Edmonds council urges levy passage

EDMONDS — The Edmonds City Council presented a united force Tuesday night, asking residents to vote on a levy increase in November.

The size and scope of the levy will need to be decided by July 28 to be placed on this year’s ballot, Council President D.J. Wilson said before the unanimous vote.

The city needs a multimillion-dollar cash infusion to prevent dramatic service cuts, including the possible closure of Yost Pool and slashed parks maintenance budgets.

“We need to put this levy on the ballot, and we need to commit to our community that we’ll move forward,” Wilson said.

Mayor Gary Haakenson presented a $3.75 million levy option at a June 16 meeting.

Haakenson told the council he questions whether this is the right time to submit a tax request to voters.

“There is no doubt in my mind that we need to submit a levy request to the voters of Edmonds,” he said. “But I continue to question the timing of it.”

The responsible thing is to act sooner rather than later, Councilman Steve Bernheim said. Voters should have the opportunity to decide whether money from a levy should go into a special fund or be mixed with the general fund, he said.

“What I believe we should do is tell the citizens what our parks cost, tell the citizens what Yost Pool costs, tell the citizens what our parks and recreational programs costs and ask the people if they want to pay for those,” he said. “If they don’t, then they can go on the chopping block.”

Going out for a levy in 2010 would mean competing with other levies, mainly a schools operation and maintenance levy, Councilman Ron Wambolt said.

Councilman Michael Plunkett said he preferred to wait until 2010 for a levy request but felt it was important for the council to be united in its decision.

“I still think it’s best next year. But in light of my colleagues, I have to substitute my opinion for, in this case, what I think is most important for the community, and that is for the council to speak with one voice,” he said.