Council passes critical areas ordinance but mayor could again veto

After another lengthy discussion and a few more amendments, the Edmonds City Council approved by a 4-3 vote Tuesday night the critical areas ordinance governing the city’s wetlands, streams and geologically hazardous and frequently flooded areas.

Tuesday night’s discussion and vote was not without its share of drama, however. Council President Kristiana Johnson proposed several amendments, including one aimed at negating council approval last week of a 2-foot higher construction base in the city’s coastal high hazard area, which supporters say is necessary to offset effects of sea-level rise. While that effort was rejected 3-4, the council did approve by a 4-3 vote a Johnson-proposed amendment that added the Edmonds Marsh, Good Hope Pond and the Mouth of Shell Creek to the critical areas ordinance section on designation, rating and mapping of wetlands.

There was long debate about how best to categorize the Edmonds Marsh, or whether it should even be listed in that particular section at all since its inclusion, according to City Attorney Jeff Taraday, would have no regulatory effect. And just prior to passage of that amendment, Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling warned the council he may again have to consider vetoing the ordinance based on concerns that the action may cause problems down the road with the State Department of Ecology.

After the council meeting Tuesday night, the mayor reiterated that he is still considering a veto but wouldn’t make a decision until after he talked with his staff about implications of the council amendments.

The Edmonds Planning Board started work on the critical areas ordinance update in 2014 and presented its recommendations to the city council in September 2015. Among them was a recommendation to change the base measurement to accommodate increasing water levels in the city’s flood plain areas.  The council made its own amendments and approved the ordinance on Dec. 15, 2015. The mayor then vetoed the council-approved ordinance and the council has been working to submit new amendments.

The council approved three amendments March 15 and five more on April 12. Then on April 19, the council first approved an amendment aimed at providing additional tree canopy coverage, then addressed the final — and most controversial — item: where the base measurement of new construction should be located.

A focal point for moving ahead with the higher base measurement has been a plan by the Edmonds Senior Center to build a new community center facility on the Edmonds waterfront. The senior center hopes to begin the permitting process soon, and resolving how tall the building can be in the context of sea level rise has been a key component.

The critical areas ordinance is required by the state’s Growth Management Act and must be updated every 10 years.

The council also:
– Heard a proclamation for Puget Sound Starts Here proclamation
– Was reminded by the Edmonds Cemetery Board about the annual Memorial Day ceremony at the cemetery at 11 a.m. May 30.
– Heard a presentation from the Alliance for Housing Affordability on ways to address how to ensure Edmonds has more affordable housing options for lower-income residents.
– Received the March 2016 quarterly financial report, which showed that the city has seen an increase in general fund revenue due mainly to greater sales tax collections.
– Authorized change orders for the Dayton Street Plaza Project, related to increasing the sidewalk width around the former public works building, and raising curb heights.

In addition, prior to the council business meeting, councilmembers met with consultant Walker-Macy to begin discussion on developing a master plan for the newly-purchased Civic Field. We will have a report on that meeting, along with a video of the presentation, available for viewing Wednesday.