Facing a jam-packed agenda two days before Thanksgiving, the Edmonds City Council is likely to work up an appetite during its Tuesday, Nov. 24 business meeting.
Among the items before councilmembers:
– A second public hearing on the city’s 2021 proposed budget, plus more deliberation on proposed changes. (See the Nov. 17 council report here to review that discussion on budget topics.)
– Presentation of the Edmonds Downtown Alliance (ED!) 2021 work plan and budget.
– Presentation of city code concepts for streateries and other outdoor dining. (See earlier story here).
– Discussion of a resolution regarding suspension of third-degree Driving While License Suspended (DWLS) citations. The resolution “formally requests the Executive and Judicial departments and city prosecutor and public defense work together to design and implement a DWLS III Relicensing program. (See earlier story here.)
– Potential action on an emergency ordinance giving the mayor temporary authority to address the economic emergency created by COVID-19 restrictions. From the council agenda memo: “For example, if authorized by an emergency ordinance from council, the mayor could act quickly in providing tailored local relief, such as allowing additional outdoor dining, in a fast-paced manner rather than through a normal code update or permitting process, which could take weeks or even months.” If approved, the ordinance provides the mayor with temporary authority — up to 90 days or until another ordinance repeals or replaces it — “to suspend, if needed, certain parts of the municipal code to mitigate the current economic emergency in as limited a way as possible.”
– Council committee reports.
The council will meet virtually starting at 7 p.m. via the Zoom meeting platform. To join, comment, view, or listen to the Edmonds City Council Meeting in its entirety, paste the following into a web browser using a computer or smart phone:
zoom.us/j/94819979855. Or join by phone: U.S.: +1 253 215 8782 Webinar ID: 948 1997 9855
Those wanting to provide audience comments using a computer or smart phone are instructed to raise a virtual hand to be recognized. You can provide audience comments via dial-up phone by pressing *9 to raise a hand. When prompted, press *6 to unmute.
In addition to Zoom, regular council meetings are streamed live on the Council Meeting webpage, and on cable television — Comcast channel 21 and Ziply channel 39.
Council is considering ceding its power to the Mayor, over 9 code sections which broadly is a lot, for what Emergency? The Covid crisis is an ongoing crisis, but an emergency? An emergency worthy of allowing the Mayor broad and singular authority? Why? I have asked but gotten no real answer. It is outrageous, and doing it when most folks just want to forget all the chaos and have as nice a holiday as possible is simply unacceptable. If there is an emergency, then Council can grant emergency power, but it should not be a blank check to the Mayor without some extraordinary reason to do so. There appears to be none. Let the Council know that they are responsible to us, and giving such powers to the mayor is not acceptable without an extraordinary reason. ( a specific emergency would be a good one ). As a card carrying liberal I am offended.
Diane: You may be a liberal, but not a typical one – you assess issues objectively.
Welcome to Edmonds where we specialize in just about everything being an “emergency.” People will die like flies, if we don’t build a viaduct on the beach. It’s just a matter of time until an oil train self ignites causing mayhem and death. Suicides by train are referred to as “pedestrian deaths” by well meaning officials. The Edmond’s tree canopy is disappearing so fast now that local people will probably fry in the heat of Climate Change, if we don’t pass draconian stop the cutting laws immediately. Council person A got in a cat fight with Council person B so we must immediately form an emergency task force to write a Council Code of conduct. And the beat and wastes of time go on and on, seemingly forever.
I think a little less drama and a lot more very uncommon, common sense would serve us well during our Covid travails. I suspect the Mayor can function quite well with the power he already has, without being given any more “emergency” power. Good to remember that power always seeks more power, not less.
Don’t you think it’s time to stop with the digs at people because they think differently than you. Your suggestion & insult that the typical liberal is not an objective thinker erodes your own credibility. Instead of thinking that the 2 types of people’s politics are left and right, I think the 2 types are sincere, genuine thinkers, then there’s the rest. And for Clint’s sake, we need less crappy discussions and more cool ideas.
This gets relevant @ 4mins in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AfGt2CTOpc
You very obviously don’t like my comments so don’t read them.
The Edmonds City Council is Jar Jar Binks
https://youtu.be/ZuP2wvTAj0E
I am also concerned about the Ordinance proposed by Shane Hope. I hope City Council rejects it unanimously and sends a strong message that Council will not allow its role to be reduced.
Why is a new Emergency Ordinance proposed prior to addressing the issues with Ordinance No. 4177 and ECC 6.60? Ordinance No. 4177 is the Emergency Ordinance rushed into on Sunday, March 24, 2020. At that March 24th Council meeting, Councilmember Paine suggested that there be a more comprehensive review of ECC 6.60, to occur six weeks from that date.
Instead of 6 weeks later, a proposed Ordinance was brought before Council on September 15, 2020. That proposed Ordinance was flawed. My Edmonds News reported on September 16th that Council agreed to postpone a study item originally on the council agenda — a review of a code update for the city’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. Edmonds Mayor Mike Nelson said the item wasn’t yet ready for council discussion.
The City’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) is a big deal. ECC 6.60 is the related City Code – the Code that defines what an emergency is. Per Resolution 1386, the CEMP adopted by Council in April of 2017 had to be reviewed and updated at least once every two calendar years. If Resolution 1386 is correct, we have been violating State Law for some time now. This may impact our eligibility for funding.
The September 15th Council Agenda Packet represents the CEMP is due to be updated this year, which is different than what Resolution 1386 states.
An update to the CEMP is nowhere to be found on the Council’s extended agenda. I hope City Council rejects this proposed new emergency ordinance, fixes ECC 6.60 and makes sure we have a solid CEMP in place by year end.
If theo performance of our governor is any guide, the mayor should definitely NOT be granted any more power.
