Downtown Edmonds business owners to city council: ‘We need our signs’

Edmonds Frame Design & Atelier owner Barbara Mercer tells the City Council that she relies on her A-frame sign to direct customers to her business, which is located on 5th Avenue South near the IGA store.
Edmonds Frame Design & Atelier owner Barbara Mercer tells the City Council that she relies on her A-frame sign to direct customers to her business, which is located on 5th Avenue South near the IGA store.

The Edmonds City Council got an earful Tuesday night from downtown Edmonds business owners who are unhappy about the new city sign code that they say has negatively affected their businesses since it was approved by the council in August.

“It’s a serious problem for small businesses, especially the ones that are outside of the Main and 5th drag,” said James Spangler of Spangler Book Exchange, referring to the more visible retail corridors of 5th Avenue and Main Streets. Spangler, whose used-book business is located on 4th Avenue North, was one of several owners who expressed their frustration during the public comment period near the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting.

“It’s really important that you understand that the people who come into our town really appreciate those signs,” Spangler said. “They tell me every day…thank God you put a sign out there. I never would have found you without it.”

On Aug. 2, following a lengthy review by the Edmonds Planning Board and numerous opportunities for public comment, the Edmonds City Council approved changes to regulations governing signage, including A-frame or other pedestrian signs often seen on downtown sidewalks. Under the new law, those signs now need to be permitted, with an associated one-time $125 fee, and also must comply with several other new requirements, including size and location.

Spangler and others admitted that they should have become involved earlier and been more clear about their concerns earlier in the process, prior to the council’s August decision. “But we’re here now and we’re starting to mobilize a bit,” said Spangler, who estimates the signs are costing him between $30-$50 a day in lost revenue. “We need our signs. We need some way to direct people to our businesses.”

The city decided to review its sign policy following citizen complaints about visual clutter as well as concerns that the pedestrian signs impede access by those with disabilities attempting to navigate the sidewalks.

Kimberly Koenig, owner of women’s clothing store Rogue and president of the Downtown Edmonds Merchants Association, said she’s heard from businesses that the application process for sign permits is cumbersome and cost prohibitive, that communication from the city about the new rules has been confusing and “more importantly, businesses are already experiencing sales losses.”

Koenig called for the council to suspend the new sign code “to allow for exploration and implementation of other options, and that we do this as soon as possible.”

“We’re going into one of the most important retail seasons of the year and I don’t think we can, in good conscience, allow members of our business community to struggle and potentially fail” because of the sign code, she added.

During councilmembers’ comments at the end of the meeting, Council President Kristiana Johnson said she hoped to have further discussion about the issue at an upcoming council meeting — possibly on Nov. 7.

Councilmember Mike Nelson noted that when the council passed the sign regulations in August, the plan was to revisit them in a year to see how they were working. “It appears to me we need to do it sooner rather than later, obviously when people’s finances are at stake,” he said. When the meeting date is officially set, Nelson said he will be introducing a resolution suspending the regulations for up to 90 days “while we work with the city and the businesses in finding better ways that we can implement this sign code update.”

The council also:

-Received the 2017 budget message from Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling, who later provided all councilmembers with thick notebooks containing his proposed budget. (The budget will be online at the city’s website — www.edmondswa.gov — Wednesday, Finance Director Scott James said.) You can read the full story on that presentation here.

– Heard from Public Works Director Phil Williams about a proposal to raise utility rates — water, sewer and storm water — with the goal of addressing rising operating and maintenance costs, including wholesale cost increases for water purchased from the Alderwood Water and Wastewater District and the replacement of failing water/sewer/storm infrastructure. Under the proposal, an average combined monthly utility bill would rise from 103.28 currently to $132.25 in the next three years. The rate increases would also allow the city to fund its maintenance with generated income rather than debt, saving the city approximately $50 million in interest over time. You can review the charts and additional details in Williams’ Power Point presentation here. A public hearing will be scheduled on the proposal in the near future. As part of the discussion, Williams mentioned that there will also be a proposed five-year reduction in the water utility tax rate due to a change in state law. That savings would be included in the rate proposal.

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Sam Harris

– Received a presentation from students who participated in the city’s Sister City Exchange program to Hekinan, Japan last summer. “It was just an amazing experience,” said student Sam Harris, “and I’m just glad I had this opportunity.”

