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Mayor Appoints Whitney Rivera to Be Next Edmonds Municipal Court Judge
(Edmonds,WA) Mayor Mike Nelson today appointed Whitney Rivera to be Edmonds' next Municipal Court Judge. Stated Mayor Nelson, “I am excited to announce my judicial appointment of Whitney Rivera to the Edmonds Municipal Court. She brings forth vast trial court experience and has received multiple awards for taking innovative approaches in complicated cases. She has considerable experience working with underserved populations, working on issues of poverty, mental illness, and substance abuse that underlie so many misdemeanor cases.” read more Mayor Appoints Dave Turley as City Finance Director
Edmonds Mayor Mike Nelson today appointed Acting Finance Director Dave Turley to be the City’s next Finance Director.
“I am pleased to announce that that I am appointing Dave Turley to be our City’s Finance Director. Dave has served our City for four years as Assistant Finance Director and stepped up to be our Acting Director during the pandemic,” said Mayor Nelson. (read more)
“I am pleased to announce that that I am appointing Dave Turley to be our City’s Finance Director. Dave has served our City for four years as Assistant Finance Director and stepped up to be our Acting Director during the pandemic,” said Mayor Nelson. (read more)
FREE, Non-Invasive COVID Testing on November 23rd
In Partnership with Verdant and Medical Teams International, the City Encourages You to Get a COVID Test
The City is partnering with Verdant Health Commission and Medical Teams International to provide free, non-invasive COVID-19 testing Monday, Nov. 23rd from 10 am – 5 pm at the Edmonds Woodway High School South parking lot(enter off of 76th Ave. W). This is a drive-thru event, but walk-ups will not be turned away.
“The goal is to test as many people in the community as possible,” said Edmonds Mayor Mike Nelson. “You may not be showing symptoms, but could still spread the virus. Getting tested protects your loved ones.” The City encourages residents to put the family in the car and get everyone tested.
How it works
Medical Teams International staff will register each person as they drive up. Clients will not touch the registration paper for infection control purposes. Individuals should bring ID and insurance cards if they have insurance. Insurance payments help offset the cost for those who can’t pay.
No clients will be turned away. The testing is free, no exceptions. Grant funding covers the cost of the tests, though most insurance companies cover the cost of the test with no expense to the client. When insurance is billed, there are more grant-funded tests for those without insurance.
Tests are sent to the University of Washington and results can easily be accessed online with a code that is provided at the Edmonds testing site. Test results are available 2-5 days after the test, however results may be available in as soon as 24-48 hours.
The testing method used is anterior nasal swabbing, resulting in less discomfort than other methods. About 1 cm of the swab is inserted into one nostril at a time and rotated for about 10 seconds. The test is safe for both children and adults.
To learn more about this event, please contact Jennifer Piplic, Director of Marketing and Communication at Verdant Health Commission: jennifer.piplic@verdanthealth.org or 425-582-8600.
The City is partnering with Verdant Health Commission and Medical Teams International to provide free, non-invasive COVID-19 testing Monday, Nov. 23rd from 10 am – 5 pm at the Edmonds Woodway High School South parking lot(enter off of 76th Ave. W). This is a drive-thru event, but walk-ups will not be turned away.
“The goal is to test as many people in the community as possible,” said Edmonds Mayor Mike Nelson. “You may not be showing symptoms, but could still spread the virus. Getting tested protects your loved ones.” The City encourages residents to put the family in the car and get everyone tested.
How it works
Medical Teams International staff will register each person as they drive up. Clients will not touch the registration paper for infection control purposes. Individuals should bring ID and insurance cards if they have insurance. Insurance payments help offset the cost for those who can’t pay.
No clients will be turned away. The testing is free, no exceptions. Grant funding covers the cost of the tests, though most insurance companies cover the cost of the test with no expense to the client. When insurance is billed, there are more grant-funded tests for those without insurance.
Tests are sent to the University of Washington and results can easily be accessed online with a code that is provided at the Edmonds testing site. Test results are available 2-5 days after the test, however results may be available in as soon as 24-48 hours.
The testing method used is anterior nasal swabbing, resulting in less discomfort than other methods. About 1 cm of the swab is inserted into one nostril at a time and rotated for about 10 seconds. The test is safe for both children and adults.
To learn more about this event, please contact Jennifer Piplic, Director of Marketing and Communication at Verdant Health Commission: jennifer.piplic@verdanthealth.org or 425-582-8600.
Mayor Responds to Offensive Disruption of Police Chief Public Forum Monday Evening
(Edmonds) Mayor Mike Nelson offers the following statement in response to the lewd and racist disruptions that occurred Monday evening during the Police Chief public forum on Zoom.
Last night a pathetic, hate-filled coward disrupted our Police Chief public forum on Zoom.
As we do with City Council meetings, I supported the open Zoom meeting format in order to remove as many barriers as possible for public participation. Other formats, such as watching a Zoom Webinar, require logging in with an email address, which some members of the public may not see as fully accessible. This public forum had the same security features as our regular City Council meetings because, as a government agency, we must be accessible and transparent. Of course, in any public setting, by its very nature, there is the risk of a few bad actors taking advantage of the open forum. Unfortunately, that happened last night when individual(s) with racist beliefs and unsavory conduct briefly interrupted the proceedings. read more
Last night a pathetic, hate-filled coward disrupted our Police Chief public forum on Zoom.
