Edmonds City Council Regular Meeting – April 14, 2026: Earth Day Proclamation, Landmark Tree Ordinance Extension Hearing
Edmonds City Council Regular Meeting – April 14, 2026
The Edmonds City Council convened on April 14, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The meeting featured a proclamation for Earth Day 2026, a public hearing on extending the interim landmark tree ordinance (Interim Ordinance No. 4389) for six months, and approval of the consent agenda. The Public Defender’s annual report was moved to a later agenda item and subsequently tabled due to the presenter’s absence. Council members also delivered comments on national, local, and youth-related topics.
Presentations
- Earth Day 2026 Proclamation: Mayor Rosen proclaimed April 22, 2026, as Earth Day in Edmonds. Bill Derry (President of Pilchuck Audubon Society and member of Edmonds Marsh Estuary Advocates) accepted the proclamation, acknowledging the many environmental volunteers in the community.
- Public Defender’s Office Annual Report: Originally scheduled under presentations, the item was moved to Council Business (10.1) via amendment, then tabled because the public defender could not be reached.
- Mayor’s Finance Update: Mayor Rosen indicated no prepared update.
Consent Calendar
All items on the consent agenda were approved unanimously. Key items included:
- Approval of meeting minutes (April 7 and April 8, 2026).
- PSA for Phase 14 Sewer Replacement and Rehabilitation Project.
- Reclassification of HR Assistant to HR Analyst.
- Restructuring of Wastewater Treatment Plant positions (unfund 2 operators, add 3 supervisors).
- Approval of claim checks.
- Update to Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) By-Laws.
- Legal Assessment Committee Proposed Work Plan (first reading).
- Budget Amendment April 2026 (second reading), which includes $660,000 from the Transportation Benefit District tax, dedicated to the street fund.
Received for Filing
Items filed without discussion: Claim for Damages (Jean Holtrop and Theresa Hollis), written public comments, and a Tree Code Update Progress Report.
Public Hearing: Interim Ordinance No. 4389 – Six-Month Extension
Staff (Deb, Planning and Development) explained that the interim ordinance, which temporarily restricts removal of landmark trees (≥30 inches trunk diameter), was adopted in April 2025 in response to the removal of “Big Red” sequoia. It expires at the end of April 2026. The proposed extension would allow continued protection through October 2026 while the city completes a permanent tree code update.
Public Testimony (all speakers supported the extension):
- Margie Fields (Edmonds): Urged the council to continue protecting landmark trees.
- Pam Tower (Edmonds): Wearing a “Big Red” t-shirt, emphasized the need for time to craft a strong, defensible tree code that aligns with the Climate Action Plan, Urban Forest Management Plan, and Comprehensive Plan.
- Kyle McIntyre (Edmonds, virtual): Expressed strong support for extending protections, citing the city’s pride in being a protector of nature.
- Arlene Williams (Edmonds, virtual): Encouraged the council to balance development with canopy protection and allow careful decision-making.
- Finesse Tupper (Edmonds, virtual): Supported tree protection but criticized the slow progress and lack of a definition for “landmark tree” in the current code. Urged the council to protect both trees and citizens.
Council Discussion:
- Councilmember Chen asked about next steps and timeline. Staff outlined a revised work plan: planning board meetings through spring, tree board and stakeholder input, public hearing in July, recommendation to council in August, and adoption anticipated by October 6, 2026.
- Councilmember Eck noted that the delay was partly due to the key staff position being vacant for nine months of the original 12‑month ordinance period. Staff confirmed that the nine‑month gap limited work until a tree code specialist was hired in January 2025 (the year 2025 was stated but likely 2026 context; the delay is accurate as described).
- Councilmember Barnett acknowledged the need to balance canopy goals with property owner flexibility, referencing public testimony.
No vote was taken on the ordinance extension during this meeting; it was a public hearing with council questions.
Council Business
Item 10.1 (Public Defender’s Annual Report) was tabled by unanimous consent due to the presenter’s absence.
