Edmonds City Council Regular Meeting — July 14, 2026

The Edmonds City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. All councilmembers were present except Councilmember Eck, who was excused unanimously. The agenda included a Parks and Recreation Month proclamation, the Mayor's finance update, public comment, a unanimous consent calendar, five council business items (Cascade Swim Club/Yost Pool update, the pre-approved DADU program resolution, unlicensed food vendor code amendments, the Esperance annexation financial analysis, and the Fiscal Sustainability Task Force charter), council comments, and an executive session on litigation. The meeting was extended to 10:00 p.m. and then to 10:20 p.m., reconvened from executive session at 10:17 p.m., and adjourned at 10:17 p.m. (Note: the transcript renders the Council President's surname inconsistently as "Dutch," "Dodge," and "Dash"; "Dash" is used here as the predominant form.)

Presentations

• Parks and Recreation Month proclamation — Mayor Mike Rosen proclaimed July 2026 as Parks and Recreation Month. Recreation Supervisor Todd Korr described managing more than 100 programs per season and 7,750 annual facility rentals; Parks Manager Jesse Curran accepted the proclamation on behalf of staff, emphasizing the role of parks in community connection.
• Mayor's Finance Update — The Mayor said the July 24 exit meeting with the State Auditor's Office is expected to include a management finding on street depreciation: the city uses a 30-50 year useful life tied to resurfacing, while the state requires a 100-year useful life for the full street depth. The city disagrees but will comply; the change adds about $37 million to net assets. S&P affirmed the utility fund at AA with a positive outlook; the general fund, currently AAA, may be downgraded, per bond advisor Scott Bauer, because of the declared fiscal emergency, low reserves, and an internal loan. Moody's has placed the city "in review" pending receipt of the audit.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Rick Bowden (Edmonds) expressed concern about a proposed bike lane on Main Street from 9th to 6th, through the fountain oval, to the ferry, stating it would remove about 60 parking stalls on one side of the street, including drop-off lanes, and create a "catastrophe" at the turnabout. He said he is neither for nor against bike lanes but opposes this route and called spending $25,000-$100,000 on a survey a waste of money, suggesting alternative routes around downtown and engagement of Edmonds College urban planning students.
• Joe Scordino (47-year Edmonds resident) strongly recommended at least one or two town hall meetings on the upcoming budget before work on a new levy, saying the city should avoid the divisiveness of the last levy cycle and build public understanding of spending priorities.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously: council minutes from June 23, July 7, and July 8 (special meeting) 2026; acceptance of the Lynnwood Honda community engagement vehicle donation (including the 2026 lease and courtesy vehicle donation agreement); and claim checks and wire payments from the July 8, 2026 check run.

Discussion Items

Cascade Swim Club — Yost Pool Agreement Update

Angie Fesser, Parks and Recreation Director, and Max Efkin, Cascade Swim Club President, gave an informational update. (The agenda spells the facility "Yost Pool"; the transcript uses "Yoast.") Fesser reported the pool costs about $267,000 per year: roughly $150,000 in labor, $16,000 in supplies/materials/services, and $100,000 in utilities. Cascade has operated the pool year-round since August 2021 under a five-year agreement (currently in year two) and pays about $102,000 per year toward utilities; the council's mid-biennium budget modification also required an additional $85,000 from Cascade. The city and Cascade are exploring transferring routine maintenance, utilities, supplies, and materials to Cascade by the end of the year, while the city would remain responsible for capital needs.

Efkin said the Seattle area ranks lowest among major U.S. cities in public pool access, with 0.8 pools per 100,000 residents and 20 pools needed to reach the national average. He reported that more than 1,000 regional visitors from 38 zip codes outside Edmonds use Yost annually; swim lessons are up 214%, the Yoast Penguins recreational league is up 46%, lifeguard training is up 400%, and about 300 club swimmers from outside Edmonds visit weekly. Public access is 70% of open hours (10-13 hours daily in summer). Cascade's operational spending is $430,000, supporting 75 part-time jobs, with an estimated IMPLAN economic benefit of $645,000-$860,000 annually. The club plans to increase investment to about $650,000 per year and is considering about $75,000 in USA Swimming-approved starting blocks to enable sanctioned meets, which could generate $1.3-$1.5 million per year. Cascade's nonprofit net income was $73,999 last year.

