Edmonds City Council Regular Meeting - January 6, 2026
Edmonds City Council Regular Meeting - January 6, 2026
The Edmonds City Council held its first regular meeting of 2026 on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 9:23 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included the swearing-in of new and returning councilmembers, a resolution of appreciation for outgoing Council President Neil Tibbott, a finance update from the Mayor, presentations and public hearings on transportation impact fees and the critical areas ordinance, and the election of the 2026 Council President and President Pro Tem. Key actions included approval of a transportation impact fee increase effective July 1, 2026, and adoption of the critical areas ordinance with a modified approach to the Deer Creek Springs aquifer wellhead protection area that defers the prohibition on shallow UIC wells pending a PFAS study.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously: Approval of regular meeting minutes (December 9, 2025) and special meeting minutes (December 16, 2025).
- Approval of claim checks, wire payments, payroll and benefit checks, direct deposit and wire payments.
- New updates and revisions to the Rules of Procedure.
- MHFR – Social Worker Grant Amendment.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Marcy Lahmer (representing Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County) expressed concern that the proposed 250% increase in transportation impact fees (approximately $300,000 additional cost) would significantly impact the schedule for replacing the Edmonds Boys & Girls Club building. She noted the club is replacing an existing building, not changing use or traffic.
- Bill Krepik (Woodway resident) urged the council to elect a council president who respects the supermajority of taxpayers who voted against Proposition 1, endorsing Councilmember Dutch for her consistency in good governance principles.
Public Hearing on Transportation Benefit District Sales Tax
- Heidi (Edmonds resident) opposed the proposed 0.1% sales tax increase, noting the city's sales tax rate is already 10.6% and that other taxes and utility rates are rising. She suggested state funding for highways 99, 104, and 524 instead of taxing residents.
Public Hearing on Critical Areas Ordinance Periodic Update
- John Brock (Woodway, Edmonds Environmental Council board) urged the council to adopt the CAO as presented in November (option 2), arguing that best available science supports prohibiting shallow UIC wells in the Deer Creek CARA to prevent PFAS contamination. He stated the city attorney's claim that such science is missing is incorrect.
- Diana Mish (Edmonds resident) urged adoption of the November 25th draft ordinance to protect the drinking water aquifer, citing Washington State law prioritizing health over land uses.
- Bill Westgard (Edmonds) expressed concern about aquifer contamination.
- Bob Banson (General Manager, Olympic View Water and Sewer District) stated that infiltrating urban stormwater is not necessary for aquifer recharge and that PFAS contamination risk is significant. He argued that prohibiting UICs does not stop development, only requires alternative stormwater infrastructure.
- Pete Adams (Edmonds resident) supported option 2, noting that the upcoming PFAS study will not provide new peer-reviewed science and that prevention is key.
- Dana Twite (Edmonds resident, first council meeting) urged protecting the aquifer, citing cancer risks. She also requested that city officials define acronyms and introduce the student representative to make meetings more welcoming.
- Several other residents (Margie Feelers, Gayla Schumach, and others) spoke in support of protecting the aquifer and adopting the stricter ordinance.
Discussion Items
Oath of Office Ceremony
- Newly elected Councilmember Erica Barnett (Position 3) was sworn in by County Councilmember Megan Dunn. Returning Councilmembers Chris Eck and Will Chen were also sworn in.
Resolution of Appreciation to Neil Tibbott
- Councilmembers read a resolution honoring Neil Tibbott for his service as Council President in 2025. Tibbott offered advice to the new council, urging them to use legislative authority to set policy and budgets, leave administration to the mayor, and elevate their leadership.
Mayor's Finance Update
- Mayor Rosen reported that 2025 sales tax revenue was $5,500 lower than 2024, contrary to earlier projections of an uptick. The city is implementing a new financial software system, with the HR and utility billing modules expected to take up to a year to go live.
Transportation Impact Fees (TIF) – Presentation
- Staff and consultants from Transport Group presented the proposed update to transportation impact fees, which would increase the fee per trip from $5,530 to $9,262 (about 67% increase). The fee for a single-family home would rise from $6,200 to approximately $8,600. The presentation covered the methodology, including a 20-year project list (nearly 90 projects, $560 million total cost), with $112 million in TIF-eligible costs. The proposed fees bring Edmonds in line with peer cities like Bothell ($12,140), Shoreline ($11,000), and Redmond ($10,000).
