2021-06-10 Ed! Board MinutesEd! Board Meeting June 10, 2021
Meeting called to order: 8:03
Board Members/Administration in Attendance: Matt McCulloch, Pam Stuller, Cheryl Farrish,
Kimberly Koenig, Jen Lawson, Olivia Brown -Latham, Robert Boehlke, Deandra Peterson, and
Beth Sanger, Musa Safouane
City of Edmonds Representative in Attendance: Patrick Doherty, Megan Luttrell, and Alicia
Moreno.
Guests: Kathy Solum (Edmonds Vision Center), Mary Kay Sneeringer (Edmonds Bookshop),
Lori (While You're Away), Shubert Ho (Feedme Hospitality), Kate Guthrie (Glazed and
Amazed), Christine Poirier (Pear Tree Consignment), Shelia Cloney (Anchor Chic
Consignment), Whitney Popa (Workhorse HQ)
Public Comment: N/A
Approval of Previous Meeting's Minutes: Jen moved to approve the minutes from the May
meeting. Kimberly seconded. All approved, none opposed.
President's Report: Cheryl Farrish reported. The board is gearing up for the Lovin' Summer
Edmonds campaign. It highlights retail, restaurants, and service businesses. There is also a
focus on regaining lost parking spaces. We are making headway with Church of Christ at 6th
and Maple to get parking spaces for after hours. We learned recently that there is a 4th of July
parade in Edmonds. Three Ed members are interested in participating, Beth, Robert and
Deandra. Kali (treasurer) is on maternity leave.
Treasurer's Report: Cheryl reported. We are still in a strong position due to a 2021 beginning
balance that was $9,000 over our projected beginning balance. Assessments year to date are
tracking closely with our projections. April's actual assessments were about $1,000 over the
projected assessments for April, but year to date we are still $300 behind on assessments
collected. Shared that we will be reviewing the BID past -due balances later in the meeting.
Many businesses on the past -due list are only a quarter behind. These businesses may still be
getting their footing after the pandemic and are not part of the overdue focus.
New Businesses Added to BID: Matt reported none.
City Report: Patrick provided the City Report. Walkable Main Street starts on June 19th. The
city is leasing parking from Bank of America during Walkable Main. Smaller lot this is a part of
the property, on 4th, is not available as it's a monthly parking lot. Drop-off areas and
handicapped parking will be available along the perimeter. Signage about additional business
west of Walkable Main will be going up. The city has also produced a trifold flyer/brochure. The
cover will have the new Lovin' Summer Edmonds logo and all of the downtown events listed
plus businesses listed with short description of each. Light music will play on Saturdays at the
west end of Walkable Main. Light drop -in activities will be available on Sunday afternoon.
The city will be installing Creative District signage. The city received a grant to get the signage
done by the end of June to identify the district.
The city is hosting a summer evening market in the southern Highway 99 area (calling it
Uptown) on July 8, August 12, and September 9. The focus is helping to build community in this
area. Food trucks, vendors, and music will be part of the market.
The mayor is hosting a Town Hall on Monday July 12 at 6:30 at EWHS outside in the central
plaza. The meeting is focusing on hate activities in Edmonds. Mayor will have guest speakers
that will be a part of a short address. Most of the meeting is open time for public comment.
The city will be going to City Council regarding the use of American Rescue Act funding. The
funding is available to help the Edmonds community and local businesses. The city is
proposing to promote businesses out of downtown and as well as businesses throughout the
entire city. The city is also wanting to help local households meet their expenses. There is also
funding for the improvement of infrastructure; the city is looking to add more rain gardens to
filter water before it heads into the marsh.
Lori asked if the city will require the Parklets come down by June 30 if we go into Phase 4.
Patrick replied, no - the restaurants have the space for a year. The virus is not done. The new
virulents are stronger. He fears pandemic is not over and it is not time to pull up stakes.
Restaurants are still behind in revenues at the mid -point of the year.
The city is working on handicapped parking and map for Walkable Main. Wants to rely more on
signage for the various lots than the printed media. Lot next to City Hall is available for parking
and half will be ADA.
Permits & Building Update: New permit information has not been received and/or not
presented as Kali is on maternity leave.
