20170523 City CouncilEDMONDS CITY COUNCIL APPROVED MINUTES
May 23, 2017
ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT
Dave Earling, Mayor
Kristiana Johnson, Councilmember
Michael Nelson, Councilmember
Adrienne Fraley-Monillas, Councilmember
Diane Buckshnis, Councilmember
Dave Teitzel, Councilmember
Neil Tibbott, Councilmember
ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT
Thomas Mesaros, Council President
1. CALL TO ORDER/FLAG SALUTE
STAFF PRESENT
J. Hwang, Police Officer
Phil Williams, Public Works Director
Carrie Hite, Parks, Rec. & Cult. Serv. Dir.
Scott James, Finance Director
Dave Turley, Assistant Finance Director
Bertrand Hauss, Transportation Engineer
Rob English, City Engineer
Jeff Taraday, City Attorney
Scott Passey, City Clerk
Andrew Pierce, Legislative/Council Assistant
Jerrie Bevington, Camera Operator
Jeannie Dines, Recorder
The Edmonds City Council mccting was called to order at 7:20 p.m. by Mayor Earling in the Council
Chambers, 250 5`" Avenue North. Edmonds. The meeting was opened witli the flag salute.
2. ROLL CALL
City Clerk Scott Passey called the roll. All elected officials were present with the exception of Council
President Mesaros.
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER TEITZEL, TO
ADD LIGHT INSTALLATION ON PINE STREET AS ITEM 4.2.
COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER BUCKSHNIS,
TO ADD AUDIENCE COMMENT TO AGENDA FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION.
COUNCILMEMBER BUCKSHNIS SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
Mayor Earling advised Audience Comments would be Item 4.2 and Light Installation on Pine Street
would be Item 4.3.
COUNCILMEMBER BUCKSHNIS MOVED,
MONILLAS, TO APPROVE THE AGENDA
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
4. PRESENTATIONS
SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER FRALEY-
IN CONTENT AND ORDER AS AMENDED.
NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY PROCLAMATION
Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes
May 23, 2017
Page 1
Mayor Earling read a proclamation proclaiming June 2, 2017 as Gun Violence Awareness Day in
Edmonds and encouraging all citizens to support their local communities' efforts to prevent the tragic
effects of gun violence and to honor and value human lives. He presented the proclamation to Sarah
Couch and Leah Bernstein, Moms Demand Action. Ms. Bernstein described Moms Demand Action, a
national grassroots organization that respects the Second Amendment and does education and awareness
about gun violence. She recognized members in the audience in the local chapter of Moms Demand
Action from Shoreline, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Lake Forest Park and portions of North Seattle. She
thanked Mayor Earling and the Council for the proclamation.
Ms. Couch invited the Council to a Wear Orange 2017 event at Richmond Beach at 3:30 p.m. on June 3`d
to honor the 93 Americans that die every day as a result of gun violence.
2. AUDIENCE COMMENTS
Susie Schaefer, Edmonds, referred to a letter she sent to Council last week relaying concern with what
has happened at the Demo Garden. The Demo Garden was installed ten years ago with the assistance of
Parks & Recreation. All the plants have a function; the purpose of the garden is to maintain wildlife,
educate, and provide examples for private yards. The garden is certified by the National Wildlife
Federation. Parks Maintenance Supervisor Rich Lindsay emailed about the installation of the street lights
and said he would do what he could to protect the plants. She had been unaware of the street light project
prior to his email. Had she been contacted earlier, she envisioned neatly cutting back the plants; instead
the plants were drastically cut, damaging them as well as destroying a Bushtit nest. She expressed concern
about the effect of the lights on wildlife. She requested an opportunity to discuss what could be done to
mitigate the damage.
3. LIGHT INSTALLATION ON PINE STREET
Councilmember Nelson relayed this is in regard to the light installation on Pine Street and what happened
when the site was prepared. Ms. Schaefer contacted most of the Council and some have visited the site.
He requested staff describe what happened, why the Demo Garden was damaged and the light
installation.
Public Works Director Phil Williams appreciated Ms. Schaefer's comments and point of view. He
explained funds were allocated in the 2017 budget for a modest addition of streetlights on the end of Pine
Street west of SR 104 where there have been safety concern walking in that area in the dark. The initial
idea was to install lights on the south side of the street. It was later learned that side of the street is located
in Woodway which could have been resolved but locates found PUD has very large duct banks buried in
the area where the lights would have been installed. Moving those to install three streetlights would have
been incredibly expensive. Staff then looked to the north side where the sidewalk is located. Had the
lights been installed on the south side, they would have lit the street and the sidewalk and likely into the
Demo Garden. Staff felt the north side was preferable; even though it is closer to the Demo Garden, the
lights can shielded to shine primarily toward the south.
Mr. Williams explained installing the lights on the north side required disrupting the first several feet of
ground immediately north of the sidewalk edge to dig a ditch and install conduit. That work was done by
staff; PUD will install the lights. Public Works staff talked with Parks about the Demo Garden; he
acknowledged there could have been better communication and apologized that had not occurred. He was
committed to fixing the disrupted area. The streetlights that will be installed are 3,000 kelvin LED,
providing a slightly warmer light, their direction can be focused and they will be shielded to be dark sky
compliant.
Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes
May 23, 2017
Page 2
Councilmember Johnson recalled the project description was on the south side and Mr. Williams has
explained why that location did not work. She also recalled this was pedestrian lighting, not streetlights.
