2026-07-28 Council Minutes
Edmonds City Council Minutes
Regular Meeting
July 28, 2026 Page 1
Edmonds City Council
Regular Meeting
Action Minutes
July 28, 2026
ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT
Mike Rosen, Mayor
Michelle Dotsch, Council President
Chris Eck, Councilmember
Will Chen, Councilmember
Erika Barnett, Councilmember
Vivian Olson, Councilmember
Susan Paine, Councilmember
Jenna Nand, Councilmember
STAFF PRESENT
Kisha Post, Finance Specialist
Stephanie Lucash, City Administrator
Brad Shipley, Planning Manager
Mike Clugston, Planning & Development
Director
Jeff Taraday, City Attorney
Luke Lonie, City Clerk
1. CALL TO ORDER / FLAG SALUTE
The Edmonds City Council meeting was called to order at 6:00pm by Mayor Rosen in
the Council Chambers, 250 5th Avenue North, Edmonds, and virtually. The meeting
was opened with the flag salute.
2. LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Councilmember Eck read the City Council Land Acknowledgment.
3. ROLL CALL
4. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
COUNCILMEMBER OLSON MOVED APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
5. PRESENTATION
1. Edmonds New Start Center Presentation First Reading – City Council Office
Julie Moore, Chief of Staff to the Snohomish County Executive; Kresha Green,
Senior Director of Emergency Services for the YWCA; and Susan Criest, Human
Services Supervisor with the Office of Community and Homeless Services of
Snohomish County, presented on the Edmonds New Start Center, including its
Edmonds City Council Minutes
Regular Meeting
July 28, 2026 Page 2
background and the services provided, and answered Council’s questions.
2. Mayor’s Finance Update – Mayor’s Office
Mayor Rosen provided updates on the fiscal sustainability taskforce and the City’s
S&P Audit.
6. AUDIENCE COMMENTS
The following community members provided audience comment:
1. Colleen McDonald – Expressed support for continuing conversations about the
annexation of Esperance.
2. Emily Benson – Expressed support for continuing conversations about the
annexation of Esperance.
3. Dawn Parker – Expressed support for continuing conversations about the
annexation of Esperance.
4. Linda Anderson – Expressed support for continuing conversations about the
annexation for Esperance.
5. Jim Oganowski – Expressed concern with the utility tax extension item on the
agenda.
6. Jack Malik – Expressed concern with the cost of opening a business in Edmonds.
7. Bill Krepick – Expressed concern with lack of transparency at City Hall.
8. Ken Reidy – Urged Council to reject the recommendation that the sunset provision
of the utility tax rate increase.
9. Deborah Arthur – Wished to test the speakers in Council Chambers.
7. RECEIVED FOR FILING
1. Claim for Damages for filing First Reading
2. Written Public Comments Only One Reading Required
3. May 2026 Monthly Financial Report Second Reading
4. PW Q2 Capital Projects Report Only One Reading Required
8. APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA
COUNCILMEMBER MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY. The agenda items approved are as follows:
1. Approval of PSA for Phase 7 Stormwater Replacement Project Design Services Second
Reading
2. Approval of claim checks and wire payments. Only One Reading Required
Edmonds City Council Minutes
Regular Meeting
July 28, 2026 Page 3
3. Authorization to Purchase International HV507 Dump Truck Second Reading
4. WWTP Supervisor Job Description Revision Second Reading
5. Fiscal Sustainability Task Force - Anatomy and Selection Process Second Reading
6. Joint Resolution of Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace City Councils - Requesting
Snohomish County 2027/2028 Biennium REET Second Reading
9. COUNCIL BUSINESS
1. DRAFT ORDINANCE AMENDING THE UTILITY TAX RATES IN ECC 3.20.050 First Reading –
Finance
Kisha Post, Finance Specialist, and Stephanie Lucash, City Administrator, presented
on the proposed extension of the utility tax extension.
COUNCILMEMBER PAINE MOVED TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE
UTILITY TAX RATES IN ECC 3.20.050.
COUNCILMEMBER PAINE MOVED TO AMEND SECTION 1 OF THE PROPOSED
ORDINANCE TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF SUNSET. SECTION 2 OF ORDINANCE NO. 4415,
ENTITLED "SUNSET," IS HEREBY AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 2. SUNSET. THIS ORDINANCE SHALL CEASE TO HAVE EFFECT ON
DECEMBER 31, 2028 AT WHICH POINT THE TAX RATES SET FORTH HEREIN
SHALL RETURN TO THOSE THAT WERE IN EFFECT WHEN THIS ORDINANCE
WAS ADOPTED, ABSENT SUBSEQUENT LEGISLATIVE ACTION.
THE AMENDMENT CARRIED WITH COUNCILMEMBERS CHEN AND NAND IN
OPPOSITION.
COUNCILMEMBER PAINE MOVED TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE
THE WORDS “THE UTILITY TAX RATE OF 20% WILL EXPIRE ON DECEMBER
31ST, 2028” AFTER THE WORDS “THE UTILITY TAX RATES FOR WATER,
SEWER, AND STORMWATER SERVICES ARE CURRENTLY SET AT 20%.”
THE AMENDMENT CARRIED WITH COUNCILMEMBER CHEN IN OPPOSITION.
THE MAIN MOTION CARRIED AS AMENDED WITH COUNCILMEMBERS CHEN AND
NAND IN OPPOSITION.
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Regular Meeting
July 28, 2026 Page 4
2. Updated Preliminary Fiscal Analysis of Potential Esperance Annexation Third Reading –
Planning and Development Services
Brad Shipley, Planning Manager, and Mike Clugston, Planning & Development
Director, provided an updated preliminary fiscal analysis of annexation for
Esperance and requested additional feedback from Council.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT DOTSCH MOVED THAT COUNCIL DIRECT STAFF TO
CONTINUE EVALUATING BOTH FULL AND PHASED ANNEXATION ALTERNATIVES
AND RETURN WITH A RECOMMENDED STRATEGY AND PROCESS, INCLUDING
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON STAFFING NEEDS, SERVICE LEVELS, CAPITAL
OBLIGATIONS, REVENUE ASSUMPTIONS, IMPLEMENTATION TIMING, AND ANY
LEGAL OR PROCEDURAL CONSTRAINTS THAT COULD AFFECT THE
RECOMMENDED APPROACH.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY WITH COUNCILMEMBER CHEN
ABSTAINING.
Council took a break from 7:16 – 7:21 pm.
10. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Councilmembers commented on various topics.
11. MAYOR'S COMMENTS
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 pm.
Luke Lonie, City Clerk