Councilmembers expressed strong support for the partnership; Councilmember Olson noted a $40,000 swim-a-thon result and suggested banners and donor fundraising, while Efkin noted the club prefers hosting meets and wants to clarify costs with the community before launching fundraising. Councilmember Barnett asked about routine vs. capital maintenance and liability; Fesser said Cascade has offered to take on all routine maintenance tasks listed, with non-routine and capital responsibilities still being negotiated, and that a grant-funded planning study of the 50-plus-year-old pool's mechanical systems and lifespan is planned (application due at the end of July; work could begin January 2027).

Pre-Approved DADU Plan Program — Contract Authority Resolution

Building Official Ted Corey presented the second reading of a resolution establishing the pre-approved detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU) plan catalog, approving a template participation and license agreement, and authorizing the mayor to execute those agreements. Plans are reviewed to existing standards — with no reductions in requirements — and designers agree to sell approved plans for no more than $1,000. Approximately 40 DADU permits were applied for in 2025, with many designs reused; pre-approval saves days of review time and roughly 20% of plan review fees for applicants. The catalog will launch on the planning department website next week or the week after and will be refreshed at least every three years in line with state building code cycles. Councilmember Chen noted the $1,000 cap matches Seattle's program. The motion passed unanimously.

Unlicensed Food Vendors — Code Update

Planning Manager Brad Shipley and Senior Planner Dwayne Wilkhan presented the second reading of draft amendments to Edmonds Code Chapter 4.12 addressing unlicensed food vendors, a growing issue along Highway 99 and in the Westgate area. The update responds to public health risks (lack of hand washing, temperature controls, contamination risk), enforcement gaps, and the need for impound/retrieval rules and regional coordination; it regulates public property only. Staff noted the draft sets a misdemeanor with a $1,000 maximum fine — less strict than Everett's approach (gross misdemeanor, up to $5,000) — and that police patrols would be able to identify permitted vs. unpermitted vendors.

Councilmembers debated enforcement philosophy, low-barrier pathways to legal operation, and whether licensed vendors should be allowed in public parking spaces. Four motions were considered:

1. A motion by Councilmember Olson to add language allowing nearby parties input on the use of public right-of-way parking by vendors — failed on a 4-2 vote (2 in favor, 4 opposed).
2. A motion by Councilmember Nand to amend the definition of "non-motorized mobile food vending unit" so carts/wheel devices are not mandatory — passed unanimously; site, sanitation, operating, and 10-foot size limits still apply.
3. A motion by Councilmember Chen directing staff to return with additional research on regulatory and enforcement options, including a possible first-offense warning before fines — passed 4-2 (Chen, Barnett, Payne, and Nand in favor; the Council President and Councilmember Olson opposed). The transcript's initially reported 3-3 roll call was corrected to 4-2 by a second roll call.
4. A motion by the Council President to restore stricken language in section 4.12.100 D1 prohibiting street vendors from operating in portions of the right-of-way designed for vehicular travel or parking — passed 4-2.

Preliminary Fiscal Analysis of Potential Esperance Annexation

Planning Manager Brad Shipley and Josh Linden (BERC Consulting, remote) presented preliminary findings. Esperance includes 464 acres (about 8% of Edmonds' area), more than $1.3 billion in taxable value, roughly 4,500 residents (about 10% of the city), nearly 1,800 housing units, about 190 jobs, and 25 centerline miles of streets. Snohomish County's 2044 population target for the area is just under 800 net new residents and just under 500 housing units; the 2021 Buildable Lands study estimates capacity for about 76 jobs.

