The Edmonds City Council Tuesday night approved a nearly $131 million budget for 2020 that includes money for several new employee positions — notably a part-time human services coordinator to assist residents who need social services — plus funding for a range of capital projects, and continued investments in the Edmonds Marsh. The council also agreed to fund — for $55,000 — the purchase and operation of a downtown trolley. The only vote against the budget came from Councilmember Kristiana Johnson, who expressed a range of concerns about various spending initiatives.
As we reported in our earlier story, the trolley — once purchased — would operate weekends during Edmonds summer market season (late May to early October) and then during the December holiday season, for approximately 52 days a year. The Edmonds Downtown Alliance, which took the lead in investigating a trolley purchase, is working to explore pledges, sponsorship and other approaches to help defray costs — and the city’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee has recommended putting $20,000 toward the trolley.
In another major action Tuesday night, the council okayed a utility rate increase covering the years 2020-2022 that includes annual increases of 5% for sewer, 4.5% for water and 9.5% for stormwater. Edmonds also plans to sell bonds to fund $10 million for the city’s portion of a pyrolysis project to replace the wastewater treatment plant’s aging sludge incinerator. (The total system cost is initially estimated at $20 million but the City of Mountlake Terrace, which sends sewage flows to Edmonds to be treated, will pick up the remainder.)
The vote to raise utility rates was 4-3, with Councilmembers Adrienne Fraley-Monillas, Diane Buckshnis and Mike Nelson voting against it.
As the meeting began, Fraley-Monillas — who has served for the past year as council president — presented resolutions of appreciation to four councilmembers who are leaving their positions at the end of the year — Mike Nelson, who was elected mayor; and Tom Mesaros, Dave Teitzel and Neil Tibbott, who didn’t run for re-election to their council seats. In addition, Fraley-Monillas recognized two-term Mayor Dave Earling, who also chose not to run again. The audience in the council chambers gave Earling a standing ovation.
Before approving the budget Tuesday night, the council discussed a variety of amendments, including one by Teitzel to remove the part-time human services coordinator position — budgeted for $63,814 — altogether. Teitzel said he believed that the duties outlined for the position were already being performed by Verdant Health Commission’s community resources manager, which is also funded by Edmonds taxpayers. His amendment failed on a 2-5 vote, with Tibbott the only other councilmember voting yes.
In other amendments, the council approved funding for a full-time arborist as well as a part-time staff member to work on updating the city’s development code.
And the council approved 5-2 (Councilmembers Nelson and Teitzel voting no) to remove $72,000 that had been allocated for a federal lobbyist.
Councilmembers also agreed to amendments by Tom Mesaros to allocate $30,000 for a study on salaries of non-union employees and $10,000 to support the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce.
Once the budget was. passed, the council approved resolutions increasing the city’s development fees and revising personnel policies regarding shared leave and sick leave provisions.
The council will meet briefly next Tuesday, Dcc. 17 to approve some necessary public works-related contract extensions prior to 2020.
— Story and photos by Teresa Wippel
THANK YOU, Edmonds City Council for your approval of a part-time human services coordinator! I am proud to live in a city that prioritizes the needs of its citizens, and seeks to be proactive toward addressing the growing needs of our community.
Theresa, The pyrolysis project is roughly $24mm and the City is responsible for approximately 50% with Mountlake Terrace at about 23% and the remainder being Olympic View and a second public entity.
The capital budget aspect of utilities was not shown last night or during the public hearing. One can go back and watch the initial meeting three weeks ago at about 10:30 at night. It’s clear from that meeting why I was voting no last night on rate increases.
In that presentation pay attention to the capital projects coming on-line in near future. Stormwater utility is burdened by entire $16.65mm as a cost for Edmonds Marsh Restoration (a complex regional park with a stormwater component); and the entire $24mm for sewer for the pyrolysis project (remember, City’s portion is 50%). These two projects could potentially bump up future utility rates with unsupported costs. (ps – if you do watch – yes – I have my regulator face and voice as it was SO late in the night after a very detailed budget meeting; and rate increase are a VERY important subject that should have been at the beginning of a new meeting – and yes – I did apologize).
Perhaps the city council could explain to the residence why we continue to have a flat sewer fee rather than a consumptive sewer fee. I don’t mind paying my share to allow improvements, but it seems ludicrous that my family of 2 pays the same rate as another residential family of five who obviously use more water and have more sewage waste than I do with my husband.
I looked into it based on you (or someone else) asking while I was canvassing.
Most cities in the State use the flat rate model for their sewer customers. Only a couple use the consumptive model.
The admin cost is higher for the consumptive model; and the net change to customer cost is quite low (without even considering the extra admin costs which will get passed along to the customer).
This is because the cost to provide a sewer system that works at each location (on demand/ every time you flush) is mostly a function of constant energy consumption at the plant and infrastructure installation and maintenance; the water consumption cost is almost insignificant in comparison to these others.