Edmonds City Council Study Session – May 14, 2026

Note: The agenda and transcript indicate the meeting was held on May 13, 2026, at 3:00 PM Pacific; however, the provided date for summary purposes is May 14, 2026, at 5:45 PM UTC. The meeting lasted approximately 1 hour 55 minutes (3:00–4:55 PM Pacific) and included two study session items. No formal votes were taken.

The Edmonds City Council held a study session to discuss results of the 2026 Community Priority Survey and proposed revisions to the structure and use of city boards and commissions. Staff provided presentations, council members asked questions and gave initial feedback, and the mayor outlined next steps.

Community Survey Results

• Brendan Kara (Vice President, EMC Research) presented findings from a multimodal survey of 350 Edmonds residents (margin of error ±5.2%) conducted in March 2026, with comparisons to a 2024 survey using similar methodology.
• Overall mood: 93% rate quality of life as positive (down from 94% in 2024). 60% say the city is headed in the right direction (down from 74%).
• Top priority: Maintaining streets/fixing potholes remains most important (94% importance).
• Notable shifts: Concern about budget/fiscal responsibility jumped from 7% to 27%. Cost of living/taxes (14%) and housing affordability (8%) also topped open-ended priorities.
• Satisfaction with city services overall: 58% positive (down from 63%). Satisfaction with types/quality of services remained strong at 74% (unchanged).
• Service-level changes: Preparing for natural disasters increased in importance (+7 points) but satisfaction dropped. Attracting new businesses/jobs increased in importance (+8 points) but satisfaction fell 13 points (now 34%). Satisfaction with services for homeless and traffic safety/enforcement improved.
• Future services: 37% prefer maintaining current services, 30% enhancing, 11% adding new services. When asked about funding, only 18% support new taxes (property tax levy); 37% favor reducing underutilized services, 29% prefer cutting lower-priority services.
• Council members discussed demographic and geographic differences (e.g., higher satisfaction in western vs. eastern Edmonds), the need to connect survey data to budget priorities, and potential limitations of survey participation in an era of spam/phone reluctance.

Boards and Commissions Restructuring Recommendations

• The mayor presented recommendations from a task force that included two council members, staff, current board members, and community members. The goal is to improve alignment of structure with function, staff capacity, and community engagement.
• Guiding principles: Right structure for purpose, flexibility/adaptability, focus on impact over tradition. New terminology categories proposed: Board, Task Force, Work Group, Committee, Advisory Board, Panel, Liaison. Terms "Cabinet" and "Commission" would be phased out.
• Key proposed changes:
  • Combine Planning Board and Architectural Design Board (7–9 members, three required positions: architect, builder, landscape architect).
  • Transition Transportation Commission to non-codified work group, assemble as needed for transportation plan.
  • Remove Tree Board from code; transition to panel recruited for specific tasks (e.g., tree code advice).
  • Remove Economic Development Commission from code; establish advisory panel with a chair/co-chair for continuity.
  • Remove DEIA Commission from code; transition to advisory panel meeting quarterly.
  • Keep Historic Preservation Commission in code as advisory board meeting quarterly, with subcommittees.
  • Keep Arts Commission codified (with potential future spin-off as a separate funded entity).
  • Create a Parks Advisory Board (first step toward a dedicated parks board).
  • Explore transferring Cemetery Board ownership to a nonprofit; continue city participation in memorial events.
  • Remove Sister City Commission from code, transition to work group, unfreeze through 2028, explore becoming a nonprofit.
  • Remove Youth Commission from code, broaden age range, meet twice a year as an advisory panel.
  • Maintain Climate Protection Committee as non-codified task force, recruited for specific needs (e.g., climate element updates).
  • Eliminate Municipal Defense Commission (established 1941).
  • Discontinue council liaisons to internal advisory boards (retain for external organizations like Port).
• Council feedback highlighted support for: keeping DEIA and Economic Development commissions strong (councilmembers Chen, Brag); maintaining a climate action committee meeting monthly (councilmember Kellogg); preserving council liaisons for transparency and context (councilmembers Chen, Kellogg, Brag, Olson, Krick); ensuring transparency of ad hoc work groups; and caution about confirmation bias when administration controls appointments.
• The mayor acknowledged the input and said the recommendations are advisory; council will make final decisions. Next steps include refining recommendations, drafting code amendments, and scheduling further council discussion.

Key Outcomes

• No votes were taken. The session was for information and initial feedback.
• The mayor will revise recommendations based on council comments and bring a draft code update with a timeline for further consideration.
• Survey data will be incorporated into the budget planning cycle beginning with upcoming retreats.
• Council members were invited to submit additional written feedback via email.