The preliminary general fund analysis shows a net positive of $3.8 million in year one; $20 million cumulative in years 1-5 at a 20% utility tax (or $19 million if the rate reverts to 10%); and roughly $54 million in years 6-15 at 20% (just under $50 million at 10%). Results exclude any additional staffing. Department heads identified a potential need for up to 7.75 FTE (4 police officers, 1 police support staff, 1.75 parks and recreation FTE, 1 public works FTE). Revenue drivers include property tax (existing and new construction), utility tax and Olympic View franchise fees, sales tax (mostly online and construction-related), REET (about $3 million in the first six years), and transportation revenues of about $1.3 million (fuel tax, transportation benefit district, $40 license fees). Capital cost estimates use per-capita methods for transportation and stormwater with condition-based adjustments.

Linden explained that state annexation sales tax credits (0.1%-0.2% for areas of 2,000-10,000 population) sunset on June 30, 2028, and the state distributes credit revenue only when annexation costs exceed revenues; because the analysis shows net-positive results, eligibility is uncertain. It is not yet assumed that Esperance Park or the 84th Avenue Bridge qualify as "municipal services." The county indicates the bridge does not currently need significant repair. A two-phase annexation split (roughly at 84th Avenue) could place each area above 2,000 residents and create two potential sales tax credit sources; the proposed path is an interlocal agreement process (no direct vote), which could be challenged at the boundary review board.

Shipley said no decision is being sought tonight, but a resolution on whether to pursue annexation will be needed soon to meet the sales tax credit timeline, with preliminary engagement including a town hall. Councilmember Olson expressed support, calling the city and Esperance "better together" and noting the net-positive result is important given the city's fiscal situation. Councilmember Nand urged a collaborative, public-facing process with an actual vote by Esperance residents, arguing the administrative route would be a mistake; she also suggested analyzing whether residents' tax burdens would decrease and addressing concerns about semi-rural uses (e.g., roosters) that Edmonds code restricts. Councilmember Barnett said Esperance is "a hole in the heart of Edmonds" and asked what assumptions remain; staff cited cost attribution, staffing scenarios, stormwater facility conditions, and capital (transportation/bridge) analysis. Councilmember Chen said Highway 99-adjacent zoning in the area would need to conform to Edmonds' business zoning, in place since 2017. Staff and BERC will finalize the analysis over the coming weeks.

Fiscal Sustainability Task Force Charter and Work Plan

Council President Dash presented the first reading of the charter and work plan for a council-driven, advisory Fiscal Sustainability Task Force supported by Baker Tilly, modeled in part on Mountlake Terrace. All decisions remain with council; the task force would provide community input and has access to the city's finance team, with staff liaison Keisha. Councilmember Nand expressed concern that the city's finance professionals were not given a voice to shape policy in the current design; Councilmember Barnett clarified the task force is advisory and does not replace the finance department. Councilmember Olson suggested task force feedback be incorporated between work plan phases; Councilmember Payne stressed the need for geographic representation across the city. The motion to accept the charter and proposed work plan passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Councilmember Eck excused unanimously; agenda approved unanimously.
• July 2026 proclaimed Parks and Recreation Month; Mayor's finance update received.
• Consent calendar approved unanimously (minutes; Lynnwood Honda community engagement vehicle donation; claim checks and wires from July 8, 2026).
• Pre-approved DADU plan program resolution passed unanimously (mayor authorized to execute participation/license agreements).
• Unlicensed food vendor code: commitment to further research (4-2), restoration of the public right-of-way parking prohibition (4-2), removal of the cart/wheel mandate (unanimous); a neighboring-input parking motion failed (2-4). Staff will bring back revised code with enforcement options, including a possible warning-first approach.
• Esperance annexation: no vote taken; analysis continues with a decision on whether to pursue annexation expected soon due to the June 30, 2028 sales tax credit sunset.
• Fiscal Sustainability Task Force charter and work plan accepted unanimously; council will next set selection criteria and an application process.
• Executive session on litigation (RCW 42.30.110(1)(i)) held; reconvened at 10:17 p.m.; no action taken; meeting adjourned at 10:17 p.m.