2023-08-08 PPW CommitteePARKS & PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MEETING
August 8, 2023
Elected Officials Present Staff Present
Councilmember Dave Teitzel (Chair) Oscar Antillon, Public Works Director
Councilmember Diane Buckshnis Rob English, City Engineer
Council President Neil Tibbott (ex-officio) Angie Feser, Parks, Rec. & Human Serv. Dir.
Councilmember Vivian Olson Scott Passey, City Clerk
1. CALL TO ORDER
The Edmonds City Council PPW Committee meeting was called to order virtually and in the City Council
Conference Room, 212 — 51" Avenue North, Edmonds, at 7:30 p.m. by Councilmember Teitzel. The
agenda was amended to move Item 2.5 to the first agenda item.
2. COMMITTEE BUSINESS
S. Edmonds Underwater Park Steward's 2022-23 Status Report
Bruce Higgins explained volunteer efforts are focused on four tiers, 1) safety, 2) security, 3)
maintenance and 4) improvements. He described efforts under each tier including repairing and
replacing buoys and signage, preventing poaching and invasive species, repairing features, trails to
steer divers away from the ferry terminal and completing intersection markers to help divers navigate.
He reported on ling cod nesting and harbor seals that eat ling cod, donations, outreach talks at dive
clubs, and dives to clean up debris.
Questions and discussion followed regarding estimated hours volunteers have contributed, annual
budget and funding sources, how the volunteers formalize their work with the City, the City's
appreciation for the volunteers' efforts, the City looking into ways to reduce risk on the advice of legal
counsel, conferring with WCIA about formalizing the volunteer program, other organizations that
manage dive parks, how the four tiers of the volunteers efforts were established, materials the City has
provided for the park over the years, ways to prevent poaching, signage to identify the marine sanctuary,
national attraction of the underwater park, inclusion of the underwater park in the book 100 Places to
Dive Before You Die and in an AAA guide, ways to defuse liability, and uniqueness of the underwater
park. Annie Crawley, Annie Crawley Dive Team, and Terry Keffler, Underwater Sports, were also
present.
Committee recommendation: Received for Filing
6. Proposed Code Amendment to ECC 5.05.060
Councilmember Buckshnis explained in 2019 the council approved a pilot project to allow leashed dogs
in city parks and along the waterfront walkway. Councilmembers have heard concerns about allowing
dogs in Bracketts Landing North as it is a marine sanctuary. Dogs are often off leash at Brackett's
Landing North, a seal was attacked and killed by a dog, and diver volunteers should not be responsible
for calling the police or animal control about off leash dogs, etc. The proposed change would specifically
disallow dogs in Brackett's Landing Park including the parking lot, walkway, beach and water.
Questions and discussion followed regarding support for the proposed change, areas of Brackett's
Landing North where dogs would not be allowed, closing the entire Brackett's Landing Park to dogs,
8/8/23 PPW Committee Minutes, Page 2
signage and enforcement, signage regarding the location of the off leash dog park, and plans for park
wayfinding signage in 2024.
Committee recommendation: Full council
1. Committee Updates
• Sewer Odor
Mr. Antillon reported the sewer odor is being monitored; some levels have been detected particularly
on 2nd Avenue. Five manholes are being monitored and approximately 60 samples have been taken.
Staff is waiting to see if King County makes the recommended changes to their flow before taking
samples again. The settings on the scrubber at City Park have been maximized and new
filters/scrubbers have been installed on manholes. Discussion followed regarding where the odors are
coming from and new filters/scrubbers installed on manholes.
• Pea Patches in Public Riaht-of-Wa
Councilmember Teitzel commented Seattle has a permit program for this. There have been requests
for this in areas without a lot of green space to grow vegetables and flowers until park/green space can
be identified. Residents would manage it; the City could identify areas where it might be appropriate
and possibly provide top soil. Ms. Feser said from a landscape architecture and edible landscape
perspective, she had concerns with runoff from the road into areas without curb and sidewalk. Those
areas are sometimes called death strips due to extreme heat and lack of water, sand used on icy streets
in the winter ends up there, and people use those area to relieve their animals.
Councilmember Teitzel asked how other cities have addressed streetside planting areas. Mr. Antillon
agree with Ms. Feser's comments. Residents are responsible for maintaining the landscaping in front
of their property. Community gardens in Seattle are not right next to the road, there is no runoff, and
they are safe to work in. There is more to it than just planting in the right-of-way. Questions and
discussion followed regarding identifying areas that are not adjacent to the street, community gardens
that are started by the community, concern with a community garden in the right-of-way, researching
whether a church had space for pea patch, access to water, and existing pea patches at churches.
• Potential lease or purchase of 7-Eleven on 236t" & Highway 99 for a Satellite Police
Statinn
Councilmember Teitzel relayed an inquiry by Councilmember Chen to purchase/lease the 7-Eleven
property for a satellite police station. Mr. Antillon said that site was added to the list of properties being
considered by the consultant doing the feasibility study. They are meeting Friday to do site visits.
