2019-09-26 Citizens Housing Commission MinutesFinal Version
September 26, 2019
Housing Commission Meeting Notes
The September 26, 2019 meeting of the Edmonds Citizens' Housing Commission began at approximately
7:00 pm. (It was also live -streamed and made available on the City's webpage.)
Commissioners present were: Tana Axtelle, Jess Blanch, Will Chen, Nichole Franko, Judi
Gladstone, Karen Herrick- Hassse, Tanya Kataria, George Keefe, Greg Long, Mike
McMurray, Alena Nelson-Vietmeier, James Cgonowski, John Reed, Keith Soltner, Bob
Throndsen, and Weijia Wu.
Alternates present were: Shirley Havenga, Eva -Denis Miller, Rick Nishino, Jean Salls, Kenneth Sund, Leif
Warren, and Wendy Wyatt
City Council liaisons present were: Dave Teitzel and Neil Tibbott
Staff present were: Shane Hope and Brad Shipley
The meeting began with a welcome to the new Commission and the community members attending or
listening in.
Two audience members gave public comments, namely Lori Rasmussen with suggestions for process
and public outreach and Evan Wilson with a recommendation to include one or more Esperance
residents.
Development Services Director Shane Hope provided context about the Housing Commission's assigned
mission to recommend housing policy options to expand the range of housing available in Edmonds, per
Council Resolution 1427. Appointments to the Housing Commission were completed in late August,
providing for 15 Commissioners and eight alternates. The appointees represent seven districts within
the city, based largely on Census areas that have roughly equal populations. Commission
recommendations are due to the City Council by the end of 2020. In addition to regular monthly
Commission meetings, other public events and various activities will be planned to engage a broad
cross-section of the community.
City Council liaisons for the meeting, Neil Tibbott and Dave Teitzel, introduced themselves and the
importance of the work being undertaken. Each Commissioner, followed by each alternate, introduced
themselves and mentioned their own experiences with housing in Edmonds.
An exercise was undertaken to identify topics to be explored in future meetings. Based on the exercise,
high -priority topics included information on: community engagement, the city's comprehensive plan,
city housing and demographic data, incentive programs, objectives and targets, city's financial
sustainability, housing types, zoning effects, background on the prior draft housing strategy, housing
programs and ideas from other cities, and more. Director Hope acknowledged that much of the
Commission's work for the remainder of 2019 would be on gaining a common understanding of
definitions, data, and the project framework. This would be followed by more specific policy work in
2020. Commissioners discussed the results of the exercise.
A schedule for future monthly meetings was the next agenda item. Commissioners concluded that the
second Thursday of each month will be the regular meeting date. Additional meetings and public events
will be determined and scheduled later.
An update was provided on the consultant assistance that was being planned. A request for
qualifications had gone out and various firms applied. From the applications, finalists were interviewed
and references checked. Currently, the City is working to finalize a contract with the selected firm. The
firm's representative(s) are expected to attend the next Housing Commission meeting. Consultant
assistance will focus on: (a) meeting facilitation; and (b) community engagement.
The meeting adjourned at about 9:15 pm.