2023-11-14 PSPHSP CommitteePUBLIC SAFETY, PLANNING, HUMAN SERVICES & PERSONNEL
COMMITTEE MEETING
November 14, 2023
Elected Officials Present
Staff Present
Councilmember Vivian Olson (Chair)
Oscar Antillon, Public Works Director
Councilmember Jenna Nand
Susan McLaughlin, Planning & Dev. Dir.
Councilmember Will Chen
Rod Sniffen, Assistant Police Chief
Rob English, City Engineer
Emily Wagener, Human Resources Analyst
Jeff Levy, Senior Planner
Rose Haas, Planner
Navyusha Pentakota, Urban Design Planner
Scott Passey, City Clerk
1. CALL TO ORDER
The Edmonds City Council PSPHSP Committee meeting was called to order virtually and in the City
Council Conference Room, 121 — 51" Avenue North, Edmonds, at 3:30 p.m. by Councilmember Olson.
2. COMMITTEE BUSINESS
1. Snohomish County Jail Contract Extension
Assistant Chief Sniffen explained the existing jail contract, which is due to expire, allows for a three-
year extension. The Snohomish County Jail is the only jail available; contracting with other entities is
no longer a possibility until Yakima and/or Lynnwood offer that service again.
Questions and discussion followed regarding other items included in the video court fee, inmate safety
at the Snohomish County Jail, classification of inmates, safety concerns at the Yakima Jail Annex,
proximity of the Snohomish County Jail for inmates' families, and exploring contracting with the
Lynnwood Jail in the future to book misdemeanors.
Committee recommendation: Consent Agenda
2. Authorizing Vacation Accrual for a Capital Projects Manager Candidate
Mr. English explained this position has been vacant since Henry Schroeder retired in June. Recruitment
began in July and applicants have been narrowed to one candidate with 24 years' experience in
engineering and utilities. At his current employer, he accrues 25 vacation days/year; the City's accrual
rate for that same longevity is 22 days/year. The recommendation is to authorize a vacation accrual
rate for this candidate of 25 days/year.
Questions and discussion followed regarding funding for this position via the capital program and not
the General Fund and criticality of the position for public works to maintain progress on projects.
Committee recommendation: Consent Agenda for tonight's special meeting.
Councilmember Nand asked about the policy regarding overtime restrictions and mandatory vacation.
Ms. Wagener responded there is no mandatory vacation requirement and overtime restrictions are
subject to collective bargaining agreements and vary by group. She was not aware of any overtime
restrictions for non -represented employees and many non -represented staff are exempt from overtime.
11/14/23 PSPHSP Committee Minutes, Page 2
Mr. Antillon commented the street department receives a lot of funding from the General Fund. Winter
is when public works accrues a lot of overtime due to snow responses, after hours responses, etc. and
he anticipated it will be challenging to find funding for that this year due to challenges with the General
Fund.
3. Code Amendment for Implementation of Detached Accessory Dwelling Units in
Accordance with HB 1337 — "Expanding Housing Options by Easing Barriers to
the Construction and Use of Accessory Dwelling Units"
Ms. McLaughlin advised Rose Haas is the code modernization lead and has been working with Jeff
Levy and Navyusha Pentakota to develop the detached ADU legislation.
Ms. Haas explained this is related to aligning the ECDC to HB 1337 and is a major code update.
• What are ADUs?
o An accessory dwelling unit is a small residence that shares a single family lot with a primary
dwelling
o AN ADU is self-contained, with its own kitchen or kitchenette, bathroom and living/sleeping
area
o An attached ADU is a dwelling unit located within or attached to another housing unit
o A detached ADU (DADU) is separate and unconnected to the other housing unit
• What are the benefits of ADUs?
HOMEFORA
YOUNG FAMILY AT HOME
r' WORKSPACE
t
r �
AGE -IN PLACE _!IL, ' ZE
ENTAL FOR
RETIREMENT OPTION RI
INCOME
1
r1i_
POST-
SURGERY
STUDIO SPACE FORA RECOVERY SPACE
HOME BUSINESS
APARTMENT FOR
ADULT CHILDREN
o Support aging in place
o Provide additional financial support for homeowners
o Add value: properties with an ADU are priced 35% higher
o Offer an efficient, low cost way to build housing
o Meet diverse needs — suited well for young couples, small families, friends, young people
and seniors
o Allow multi -generational living
• What guidance did we use?
o HB 1337
o MRSC Guide: Guidance for Accessor Dwelling Units in Washington State
o AARP's Best Practices (The ABC's of ADUs)
o Citizens Housing Commission Survey
• What does HB 1337 require?
o Cities must ease barriers to the construction and use of accessory dwelling units
o Cities must allow ADUs as a secondary outright permitted use. Legalizes two accessory
dwelling units per lot and lifts numerous restrictions.