I fully and enthusiastically support this emergency ordinance. The executive branch of the state Gov’t has been given the authority to close (or severely restrict) businesses with no input from the legislative branch. Whether you like that authority or not, this authority was given to Inslee to help combat the health aspects of this virus. Hence, you have businesses being closed or severely restricted on as little as 48 hours notice.
While no remedy will eliminate the pain being felt by our small businesses, the remedies that can play a small part to help are mostly with the city (other than, meaningful federal stimulus). What this ordinance does is provide the talented city staff and the Mayor the opportunity to quickly help implement a plan or cut through red tape to provide much needed help in a dire and urgent time. City government was designed to work slowly and methodically. In my view, it’s basic fairness to the businesses and employees of the small businesses in our city
to provide the same urgency.
The mayor’s recent executive action was to command to the EPD (who work for him now) to nullify state drivers license laws.
All of what you reference can be accomplished without the Council granting broad and vague powers to the mayor. Meeting can be called and attended via zoom. The Council can then exercise its authority and if needed for a specific reason, they can grant the Mayor Emergency powers based on a specific need. And the talents and abilities of all city staff can shine through. But there must be a showing by the Mayor, who is an attorney, of an emergency needed resolution. At the present, none has been shown. There is an ongoing crisis, but an urgent emergency? Then what is it? Exactly?
Diane –
With all respect, I personally have spoken to dozens of small business owners that would counter your assertion that there is no urgent emergency and I have restaurant workers in my family that would also counter that statement. I agree, everything stated “can” be accomplished without council granting broad and specific powers to the Mayor. However, some of those actions will be a day late and a dollar short. That has nothing to do with lack of action or desire to help from our council members. I have been impressed by the work the Council has done so far and know all members care deeply about the businesses in our city. But, a one week delay in action can be the different between closing for good and surviving. Providing the Mayor and city staff the ability to be nimble and spur immediate action is a difference maker right now.
What possible action can the Mayor take, by only an emergency grant, that is going help restaurant workers this week?
Reading the proposed language in the Council packet, the emergency authority conveyed to the Mayor is limited in scope to ignoring Edmonds City Code and granting use of City property and Right of Way to allow businesses to operate in ways otherwise not allowed (e.g. outdoor dining in R.O.W.) in order to help overcome economic hardship resulting from obedience to the Governor’s 11/15 restrictions.
However, if this is passed, the Council should also simultaneously make a Resolution to be sent to the Governor, because the ordinance language acknowledges that the need for the ordinance is because the Governor’s order is anticipated to “actually cause, on balance, more harm than good.”
And who will assume the liability for those businesses set up in a public right of way? If a worker trips on the uneven sidewalk while serving someone? The City? Or if a a structure is hit by a car? All things to be considered and best to be done by the Council. The Governor has restricted various industries, this proposed action give the Mayor the opportunity to favor or disfavor, specific businesses. Edmonds has many restaurants many of which are not in the downtown area and they are hurting as well but are being ignored for the most part. The reason for the Governors most recent orders is the surge in the virus, and Edmonds is currently experiencing that surge. It is a complex issue and one that should be handled fairly and with a deliberately even hand. Including all of our business not just the ones in the downtown area. It is a tough job, but it is and should remain with the Council.
Where is ‘Consent of the Governed’ ??
All I know for sure is the televised Council Meeting will make great “self quarantine after travel entertainment” tomorrow night. I’ve got plenty of popcorn and Pub (Cheap) Beer on hand to enjoy with it, since I can’t go to Salish Sea for good beer due to the big “emergency”, or, I mean crisis.
Ron W. you’re incorrect. I appreciate who you are and what you have contributed to Edmonds over the years. I will continue to read your comments and try to learn from them. Granted however, the gratuitous insults are not my style. We likely have more in common than we can see.
The “emergency” it turns out is that the special event permits for those Streateries have expired and under current code cannot be renewed. The police and engineering departments have expressed concerns about the safety of those structures. The City is the holy named insured for them as well. In violating its own codes and having fully knowledge of the safety issues, the Mayor should not be given the authority to extend them, that is an issue for the Council. Any lawsuit because of these problems could expose the City to an expensive liability. The Council should carefully consider all the context of this. But that sure explains the urgency and the emergency.
Have any of these restaurants considered contracting with social services to provide meals to those in need and providing relief in a way that doesn’t involve the City granting favors?
The reseraunts should unionize, refuse to close. Unite Or Die.
Ben Franklin
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Join,_or_Die
What is the Edmonds Downtown Alliance exactly? To me, this is what it should be for.
What are you talking about? Swedens deathrate has leveled off.
This is really just the local aspect of a National failure to insure the survival of our huge food and hospitality service industries, that have largely replaced our manufacturing base, due to off shoring of those type jobs. Locally the mayor and council were just doing what they could to help that segment of our local economy survive. I suspect they mean well and would like to continue to help this segment as much as possible locally. It seems unlikely to me that winter curbside dining in the NW is likely to become a popular thing, however, and traffic and dining rooms don’t mix very well.
If the Federal response had been to prop up the food and hospitality industries (where the virus spreads most surely and most rapidly) with no interest and forgivable loans and generous and long lasting unemployment benefits for the employees, we wouldn’t be in such dire straits now, with uncontrollable spread; and the recovery after the vaccine would be much quicker.
Based on all the shopping for T.G. I saw when I restocked my kitchen after being gone three weeks; the local hospitals will be alive (ironically speaking) with Covid cases by Christmas. This will all be much worse, before it is much better. The irony is mask wearing, social distancing, and no crowded eating and drinking would have stopped this thing in it’s tracks. And these aren’t even hard things to accomplish, if you think about it.