EDMONDS — A controversial plan to purchase the former Skippers Seafood ‘N Chowder site for $1.1 million is off the table.
The city was unable to convince the property owner, Cascade Bank, to give the city more time to conduct environmental and financial assessments of the property. Edmonds’ written offer lapsed without a counter offer from the bank.
“There’s no offer on the table,” City Council President Steve Bernheim said with little fanfare after an executive session during Tuesday’s council meeting.
Now the council can turn its attention to its budget.
Mayor Gary Haakenson, by state law, is required to prepare a balanced budget. The 2011-12 budget will be presented to council Oct. 1. Council is expected to pass a budget by year’s end.
One possibility to help with the city’s finances is to consider asking voters to pass a levy.
“Regardless if we run a levy or not, the budget I present to (council) — it won’t be pretty,” Haakenson said. “There will be severe budget cuts. This time it will be people.”
Should the council wait until December to decide on a levy, due to the legal process it wouldn’t appear on the ballot until June 2011.
That’s too close for comfort for Councilman D.J. Wilson.
“I am panicked,” Wilson said. “I don’t want to fire cops and close parks. We don’t always have the luxury of time. We are heading into the red.”
At least one councilwoman was skeptical about asking voters to pass a levy.
“I won’t be bullied into a levy,” Councilwoman Adrienne Fraley-Monillas said. “I need to have all the information in front of me. I have to be comfortable to explain (a levy) to the citizens. There are so many questions. I don’t have adequate information. I feel like (we) are pushing panic on the citizens. This is not ‘Chicken Little’ and the sky is not falling, yet.”
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