Edmonds City Council to consider reproductive freedom resolutions July 5

The Edmonds City Council at its Tuesday, July 5 meeting will consider whether to approve a resolution supporting reproductive freedom, in response to the June 24 U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe vs. Wade.

Councilmembers voted 3-4 at their June 28 meeting against a motion to add a reproductive freedom resolution drafted by Councilmember Laura Johnson to that meeting’s agenda. Those speaking against the motion — which was supported by Councilmembers Laura Johnson, Susan Paine and Will Chen — said they wanted time to consider the resolution’s language and hear from the community prior to voting on the matter.

In response to comments received since the resolution was first proposed, Council President Vivian Olson has offered a second resolution for consideration, in addition to the original resolution submitted by Laura Johnson.

“Both contain calls for action to guarantee safe access to the full range of reproductive care and services,” the council agenda memo for Tuesday night notes.

Additionally, there is a third option included for council consideration — recommended by a community member as an alternative to a council resolution: The council “could make a motion to support the creation of a voluntary, Edmonds Community online petition on Change.org (by adapting the resolution Council selects, as submitted or amended, to be from ‘the below signed elected and residents of the City of Edmonds’).

“This would include paying for the modest associated costs from the council contingency fund, creating media releases to reach community members who want to show their support, and creating and sending letters and emails to Governor Inslee and our state and federal representatives, which would reference the link to our online petition indicating that the below-signed Edmonds elected and residents support the referenced resolution,” the council agenda memo explained.

Also on the council agenda for Tuesday night:

– The annual report from the Edmonds Municipal Court

– A proposed update to Edmonds City Code that would allow impact fee waivers for early learning facilities. (Read more in our previous story here.)

– An interlocal agreement with the City of Lynnwood regarding a proposal to renovate the Meadowdale Playfields. Lynnwood plans to include a fully inclusive playground there, with the City of Edmonds paying half the $500,000 cost.

– Continuation of training related to the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) that was started during the council’s Feb. 25 retreat.

The hybrid meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in council chambers, Public Safety Complex, 250 5th Ave. N., in downtown Edmonds. Those who want to comment virtually in lieu of in-person attendance can click on or paste the following Zoom meeting link into a web browser using a computer or smart phone: https://zoom.us/j/95798484261
Or you can comment by phone: US: +1 253 215 8782 Webinar ID: 957 9848 4261.

Regular council meetings beginning at 7 p.m. are streamed live on the council meeting webpage, Comcast channel 21 and Ziply channel 39.

Prior to the 7 p.m. business meeting, the council will meet in executive session starting at 6:15 p.m. to discuss pending or potential litigation, followed by an open session to interview a candidate for the Edmonds Historic Preservation Commission.

 

  1. I am fairly confident that a council resolution for reproductive rights won’t make any difference in our state. This will become a divisive council resolution and will serve only the political purpose of those proposing it. How about we propose some things that all citizens can support or stand behind? The political climate today is about causing division and supporting only your viewpoint. It wasn’t that long ago when your party supported what the other party supports now and visa versa.
    How about a resolution to clean up the beach? Remove graffiti up and down 99 or bring more services to help our senior citizens?

    Everyone can support this type thinking or we can keep adding resolutions from the political talking points we already hear about day in and day out.

    1. Perfect I agree. It is just going to cause more anger, more violence, and more separation. I say the STATE has this we do not need it here and it will not supercede sp State Law. Leave it alone. WE have much bigger fish to fry here in Edmonds. Like constant robberies, constant danger, its bad folks. We need to focus on that and keeping this town more in the center for all. It is our best bet to survive all of us whether Dem or Rep etc etc.

  2. I oppose both resolutions that have been proposed. We do not need to perpetuate the division between people by voicing the political talking points of the day, this is not the City Council’s mission/job.
    I propose the City Council reject all actions related to this subject–no action is required, this is merely political babble. Move on to the important business of Edmonds. Focus on the jobs at hand for the betterment of our community.

  3. Making this City business is roughly equal to being mad at your Father and smacking your little sister when no one’s looking to get even somehow. It might feel good, but it’s abusive to your sister and just makes you look like a nut in terms of accomplishing anything meaningful for your cause.

  4. The agenda for tonight’s meeting looks like it has some important topics, especially improving Meadowdale Playfields so that more people can use them.
    But the rest of the meeting will be overshadowed by the pointless resolution that will have ZERO effect on protecting reproductive rights in Edmonds, WA State or the USA.
    I never hear about partisan problems like this in Lynnwood or MLT.

  5. We agree with Helen Hall’s comments. We do not agree with the resolutions proposed. Reproductive proposals do not belong at the city level.
    No action is required. Edmonds has other business about which it needs to be concerned including the proposals for rt 99.. The crime blotter along the route is tragic. Let’s be concerned about city issues.

  6. Frankly this resolution will impact the lives of zero Washington residents. It is purely symbolic. It is clear to me that the progressive wing of Edmonds City Council could not care less about Edmonds, and are using this position as a stepping stone into the nasty, divisive, hot button culture war issues of national politics that in reality effect nearly none of us.

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