No action was taken on either item Tuesday night, but the Edmonds City Council spent a considerable amount of time talking about two items that have generated considerable community interest: Whether the council should attempt to purchase the Edmonds Conference Center at 4th and Bell Street, and the status of the temporary restriping project for the Sunset Avenue Walkway.

Patrick Doherty, the city’s economic development and community services director, told the council that the State of Washington has declared the conference center, owned by Edmonds Community College, to be surplus and available for purchase. The council must make a written expression of interest by June 1, if it wants to pursue the purchase.

The state estimates the fair market value of the 14,375-square-foot property at $2,305,000. The wood-framed, stucco-clad building, built in 1997, has suffered water leaks and related damage that a consultant estimated would cost more than $1 million to repair, Doherty said.

Edmonds Community College has rented out space in the building for classes, meetings and events, such as weddings. The facility’s  2013-14 profit/loss statement showed $276,609 in annual revenue and $329,519 in annual expenses, for a year-end loss of $52,910.

Doherty noted that “very few conference centers run in black,” and are usually subsidized by a public entity, with the idea of maintaining them as “a community asset.”

Councilmember Tom Mesaros said it’s important for the council to “take a look at whether we really want this building,” adding that the council “is in the business of running the city, not conference centers.” He asked Mayor Dave Earling whether city staff can envision uses for the building, and Earling replied that he planned to have staff members discuss the topic.

Councilmember Lora Petso wondered whether it would be possible to relocate arts organizations’ activities currently at the ArtWorks building (former City Public Works offices) to the conference center, and then use the ArtWorks building to house the city’s parks maintenance staff, which needs more space.

“Parking is terrible,” noted Councilmember Diane Buckshnis, who belongs to the Edmonds Rotary Noon Club that now meets at the conference center. “There is no parking at all if you have two events going on at the same time.” Buckshnis said the building’s current condition also worried her, noting: “You don’t throw good money at something that is bad.”

Other councilmembers suggested the facility might be well-suited for other city priorities, including a winter-time or year-round Farmer’s Market or to serve as a temporary location for the Edmonds Senior Center when a new facility is built.

Councilmembers will explore the options further at their meeting May 19, and there also may be an executive session to discuss real estate-related details.

Regarding Sunset Avenue, the discussion was surprisingly pleasant and cordial, given past fireworks that the topic has generated among both councilmembers and citizens opposed to and supporting the project. Public Works Director Phil Williams provided a detailed report on traffic data and accident history collected since the temporary paving and re-striping was completed in September 2014.

Williams said the city tracked traffic volume and vehicle speeds on the street in both November 2014 and April 2015, and the most concerning findings were that some people drove too fast — as much as 26 mph — and that a total of 25 drivers — 11 in November and 14 in April — were going the wrong way on the one-way street.

In addition, there were six reportable accidents on the roadway during 2014, but four of those six occurred near Main Street, outside the project limits. Of the accidents within the walkway project border, one occurred before the walkway changes were made, and the other involved a car backing out of a parking space at the north end near Caspers Street.

Williams said he believed it was important that the temporary project stay in place through fall so that city can evaluate its effectiveness for full year. Among the areas he listed as important considerations for the future:

• If the project is made permanent, use required additional road work as an opportunity to replace/install upgraded underground utilities.
• Take steps to prevent/discourage wrong-way driving and to discourage speeding through area.
• Provide more room behind angled parking, possibly by installing a retaining wall to create a larger travel lane behind the parking spaces.
• Consider a C-curb or other separator along the walkway to create a small physical barrier that isolates the walkway from the street.
• Upgrade city property at the south end of the project to create a public viewpoint and rebuild Caspers Street at the north end to 3rd Avenue; grant funding may be a possibility.

At the end of the meeting, Council President Adrienne Fraley-Monillas updated councilmembers on next steps for possible changes to the city’s fire services contract with Snohomish County Fire District 1. The city administration has been looking to engage a fire and EMS consultant who could assist the city in providing “meaningful review and periodic oversight” of Fire District 1 services, Fraley-Monillas said.

“Such a consultant would be able to analyze the efficiency of the service provided by the district, compare that service to our fire and EMS service goals, and ultimately make recommendations as to how the contract might be amended to further those goals,” she said.

Mayor Dave Earling hopes to have a consultant lined up within the next few weeks, and councilmembers will be asked to share their thoughts on the process.

The council also:

– Received a presentation from the Alliance for Affordable Housing.

– Discussed possible names for Fire Station 16, in honor of late community activist Betty Mueller. “Betty Mueller Memorial Fire Hall” was the favorite of councilmembers during discussion. Fundraising is continuing for the plaque to be installed — anyone interested can donate at Union Bank in downtown Edmonds, 123 3rd Ave. S.

– Received a presentation on final construction costs for the 15th Avenue Walkway project and was told that they will hear soon about the construction bids received for 2015 Waterline Replacement Project.

– Discussed the Draft Streetscape/Street Trees Element for the 2015 Comprehensive Plan.

– Agreed to put on next week’s consent agenda the following items for approval: a Sprint master use agreement and Site Use Agreement for installation operation and maintenance of their wireless equipment in the right of way; an interlocal agreement with Puget Sound Energy for the 238th Street Street Walkway and drainage improvements project; and changes to the process for civil service commission vacancies.

During the public comment period, the council also heard an update from Port Commissioner Fred Gouge about Edmonds waterfront activities, including Sea Jazz concerts running Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons June 3-Sept. 16, featuring Edmonds School District musicians; the annual Waterfront Festival May 29-31; and Artists in Action Sunday afternoons, June 21-Sept. 13. You can learn more at the port’s website.

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