As we do with City Council meetings, I supported the open Zoom meeting format in order to remove as many barriers as possible for public participation. Other formats, such as watching a Zoom Webinar, require logging in with an email address, which some members of the public may not see as fully accessible. This public forum had the same security features as our regular City Council meetings because, as a government agency, we must be accessible and transparent. Of course, in any public setting, by its very nature, there is the risk of a few bad actors taking advantage of the open forum. Unfortunately, that happened last night when individual(s) with racist beliefs and unsavory conduct briefly interrupted the proceedings. read more
Applications being accepted for City Tree Board
The Edmonds Citizens’ Tree Board has at least one member position that will be vacant by the end of 2020. The City is seeking applications for that position and any other Tree Board positions that become available in the near future. The application form is available on the City’s website or by e-mailing jana.spellman@edmondswa.gov. Applications are due by December 4, 2020.
Mayor Offers Statement on Edmonds Child Wounded by Gun Shot
(Edmonds) After the Edmonds Police Department’s media release today regarding a domestic gun discharge this past weekend that left a young girl injured, Mayor Mike Nelson offers the following additional remarks:
I am very saddened to hear of a five-year-old girl shot by her father while he was unholstering his firearm at their Edmonds home.
This incident follows just a few short weeks after the tragic, armed, domestic violence case on Highway 99 that ended in a woman’s death.
I do not accept that accidents just happen, nor that domestic violence homicides are not preventable. Gun violence and harm are preventable and pose a clear and present danger to every community.
I will be working with our Chief of Police on prevention strategies that we as a city can take to prevent gun violence. This will include community-based gun safety programs, disarming domestic violence abusers with such tools as Extreme Risk Protection Orders, and lobbying our State Legislature to mandate gun-safety training, as well as to enact legislation that would give local governments the authority to put stronger laws into place that better protect our communities.
I am very saddened to hear of a five-year-old girl shot by her father while he was unholstering his firearm at their Edmonds home.
This incident follows just a few short weeks after the tragic, armed, domestic violence case on Highway 99 that ended in a woman’s death.
I do not accept that accidents just happen, nor that domestic violence homicides are not preventable. Gun violence and harm are preventable and pose a clear and present danger to every community.
I will be working with our Chief of Police on prevention strategies that we as a city can take to prevent gun violence. This will include community-based gun safety programs, disarming domestic violence abusers with such tools as Extreme Risk Protection Orders, and lobbying our State Legislature to mandate gun-safety training, as well as to enact legislation that would give local governments the authority to put stronger laws into place that better protect our communities.
Police Chief Candidates' Public Forum
The November 9, 2020 Public Forum with Edmonds' Police Chief Candidates Sherman Pruitt and Jim Lawless can be viewed here.
Sherman Pruitt Jim Lawless
City Webpage Explains Tree Code Update
A new webpage, http://treecode.edmondswa.gov, has been posted for the public to learn about and provide comments on the tree code update that the City has undertaken.
Edmonds Police Issues New Order on Driving While License Suspended Third Degree
(Edmonds, WA) - Acting Chief Jim Lawless yesterday issued a General Order to all Edmonds Police Department personnel stating that, as standard practice, the Department will no longer file a criminal case for the sole offense of Driving While License Suspended in the Third Degree.
Typically, this offense results from a driver failing to pay the ticket or appear in court for a prior moving violation, like speeding or rolling through a stop sign.
Instead, officers will cite and release the offender with the civil infraction of No Valid Operator’s License with ID (if in possession of a valid form of identification as outlined in RCW 46.20.015).
“Criminalizing the stand-alone offense of Driving While License Suspended in the Third Degree can lead an individual down a spiral of debt, inability to drive, loss of job, and worse,” stated Mayor Nelson. “That downward spiral hits particularly hard among lower-income individuals and people of color. In Washington State, Black people are three times more likely to be charged, and Native Americans are twice as likely to be charged, with this offense.” read more
Typically, this offense results from a driver failing to pay the ticket or appear in court for a prior moving violation, like speeding or rolling through a stop sign.
Instead, officers will cite and release the offender with the civil infraction of No Valid Operator’s License with ID (if in possession of a valid form of identification as outlined in RCW 46.20.015).
“Criminalizing the stand-alone offense of Driving While License Suspended in the Third Degree can lead an individual down a spiral of debt, inability to drive, loss of job, and worse,” stated Mayor Nelson. “That downward spiral hits particularly hard among lower-income individuals and people of color. In Washington State, Black people are three times more likely to be charged, and Native Americans are twice as likely to be charged, with this offense.” read more
Planning Board Public Hearing on CIP/CFP
The Edmonds Planning Board is holding a public hearing on the Capital Improvement Program / Capital Facilities Plan on Thursday, November 12th. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. and is a virtual/remote meeting being held via Zoom. Information on the details of the CIP and CFP, and how to join the meeting, can be found on the Planning Board agenda page.
City of Edmonds Requests Input on Waterfront Center Programming
What programs, recreation and community classes would you like to see?
The City of Edmonds seeks input from the community for recreation program recommendations at the new Edmonds Waterfront Center. City Recreation staff are developing programs for all ages to be held at this new state-of-the-art building. Sharing the building with the Edmonds Senior Center, City recreation will be running classes Monday through Thursday between the hours of 4:00pm-10:00pm. (Read more)
The City of Edmonds seeks input from the community for recreation program recommendations at the new Edmonds Waterfront Center. City Recreation staff are developing programs for all ages to be held at this new state-of-the-art building. Sharing the building with the Edmonds Senior Center, City recreation will be running classes Monday through Thursday between the hours of 4:00pm-10:00pm. (Read more)
