary Commission positions were advertised May 13, 2026 with an application deadline for May 29,
2026. Five applications were received and reviewed by Mayor Rosen.
Mayor Rosen is appointing two candidates to serve on the Commission; Alicia Kone and Jerry Masters.
RECOMMENDATION:
Interview Mayor Rosen’s appointments to the Salary Commission (Alica Kone and Jerry Masters)
BUDGET IMPACTS:
No budget impact.
ITEM HISTORY:
Ordinance 4372 was passed by City Council on December 12, 2024, suspending for two years the regular
meetings of city boards and commissions that are not required to operate under state law and making
related provisions for special meetings and tolling / extending of terms.
On May 12, 2026 Council adopted Ordinance 4435, resuming the Salary Commission and designating
their duty to meet during even numbered years between July 1st and September 30th to review the
salaries paid by the city to each elected city official, except the salary of the municipal court judge.
There are two vacancies on the Salary Commission, one created by a term expiration and the other by
resignation.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Item 2.1
Packet pg. 2/9
ATTACHMENTS:
redacted application for Alicia Kone
redacted application for Jerry Masters
Item 2.1
Packet pg. 3/9
Item 2.1
Packet pg. 4/9
Item 2.1
Packet pg. 5/9
City CouncilAgenda Item 2.2
June 16, 2026 - Special Meeting
TITLE:Letter to Everett City Council and Everett Mayor from Edmonds
City Council and Edmonds Mayor (First Reading)
DEPARTMENT:City Council Office
PRESENTER:Michelle Dotsch
NEEDED FROM COUNCIL:Action
RECOMMENDATION:Council will review the draft letter and take action to send the letter in
a final draft form.
BUDGET:
Total Dollar Amount:0 ☐Approved in Budget
Fund(s):N/A ☐Budget Reallocation Required
☒No Budget Impact
PROBLEM/ISSUE STATEMENT:
The City Council of Edmonds and Edmonds Mayor are reaching out to you expressing a sense of urgency
regarding Everett's recent deliberations concerning utility taxation and regional water policy. We do so
for three reasons: to correct the public record, to express our serious concerns regarding the proposed
utility tax on non-resident customers, and to request renewed collaboration with the regional
jurisdictions that depend upon Everett's wholesale water system.
CONTEXT, ANALYSIS, & ALTERNATIVES:
Edmonds City Council is drafting a letter to the Everett City Council and Everett Mayor, regarding Utility
Tax Proposal, Regional Water Policy, and Impacts on the City of Edmonds.
RECOMMENDATION:
Council will review the draft letter and take action to send the letter in a final draft form.
BUDGET IMPACTS:
None
ITEM HISTORY:
None
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Draft of letter from Edmonds City Council and Edmonds Mayor to Everett City Council and Everett
Mayor.
Item 2.2
Packet pg. 6/9
June XX, 2026
Members of the Everett City Council
Honorable Mayor Franklin
2930 Wetmore Avenue
Everett, WA 98201
RE: Utility Tax Proposal, Regional Water Policy, and Impacts on the City of Edmonds
Dear Councilmembers and Mayor:
The City Council of Edmonds is reaching out to you expressing a sense of urgency
regarding Everett's recent deliberations concerning utility taxation and regional water
policy. We do so for three reasons: to correct the public record, to express our serious
concerns regarding the proposed utility tax on non-resident customers, and to request
renewed collaboration with the regional jurisdictions that depend upon Everett's
wholesale water system.
First, during the May 27, 2026 Council deliberation on CB 2605-27, the City of Edmonds
was cited as an example of a municipality that imposes a utility tax on customers
outside its municipal boundaries. We respectfully clarify that this characterization is
incorrect.
The City of Edmonds imposes its utility tax only on customers located within Edmonds
city limits. The tax supports Edmonds' General Fund and is not imposed on residents of
neighboring jurisdictions. Because this statement was made during official council
deliberations and may have informed discussion of the proposed ordinance, we believe
it is important that the record accurately reflect Edmonds' actual policy.
Second, Edmonds shares the concerns raised during Everett's public hearing by the
Washington Association of Sewer and Water Districts and by counsel representing
Alderwood Water & Wastewater District. We are troubled by the prospect of Everett
imposing a utility tax on water service provided outside Everett's municipal boundaries
when the proceeds are intended to support Everett's General Fund rather than the
operation, maintenance, or capital needs of the water utility itself.
