Edmonds City Council Regular Meeting — June 10, 2026

The Edmonds City Council met for a regular meeting that began at 6:00 p.m. (the agenda and transcript list June 9, 2026, while the supplied metadata says June 10, 2026, 13:45 UTC). The council adopted an amended agenda, heard presentations and public comments, approved routine consent items, unanimously terminated the Flock Safety agreement, approved an emergency resolution for wastewater sludge hauling, voted on pride-flag-related items, and reconsidered a Main Street bike lane priority in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The meeting recessed for an executive session and adjourned at 11:25 p.m.

Presentations

• Juneteenth Proclamation: Mayor Mike Rosen proclaimed June 19, 2026 as Juneteenth Day of Observance. Donny Griffin (president, Lift Every Voice Legacy) said the local Juneteenth celebration grew from about 150 to almost 400 people; Dr. Stephen Woodard, board member and Mayor of Mountlake Terrace, thanked Edmonds for inspiring neighboring cities.
• 2026 FIFA World Cup Proclamation: The mayor proclaimed the 2026 FIFA World Cup (June 11–July 19, 16 host cities; Seattle to host six matches, Vancouver seven) a time of celebration, unity, and global connection for Edmonds.
• ERP Council Update: Information Services reported on the Tyler ERP implementation. Phase 1 accounting began January 2025; general ledger, accounts payable, and accounts receivable are live, with budgeting, inventory, and contracts still in progress. The HR component began January 2026; staff are preparing for a mini payroll test. The project has more than 1,340 tasks; roughly 80% of solution preparation and 45% of production readiness are complete. The 2025 budget was just over $481,000 and payments totaled $356,000; 2026 spending so far was $345,000. Implementation costs are expected to drop by about $240,000 after the project. The department also previewed a public-facing “Open Finance” dashboard showing budget, revenue, expenses, and city checkbook data. Annual Tyler maintenance was described as about $230,000, compared with roughly $109,000 for the legacy Eden system.
• Highway 99 Stage 3 Urban Design Update: Engineers presented the Stage 3 project (244th to 238th) including roadway, bike lane, pedestrian, utility, and urban design improvements. Two public concepts were offered: “Pins” (90 painted metal poles in three groups) and “Panorama” (metal cut panels). Public open house and online survey results strongly favored Pins. Design completion is targeted for third quarter 2027, possibly early 2028 because of right-of-way issues involving about 20 property owners. Funding includes prior Connecting Washington and Move Ahead state allocations.
• City Attorney’s Annual Report: Jeff Taraday of Lighthouse Law Group presented the 2024–2025 report. The firm has eight attorneys; Dan joined in September 2025. Total hours and spending declined after the flat-fee arrangement ended, with 2025 the lowest year. The effective hourly rate was $300 in 2024 and $319 in 2025. Taraday reminded the council that the city is the client and that councilmembers are authorized constituents, with confidentiality protections.
• Mayor’s Finance Update: The mayor said the finance committee would receive April finances the next week; the 2024 audit is expected to be completed in July. April sales tax year-to-date was about $365,000 higher than budgeted, with total sales tax revenue over $4 million; property tax was $64,000 over forecast. A roughly $2 million year-over-year drop was attributed to the absence of the EMS levy. Development-related revenue was 49% of projections received at 33% of the year, about $307,000 ahead. Lodging tax was $12,800 above forecast, with total lodging tax revenue of $42,000.

Consent Calendar

• Approved city council meeting minutes of June 2, 2026.
• Approved claim checks and wire payments (check run of June 3, 2026).
• Approved payroll and benefit checks, direct deposits, and wire payments for May 16–31, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Several speakers opposed a proposed Main Street bike lane and asked council to consider alternatives such as Dayton Avenue, citing parking loss, pedestrian safety, business impacts, sidewalk narrowing, and inadequate infrastructure near Maplewood Elementary. Speakers included Ingrid Philippe, Michael McMurray, Sheila Cloney (owner of Anchor Chic, speaking remotely), and Kim Bear Augustavo.
• Numerous speakers criticized Mayor Rosen’s decision not to fly the Pride flag at City Hall in June and the removal of the flag mounting bracket. Rowan Soy Set, director of Edmonds Pride, said the decision was hurtful, disputed the mayor’s statement, noted that neighboring jurisdictions were flying the flag, and said, “Do not come to Pride unless the flag is flying.” Other speakers included Alicia Soy Set, Holly Monikanderson, Lila Noreko, Laura Hein, Kurt Kataye, and Theresa Hollis, who referenced King 5 News coverage and urged the city to install the flag before the arts festival.
• Dr. Jennifer Lush, a local primary care physician, said accepting communities reduce the odds of a past-year suicide attempt by at least 40%, asked council to prioritize the Pride flag, and offered free installation help. Nora Carlson supported terminating Flock cameras and praised Pride celebrations in neighboring cities.
• Council also received a request from Sheila Cloney that her letter opposing the Main Street bike lane priority be entered into the public record.