Mr. Williams said there is currently no light for the street or the sidewalk. A lot of people walk in this
area including some who walk in the street so it would be a good idea to provide lighting for cars as well.
The three 35 -foot streetlights will light the street and the sidewalk. Councilmember Johnson reiterated her
recollection the project description was pedestrian lighting not street lighting. Mr. Williams did not recall.
Councilmember Johnson relayed concern with the effect of light spillage into the wildlife area and the
Demo Garden. When driving in that area today, she observed Pt. Edwards has small decorative lighting
that is more pedestrian oriented. She asked whether that could be duplicated on the north side of Pine
Street. Mr. Williams answered no, taller lights require fewer lights and lower lights require more lights.
This project has a very limited budget.
Councilmember Johnson requested staff take another look at the light standards and see if the lights on
the Pt. Edwards property could be duplicated in this area. Mr. Williams answered the streetlights are
provided by PUD and must be a type PUD has; he was not certain who owns or installed the lights in Pt.
Edwards. Councilmember Johnson pointed out pedestrian lighting on an overpass in Lynnwood. In her
view, the streetlights had gone far afield from the original purpose to provide safe walking for the
residents of Pt. Edwards. Mr. Williams pointed out as this sidewalk connects to SR -104 where pedestrians
cross; it would be helpful to have lighting at the intersection. Councilmember Johnson requested staff
look at pedestrian lighting instead of street lighting.
Councilmember Fraley-Monillas asked if the lights could be shielded on one side. Mr. Williams said the
lights would be shielded to leak as little light as possible to the north.
Councilmember Buckshnis referred to an urban forestry symposium she attended, acknowledging it was
difficult to balance cities' activities and what is expected. She was blindsided by this project, recalling it
was pedestrian lighting on the south side. She commented on the thousands of volunteer hours at the
Demo Garden that have been diminished and the heartbreak at the damage that occurred. She envisioned
had there been more notice about the project, the result could have been more appeasable. She was
interested in mitigating what happened, recalling the lighting project was proposed by Councilmember
Mesaros and the $20,000 budget was eventually approved by Council. She recalled Councilmember
Mesaros' argument that the lights would not have as much impact as the light in the fish hatchery,
pointing out that light is around a pond that is rarely visited by wildlife. She summarized the damage was
disturbing to her and she was hopeful there would be a happy ending.
Councilmember Teitzel echoed Councilmember Johnson's comments about the lighting and light fixture
types. He recalled seeing lower, conical light fixtures further uphill that reflect light down to the sidewalk.
He asked if that type of fixture could be investigated including how much illumination three of the lower
fixtures would emit and the cost difference, acknowledging it was not what PUD would install. Mr.
Williams said the project would need to be put on hold to consider what a majority of the Council wants
done. If the spacing and/or number of lights changed, the work that has been done will need to be redone.
Councilmember Teitzel suggested looking at the same spacing and determine if the lower fixtures would
provide sufficient light. He suggested investigating the spacing of the lower light fixtures uphill in Pt.
Edwards.
Councilmember Nelson suggested when the lighting was approved by Council, the intent was to light the
sidewalk on the south side. After that was determined to be infeasible, the lighting was moved to the
north side and the unintended consequence of damaging the Demo Garden. He was supportive of pausing
the project and determining options for lighting the sidewalk with the least impact to the environment.
Mayor Earling requested a motion if the Council wanted the project put on hold.
Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes
May 23, 2017
Page 3
Mr. Williams said when he spoke about this project, he said streetlights. He was unsure where the CIP
used different verbiage but the intent was always streetlights. He acknowledged there is a wide variety of
streetlights. A walkway can be lit with small bollard lighting that casts five feet of light onto the sidewalk
but that was never the intent for this area regardless of the side of the street. He pointed out pedestrian
lighting on the south side of the street would not have provided any light on the north side of the street
where the sidewalk is located. If the preference was lower lights, it was likely more lights would be
required to avoid a splotchy light pattern.
Councilmember Buckshnis commented the process used for consider Council items in the 2017 budget
was a lesson learned. She reiterated her concern with the impact on the Demo Garden, commenting this
may be a reason to have a City Arborist.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER FRALEY-
MONILLAS, TO TEMPORARILY HALT THE LIGHT INSTALLATION ON PINE STREET
PENDING FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF OTHER LIGHTING OPTIONS. MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
5. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
COUNCILMEMBER FRALEY-MONILLAS MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
BUCKSHNIS, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
The agenda items approved are as follows:
APPROVAL OF COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES OF MAY 16, 2017
2. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MAY 16, 2017
3. APPROVAL OF CLAIM, PAYROLL AND BENEFIT CHECKS, DIRECT DEPOSIT AND
WIRE PAYMENTS
6. ADJOURN TO COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Mayor Earling explained several weeks ago, the Council made a decision to hold committee meetings on
the second and fourth Tuesdays. The Parks, Planning & Public Works Committee meets in the Jury
Meeting Room, the Finance Committee meets in Council Chambers and the Public Safety & Personnel
Committee meets in the Police Training Room.
With no further business, the Council meeting was adjourned to committee meetings at 7:51 p.m.
DAVID 0. EA LING, MAYOR
SCOTT PASSEY, G
Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes
May 23, 2017
Page 4