Imposing a municipal revenue measure upon customers who have no electoral
representation in Everett and no ability to participate in Everett's fiscal decision-making
raises significant concerns regarding intergovernmental cooperation, accountability, and
the long-standing principles that govern regional utility service relationships.
Third, this proposal cannot be viewed in isolation. It arrives at the same time regional
wholesale customers are confronting the unprecedented impacts of Everett's 2025–
2026 wholesale water rate increase.
The City of Edmonds recognizes the importance of maintaining and improving critical
regional water infrastructure. Our concern is not with prudent capital investment itself,
Item 2.2
Packet pg. 7/9
but with the financing approach being employed. Regional wholesale customers are
being asked to absorb an approximately 145% increase in wholesale water rates over a
compressed period of time. Such an increase is extraordinary by any municipal utility
standard and effectively requires today's ratepayers to finance a disproportionate share
of long-lived capital assets that will provide service benefits over many decades.
Sound utility finance principles generally seek to align the recovery of capital costs with
the useful life of the infrastructure being constructed, ensuring that costs are distributed
equitably across current and future beneficiaries. The current approach risks shifting
what are traditionally long-term capital obligations into short-term cash requirements
borne primarily by present-day wholesale customers.
As you know, Alderwood Water & Wastewater District is currently challenging the
wholesale rate increase, and the matter remains unresolved. Nevertheless, the financial
exposure facing Edmonds is substantial. As of November 2025, the estimated annual
impact to Edmonds exceeded $1.4 million. If the increase is ultimately upheld, Edmonds
residents may face significant rate increases, additional debt issuance, or both in order
to absorb costs originating outside our community.
While every municipality is confronting fiscal pressures, the magnitude and timing of
these actions have compounded the burden placed on neighboring jurisdictions and
their ratepayers. Edmonds itself has operated under a declared financial crisis for the
past three years. We understand the difficult choices local governments face and
recognize Everett's responsibility to address its own financial challenges. However, the
combined effect of a proposed utility tax on non-resident customers and a substantial
wholesale rate increase creates a cumulative burden that extends beyond typical utility
cost adjustments.
From Edmonds’ perspective, these actions raise broader concerns regarding regional
cost allocation, predictability for wholesale customers, and alignment between
infrastructure investment and long-term financing practices. If implemented as currently
structured, these measures may require Edmonds to increase local utility rates, issue
additional debt, or defer other critical community priorities to accommodate costs over
which Edmonds residents have no direct representation.
The relationship between Everett and its wholesale customers has historically been built
upon cooperation, predictability, and mutual respect. Those principles are especially
important as regional infrastructure needs continue to grow.
Accordingly, the City of Edmonds respectfully requests that the Everett City Council:
1. Reconsider the proposed utility tax as applied to customers located outside
Everett city limits;
2. Limit any utility tax adopted to Everett ratepayers who are represented within
Everett's municipal government;
Item 2.2
Packet pg. 8/9
3. Engage directly and proactively with Alderwood Water & Wastewater District and
affected wholesale customers regarding the proposed tax, wholesale rate-setting
methodology, and future capital financing plans; and
4. Evaluate alternatives that reduce the immediate financial burden on wholesale
customers, including phased implementation, long-term capital financing, or other
approaches that better align infrastructure costs with the useful life of the assets
being funded; and
5. Establish a collaborative process that provides regional partners with sufficient
notice and participation before decisions are made that materially affect their
residents and utility systems.
The City of Edmonds is currently preparing its 2027–2028 biennial budget and utility
financial plans. Clear communication and meaningful regional coordination are essential
as we evaluate the potential impacts of Everett's decisions on Edmonds residents and
businesses.
We remain committed to a constructive dialogue and hope Everett will work with its
regional partners to identify solutions that recognize both Everett's fiscal needs and the
long-term stability and equity of regional utility financing.
Respectfully,
Mayor Mike Rosen Council President Michelle Dotsch
Councilmember Chris Eck Councilmember Will Chen
Councilmember Erika Barnett Councilmember Vivian Olson
Council Member Susan Paine Councilmember Jenna Nand
Item 2.2
Packet pg. 9/9