Edmonds City Council Regular Meeting - February 4, 2026: Immigration Resolution, Deer Creek Moratorium, and More
Edmonds City Council Regular Meeting - February 4, 2026
The Edmonds City Council met on February 4, 2026 (the meeting was called to order on February 3 at 6:00 PM PST but is recorded as February 4 UTC). The council addressed a wide range of issues, including a resolution affirming immigrant rights, a potential moratorium on permits in the Deer Creek Critical Aquifer Recharge Area (CARA), and public comments on immigration enforcement and the Lynnwood wastewater treatment plant expansion. Key decisions included adoption of Resolution 1584 (6-1), referral of the Deer Creek moratorium to the next meeting for further discussion, and placement of several items on future consent agendas.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of council meeting minutes (January 27, 2026).
- Approval of claim checks and wire payments (check run 01-28-26). Both items were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Immigration and ICE Activity: Multiple residents spoke in strong support of the city taking a firm stand against ICE enforcement. Diane Paul (Edmonds resident, 30 years human rights experience) described witnessing an illegal search by ICE agents in Bothell, including agents without badges. Sarah (Edmonds resident) called ICE "bad for business" and urged city to demand accountability. Diana Nielsen (United and Faith Coalition leader) reported 600 people attended a recent ICE training, thanked Mayor Rosen and Chief Dawkins for their statement, and urged stronger action. Chelsea Rudd (Edmonds resident) shared that ICE visited bilingual daycares in Edmonds, terrifying children and staff; she asked the council to bar ICE from city property and issue a stronger statement. Several other speakers (Simone Bauer, Kelly Haller, Lila Noreco) pressed for concrete policies and legal boundaries, including prohibiting ICE use of city property. One speaker (Vince Tupper, 46-year resident) argued the council should focus on city finances instead of this resolution, which he called mild and unnecessary.
- Lynnwood Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion: Residents from the Meadowdale neighborhood (Edmonds) expressed strong opposition to Lynnwood's planned expansion of a wastewater treatment plant located in a critical area ravine. Bob Brunette (22-year resident) stated the plant had exceeded Clean Air Act emissions by $550,000 in 2024, accused Lynnwood of using eminent domain threats, and said Lynnwood had not adequately consulted Edmonds residents. Others (John Quast, Lori, Steve Fisher, Stephanie McLaughlin) recounted planning that had been hidden for five years, requested a full environmental impact statement, and urged council to void interlocal agreements with Lynnwood. Stephanie McLaughlin (CAPE representative) provided detailed suggestions on permitting leadership, cost escalation (from $250M in October 2025 to $330M in December 2025), and asked the council to protect residents' interests.
Discussion Items
- Revision to Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Section 17.95.090: Transportation Engineer Bertrand House presented the update, which includes strategies such as alternative work schedules, educational campaigns, and potential ORCA pass programs. The council moved to forward the item to a future consent agenda, with an amendment to place it on consent. The motion passed unanimously.
- Potential Moratorium on Permits in Deer Creek CARA: Planning Director Mike Cluxton and City Engineer Mike Delilah explained that a recent code update prohibits stormwater infiltration in the Deer Creek CARA, effectively blocking most development (new homes, ADUs, patios, etc.) without alternative stormwater management. Staff recommended a six-month moratorium to allow a PFAS study and evaluation of alternatives. Council debated the moratorium's necessity and timing; an amendment to bring the item back on February 10 for further discussion passed 6-1, deferring a final decision.
- Snohomish County Technical Services Interlocal Agreement: Director Tully presented the ILA for server rack space and aerial imagery services, with a planned cost of ~$4,500. The council moved to place it on the next meeting's consent agenda (unanimous). A proposed amendment to add language about cost-sharing was withdrawn after procedural discussion.
- Resolution 1584: Affirming Support for Immigrants and Rights of All Residents: Councilmember Eck moved to adopt the resolution, which affirms support for immigrants, endorses the Keep Washington Working Act and Courts Open to All Act, and encourages local education on rights. Councilmembers expressed mixed views: many supported it as a values statement, while Council President Dutch abstained, arguing the resolution might be misunderstood and that the mayor's statement was a better vehicle. Chief Dawkins clarified that EPD does not conduct civil immigration enforcement. The resolution passed 6-1 (Dutch abstaining).
Key Outcomes
- Resolution 1584 adopted (6-1), affirming immigrant rights and state laws.
- Deer Creek CARA moratorium deferred to February 10, 2026, for further discussion and public input.
- CTR code revision placed on future consent agenda for approval.
- Snohomish County ILA placed on next meeting's consent agenda.
- The council extended the meeting by 15 minutes to allow full discussion.
- Council comments included thank-yous to the public, announcements of community events (chess club, Lunar New Year, Chinese Exclusion Act remembrance march), and a promise to address the Lynnwood wastewater plant issue.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, Council members, good evening, community members. It is February 3rd, and time to call this meeting to order. Please join me in the flag salute. I pledge with the flag of the United States of America. And actually the republic for which it stands. One nation under God with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. For the land acknowledgement, Councilmember Nan, please. Thank you. We acknowledge the original inhabitants of this place, the Snohomish people and their successors, the two little tribes, who says 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. Can we have a roll call, please? Councilmember Eck. Councilmember Chen. Councilmember Barnett. Council President Dutch. Councilmember Olsen. Councilmember Payne. Council Pro Tab Council Councilmember Pro Tem Nand. And Mayor Rosen. All elected officials are present. Thank you. Our next item of business is approval of the agenda. Second. It's been moved and approved, uh moved and seconded to approve the agenda. All in favor, please raise your hand and say aye. Aye. Aye. Anyone opposed, please raise your hand and say nay. The motion carries unanimously. Thank you. Next item of business is present presentations, which is the mayor's finance update. Given your recent presentation of the uh finances and the upcoming change in the committee structure, so you will have an hour and a half with the finance director. Uh we'll we will move on. Our next item of business is audience comments. This is an opportunity for community members to address counsel and give input uh on anything you want. Um each individual will have three minutes when I call your name. Please approach the podium. Um give us your name, city or residence when you start talking. There's a light there that's going to turn green. When you have 30 seconds left, it'll turn yellow, and then it'll turn red when your time's up and make a very annoying noise. Um I recognize that um uh many of the topics that we discuss and I anticipate will be discussed tonight um have a great deal of passion behind them. Um, and I uh applaud passion and encourage it. But in this room uh for audience comments, in the interest of freedom of speech, we really want people to feel free to speak. And there are differences of opinion, and talking in public is uh it is one of the top five fears. So please, if you could not applaud uh or give any kind of indication one way or the other uh and respect each other's opinions, um it would be greatly appreciated. So I'm gonna start with people who signed up, and I'll call your name in order. What I'll probably do is call the first two names so that you can cue up. Um when that's over, if you didn't get a chance to sign up and you do want to talk, we'll give you that opportunity.
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