In an email update Wednesday regarding the City of Edmonds-sponsored Aug. 29 housing strategy workshop, the city says it will start reviewing workshop notes and figuring out next steps for the current draft strategy.

Meanwhile, the message from Development Services Director Shane Hope — sent to all those on the city’s housing email list — acknowledged “both positive and negative feedback” received about the workshop process. The message also listed several things that the city learned:
-  About half of the workshop attendees had not been to any previous meetings on the draft housing strategy.
-  It was frustrating that the microphone was not working during the introductory part of the workshop.
-  Many people had questions about the draft housing strategy or other housing issues that were not answered in the workshop format.
-  Some people liked the structured questions that were brought up for discussion in the small groups; some people hated them.
-  Some participants did not feel their perspectives were appreciated.
-  Some participants appreciated having small group conversations about housing issues.

As for next steps, Hope said that staff will soon be getting notes back from the consultant team that facilitated the small group discussions. “The information will be posted on the city’s housing strategy website and we will send you a link to it,” she said. “We will also start reviewing the notes and figuring out next steps. As this comes together, I will send updates to everyone on our current email list.”

Meanwhile, Hope said that the slide presentation from the Aug. 29 housing strategy workshop has been added to the city’s website at www.edmondshousingstrategy.org/documents/.

Anyone who wants to be added to the housing email list can email diane.cunningham@edmondswa.gov.