20170228 City CouncilEDMONDS CITY COUNCIL APPROVED MINUTES
February 28, 2017
ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT
Michael Nelson, Mayor Pro Tem
*Kristiana Johnson, Councilmember
Adrienne Fraley-Monillas, Councilmember
Diane Buckshnis, Councilmember
Dave Teitzel, Councilmember
Neil Tibbott, Councilmember
*participating by phone
ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT
Dave Earling, Mayor
Thomas Mesaros, Council President
1. CALL TO ORDERIFLAG SALUTE
STAFF PRESENT
A] Compaan, Police Chief
Carrie Hite, Parks, Rec. & Cult. Serv. Dir.
Patrick Doherty, Econ. Dev & Comm. Serv. Dir.
Scott James, Finance Director
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 meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. by Mayor Pro Tem Nelson in the
Council Chambers, 250 5th Avenue North, Edmonds. The meeting was opened with the flag salute.
2. ROLL CALL
City Clerk Scott Passey called the roll. All elected officials were present or participating by phone with
the exception of Mayor Earling and Council President Mesaros.
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mayor Pro Tem Nelson advised Item 7.4 would be postponed to a future meeting
COUNCILMEMBER FRALEY-MONILLAS MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
BUCKSHNIS, TO APPROVE THE AGENDA IN CONTENT AND ORDER AS AMENDED.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
4. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
COUNCILMEMBER TEITZEL MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER BUCKSHNIS,
TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The agenda
items approved are as follows:
APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 21, 2017
APPROVAL OF CLAIM CHECKS AND WIRE PAYMENT
3. CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT OF DEAN OLSON TO DIVERSITY
COMMISSION
Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes
February 28, 2017
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purchased in the past. She displayed a map of 9t" Avenue & Main, pointing out properties the City owns
and the two properties the City is seeking to purchase to add to the open space conservation lots in the
Shell Creek Corridor.
Ms. Hite explained the owner of the two parcels inquired about the City's interest in purchasing the
properties. The City responded possibly and asked if the property owner would consider donating them.
The property owner was willing to discuss a donation but because the City was not able to provide a
market value for tax purposes, the property owner decided to sell the properties and took the donation off
the table. The City ultimately negotiated a price of $20,000 per parcel. She displayed a map of City
owned properties in the area:
Property / Year Purchased Value
Wade James Theater $1.7 million
2006 $27,000
2001 $56,000
2009 $191,000
2005 $254,000
2009 $24,000
2009 $10,000
The seller came up with the $20,000 price because it was comparable to property recently sold on Daley
Street in the Shell Creek Corridor where the property developer obtained a variance and is building within
a close buffer of Shell Creek. At that time, the Council expressed interest in learning about properties that
are for sale and purchasing property in the Shell Creek Corridor to preserve the creek, wetland and critical
area. These two properties are in the wetland area.
The City contracted with Landau to do a preliminary environmental assessment to determine if there was
any suspicion of any hazardous material, etc. Landau's report, contained in the Council packet, has been
reviewed by the City Attorney, her and the Engineering Department and there are no concerns. She
recommended the City Council seriously consider purchasing these properties and authorize the Mayor to
sign to the Purchase and Sale Agreement. The $40,000 is available via the $200,000 set aside in Fund 126
for land acquisition.
Councilmember Teitzel was excited the City was able to purchase open space in one of the prime
watersheds in the bowl area. He observed the properties were landlocked and there was no way to get a
driveway to them without obtaining easements. Ms. Hite agreed. Councilmember Teitzel recalled the
packet stated the parcels are difficult to build on but not impossible. He asked if it was the City's intent to
hold the parcels in open space in perpetuity. Ms. Hite agreed that was the intent; part of the appeal to the
City to hold property in open space is to protect habitat but also to create connections. There is a
possibility in the future that trails would be built in the area to connect Main Street to the neighborhood,
etc. but that has not been seriously looked at yet. That has also been considered on other properties the
City owns in the area.
If there were no plan for development in the future, Councilmember Teitzel suggested writing into the
deed or the purchase agreement that the intent was to retain the parcels in open space into future without
any intent to sell. City Attorney Jeff Taraday answered a deed restriction like that would typically be
imposed by the grantor to require the grantee to use property in a particular way. This grantor, having
received fair market value, would not require that type of covenant be imposed on the property. That is
sometimes done when property is sold below market value to ensure there is not a windfall by the buyer
to use it later in a way that was inconsistent with the intent. In this case, the City is purchasing the parcels
for fair market value. While as a matter of policy the City Council could adopt a restriction upon its own
use of the property, it probably would not be binding on a future Council that had a different idea about it.
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February 28, 2017
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would be filled by the end of the school year. Chief Compaan responded the intent had been to put an
SRO at Edmonds-Woodway High School starting September 1, 2017. Councilmember Fraley-Monillas
observed there would be budget savings because the SRO did not start January 1, 2017. Chief Compaan
said the SRO position was built into budget so that an FTE could be hired and not reduce patrol resources.
If ESD does not provide funding for the SRO, the additional FTE will be reduced via attrition through a
retirement.
Councilmember Fraley-Monillas asked if the position has been filled. Chief Compaan answered staff is
working on hiring the position. The additional FTE will increase the Police Department from 55
authorized commissioned positions in 2016 to 56 including SRO. If the position is hired and the ESD
does not provide their cost share and the City decides not to staff the SRO, the 56th position will be
eliminated via attrition through a retirement. Councilmember Fraley-Monillas asked if the position being
hired was full-time. Chief Compaan answered the SRO is intended to be a full-time position with ESD
paying half. Councilmember Fraley-Monillas commented if ESD does not provide funding, consideration
may be given to not having an SRO at Edmonds-Woodway High School. Chief Compaan agreed.
3. FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE 2016 WATERLINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT
City Engineer Rob English reported in May 2016, the City Council awarded a contract to D&G Backhoe,
Inc. in the amount of $1,147,402. Work began in June 2016 and was completed in October 2016. The
final amount paid to D&G Backhoe was $1,114,975, under the award amount and within budget. He
recommended final acceptance of the project be forwarded to the Consent Agenda for approval next
week.
It was the consensus of the Council to forward this item to the Consent Agenda.
4. SNOPUD REDUNDANCY POWER AGREEMENT - WWTP
This item was postponed to a future meeting.
8. MAYOR'S COMMENTS
Mayor Pro Tem Nelson reported last week the Traffic Safety Task Force met with representatives of
Edmonds School District who are also interested in promoting traffic safety.
9. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Councilmember Teitzel reported on last Saturday's rally in support of diversity that started at Civic Field
and proceeded through Edmonds, up Main street and finished at the Frances Anderson Center. He, along
with hundreds of others, participated in the friendly, uplifting event.
Councilmember Tibbott announced the Edmonds Housing Task Force is planning some community -wide
outreach events later this year. The task force has found expanding opportunities for affordable housing
requires the involvement of more people with varying types of expertise. He encouraged with ability to
find properties that would be suitable for multi -family, development/planning skills, etc. to contact him
through the Council office or the City's website.
Councilmember Fraley-Monillas said anyone interested in low income or senior housing is welcome to
attend the task force's meetings. She was pleased to be back after spending three weeks in the Philippines
with family. She called into last week's Council meeting because her son was ill. She is ready for spring.
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