A new effort to form a coalition of south Snohomish County cities isn’t focusing on any particular issue, Edmonds City Council President Richard Marin said.
“We’re not here to do battle with anybody, but there is strength in numbers,” Marin said during welcoming remarks at the group’s first meeting.
Its next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 25 at Edmonds City Hall.
Elected officials from Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mill Creek, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo and Woodway met at Edmonds City Hall to talk about whether a united voice would carry more weight in addressing common concerns.
Edmonds Councilwoman Peggy Pritchard Olson, who was named chairwoman of the group, and fellow Council member Mauri Moore threw out the first item for consideration: Initiative 912 and the effect the measure to repeal the newly enacted gas tax would have on city budgets.
“Do you all know what you stand to lose if 912 passes?” Moore asked.
Pritchard Olson added: “I don’t know if your roads are as bad as Edmonds’ … We’re now on a 65-year (repaving) cycle.
“I’d like to go on record supporting the gas tax.”
Pritchard Olson offered that each of the city representatives could go to their councils and hopefully gain consensus.
The potential for lost revenue struck a chord with Mukilteo Councilwoman Cathy Reese.
“Ever since (Initiative) 695 passed, we’ve been faced with declining revenue,” Reese said. “I feel like we have to apologize because (initiative leader) Tim Eyman lives in our city.”
Mountlake Terrace City Councilman Doug Wittinger said he supports a joint resolution on an issue such as taxes. “It will take the edge off for those of us running for office” this fall, Wittinger said.
An item that drew responses is the cities’ interaction with Snohomish County on growth and annexation issues.
Other issues Simmonds raised included possible expansion of commercial flight service at Paine Field and permits for cell phone service towers. “We’ve just had an explosion (of cell towers),” he said.
Also discussed was loosening restrictions on how cities can spend revenue from real estate excise taxes.
Moore said given the geography and population represented by the group, she doubted it would be a problem getting the attention of local state lawmakers on that issue. All told, the members represent about 136,375 county residents and around $2.6 billion in taxable, annual retail sales, Marin said.
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