– Referred the following items to the Oct. 18 council consent agenda: 2016 3rd quarter budget amendment; a supplemental agreement for additional work related to the Edmonds Fishing Pier rehabilitation project; acceptance of final construction costs for the 2015 waterline replacement program and for ADA curb ramp upgrades along 3rd Avenue; and an interlocal agreement with Olympic View Water and Sewer District to fund minor utility relocations related to the Madrona K-8 School Walkway Project.

– Also approved for next week’s consent agenda was an agreement to replace five-minute parking outside the former Edmonds Post Office on Main Street with three-hour parking, and to create two, five-minute parking spaces outside the new Post Office location on 2nd Avenue.

— Story and photos by Teresa Wippel

 

 

 

  1. Thanks Kim and all of those fighting to keep the sandwich boards in downtown Edmonds. People visiting the Fabric of Life Boutique love coming in to our store knowing that we are a FAIR TRADE store and that it is run by volunteers all because we have a sign out front. A big % of our visitors are from out of town.

  2. I have always said “what is wrong with signs??? ” If the city wants to get rid of them then Come up with a happy solution. Taller bigger signs artfully done but READABLE. That are stationary. Or let them have the signs. I don’t own a business but I understand the NEED for signage. It lets prospective customers discover certain stores. If the mayor really wants to back businesses then HELP them out. That is what republican mayor should do.

  3. we need business in Edmonds and the signs were part of our atmosphere and Town. It is petty to restrict them. The Council needs to amend what they have done and let our businesses flourish.

  4. If you think A-Boards make a town ugly, how about unsightly boarded up storefronts? Think back 5-6 years ago when our economy was worse and there were many vacant storefronts. The answer to a few complaints (I actually wonder how many there were) was to restrict local small business commerce. The new ordinance’s regulations and fees increases the difficulties for businesses to survive. Lower revenues from lost sales opportunities translates into fewer sales tax collected. It also means less money to pay fair wages to employees, to pay the rent, to purchase new inventory, to pay DEMA and chamber dues, to purchase thousands of pieces of candy to hand out during community events. The list goes on and on. How about we use a little common sense that doesn’t cost a dime? Try an ordinance that supports small business, supports their efforts to keep Edmonds as a thriving place to do business and keeps our streets beautiful and safe? Skip the permits – they already purchased a business license and pay other fees to be in business (besides then the city doesn’t need to pay someone to police who’s paid and who hasn’t). Make a simple rule that each store may put out one (or two if they are off the main drag) A-Board (s) (specify the size) that may be placed at their discretion on the sidewalk as long as it does not impede pedestrian or automobile traffic (allows for x amount ft. on the sidewalk). And, the next time a squeaky wheel complains that they are unsightly, ask them if they think empty storefronts are prettier?

  5. I agree totally with Barbara. I believe the new law is discriminatory. I the signs were bothersome then outside tables at restaurants are also by the same logic discriminatory. I believe in both. They are among the things that give our town its individualistic character.

  6. Were the chamber of commerce leading the pack? That to me is also their job to protect businesses from silly things..

  7. “…pedestrian signs impede access by those with disabilities attempting to navigate the sidewalks.”
    What REALLY impedes the sidewalks is uneven pavement due to tree root damage.

  8. TUE 4:12PM
    Sent – To the Edmonds City Council:

    As an active citizen and contributor of my community and lifelong resident (64 years and counting) I am appealing to the city council to reconsider your decision to ban merchant signage. They add to our commerce, creatively come up with ideas for collaboration and bring life to our downtown corridor. They should be honored in their efforts to make Edmonds thrive – the signs aren’t hurting anyone, they let tourists and residents know what’s out there. I like the signs – it ads a vitality to our wonderful city, and as a city government our downtown businesses need to be supported. Please take my vote into consideration as you re-evaluate your vote.

    With Warmest Regards,
    Marni Muir

  9. I have NEVER heard of or READ anything in Edmonds, and I have lived here for YEARS that any handicap etc had any problems navigating Edmonds sidewalks. I have heard from city many times it makes the city look bad having A display signs. I’m hearing the same thing here. Our mayor should hold his ground and leave the signs alone. The chamber should back the mayor and we the people who live here (MAJORITY) should back both.

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