Edmonds City Council Study Session – October 14, 2026

The Edmonds City Council held a study session on October 14, 2026, beginning at 3:00 PM. The session included presentations on the 2027-2032 Capital Facilities Plan (CFP) and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for parks and public works, as well as the first reading of the Park Impact Fee Study and code revisions. No formal votes were taken; the meeting was for discussion and feedback.

2027-2032 Capital Facilities Plan and Capital Improvement Program – Parks Presentation

• Parks staff highlighted recent successes: installation of drinking fountains and bottle fillers at Sierra Park, replacement of playground components, warranty replacement of fall surfacing at Civic Park, irrigation upgrades, and signage updates. The Hickman Park basketball court was renovated, and the Mathay Ballinger Park expansion (Meadow property) added nearly 50% to the park size. The new ADA-accessible pathway and restroom are complete; a shade structure is awaiting final inspection. The cemetery columbarium project is nearly complete. The Shell Creek Restoration Project has been delayed due to three unplanned projects (Coast Guard buoy permitting, park impact fee study, Yost Pool operation agreement).
• Parks recorded 2.5 million visits in the past 12 months, with visitors from all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
• The proposed CIP/CFP prioritizes deferred maintenance and ADA improvements. No new projects were added; one project (Coast Guard Buoy) was removed. Funding sources include REET (Real Estate Excise Tax) and park impact fees. The 2027-2028 biennium includes: playground replacement #1 (potential location: 27-year-old Sierra Park), a planning study for Yost Pool (pending grant), and ongoing ADA improvements (e.g., Seaview Restroom path, dog park access, removal of 36 metal tree grates with 28 filled with rubberized surfacing). Woodway Field lighting and full Yost Pool replacement remain unfunded but listed for grant eligibility.
• Council questions addressed: capacity to manage projects given only one project manager (staff acknowledged limitations but are shifting workload); lack of a deferred maintenance cost estimate (asset inventory ~90% complete, condition assessments ongoing); the ebbtide connection not in the current CIP (council member requested adding it for ADA connectivity); no active parkland acquisition but annexation of Esperance could provide a developed park; use of clover lawn at Mathay Ballinger for reduced maintenance (potential for other parks considered but not planned); Shell Creek restoration volunteer opportunities will continue; Woodway field lighting requires coordination with the school district.

2027-2032 Capital Facilities Plan and Capital Improvement Program – Public Works Presentation

• Public Works and Utilities presented the combined CIP/CFP covering transportation, water, sewer, stormwater, facilities, and the wastewater treatment plant. The plan includes 12 new projects, 103 revisions, and removals of completed projects.
• Transportation projects (18 total for 2027-2028): Pavement preservation (annual overlay $2.6M, Main Street overlay, 88th Avenue completion, 7th Ave N pedestrian improvements, 76th overlay between 220th and SR99 using federal grant). Safety/capacity projects: Highway 99 Stages 3 and 4 design and right-of-way, 76th & 220th project (biological assessment comments received), SR104 (potential federal grant pending), traffic signal program, citywide lighting improvements (grant-funded). Pedestrian improvements: 2027 TIB grant for curb ramps on Badoin, Third Ave, and 76th Ave N; 2028 grant for 38 curb ramps citywide; traffic calming program completing 2026 evaluation. Feasibility studies for May & 9th and 9th & 199th intersections.
• Water projects: Yostin-Seaview Reservoirs construction to begin shortly, delay water main replacement until 2028.
• Stormwater projects: Edmonds Marsh catch basins on SR104 (permitting delays, construction spring 2027), Marsh preliminary design (NIFWIF grant, consultant advertisement underway), Perrinville Creek flow management (rain gardens), Lower Perrinville Creek Restoration (design continues, grant partnership with Tulalip Tribes), basin analysis update, stormwater comprehensive plan update.
• Sewer projects: 2026 replacement project wrapping up, 2027-2028 cured-in-place pipe and replacements, separate CIPP from replacement programs after 2028, sanitary sewer comprehensive plan update.
• Wastewater treatment plant: Several projects in 2027-2028 for reliability, but no specific capital obligations for the proposed Linwood plant participation (being factored into rate study; estimated 11% share of total plant cost, but negotiations ongoing).
• Facilities: Capital needs re-prioritized. Francis Anderson Center HVAC upgrade ($325K in 2027, $175K in 2028 for heat pump splits), and specific repairs at other facilities (e.g., City Park restrooms).
• Funding summary: In 2027, utilities $14.5M + treatment plant $3M, plus grants for transportation; REET balance approximately $5-6M after planned expenditures.
• Council questions addressed: 9th Avenue and Badoin bike lane grinding issues (no immediate overlay plans), interurban trail lighting north of 228th (Mountlake Terrace jurisdiction), allowance for reprioritizing projects (staff acknowledged flexibility to delay city-funded projects but prioritize grants), no current plans for Esperance capital needs.

Park Impact Fee Study and Code Revision – First Reading

• Consultants from BERC presented the study. Background: Edmonds last updated park impact fees in 2016; new state laws and 2022 PROS Plan necessitate updates. Fees are paid by developers to offset impacts of new development on parks.
• Methodology: Two approaches – (1) Growth-related capital needs: Identified $5.69 million in growth-eligible projects from the CIP and PROS Plan (out of $47M total project list). Per capita share = $980.10 per service population (population + resident equivalent employees). (2) Per capita investment approach: Replacement value of park system $40M / service population = $911.53 per person. Fees are based on the lesser of the two.
• Proposed fees: Residential fees based on number of bedrooms per unit (e.g., two-bedroom unit ~$1,370; ADUs at 50% of primary unit). Commercial fees per square foot by use (e.g., $1.97/sq ft for general commercial). Comparison with nearby cities shows proposed fees are lower than most.
• Code amendments: Add definition of bedroom for fee calculation, update rate schedule, add provision for annual inflation adjustments.
• Next steps: Oct 27 – rate study & code revision final draft presentation; Nov 10 – public hearing; Nov 24 – code amendment consideration.
• Council questions addressed: Restrictions on use of park impact fees (only for capacity-increasing projects, cannot replace existing facilities); potential for higher fees to match comparators (consultants noted fees are driven by project list and growth); whether Marina Beach Park projects could be added (staff noted it could be included during CIP adoption process); concern about reduction in commercial fees (consultants confirmed substantial reduction based on new methodology); interaction with MFTE (affordable housing) exemptions (low-income units eligible for exemption, market-rate units pay full fee).