Discussion followed regarding crime in that area.
2. Presentation to Award Construction Contract for the 2023 Overlay Project
Mr. English reported bids were opened today; five construction bids were received. The apparent low
bidder is Granite Construction with a bid of approximately $760,000, the high bid was $895,000 and the
engineer's estimate was $886,000. Staff will crunch the numbers and review documents and if there
are no issues with the bids, he recommended awarding the contract on next week's council agenda.
Questions and discussion followed regarding alley repair in the north central part of Edmonds, and the
City's policy regarding overlaying alleys.
Committee recommendation: Consent agenda
8/8/23 PPW Committee Minutes, Page 3
3. Presentation of Supplemental Agreement with The Blueline Group for Citywide
Bicycle Improvements Project
Mr. English reported Blueline is the consultant designer of record on this project; the contract is being
extended to provide support services during construction including project management, construction
support as needed on an on -call basis, development of as -built drawings, and additional design
services. The project was originally slated for construction in 2022, but was pushed to 2023 and
combined with the Elm Way Walkway Project and included design issues related to traffic signals,
pavement repairs and redesign/reconfiguration of the intersection at 96th/Bowdoin. The overall
supplemental services will $20,000 for construction support and $15,000 for design services for a total
of $35,000.
Mr. English responded to questions regarding funding for the supplemental agreement, when the on -
call consultant would be used, concern with scope creep, and pervious sidewalk materials.
Committee recommendation: Consent agenda.
4. Presentation of Supplemental Agreement with WSP for Construction Management
Services on the 76th Ave Overlay Protect
Mr. English reported the City hired WSP to provide construction management and inspection services.
The project includes federal funds so there are additional requirements. The project was awarded late
last year and suspended due to weather. Paving was done in May 2023. Additional charges were
incurred to monitor during the suspension and additional work related to pavement repairs. The
additional amount is $10,990 although the entire amount may not be needed. He responded to
questions regarding funding provided by Lynnwood, and Edmonds' funding source.
Committee recommendation: Consent agenda.
7. Parks. Recreation & Human Services Department - 2023 Q2 Accomplishments
Councilmember Teitzel inquired about process for an ILA with Snohomish County for joint support of
Esperance Park. Ms. Feser answered formal direction from council to the mayor would be required; she
suggested having that as a discussion item on a council agenda. Discussion followed regarding
Esperance Park providing additional park and open space amenities for Highway 99 subarea residents,
ability for Edmonds residents to use Esperance park without an ILA, Edmonds having more control over
the park via an ILA, and Parks providing services such as mowing. Councilmember Teitzel said he
would confer with Council President Tibbott and Mayor Nelson before proceeding.
Committee recommendation: Information only
Meadowdale playfields
Ms. Feser advised the existing ILA expires in 2025. The original investment by the City was for the
Meadowdale Playfields via a use agreement. Lynnwood stopped their adult softball program, and
Edmonds picked it up. Lynnwood made other improvements in the park including a playground
renovation, and without including Edmonds in the process, requested Edmonds pay half of cost of the
playground. Edmonds does not agree that all improvements in the park are split 50/50 and believes it
is only the playfields. She and Lynnwood's park director are meeting on Friday. Questions and
discussion followed regarding the cost of the softball program, renting the fields from Lynnwood and
getting out of the shared expenditure operating agreement.
Outdoor Shower at Brackett's Landing North for Divers
8/8/23 PPW Committee Minutes, Page 4
Ms. Feser reported the parts have been ordered and delivered but not installed. The project requires
deconstructing and rebuilding the shower. It is difficult to find a contractor who can do concrete and
plumbing who is interested in a small job with the City. The project was sent out to MSRC's small works
roster with no response.
Cooling Centers
Councilmember Teitzel observed there are cooling centers at Edmonds Waterfront Center, Hazel Miller
Spray Park and Edmonds Library all of which are in the bowl. He asked if Esperance Park would be a
possible location or somewhere on Highway 99. Ms. Feser said the link in the email identifies all the
Snohomish County cooling centers, some of which may be on Highway 99 or in Lynnwood.
Flower Baskets
Councilmember Buckshnis asked if the flower basket program was breaking even. Ms. Feser advised
the adoption fee is $100/basket which covers the plants and materials (contracted out this year).
Baskets are watered 2-4 times/week for 4 months which requires 2 staff members. Questions and
discussion followed regarding reuse of the wooden baskets; intent of the adoption fee to self -fund the
baskets excluding labor; use of the Goffette donation for baskets, corner parks and maintenance;
balance in the Goffette fund; whether flower baskets are ever stolen; and backup baskets in case of
damage or disease.
3. ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 8:57 p.m.
SCOTT PASSEY, 11--i lY CLERK