2023-05-09 PSPHSP CommitteeMinutes
PUBLIC SAFETY, PLANNING, HUMAN SERVICES & PERSONNEL
COMMITTEE MEETING
May 9, 2023
Elected Officials Present Staff Present
Councilmember Vivian Olson (Chair) Dave Turley, Admin. Serv. Dir.
Councilmember Jenna Nand Susan McLaughlin, Planning & Dev. Dir.
Council President Neil Tibbott (ex-officio) Scott Passey, City Clerk
1. CALL TO ORDER
The Edmonds City Council virtual online PSPHSP Committee meeting was called to order virtually and
in the City Council Conference Room, 212 – 5th Avenue North, Edmonds, at 3:30 p.m. by
Councilmember Olson.
2. COMMITTEE BUSINESS
1. Committee Updates
• Update/Discussion on Process for Code Updates Requested or Identified by Council
Ms. McLaughlin reported a code modernization team, comprised of a senior planner and a temporary
planner, has been working on minor code amendment packages and major code amendments. A
methodology was created to prioritize amendments and the team is in the process of applying it to
existing projects to create an updated schedule. She offered to share the schedule next week.
Questions and discussion followed regarding prioritizing environmental items, ECDC amendments vs.
ECC amendments, ability for councilmembers to move forward ECC amendments (noise ordinance and
chicken ordinance), impetus for a chicken ordinance, chicken husbandry, roosters, and an economic
justice component in a chicken ordinance.
2. Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) Grant Agreement with
Housing Hope
Ms. McLaughlin explained the intent of the CHIP grant is to support new affordable housing projects by
providing infrastructure funding to make critical connections. The City in partnership with Housing Hope
applied for the CHIP grant in 2022 and were awarded $1.3 million. The City has a minimal role in the
grant, acting as a pass-through entity and reviewing and submitting required documentation provided
by Housing Hope to Department of Commerce. Housing Hope will do the majority of the administration
of the grant including hiring a third party reviewer to provide accountability. Council approval is required
as it is over the $100,000 authority.
Questions and discussion followed regarding grant requirements and the City’s administrative costs.
The committee requested the cost of City administration be identified as a grant expenditure.
Committee recommendation: Consent Agenda.
3. Proposal to Change from an Annual to a Biennial Budget
Mr. Turley reviewed adopting a biennial budget:
• Noteworthy discussion points
o The city will be replacing our Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system during the next
2-3 years. We will be discussing the process with council soon. A decision needs to be made
05/09/23 PSPHSP Committee Minutes, Page 2
about whether the new ERP should be configured for an annual budget or a biennial budget
before the selection is made.
o Operating under a biennial budget instead of annual budget frees up hundreds of hours in
every odd-numbered year (e.g. 2025, 2027, 2029 etc.) It allows more time during the first 18
months of the biennium to monitor and evaluate the City’s financial performance and
condition. The consensus among finance people and councilmembers who are currently on
a biennial budget is that it allows more time and opportunity for council to provide financial
review.
o A biennial budget schedule would allow time in the odd years to undertake major changes,
like implementing “Budgeting By Priorities” for example
o A biennial budget would have no negative impact on planning and budgeting for large capital
projects (e.g. Civic Field, Highway 99 Revitalization) as these already involve multiple years
and a biennial budget could actually be more practical when planning for multi-year projects.
o The term for an appointed councilmember ends when the election is certified – this year it
will be November 28. This causes a conflict by seating a new councilmember during budget
deliberations and has the potential to happen in any odd year. Under a biennial budget the
new budget is passed in even years so this conflict will never reoccur.
o If we pass a biennial budget ordinance this year we will have a full year before we begin
preparing the first biennial budget. This gives us ample time to adopt policies that will define
what a biennial budget will look like for Edmonds.
o Snohomish County on February 22 approved the change to a biennial budget. Council Chair
Jared Mead called it a “positive step towards more responsible budgeting and forecasting.”
Council Member Nate Nehring said it will also “reduce the politics involved in the budget
process” since it will occur outside of election years. Nehring and fellow Council Member
Megan Dunn proposed the ordinance together and both said the change will improve overall
efficiency (from a February 24 article in the Everett Herald by Kayla J. Dunn)
o Additional information and sample budget preparation schedule in packet.
• Staff recommendation: Considering that this has been discussed several times in committee
meetings, at length in full council as recently as March 7, and again at length by full council
during the budget retreat on April 28, staff’s recommendation is that the biennial budget
ordinance be placed on Consent on the May 16 city council meeting.
Questions and discussion followed regarding how policies will be reflected in new ERP system,
configuration of the ERP, the financial committee overseeing policies, and preparation of the biennial
budget ordinance by the city attorney.
Committee recommendation: Consent Agenda
4. Meadowdale Neighborhood Annexation Discussion
Councilmember Olson explained this neighborhood has requested annexation to Edmonds. Mr. Turley
said revenue information such as the property tax base can be obtained from Snohomish County. He
was unsure about additional services that would need to be provided such as street repairs, police, etc.
Councilmember Olson advised it is 45-48 houses. Now that the neighborhood has submitted a petition,
staff involvement is needed regarding how/when to respond, next steps for council, timing, etc.
Questions and discussion followed regarding determining the fiscal and infrastructure impacts of
annexation, other areas being considered for annexation, converting from septic to city sewer, proximity
of the neighborhood to Perrinville Creek, determining next steps now that a petition has been filed,
information available from Lynnwood regarding annexing this neighborhood, and unincorporated areas
not subject to HB 1110.
Committee recommendation: Council President Tibbott will work with the administration on a timeline
for gathering information.
05/09/23 PSPHSP Committee Minutes, Page 3
5. Public Drug Use Issue
Councilmember Nand read her response to Tamara Nelson's May 8, 2023 letter to the editor
questioning why Mayor Nelson did not sign the Snohomish County mayors’ letter supporting Ordinance
23-046. Councilmember Nand’s response stated her opinion that the proposed country drug ordinance
was premature due to Governor Inslee’s request for a special session to negotiate a fix for the State
Supreme Court’s Blake decision, and advocated for a humane response to people experiencing drug
addiction and homelessness. Councilmember Olson relayed a comment from a state senator that the
special session may be premature.
Discussion followed regarding other cities that are adopting public drug use ordinances, drug use as a
public health crisis, increasing capacity for treatment, drafting a resolution articulating concerns and
asking the state to provide clear guidance about navigating public drug use, potential for public drug
use near bridge housing on Highway 99, showing compassion to people experiencing this health crisis,
prohibiting public use as a way to curb use, and shelters with anti-loitering rules.
Committee recommendation: Draft a resolution.
3. ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 4:21 p.m.
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SCOTT PASSEY, CITY CLERK