2023-12-27 Special MeetingEDMONDS CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
APPROVED MINUTES
December 27, 2023
ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT
Neil Tibbott, Mayor Pro Tern
Vivian Olson, Council President Pro Tern
Will Chen, Councilmember
Diane Buckshnis, Councilmember
Susan Paine, Councilmember
Chris Eck, Councilmember
Jenna Nand, Councilmember
ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT
Mike Nelson, Mayor
1. CALL TO ORDER
STAFF PRESENT
Dave Turley, Administrative Services Director
Jeff Taraday, City Attorney
Scott Passey, City Clerk
The Edmonds Special City Council meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by Mayor Pro Tern Tibbott
virtually and in the City Council Conference Room, 121 — 5th Avenue North, Edmonds.
2. ROLL CALL
City Clerk Scott Passey called the roll. All elected officials were present with the exception of Mayor
Nelson.
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM OLSON MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
PAINE, TO APPROVE THE AGENDA IN CONTENT AND ORDER. MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
4. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
A MOTION WAS MADE AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The agenda items approved are as follows:
1. APPROVAL OF CLAIM CHECKS AND WIRE PAYMENT
5. COUNCIL BUSINESS
1. 2024 BUDGET ORDINANCE
Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes
December 27, 2023
Page 1
Mayor Pro Tem Tibbott commented the council has done a great deal of work on the budget over the last
ten weeks.
Administrative Services Director Dave Turley advised this is the final budget ordinance for the 2024 City
of Edmonds budget. The mayor's budget was submitted to council over 12 weeks ago. In the three months
since the proposed budget was delivered, the normal process was followed to create the council's adopted
budget. During this time four public hearings were held and there were several hours of council
deliberations over several different council meetings. The ordinance is the final 2024 budget with all the
required schedules. Bringing this ordinance to council after all budget deliberations have been concluded
is in accordance with past practice and in accordance with the council's request. The RCW states the city
council must adopt a 2024 budget before the end of the year and he looked forward to accomplishing that
with council tonight. He thanked his staff and as well as staff in other departments for their hard work
answering literally dozens if not hundreds of council questions. Staff s recommendation is to approve the
2024 budget as included in tonight's council packet.
Mayor Pro Tem Tibbott commented the council has deliberated a great deal over the over past 10-12 weeks
and the amendments and additions have been carefully recorded and have been included in previous council
packets. Tonight's packet reflects the most up-to-date, carefully recorded representation of the budget
numbers along with estimates for the end of the year. As usual, the council has been provided the budget
ordinance and schedule for approval.
COUNCILMEMBER PAINE MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER NAND, TO
APPROVE AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF EDMONDS,
WASHINGTON, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND DECLARING AN
EMERGENCY.
Councilmember Paine echoed Mayor Pro Tem Tibbott's comments, the council has spent a lot of time
reviewing the budget and time is of the essence to approve the 2024 budget.
Councilmember Buckshnis said in good faith she cannot support the budget process. One only has to watch
last week's budget amendment process to see that expenses far exceed the revenues. She does not have
current financials but she provided information about the September run rate. She anticipated the City will
tap into contingency reserves next year. She believed the City will be in bad shape once the ARPA money
is depleted. She wished all the best of luck next year, and indicated she will vote no on the 2024 budget.
Councilmember Chen expressed appreciation to Director Turley and the accounting team for putting in
extra hours to get this product ready. To his knowledge, this was the fourth time a finished product had
been prepared documenting fund balances in this format. As Councilmember Buckshnis mentioned, the
City is still in a very difficult position in terms of meeting the reserve requirement and going into the new
year, the council will have to identify revenue sources and opportunities to reduce expenditures. He was
very happy with what has been presented under the current situation, so he will vote yes on the 2024 budget.
MOTION CARRIED (6-1) COUNCILMEMBER BUCKSHNIS VOTING NO.
2. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING USE OF GENERAL FUND OPERATING RESERVES
FOR 2024 GENERAL FUND EXPENSES
Mayor Pro Tem Tibbott recalled this resolution was discussed in some detail at a previous council meeting.
He requested City Attorney Jeff Taraday provide a recap regarding the nature of the resolution.
Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes
December 27, 2023
Page 2
Mr. Taraday explained this resolution authorizes use of General Fund operating reserves to support 2024
General Fund expenses. Using numbers in the ordinance that the council just adopted, it appears $6,091,403
of General Fund operating reserve will be used to support General Fund expenses. Not all of that is for 2024
alone, but calculating the ending fund balance and comparing it to what the fund balance reserve policy
would want it to be, the difference is $6,091,403. This resolution authorizes the use of those funds to support
2024 General Fund expenses.
COUNCILMEMBER ECK MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER PAINE, TO ADOPT A
RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON,
AUTHORIZING THE USE OF GENERAL FUND OPERATING RESERVES FOR 2024 GENERAL
FUND EXPENSES. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
6. ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the Council meeting was adjourned at 6:16 p.m.
S^-:t -
SCOTT PASSEY; CLERK
Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes
December 27, 2023
Page 3