What's New...

Monday, September 11, 2017 until close of business ~ by direction of Governor Jay Inslee, flags are to be flown at half-staff for national Patriot Day, the annual memorial to the victims of the 2001 tragedy.

State money matched by $295,000 in local funding to begin design, environmental and permitting work. To see press release click here.

The City of Edmonds is receiving national recognition for its efforts to promote solar energy. SolSmart, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative, is awarding a Bronze designation to the City for taking important first steps to promote solar energy production and usage. Edmonds is the first city in the state to achieve this designation. Read more here.

The Highway 99 Area Plan and code update approved by the City Council on August are effective today, August 25th. Read more about this planning effort here. The adopted plan and code documents can be viewed here by looking under the "Documents" tab.

By Mayor Dave Earling

I seldom comment on national issues, but the wrong in Charlottesville and the resulting failure of leadership and national outcry this past weekend points out wrongs on so many levels. read more

Bicycle Counts Continue
Edmonds is continuing to conduct bicycle counts to understand how many people currently ride bikes in the streets where the proposed bicycle routes / bike lanes will be added later this Fall. Counts will also be completed after construction in order to determine how the new routes affect ridership. These counts are occurring quarterly until Fall 2017. The bicycle counts are scheduled for June 27th through June 29th at the following locations:

·        76th Avenue W & Olympic View Drive
·        9th Avenue S & Walnut Street
·        76th Avenue W & 212th Street SW
·        80th Avenue W & 224th Street SW 

The City of Edmonds is working to develop an Urban Forest Management Plan that will primarily focus on managing trees on public properties and in public rights-of-way.  The plan will also consider some community-wide issues, for example, the community's total tree canopy, the role of trees in critical wildlife habitat corridors throughout the city and opportunities for public education.

Public input is welcome, so please tell us your thoughts by taking this SURVEY.

A public open house about managing the City’s trees will be held June 22, Thursday in the Brackett Room (3^rd floor) of City Hall, 121 Fifth Avenue North, Edmonds.  The public can drop by anytime between 6:30 and 8:00 pm.  A presentation will be given at 7:00 pm.

“We want to share information and hear from people,” said Mayor Dave Earling, “about how the City’s urban forest— the trees and tree canopy—should be managed over the long term.  For example, do we need more trees in some places?  What kind?  Should all trees be saved, no matter what?” 

Development of an urban forest management plan for Edmonds is underway.  It follows up on discussion from two years ago of a draft tree code that would have affected the planting and cutting of trees on private property.

When the City Council determined to not adopt the draft tree code, the Council confirmed that it wanted to find the right balance for managing trees and to especially consider trees in the right of way and on public property.  An urban forest management could help do this.

Last year, a consulting firm, Davey Resource Group, was chosen to help develop an urban forest management plan for Edmonds.  The firm has been gathering information from Tree Board members and City staff.  Now broader public outreach is beginning.

The June 22 open house will show what’s been learned so far about the City’s tree canopy and managing trees in an urban environment.  Everyone is invited. 

The first and last parts of the open house will allow people to view displays and talk informally.  At 7:00 pm, a presentation will be given about the scope of the urban forest plan and next steps to develop it.  Questions and comments are welcome.

Joint endeavor of City of Edmonds staff and Western Washington University students covered a wide array of projects. For more information click here.

Edmonds Business Owners To Get a Boost from Free Small Business Workshop. Click here for more information.

The Edmonds Diversity Commission offers small grants for community projects that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion sought for funding. For more information see press release here. For application click here.