Committee Updates
• Communication & Outreach: Matt delivered report. Presented BID past -due tax
report. Six businesses are overdue by more than $1000. 20% of our membership is
considered overdue. During COVID, the BID waived late fees and that may account
for some overdue payments. Every business benefits equally. Council is not
supportive of suspending business licenses to help collect payment. Some local
businesses would like to publicize the list. Kimberly suggested a grace period to give
delinquent accounts time to settle before publicizing. Businesses that are one quarter
overdue are not considered delinquent. The businesses that are three+ quarters
behind are more of the focus. Jen asked Patrick if any of past -due businesses got
grants. Patrick confirmed that a few did. BID payments had to be paid -up for the
current quarters of grant application and receival. This time period straddled two
quarters. The focus was to keep businesses from going under.
Patrick stated that the Ed! board is not empowered with collection of fees. If a
business received a city grant and did not remain current with the fees (over the two
quarters), the grant will turn into a loan. Patrick does not believe the City Council will
make a controversial decision during the election year. The last time council was
asked to require businesses to pay the fees during license renewal, council declined
the requirement. Patrick suggests bringing up the topic next year with a new council.
The current collections process does not work. It may be worth meeting with the new
Finance Director, Dave Turley, to discuss options. Matt stated that prior to the
pandemic, we were 3-5% behind in collecting the tax. It is significantly more now.
Patrick explained that we need council's involvement in the collection process as the
city code is incomplete. After 60 days, the code provides that the delinquent
businesses are sent to collections. There is not a process in the code to move
further.
Matt suggested getting time in front of candidates.
Several members discussed other ways to get members to pay. One route would be
to get local news coverage. Another suggestion was to talk to businesses face to
face. And another thought was to further publicize all that Ed does for the local
business community (done quarterly in My Edmonds News in the Ed Says column.)
Matt said there is no movement on the BID expansion. Pam and Niles Peacock will
go around Salish Crossing with the petition soon.
• Admin: Cheryl presented. July meeting will be moved to the following week because
it is a short workweek and vacations are planned. Instead of July 8th meeting, it will
be moved to July 15th. Cheryl will make required public notice.
• Marketing: Kimberly presented. For the Lovin' Summer campaign, window clings
and stickers have been ordered. Sixty locations will have the window clings. The
team is working on a summer scavenger hunt and is partnering with the Historical
Museum. The scavenger hunt will have a landing page to include information and the
map can be printed at home. A table tent and poster have been designed outlining
the events happening over the summer. Interested businesses can display either. A
new summer raffle to promote retailers and service business is being designed.
Raffle tickets will be given by participating business to shoppers making purchases
over $25. Those tickets will be entered into a drawing for a Lovin' Summer Edmonds
hat. Four drawings will take place over the month of July with 5-7 winners each
week. The value of the hat is about $7. Retailers who are interested in selling the
hats left comments in chat. The cost of the raffle does not exceed the current
marketing budget. August Drink Bingo will be promoted this year and will be like last
year's bingo.
Kimberly discussed Ed's involvement with this year's 4th of July parade. Three
members, Robert, Beth and Deandra, volunteered to walk (or potentially ride on a
car) with Ed umbrellas and hand out Lovin' Summer stickers. Alicia said the city
would help bolster the entry by coordinating a classic car to be driven. She also said
there is a great need for entries as the decision to hold the parade came late and
many groups are not available to participate. Kimberly will add an additional 1,000
stickers to the marketing order at a cost of $230. The participation fee for the parade
is $35.
• MOTION: Kimberly moved to increase the marketing budget $265 for the use of
stickers and participation fee for the 4th of July parade. Deandra seconded. All
approved, none opposed.
• Appearance & Environment: Cheryl presented. The new church for after-hours
parking has approved sign placement. They have also contacted their insurance
carrier to ensure coverage of the lot. Coastal Community Bank may be contacted in
the future and the lot at 4th and Dayton Street has been contacted to add parking
to the after-hours program.
Signage is being designed to promote business past Walkable Main. There is
$25,000 in the city's budget for signage concept. There is hope this budget can also
be used for signage execution. Francis Chapin would need to be involved and
approve of this.
Grants Program: No updates.
New Business: None.
Meeting Adjourned: 9:14 am