Public Hearing on Transportation Benefit District Sales Tax
- The hearing was held on the proposed 0.1% sales tax increase to fund street maintenance and sidewalk improvements. The city attorney noted that if approved, the tax could take effect April 1, 2026, and would generate an estimated $660,000 in 2026. The council action on this item was postponed to the January 13, 2026 meeting.
Public Hearing and Council Business on Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) Periodic Update
- Staff presented options for the Deer Creek Springs CARA, including Option 2 (adopt the CAO with the original language that prohibits shallow UIC wells in the CARA) and Option 3 (staff recommendation: defer CARA changes until a PFAS study is complete). After extensive discussion, the council eventually adopted Option 2 with an amendment to replace the word "again" with "if necessary" in the provision for future updates based on the study.
Selection of 2026 Council President and Council President Pro Tem
- Council President: Councilmember Michelle Dutch was elected with 4 votes (majority). Nominees: Councilmember Dutch (nominated by Councilmember Chen) and Councilmember Jenna Nand (nominated by Councilmember Payne).
- Council President Pro Tem: Councilmember Jenna Nand was elected with a majority vote. Nominees: Councilmember Nand (nominated by Councilmember Payne), Councilmember Chris Eck (nominated by Councilmember Olson), and Councilmember Will Chen (nominated by Councilmember Dutch).
Council Business – Transportation Impact Fees – Action
- A motion to adopt the fees as presented but effective July 1, 2026, passed 5-2 (Eck, Chen, Dutch, Payne, Nand in favor; Barnett, Olson opposed). Amendments to phase in the increase over three years (in thirds, either every eight months or annually) were defeated.
Council Comments
- Councilmembers expressed gratitude, welcomed new members, and addressed community concerns. Councilmember Eck condemned hate speech and attacks on local businesses owned by people of color. Councilmember Chen warned about robberies targeting Asian elders. Councilmember Barnett shared her commitment to listening and collaboration. Councilmember Olson urged an end to divisive language and defended the council's thorough work. Councilmember Nand acknowledged the significance of the date (January 6) and denounced hateful language directed at her, emphasizing the city's values of inclusion.
Key Outcomes
- Agenda approved with amendments: TIF presentation kept as agenda item, discussion moved to council business; TBD council action moved to January 13, 2026.
- Consent agenda approved unanimously.
- Council President elected: Councilmember Michelle Dutch.
- Council President Pro Tem elected: Councilmember Jenna Nand.
- Transportation Impact Fees adopted: The new fee schedule will take effect July 1, 2026 (vote 5-2).
- Critical Areas Ordinance adopted: The council adopted the CAO with Option 2 for the CARA, prohibiting shallow UIC wells in the Deer Creek Springs wellhead area, with the modification that the provision will be reviewed "if necessary" following the completion of a PFAS study (vote 4-3).
- Transportation Benefit District Sales Tax: Public hearing held; council action scheduled for January 13, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I will now call the meeting to order before we get too far into it. I'd like to welcome everybody to our first meeting of 2026. I'd also like to welcome our new councilmember Barnett. Welcome. Also like to welcome back Councilmembers Eck and Chen. Congratulations as well. And I'd like to welcome Luke Lani, who is our new city clerk and joins us most recently from the city of Linwood. Welcome. Happy to have you here. So with that, would you all please join me in the flakes? One nation under God. Thank you. Our next item is business is the land acknowledgement. Councilmember Eck, please. We acknowledge the original inhabitants of this place, the Snohomish people, and their successors, the Tulelep tribes, who since time immemorial have hunted, fished, gathered, and taken care of these lands. We respect their sovereignty, their right to self-determination, and we honor their sacred spiritual connection with the land and water. Thank you. We now are going to do an oath of office. That I will support the Constitution. That I will support the Constitution. And the laws of the United States. Perform and discharge. The duties of the office. According to law. According to law. Thank you. I invite County Councilmember Me to do the honor for me. I will change you solemnly swear. I will turn to solemnly swear. That I will support the Constitution. And the laws of the United States. I, Erica Barnett, do solemnly swear. I, Erica Barnett, do solemnly swear. That I will support the Constitution. That I will support the Constitution. And laws of the United States. And laws of the United States. The Constitution and Laws. The Constitution and Laws of the State of Washington. Of the State of Washington. And the laws of the City of Edmonds. And the laws of the City of Edmonds. And that I will faithfully and impartially perform. And that I will faithfully and impartially perform. And discharge the duties of the office. And discharge the duties of the office. Of City of Edmonds Council Position Three. For a four-year term. For a four-year term.
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