11/14/23 PSPHSP Committee Minutes, Page 3
CONVERTED
GARRAGE DETACHED
ADU
CONVERTED
GARRAGE BASEMENT
CONVERSION
Why DADUs in Edmonds today?
o In 2021, the Citizens' Housing Commission stated the following policy recommendation for
updating the ADU code to include DADUs: "Allow either one attached or detached accessory
unit on a property in the SFR area with clear and definitive development requirements such
as size, ownership, and parking, under the standard permitting process and not require a
conditional use permit."
o According to the 2021 American Community Survey, 21.5% of Edmonds' residents are over
65 year of age
o The most frequent over the counter ADU question: "Are DADUs allowed for aging in place?"
What the ECDC may look like:
Existing Code
Proposed Code Update
Permit
Needed
GA—Adi„�it;APAI "se Permit Type " d^^ ^ ^^
Permitted secondary use*; can be
permitted in PRDs
Type of Unit
Attached ADU only
DADUs and AADUs*
Number of
Units
May have only one accessory dwelling unit per lot
Allow two ADUs on all lots in any
configuration*
Size
Must nGt ^X^^^,+ 40 of +h^ li„ahl^ fl^^r area ^f the
Max Height 24'*
No rear setbacks are required from
the rear lot line if that lot line abuts a
public alley*
Reduced rear setbacks in some
instances
Not more than 1,200 square feet
No mere than twc) bedrc)c)
If the An1 1 is all on a sirn^l^ fl^^r an ^.,^eptmOR GaR
h^ m"+^ fAr +h^ AD'' APPA +^ h^ ir, ^^,+ by up +^
50 „f +h^ flAAr Af the dweelliRg
PFiRGipal
Design
No design restrictions*
Parking
One off-street parking space in addition to the
parking spaces normally required for the principal
dwelling, but no less than three spaces per lot
No parking required if lot is within a
'/2 mile of a major transit*
Occupancy
Either the primary dwelling or the accessory
dwelling unit Must h^ ^ i^'+
Owner not required to reside in one
of the units*
*required by HB 1337
City of Edmonds Code Updates
o Ideas we are exploring
■ Allowing ADUs as an outright permitted secondary use*
■ No longer requiring a conditional use permit, and undergoing a Type 1 permit decision
■ Allowing ADUs in PRD zones
■ Allowing prefabricated units
■ Limiting height to no less than 24 feet*
■ Decreasing rear setback requirements
■ Allowing ADUs up to 1,200 square feet
o Number of ADUs
■ Allowing at least two ADUs on all lots in any of the following configurations
- One attached ADU and one detached ADU
- Two attached ADUs, or
- Two detached ADUs
11/14/23 PSPHSP Committee Minutes, Page 4
o Parking
■ No additional parking required for ADUs within 0.5 miles of a major transit stop*
■ For new DADUs, one EV ready parking space is mandated for each
o Ownership
■ Owner occupancy not required*
■ Allow as sale as condominiums*
*Required by 1337
• Tentative Schedule
Nov 14th� I Nov 29th Dec 13th
a
Jan 10th I I Jan 16th I I Feb 6th I I Feb loth
Questions and discussion followed regarding staff's plans to bring the proposed code update to planning
board prior to full council, reasons staff has begun pursuing the code update to address ADUs, definition
of PRD, unit size allowed by HB 1337, permitting process to avoid utility easements, what an EV-ready
parking space entails, proximity of EV charger to parking space, defining EV-ready parking space in
code, Airbnb and other short term rentals of ADUs, July 2025 deadline to implement the state's
standards, implementing standards to address pent-up demand prior to July 2025 deadline, determining
ADU size based on lot coverage, preference for ADUs to be single story, interest in requiring ADUs to
compliment the primary residence, requirements of HB 1337, ingress/egress to an ADU, emergency
services ingress/egress, permit ready ADU programs, seeking a grant to develop standardized plans,
and state building code update related to hardening around structures due to wildfires.
Committee recommendation: Information only.
3. ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 4:18 p.m.
c� —
SCOTT PASSEY; CLERK