Council Business: Flock Safety Agreement Termination

• Police Chief Dawkins recommended terminating the Flock Safety agreement. Council had approved the system in October 2024; the 24-month agreement began November 1, 2024. A Washington Auto Theft Prevention Authority grant covered about $131,881.75, so there is no refund or remaining financial obligation. The cameras have been deactivated since around April 2026, but the department wanted to end the contract to eliminate data-access risk, public disclosure and record retention burden, liability exposure, and public trust concerns. The motion to authorize the mayor to terminate the agreement passed unanimously.

Council Business: Emergency Resolution for WWTP Sludge Transport

• Public Works Director Andy Reym reported that a Schwing pump piston failed on May 7, 2026, creating a single point of failure at the wastewater treatment plant. Without emergency hauling, the plant risked discharging 4–5 million gallons per day of raw sewage into Puget Sound. Two trucks hauled sludge to Lake Stevens for about 14 hours per day from May 8–13, 2026, at a total cost of $212,000, within industry norms. The operating budget can absorb the cost without a budget amendment. The council unanimously approved the resolution finding an emergency existed and waiving competitive bidding requirements.

Council Business: Pride Flag and Flag Policy Items

• After adding the items to the agenda, the council considered a motion to direct the administration to mount the Pride flag on City Hall for June. City Attorney Jeff Taraday gave a quick take that the council cannot direct the mayor to take a specific administrative action absent a policy or ordinance. Councilmember Olson successfully amended “direct” to “recommend”; the amendment passed 4–3. The amended motion to recommend that the administration mount the Pride flag passed unanimously.
• The council then took up a proposed ordinance for a resident petition process for flags. A council amendment to first send the matter to the DEIA commission failed 4–3. The original petition-process motion was withdrawn, and a substitute motion was offered to direct the city attorney to draft an ordinance to have the Pride flag flown at City Hall in June. That substitute passed 5–2.

Council Business: Reconsideration of TIP Project #22 (Main Street Bike Lane)

• The council voted unanimously to reconsider Resolution 1589, adopted June 2, 2026. It then considered an amendment to lower TIP Project #22 “bike lane along Main Street from the Ferry Terminal to 6th Avenue” from high to low priority. Supporters cited significant community and business opposition, parking and sidewalk concerns, and staff opportunity costs. Opponents noted the project was only a study, had no identified construction funding, and that lowering it would require comprehensive plan changes and could delay multimodal waterfront access. The amendment passed 5–2. The council then adopted Resolution 1589 as amended unanimously.

Executive Session and Adjournment

• The council entered executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) for litigation or potential litigation, extending the meeting to 11:30 p.m. After reconvening at 11:25 p.m., the council stated no action was taken in executive session, unanimously removed council comments from the agenda, and adjourned at 11:25 p.m.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda amended to add Pride flag items and reconsideration of Resolution 1589; amended agenda approved unanimously.
• Consent calendar approved.
• Flock Safety agreement termination authorized unanimously.
• Emergency declaration for WWTP sludge hauling approved unanimously.
• Council recommended (not directed) administration to mount the Pride flag; motion passed unanimously after the “recommend” amendment.
• Council directed the city attorney to draft an ordinance to have the Pride flag flown in June; motion passed 5–2.
• TIP Project #22 bike lane priority was lowered from high to low; Resolution 1589 adopted as amended unanimously.
• No action was taken in executive session; meeting adjourned at 11:25 p.m.