OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Edmonds City Council Regular Meeting - May 5, 2026

City Council & Boards — Tuesday, May 5, 2026
BodyEdmonds, Washington
SessionCity Council & Boards
DateTuesday, May 5, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:54:09

Transcript — Verbatim
0:18

Welcome.

0:18

It is May.

0:19

It is the fifth day in May, frequently known by another name, and we will now call the City Council meeting to order.

0:26

Please join me in the flag salute.

0:38

Underground Liberty and Justice Raw.

0:44

Thank you.

0:45

For the land acknowledgement, Councilmember Barnett, please.

0:53

We acknowledge the original inhabitants of this place, the Sedomish people, and their successes of Chilep tribes, who since time immemorial have hunted, fished, gathered, and taken care of these lands.

1:05

We respect their sovereignty, their right to self-determination, and we honor their sacred spiritual connection with the land and water.

1:14

Thank you.

1:15

Mr.

1:16

Clerk, can we do roll call, please?

1:18

Councilmember Eck.

1:20

Councilmember Chen.

1:22

Councilmember Barnett.

1:24

Council President Dodge.

1:26

Councilmember Olson.

1:27

Councilmember Payne.

1:29

Councilmember Nand.

1:30

Mayor Rosen.

1:32

All elected officials are present with the exception of Councilmember Ack.

1:35

Somebody would like to make a motion.

1:36

Council President Dodge?

1:40

Councilmember Eck from tonight's meeting.

1:43

It's been moved and seconded to excuse Councilmember Eck.

1:46

All in favor of that motion, please raise your hands and say aye.

1:48

Aye.

1:49

Anybody opposed, please raise your hand and say nay.

1:51

The motion carries unanimously.

1:53

Thank you.

1:53

Our next item of business is approval of the agenda.

1:59

Can I get a second?

2:01

It's been moved and seconded to approve the agenda.

2:03

Council President Dutch.

2:15

Second that.

2:16

It's been moved and seconded.

2:17

Maker of the motion.

2:18

Reason why is the compressed time window of the public notice for our constituents and to give a normal council process.

2:27

This will provide for sufficient time as this appointment holds a very high level and high profile position and should allow for an opportunity to provide additional time for reflection.

2:37

The one week is reasonable and matches normal windows of at least one and two weeks between announcement and council confirmation vote.

2:44

This notice had unfortunately provided less than one week notice.

2:47

It will follow our current council priorities to align with clarity of process and accessibility of information.

2:53

I hope you will support this motion.

2:56

Further comments, questions?

2:58

Councilmember Nan.

3:01

Thank you, Mayor.

3:03

I guess this would be a question for the city attorney.

3:05

Do you have the relevant code?

3:08

And could you apply your understanding whether we would be in compliance to proceed tonight or if we should wait a week?

3:16

The code does not address uh the timing of the council's confirmation.

3:25

So this is a norm in the city council president Dodge.

3:35

Okay.

3:36

Thank you.

3:38

In past practices, we have always had about a one to two-week notice time, and just with the way that it was noticed, it had less than that.

3:45

And so just to keep it uh consistent.

3:48

Thank you.

3:53

See no further comments or questions.

3:55

All in favor of the motion to uh move item 9.1 to the next regularly scheduled meeting, which is the 12th.

4:03

Please raise your hands and say aye.

4:06

Anyone opposed, please raise your hands and say nay.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████46%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████9%
Personnel Matters█████████9%
Affordable Housing████████8%
Community Engagement███████7%
Economic Development██████6%
Public Safety███3%
Disability Rights███3%
Budget Equity Analysis███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Edmonds City Council Regular Meeting - May 5, 2026

The Edmonds City Council held a regular meeting on May 5, 2026, beginning at 6:00 PM. The meeting included presentations on the city's financial status and planning and development activities, a proclamation for National Police Week, public comments from residents of the West Haven Commons apartment complex, and several council business items, including a vote to delay the city administrator confirmation and a motion to unpause the salary commission.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of the agenda as amended (moved item 9.1 to next meeting).
  • Approval of City Council meeting minutes.
  • Approval of amendment to Professional Services Agreement for Perrinville Flow Reduction Study Update.
  • Approval of claim checks and wire payments.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Joan Longstaff (Edmonds resident) spoke about senior housing issues and introduced concerns from residents of West Haven Commons (22816 Edmonds Way) regarding new management.
  • Kurt McCrack (West Haven Commons resident) reported that the new management company painted hallways and installed hardwood floors without notice or ventilation, and is planning a five-day parking lot closure without providing ADA accommodations or alternative parking for disabled residents. He stated the management was uncooperative and had not applied for permits for the repaving.
  • Adrian Skull (West Haven Commons resident) submitted a copy of the notice from management and stated that the city's planning department confirmed no permits had been requested for the project. She noted that the management claimed ADA accommodations did not apply, but the city clarified they do. She requested that the council help ensure compliance.
  • Sharon Mayo (West Haven Commons resident, disabled) expressed distress over the lack of accommodations, stating she uses a walker and cannot access the apartment without parking. She also complained about raised rent and utilities, and disrespectful treatment.
  • Julie Caruso (West Haven Commons resident) emphasized that at least four residents use walkers and will be shut in during the parking lot work. She noted that a code enforcement officer confirmed no permit was on file. She also reported harassment and potential elder abuse.
  • Bill Krapik (Woodway resident) spoke remotely, supporting the decision to delay the city administrator confirmation. He asked eight questions about Ms. Lucash's appointment, questioning her ability to address financial planning, rebuild trust, and his concerns about her past performance in Kenmore and the high salary. He urged full transparency and written answers.

