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…
D.J. Wilson
Officials get a lesson in what it takes to form a regional fire service
A group of about 75 representatives of South Snohomish and North King County municipalities — including mayors, city councilmembers, city managers and fire chiefs — packed the third floor of Edmonds City Hall Monday night to learn more about what it takes to form a Regional Fire Protection Service Authority. The meeting in the Brackett…
Edmonds mayor tells councilmembers he won’t sign their budget
Updated with letter from Mayor; councilmember comments My Edmonds News has learned that Mayor Mike Cooper won’t be signing the 2011 city budget that was approved last week by the Edmonds City Council. Cooper’s decision doesn’t affect budget implementation, since under city law it will become effective without his signature. It does, however, reflect the…
2011 budget passes Edmonds City Council – now awaits mayor’s signature
The Edmonds City Council passed its version of the 2011 city budget Tuesday night, and the next step is a signature by Mayor Mike Cooper. The vote was 6-1, with Councilmember D.J. Wilson voting no. Wilson called the budget “irresponsible” because it doesn’t fund important initiatives and isn’t sustainable long term. Some of Wilson’s fellow…
Edmonds Council president ‘overstepped authority’ but no charges in sign issue
The Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said it won’t charge Edmonds City Council President Steve Bernheim with a crime for removing one “No Dogs Allowed” sign and spray painting another along Sunset Avenue Oct. 30. “While Bernheim has overstepped his authority, I don’t believe that a jury of his peers would convict him of either…
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…
Citizen Harry: About that $2 million question from the Edmonds Council
Publisher’s note: The following report from My Edmonds News correspondent “Citizen Harry” Gatjens focuses on details surrounding last Tuesday night’s discussion regarding the proposed Edmonds City Council mid-year budget adjustment. Gatjens, an accountant, is familiar with city budget issues due to his work on the 2010 Citizens Levy Committee. The Edmonds City Council’s consideration of…
City Council approves new street, lighting, walkway projects for Edmonds
From installing overlays on a beat-up stretch of Dayton Street from Highway 104 to the railroad tracks, to re-aligning the intersection of Highway 99 at 228th and adding a new traffic signal, the Edmonds City Council Tuesday night unanimously approved a six-year Transportation Improvement Program that includes a range of street improvement projects in neighborhoods…
Submit your questions for Edmonds CC candidates’ forum Wednesday
Have a question for candidates running for 1st or 21st Legislative District State Representative positions? Email it to teresa@myedmondsnews.com. It may be one of the questions asked by panelists during this Wednesday’s Civic Engagement Forum at the Black Box Theater at Edmonds Community College this Wednesday. The forum includes 21st District candidates Marko Liias, the…
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Council decides against changes to ‘medical activity center’ neighborhood
Residents living in single-family homes near Edmonds-Woodway High School and Swedish/Edmonds Hospital — officially known in the City of Edmonds Comprehensive Plan as the Medical/Highway 99 Activity Center — gave passionate testimony Tuesday night about why the City Council shouldn’t change the way development is regulated in their neighborhood. At issue during the City Council…
City, church leaders find solution to Edmonds homeless shelter concerns
Publisher’s note: My Edmonds News contributed this story as part of a series that its online news partner, The Seattle Times, is running on homelessnesss. It was an image that stayed with Edmonds City Councilmember D.J. Wilson: A homeless mother and her small children sleeping in a car in Edmonds, trying to stay warm as…
City of Edmonds probing tree damage involving ex-Golf Savings Bank CEO
The City of Edmonds has launched an investigation into the destruction of public property after contractors working on a condominium project significantly damaged the root system of a 60-year-old Douglas Fir tree located partially on city right of way, requiring the tree’s removal the next day, city officials said. The condominium project is owned by…
D.J. Wilson comes in second in PCO voting for vacant County Council post
Democratic precinct committee officers from Snohomish County Council District 3 met Saturday morning to pick their top three candidates for the appointment to the seat left vacant by the resignation of Councilmember Mike Cooper, who is now Edmonds’ Mayor. The top vote-getter was Lynnwood City Councilmember Stephanie Wright, with 33 votes. Edmonds City Councilmember D.J….
Snohomish County Council candidate D.J. Wilson releases endorsement list
Last week, we noted the endorsements received by Lynnwood City Councilmember Stephanie Wright, candidate for the Snohomish County Council position that was vacated by Mike Cooper after he was appointed Edmonds mayor. Edmonds City Councilmember D.J. Wilson, who is also running for the appointment, said he would have his endorsement list completed this week, and…
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…
More on the 3rd District County Council race from Wright, Wilson
Stephanie Wright, vice president of the Lynnwood City Council and a candidate for the 3rd District Snohomish County Council seat being vacated by new Edmonds Mayor Mike Cooper, contacted My Edmonds News Friday to share additional information about her campaign. Wright noted that she has a Facebook page, here, and that her candidacy for the…
Field narrows to two for Cooper’s county council seat
The competition for the just-vacated 3rd District Snohomish County Council seat is down to two people, with the announcement by 21st District Rep. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds) that he will not be seeking appointment to the County Council seat being vacated by Mike Cooper, who will be sworn in Friday as Edmonds mayor. “I appreciate all…
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…
Mayor vs. city manager: A recap of how we got here and what’s next
On Tuesday, the Edmonds City Council will hold a public hearing — and possibly take action — on Councilmember Michael Plunkett’s idea to place before voters a proposal that would change Edmonds from a mayor-led to a city manager-led form of government. Given all of the recent government turnover — including the appointment of two…