Council Comments
- Councilmember Nand: Delivered a statement opposing President Trump’s military operations in Iran, citing the War Powers Act and the 60‑day deadline of April 29, 2026. Mentioned casualties including 15 U.S. service members and called on Congress to act.
- Councilmember Payne: Thanked environmental groups, especially the Pilchuck Audubon and marsh advocates, for their role in securing a $675,000 grant for marsh restoration studies, and noted Bill Derry’s birthday on Earth Day.
- Councilmember Olson: Promoted a weed‑pulling volunteer event at Pine Ridge Park on April 25 from 10 AM to 12 PM (registration via Sound Salmon Solutions). Reminded that federal tax filing deadline is April 15.
- Council President Dutch: Thanked public hearing speakers and the community for supporting the marsh and Earth Day.
- Councilmember Barnett: Highlighted the $660,000 budget amendment for transportation and the tree code progress report; stressed the need for practical, balanced code.
- Councilmember Chen: Thanked volunteers for keeping the city clean and beautiful.
- Councilmember Eck: Praised Edmonds’ strong environmental advocacy community and reiterated the importance of canopy and landmark tree protection.
- Student Representative Leo: Shared resources from Friends of Youth, including shelter services (Youth Haven for under 18, Willow Youth Services Center for 18–24) and a 24/7 crisis hotline (Safe Place).
Key Outcomes
- The consent agenda was approved unanimously.
- The Public Defender’s report was tabled.
- The public hearing on the landmark tree ordinance extension was held; no vote was taken. The council will consider the extension at a future meeting.
- Council comments included opposition to the Iran war, community event announcements, and youth resource sharing.
The meeting adjourned at 6:35 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Welcome to the April 14th edition of the Edmonds City Council. Would you all please join me in the flag salute? I pledge a lead to the flag. And to the Republic for which it spans one nation under God into this. Thank you. For the land acknowledgement, Councilmember Payne, please. Thank you. We acknowledge the original inhabitants of this place, this Nahomish people and their successors, the Tulelope tribes, who since time immemorial have hunted, fished, and gathered and taken care of these lands. We respect their sovereignty and 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 Olson. Councilmember Payne. Councilmember Nand. Mayor Rosen. All elected officials are present. Thank you. Our next item of business is approval of the agenda. It's been moved and seconded. All in favor of approving the agenda, please raise your hands and say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed, please raise your hand and say nay. Motion is carried unanimously. Thank you. Next item of business is presentations. The first presentation is a proclamation for Earth Day 2026, and I will be joined at the podium by Bill Derry, who has many titles, including president of Phil Chuck Audubon Society and member of the leadership team with the Edmonds Marsh Estuary Advocates, affectionately known as the Martians. Twenty million people participated. Think about that. Twenty million. No internet, no cell phones, no email. They made it happen. Earth Day 2026, whereas Earth Day 2026 affirms that even with our abundance of rich and beautiful land, water, and air, they are finite and must be preserved and passed on as a legacy to generations yet unborn. And whereas environmental stewardship is sustained in daily decisions by each one of us as individuals. And whereas environmental action is local and decentralized. Policy shifts do happen in our Edmonds, not just in Washington, D.C. or the other side of the world. Environmental protection of our global ecosystems affects everyone, everywhere. And whereas at a moment of heightened uncertainty and environmental stress, one conclusion is clear. We must meet the test of our time and rededicate ourselves to the great tasks of preserving our environment. Now there are therefore I'm Mike Rosen, mayor of the City of Edmonds, Washington, do hereby proclaim April 22nd, 2026 Earth Day in Edmonds, and hereby encourage residents, businesses, and institutions to use Earth Day to celebrate the Earth and commit to exercise their power in service of the planet we all depend on. And this is my favorite planet. Mr. Derry. Thank you. Same as you I feel funny standing up here by myself because I've never done the only good thing I've done by myself is propose to my wife.
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