While we’ve had our share of comments on My Edmonds News lately about the Edmonds City Council proposal to place a property tax levy before voters, a common complaint by those who go regularly is that no one bothers to actually attend the meetings to tell the council what they think. So citizens of Edmonds,…
Adrienne Fraley-Monillas
Edmonds City Council agrees to delay vote on attorney contract until Thursday
The Edmonds City Council agreed Tuesday night to delay by two days a vote on whether to approve an agreement with the Lighthouse Law Group to become Edmonds’ new city attorney. Since the council didn’t receive the final Lighthouse contract until a few hours before the meeting, Councilmembers D.J. Wilson and Adrienne Fraley-Monillas both said…
Council votes to require fire sprinkler systems in residential construction
After a significant amount of discussion and a number of failed motions and amendments, the Edmonds City Council Tuesday night approved an ordinance that requires installation of residential fire sprinkler systems in new construction of one-family and two-family homes and townhouses that are 3,000 square feet or larger in size. The issue came before council…
Council looks to hire budget analyst as information concerns continue
The Edmonds City Council Tuesday night wasn’t able to pass the city’s proposed mid-year budget amendment — a source of recent controversy — but Council President Steve Bernheim said he will bring it back for reconsideration at next week’s meeting. Tuesday’s vote on the proposed budget adjustment, made mid-year to bring the beginning budget balances…
Voters will face $40-per-vehicle fee hike to fund road, sidewalk projects
The Edmonds City Council on Tuesday night decided by a 4-3 vote to place a proposal on the November general election ballot that would fund 37 separate city traffic safety, congestion and pedestrian improvements — using a $40-per-vehicle increase in licensing fees assessed to Edmonds residents. The proposal to place the measure on the ballot,…
Awaiting the Taste: How those ‘Best’ dishes are judged
Those of us who attend the Taste of Edmonds each year have seen banners displayed at certain food booths, declaring that their offerings are the Taste’s “best.” So how do those foods get recognized? It all happens at the “Taste Off” on the festival’s first day — this year Friday, Aug. 13. Based on sampling…
City Council appoints Mike Cooper to be Edmonds’ new mayor
Current Snohomish County Councilmember Mike Cooper was appointed Mayor of Edmonds Tuesday night, and he said he will immediately resign from his County Council seat so that he can officially take the job. A former City of of Shoreline firefighter who also served two terms representing Edmonds in the state Legislature, Cooper said he is…
Council interviews eight who hope to become Edmonds’ next mayor
What stood out from the Edmonds City Council interviews of potential mayoral candidates Tuesday night? The extended qualifications of several, and the realization that the council will have a tough choice on its hands when it makes a decision via majority vote next Tuesday. If you didn’t have a chance to attend in person, you…
Edmonds City Council moves ahead on hearing for city manager government
The Edmonds City Council move closer to adopting a city manager form of government Tuesday night, voting 4-2 to hold a public hearing July 20 to obtain citizen comment and possibly take action to place the measure on the Nov. 2 general election ballot. Councilmember Michael Plunkett, who has been advocating for the switch in…
Councilmembers share thoughts about mayor’s retirement, next steps
Edmonds city councilmembers were taken by surprise when Mayor Gary Haakenson unexpectedly announced his resignation Tuesday night, but on Wednesday they were quick to offer their well wishes, as well as their thoughts for next steps in filling the position being vacated by the city’s three-term mayor. Haakenson, who was named by Snohomish County Executive…
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Fireworks in more ways than one at Edmonds Council meeting Tuesday
With two councilmembers absent and a light agenda, the Edmonds City Council finished its business in one hour and 15 minutes Tuesday night. But two issues stood out from the meeting, during which councilmembers renewed a couple of interim city ordinances and amended its Community Development Code to adopt updated International Building Codes. – Ron…
Edmonds councilmembers’ town hall meeting at Five Corners Friday
Edmonds City Councilmembers Diane Buckshnis and Adrienne Fraley-Monillas are hosting another monthly town hall meeting — this time at Five Corners — on Friday, May 28 from 6-8 p.m. The meeting will be at Caffe Ladro, 8340 Main St. All Edmonds residents are invited to stop by and share their thoughts on “how you envision…
Edmonds City Council says no to raise for mayor, yes to levy committee
Despite a recommendation from a citizens’ commission, Edmonds Mayor Gary Haakenson won’t be getting a raise anytime soon. The Edmonds City Council voted 4-1 to direct staff to create an ordinance — and bring it back for council approval — that would repeal a measure passed last year to increase mayor’s salary from $113,210 to…
Edmonds City Council agrees to process for filling vacant seat
The Edmonds City Council Tuesday night agreed to a process for filling the council seat being vacated by Councilmember Dave Orvis as of May 31. The notice of a council vacancy and an application form will be posted on the city’s website Wednesday. All applications are due back by June 21, and interviews will be…
Time to conduct ‘due diligence’ focus of Skippers counter offer
The Edmonds City Council spent nearly two hours in executive session Friday morning considering a counter offer from Cascade Bank in response to the council’s $1.1 million offer for the vacant Skippers restaurant property across from the Edmonds ferry terminal. The bank’s counter offer didn’t involve a change in the purchase price, however. Instead, it…
Councilmembers to hold monthly meeting in Firdale Village
Firdale Village is the next stop for Edmonds City Councilmembers Diane Buckshnis and Adrienne Fraley-Monillas, as they continue their monthly Town Hall meetings on the last Friday of the month in various Edmonds neighborhoods. This Friday night’s meeting will run from 6-8 p.m. at the Colonial Pantry Family Restaurant, 9627 Firdale Ave. Citizens are invited…
Council agrees to make $1.1 million offer for vacant Skippers property
The Edmonds City Council voted 5-2 Tuesday night to make an offer to purchase the vacant Skippers Restaurant property located across from the Edmonds Ferry Terminal for $1.1 million. Councilmembers D.J. Wilson and Strom Peterson were the dissenting votes, both stating that they believed it was fiscally irresponsible to make such a purchase given the…
Council to consider Bernheim’s revised plan to limit campaign donations
The Edmonds City Council on Tuesday night will consider a revised proposal by Councilmember Steve Bernheim to place a $500 limit on contributions to campaigns for city council and mayoral races. In a memo accompanying the revised ordinance, Bernheim noted that he lowered the limit from $750 based on feedback he received from council members…
Council can’t agree on content limits for city-sponsored web pages
The Edmonds City Council had a lengthy discussion Tuesday night about a proposed policy that would regulate how councilmembers communicate online — both through social media like Facebook and Twitter and on members’ individual pages on the City of Edmonds website. However, the proposal failed 3-4 after councilmembers expressed concerns about the policy either being too…
Edmonds’ newest councilmembers schedule monthly Town Hall meetings
Unwilling or unable to speak your mind about city matters at an Edmonds City Council meeting? Feeling disenfranchised with city government? Starting Friday, Feb. 26, you’ll have a monthly opportunity to express your opinions outside of the council chambers. Edmonds City Council members Diane Buckshnis and Adrienne Fraley-Monillas will begin sponsoring monthly Town Hall meetings…