Edmonds City Council Regular Meeting – October 13, 2026

The Edmonds City Council met Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, 250 5th Ave N, Edmonds, with all seven councilmembers and the mayor present. The council approved the agenda, heard four public hearings, approved several ordinances and agreements, and held extended budget discussions. The meeting adjourned around 9:19 p.m. after a motion to extend to 9:20 p.m. was approved unanimously.

Presentations

• Council President Dodge read a resolution reaffirming Edmonds as a Purple Heart City, originally proclaimed in 2022. VFW Post 8870 Commander Dwayne Bowman and several veterans and Purple Heart recipients spoke in support. The Port of Edmonds also designated itself a Purple Heart City the prior day. The resolution was later approved as part of the consent calendar.
• Mayor Rosen gave a finance update: sales tax through August was about $700,000 above forecast, at roughly $8.3 million; development services revenue was 129% of budgeted revenue, about $1.2 million above projection, with 67% of the year elapsed; lodging tax was $30,000 above forecast but below the prior year; and REET was about $200,000 below forecast, at approximately $2.5 million.

Received for Filing

• Written public comments from September 18 to October 8, 2026.
• Public Works Q3 Capital Projects Report.
• Quarterly Facilities Bond Update.

Consent Calendar

• The council moved the Yost Pool/Cascade Swim Club item from the consent calendar to Council Business item 4.
• The remaining consent calendar was approved unanimously: the October 6, 2026 meeting minutes, the SCJ supplemental agreement for the Hwy 99 Revitalization Project Stage 4, claim checks and wire payments, and the Purple Heart City resolution.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Nora Carlson, of the Westgate neighborhood, thanked the council for listening to Westgate residents and said a contingent would attend the October 27 meeting.
• Ken Reedy, Edmonds, raised transparency and process concerns about placing the Yost Pool agreement on the consent calendar, noting no visible committee motion or vote and asking for regular public review instead.

Public Hearings

Interim Landmark Tree Ordinance Extension

• Staff said the interim ordinance continues protecting landmark trees 30 inches or larger in trunk diameter while tree code updates proceed.
• Evans Wilson opposed the extension, describing a dispute involving 19 Leyland cypress trees planted as a hedge, an $85,000 mitigation fee, and loss of property rights; he asked the council to amend the ordinance.
• Kathleen, representing Friends of Edmonds Trees, supported the extension and cited four principles: accommodating state middle housing legislation, respecting private property rights, supporting right tree/right place planting, and supporting the city’s 35% tree canopy goal. William Bartig and Laura also supported extending the ordinance.
• Ken Reedy asked about findings of fact, statutory citations, and work milestones before another six-month renewal.
• Staff clarified that the planning board recommended increased fees in lieu as a deterrent tied to proposed tree density credits.
• No decision was made during the hearing; the extension was approved later in the meeting.

Mobile Food Vendor and Unlicensed Food Vendor Code Updates

• Staff said draft Chapter 4.12 does not yet include language allowing the public works director to approve vending sites, and a mobile food vending pilot program is being researched with several departments. The Port of Edmonds expressed interest in potential pilot locations.
• Ken Reedy supported creating a regulatory framework but flagged missing permit duration, approval, revocation, impoundment, and appeal details, right-of-way consistency, and leasehold excise tax questions.
• Councilmembers discussed pilot sites, police enforceability, civil versus criminal enforcement, health and safety, and the need for a separate right-of-way use policy.
• No adoption occurred; staff will continue work on the pilot and code revisions.

Westgate Neighborhood Center Map Updates

• Staff said the hearing addressed permanent zoning for four Westgate parcels that had interim BP zoning for about a year. The planning board recommended neighborhood center/hub zoning and a ground-floor commercial overlay for three parcels along Edmonds Way.
• One public speaker, Robert, supported the general direction but raised pedestrian safety concerns on Highway 99 and asked for a community or recreation center in the Westgate hub.
• Staff noted the item will return for council decision in December.

Property Taxes Public Hearing

• Finance staff presented the required public hearing. Property tax makes up about 22% of the general fund budget, approximately $11.8 million. Edmonds is in the lower portion of Snohomish County city levy rates. For each property tax dollar paid by Edmonds residents, about 9 cents goes to the city. The council may choose a 1% levy increase, which would generate $116,623, or no increase. Senior and disabled person exemptions are available.
• No public speakers testified.
• Councilmembers noted the availability of exemptions, difficult fiscal conditions across cities, and the likelihood that many cities will take the 1% increase. No vote was taken; the ordinance will return later.

Council Business

Extension of Interim Landmark Tree Ordinance

• Councilmember Payne moved to extend the interim landmark tree protections for another six months. Staff said a revised work plan will be presented on November 12, and planning board participation was encouraged. The motion passed unanimously.

Short Plat Vacation Interim Ordinance

• Staff explained that a property owner requested to vacate a recently recorded two-lot short plat, but no local process existed. The interim ordinance establishes a vacation process, includes a one-year work plan, and would allow return of a $200,000 civil improvement bond after verification. The required public hearing was set for November 10, 2026.
• Council asked about process, fees, and bond verification. The motion passed unanimously.

Department Budget Discussions (2027-28 Proposed Budget)

• The mayor reported receiving about 75 questions from council. The proposed budget has revenues exceeding expenses by about $2.5 million, an ending fund balance around $6.5 million, and no intentionally unfilled positions. The temporary utility tax increase is assumed to expire after 2028. Staff answered questions on interfund charges, GASB 87 lease accounting, special revenue funds, the gift catalog and beautification funds, lodging tax, professional fees, legal services, unmet needs, and departmental reorganizations.
• Councilmember Chen noted total 2027-28 expenditures are $306,104,383, compared with $251,778,723 in the 2025-26 biennium, an increase of $54,325,660, and asked the city to identify offsetting opportunities.
• Councilmembers discussed economic development staffing and strategy, finance department capacity, potential amendments, comparisons to 2023 organizational charts, reserves, and the budget amendment process.
• No budget vote was held. Written responses were to be sent to council tomorrow and posted online; further budget public hearings and action were expected in November.

Yost Pool – Cascade Swim Club 2026-2036 Operation Agreement

• Parks Director Fesser reviewed the history: in December 2025 the council added an $83,500 Cascade payment on top of an existing $102,000 concession agreement. The new 10-year operations agreement makes Cascade Swim Club responsible for routine maintenance, operations, utilities, supplies, and small equipment; keeps the pool open year-round; allows Cascade to pursue capital improvements; and frees about 1,900 hours of parks maintenance labor.
• Councilmember Olson moved to approve the final agreement. Councilmember Barnett asked about oversight and public access; staff cited public access, inspection, certification, and audit provisions. The motion passed unanimously.

Council Comments & Announcements

• Councilmember Nand recognized Indigenous Peoples’ Day and urged support for making it a federal holiday.
• Councilmembers thanked veterans and Gold Star families, promoted community events, and noted that budget Q&A responses would be posted online.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda approved unanimously.
• Consent calendar approved unanimously after moving the Yost Pool item to council business.
• Landmark tree interim ordinance extension approved unanimously.
• Short plat vacation interim ordinance approved unanimously, with the required public hearing set for November 10, 2026.
• Yost Pool/Cascade Swim Club 2026-2036 operation agreement approved unanimously.
• Motion to extend the meeting to 9:20 p.m. approved unanimously.
• Budget discussion continued; no budget ordinance was adopted at this meeting.