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In a follow-up to her initial effort last month, Edmond City Councilmember Vivian Olson hosted a second community “listening session” on Sunday afternoon in the Edmonds Library first-floor meeting space. She was joined at the head table by Councilmembers Will Chen and Jenna Nand. Unlike the earlier meeting — which drew more than 50 participants — about a dozen people attended Sunday’s session.
The initial aim was to provide a forum for further discussion of issues raised at the first meeting (among them, the Lynnwood wastewater treatment plant expansion, Edmonds’ multi-family tax exemption and a citizen financial advisory board).
But the subsequent publication of a report/assessment by community volunteer Kevin Harris on the state of public engagement in Edmonds — and the robust public reaction it received — prompted Olson to pivot and make this the primary focus of Sunday’s session. Harris’ assessment concludes that public engagement in Edmonds is “broken,” and calls for what he terms a “reboot” of the entire process (see our previous story on Harris’ proposal here, and read his full report here),
After introductions, Olson invited Harris to the front table to provide background on his report, his methodology and his conclusions.
“My report is an assessment,” Harris began. “It’s not my opinions — it’s what I heard people tell me in the 40-plus interviews that form the basis of the report. It’s not a blame game. The only thing that’s mine in the report is at the end, where I make process recommendations on what I think some steps may be moving forward. I would love it if you read it.”
Harris went on to explain that his report is really a community listening document that organizes the common themes, frustrations and hopes that emerged during his 40-plus interviews with residents, civic leaders, business owners and officials. It uses this information to diagnose structural problems in Edmonds’ public engagement culture, and offers process-focused recommendations for more collaborative, consensus-seeking decision making. He was careful to point out that the report does not relitigate specific policy disagreements or offer policy prescriptions, adding that “it’s what people told me, not a personal manifesto.”
Sunday’s smaller group size allowed the discussion to be less structured, at times slipping into a lively give-and-take where participants – including Harris – freely shared ideas, thoughts and examples of their takes on public engagement in Edmonds and where they see its weaknesses and strengths. Harris was an active participant in these discussions, frequently joining in back-and-forth conversations.
Around the room, residents offered personal thoughts on Harris’ diagnosis.
Newcomer Pete Adams wondered whether a better engagement model is even financially feasible, while longtime activist Joe Scordino pressed hard on “broken” governance processes, calling for options‑based staff reports and a real urban forest plan before rewriting tree rules. Other residents, like Chris Walton and Darrol Haug, stressed that culture and leadership must change alongside process, and a Planning Board critic warned that when people who do show up feel brushed off, mistrust only deepens.
With the clock running down, Olson concluded discussion on Harris’ assessment so that the meeting could devote the remaining time to further discussion/feedback on the issues raised at the first meeting.
This prompted an Edmonds resident living near the Lynnwood wastewater plant to speak about a growing neighborhood group opposed to the proposed plant expansion. He cited EPA Region 10 findings and a $550,000 fine against the City of Lynnwood for past Clean Air Act violations, criticized alleged mismanagement and misinformation, and asked Edmonds leaders to actively protect and represent the 600 or so nearby residents.
The meeting concluded with closing remarks from Olson and Councilmembers Chen and Nand. Taken together, these pointed in the same direction: Edmonds will have to confront its fiscal realities and decide what level of service it truly wants, but that decision must be built on broader, deeper community engagement. Nand framed the new council leadership as a bridge between levy skeptics and supporters. Chen argued that at a minimum the city must restore its financial footing while working with residents to choose between a “Mercedes” and a “Toyota” government. And Olson promised to carry Sunday’s candid input into the Council’s Feb. 6 retreat as it begins reshaping both its priorities and the way it listens.
Sorry I didn’t make it. Thanks for putting this on!
Will’s Mercedes vs. Toyota analogy makes me chuckle a bit. Anyone who has worked in the automotive service industry like I have knows that the reliability and all around quality of most any Toyota is much better than just about any Mercedes. Beware of the need to seek status over just simple living. It’s a sure money waster.
I also found the analogy imperfect as to what was intended versus what reality is. Anyone who has even a passing knowledge of vehicles knows and understands that Mercedes is mostly glitter and Marketing, while Toyota is engineered efficiency and excellence. One is expensive to purchase, operate and maintain. The other is moderately affordable to purchase, operate and maintain. It also last 2-3 times longer properly cared for. I’ll take a 10-year old Toyota Camry over a 10-year old Mercedes anything.
By all means let’s talk about cars. Having owned both and allowing for different models at different ages on the road, the Mercedes was a dream at 60-90 mph. No competition at those speeds with my Toyota. Should Chen have used a Russian Lada vs a Swedish Volvo? Or let’s keep it American and compare a Ford Pinto to a Buick LaCrosse? At any rate, how about giving the guy a break. Perhaps his choice for analogy could improve. At least he’s out on a Sunday working for the city.
Mike, I can’t speak for Kurt, but my point wasn’t to put Will down, it was to warn you and all the other good people of Edmonds to be careful what they wish for or perceive as a great and lasting value. I don’t always agree with Will, but he’s a good human being and may just become a really good Council Person for everyone in town. His vote on the drinking water aquifer was greatly appreciated by me and other EEC members for sure. I’m sure he knew that nights and weekends would be a condition of the part-time city council gig going in. Lada vs. Volvo . . . . mmm , that does work much better but there are a lot of really bad Volvo models to avoid in the car universe too.
Good reporting of meeting. Thanks Larry.
“About a dozen people attended.”
There are over 30,000 registered voters in Edmonds. That’s quite a big gap in the missed potential for engagement between elected officials and residents. There’s a whole body of research on how to build an engaged community. Will the Mayor or the Acting City Administration present that info to City Council? I hate waste. And the Council is wasting their time with this particular format of Listening Sessions.
I see attendance at this sort of event as a measure of trust. Low participation can either mean people are content and trust their representatives, or they have mostly given up and don’t see a benefit to showing up. It seems pretty clear that trust is pretty low these days. As elected city government slowly builds back trust, I would expect the number of participants for these types of gatherings to increase. They have to start somewhere, eh?
Echo your statement. Many folks just aren’t interested in getting involved or too busy. I like the small events, a little more personal, easier to get to know your electeds.
Having MEN cover these events magnifies the audience, allows for input for the next meeting.
Please continue.
Agreed, John. All of these things can be true and additionally we also have a lot of working people who rely on weekends to get other things done, or who even work on weekends. And a lot of families who attend youth sports practice and games or just try to grab what little free time they have on a weekend afternoon. A lot of working people are busy and we need to do a better job to provide forums that are easier for them to participate in. Our City’s average age is around 45 years old and decreasing as even more working people move in.