Edmonds City Council Regular Meeting - February 10, 2026

The Edmonds City Council met on February 10, 2026 at 6:00 PM. The meeting included public comments, consent agenda approval, discussion and votes on a $500,000 on-call engineering contract with Jacobs, and a six-month moratorium on permit applications in the Deer Creek Critical Aquifer Recharge Area (CARA) related to stormwater management. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the meeting agenda.
• Approved the consent agenda en bloc, which included: Council meeting minutes from February 3, 2026; approval of claim checks; approval of payroll and benefit checks; Amendment No. 6 to the Wastewater Treatment, Disposal and Transport Professional Services Agreement; a revision to Commute Trip Reduction code (ECC 17.95.090); an interlocal agreement with Snohomish County; and a resolution adopting the Business Improvement District (BID) recommendations.
• Received for filing: Written public comments and appointment of councilmembers to 2026 committees.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Christine (city resident): Expressed frustration with lack of vegetation maintenance on sidewalks, stating that as a wheelchair user she cannot travel safely and that Edmonds lacks an ADA coordinator. Urged council to enforce existing codes.
• Stephanie (city resident): On behalf of a group of residents, requested that the lead agency issue a Determination of Significance and require a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed expansion of the Linwood wastewater treatment plant. Cited concerns about adverse public health impacts, financial risks (citing cost overruns on similar megaprojects), geology similar to Oso landslide, and that the project may become obsolete within 20–30 years.
• Lizzie (child resident): Expressed general appreciation for Edmonds and the salmon run.
• Bob Brunette (Edmonds resident for 22 years): Asked the City of Edmonds to serve as the SEPA lead agency for the Linwood plant expansion, arguing the plant is in the middle of Edmonds residential area. Criticized the proposed incinerator technology as a failed technology (similar to Edmonds gasification plant) and noted a growing opposition group of about 150 voters.
• Bruce Buchanan (resident above treatment plant): Described ongoing noise pollution (low-frequency hum), light trespass, and odor issues from the Linwood plant. Demanded a halt to further development until an EIS is produced, and warned of a potential class-action lawsuit.
• Steve Fisher (resident above plant): Reported that core drilling had already begun on site, and encouraged council members to visit the area to understand the impact.
• John (remote participant): Thanked council for listening to the community, noted concern about state legislation (Shelters Not Penalties Act) that could limit camping bans, and urged council to go big on funding for unhoused support to maintain public spaces and pass a levy. Thanked Councilmember Barnett for data-driven governance.

Discussion Items

• Jacobs On-Call Services Contract (Public Works)

  • Public Works Director Andy Ream presented a $500,000 not-to-exceed on-call contract with Jacobs Engineering Group for work on the wastewater treatment plant's liquid side, including updating engineering record drawings and creating standard operating procedures (SOPs) required by the NPDES permit. The contract was sole-sourced due to Jacobs' historical familiarity with the plant; switching firms would be expensive and time-consuming.
  • Councilmembers discussed the necessity of the contract for safety and redundancy, the $500,000 figure (larger than typical on-call), and the importance of transparency in reporting total spending. Councilmember Nand noted the contract brings oversight that would aggregate expenses. Councilmember Chen questioned the sole-source justification; Director Ream explained the city's purchasing policy and legal verification.
  • Motion: Authorize the mayor to execute the contract with Jacobs Engineering Group in the amount of $500,000. Passed unanimously.

• Six-Month Moratorium on Permit Applications in Deer Creek CARA

  • Planning Director Mike Cludson and City Engineer Mike Daley presented updated information: a draft scope for a PFAS-stormwater study, and a memo from Herrera Consultants showing that existing stormwater infrastructure in the CARA is almost nonexistent. Because all water infiltrates in the area, a new code prohibiting infiltration means virtually any project triggers stormwater requirements with no feasible pathway. A basin study would cost approximately $1.4 million and take years, followed by design and construction. Ecology has not processed a basin study in 10–15 years.
  • Council debate weighed the need to protect groundwater from PFAS versus the burden on property owners and staff. Councilmember Payne noted that without a moratorium, staff would have to process futile permit applications. Councilmember Olson expressed low confidence but supported the moratorium as a short-term fix. Council President Dash supported only a six-month term, insisting on no extension. Councilmember Barnett questioned if a pre-screening modification could replace a moratorium; staff replied the code change is the root problem.
  • Motion: Adopt an ordinance establishing a six-month moratorium on permit applications within the Deer Creek CARA that require stormwater management, and set a required public hearing for March 3, 2026. Passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous approval of the Jacobs on-call engineering services contract ($500,000).
• Unanimous adoption of a six-month moratorium on certain permit applications in the Deer Creek CARA, with a public hearing scheduled for March 3, 2026.
• Consent agenda approved unanimously.
• Council remarks encouraged voting on the Edmonds School District levy (due by 8 PM that evening), supporting the Edmonds Food Bank, donating blood, and maintaining sidewalks free of vegetation encroachment.
• Scheduled Mayor's Finance Update (agenda item 5.1) was not presented during the meeting.