Presentation: Mayor's Finance Update

  • Mayor Rosen reported that sales tax revenue is $325,000 above forecast, property tax is $44,000 above projections, and development-related revenues are up $125,000 year-over-year. He noted that the two categories below previous year are eating/drinking and health/personal care.

Presentation: Proclamation of National Police Week

  • Mayor Rosen proclaimed May 11–16, 2026 as Police Week in Edmonds, honoring law enforcement officers. Chief Lloyd Dawkins accepted the proclamation, thanking the council and community.

Planning and Development Update

  • Director Mike Cluxton presented a comprehensive update on planning and development activities from 2023–2025. Key points included:
    • Permit activity: Stable volumes; single-family new construction remains a driver. Detached ADU permits jumped from 0 in 2024 to 15 in 2025, with $2.4 million in valuation.
    • Key projects: Housing Hope (54 affordable units, completed), Anthology (127 senior living units, completed), Pine Park (6 live-work units, 8 townhomes), Greenwalk Park (16 single-family units under construction), New Start Center (transitional housing, permit issued), Edmonds Green (411 mixed-use units, permit imminent), Apollo Apartments (258 affordable units, expected summer 2026), and others.
    • Code updates: Comprehensive plan adopted December 2024; middle housing code adopted June 2025; critical areas ordinance updated January 2026; Deer Creek CARA moratorium due to PFAS/stormwater study; right-of-way regulations overhauled.
    • Future work: Pre-approved DADU plan program (expected July–August 2026), unified development code, tree code, annexation fiscal analysis, and numerous state mandates.
    • Councilmembers discussed child care infrastructure, park impact fees, design standards for BD1, the impact of state mandates, and a proposed concierge service for large developments.

Discussion Items

  • City Administrator Confirmation (Item 9.1): Councilmember Eck moved to postpone the confirmation to the next regular meeting (May 12, 2026) due to insufficient public notice. The motion passed 5-1. Councilmember Chen voted against, stating the code does not specify timing.
  • Unpausing of the Salary Commission: Council President Dodge moved to move the item to the consent agenda for next week, effectively unpausing the salary commission to set salaries for the 2027–2028 biennium. After discussion about costs, timing, and the role of the commission, the motion to move it to consent passed. The mayor voted in favor, and the item will be considered next week.
  • Ordinance to Amend Code 1.04.035 (Council Meetings on Election Days): The initial motion was withdrawn, and a new motion to adopt the ordinance was made and passed unanimously. The ordinance establishes a fixed meeting date to avoid ambiguity when regular meetings fall on election day.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion to postpone city administrator confirmation: Passed 5-1 (Councilmember Chen opposed). The confirmation will be considered at the May 12, 2026 meeting.
  • Motion to unpause salary commission: Moved to consent agenda for next week (passed). The commission will be revived to recommend salaries for the 2027–2028 biennium.
  • Ordinance to amend code 1.04.035: Adopted unanimously.
  • Executive session: Held to discuss potential litigation; no action taken.

Council Comments

  • Councilmember Nan recognized Cinco de Mayo and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Day. She also promoted a community bike ride on May 8 at 3:30 PM starting at the O'Spark parking lot.
  • Councilmember Barnett reminded that the Highway 99 Phase Three Urban Design Survey is open through May 7.
  • Councilmember Chen thanked the West Haven Commons residents for bringing their concerns forward and stated the city would work with the owners to resolve the issue.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome. It is May. It is the fifth day in May, frequently known by another name, and we will now call the City Council meeting to order. Please join me in the flag salute. Underground Liberty and Justice Raw. Thank you. For the land acknowledgement, Councilmember Barnett, please. We acknowledge the original inhabitants of this place, the Sedomish people, and their successes of Chilep 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. Mr. Clerk, can we do roll call, please? Councilmember Eck. Councilmember Chen. Councilmember Barnett. Council President Dodge. Councilmember Olson. Councilmember Payne. Councilmember Nand. Mayor Rosen. All elected officials are present with the exception of Councilmember Ack. Somebody would like to make a motion. Council President Dodge? Councilmember Eck from tonight's meeting. It's been moved and seconded to excuse Councilmember Eck. All in favor of that motion, please raise your hands and say aye. Aye. Anybody opposed, please raise your hand and say nay. The motion carries unanimously. Thank you. Our next item of business is approval of the agenda. Can I get a second? It's been moved and seconded to approve the agenda. Council President Dutch. Second that. It's been moved and seconded. Maker of the motion. Reason why is the compressed time window of the public notice for our constituents and to give a normal council process. This will provide for sufficient time as this appointment holds a very high level and high profile position and should allow for an opportunity to provide additional time for reflection. The one week is reasonable and matches normal windows of at least one and two weeks between announcement and council confirmation vote. This notice had unfortunately provided less than one week notice. It will follow our current council priorities to align with clarity of process and accessibility of information. I hope you will support this motion. Further comments, questions? Councilmember Nan. Thank you, Mayor. I guess this would be a question for the city attorney. Do you have the relevant code? And could you apply your understanding whether we would be in compliance to proceed tonight or if we should wait a week? The code does not address uh the timing of the council's confirmation.

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