The Edmonds City Council held a special meeting on November 26, 2024, to discuss the mayor's budget proposal amid concerns over potential staff reductions. The meeting featured public comments emphasizing the importance of maintaining current staffing levels in city departments.

Mindy Woods, the human services program manager, addressed the council, expressing her opposition to any further cuts. She highlighted the already strained resources in the parks and recreation and human services division, noting that her team is operating with minimal staff. Woods emphasized that additional cuts would hinder their ability to serve the community effectively, particularly as they rely on personal connections with residents to provide necessary services. She urged the council to adopt the mayor's budget proposal to avoid further jeopardizing essential services.

Following Woods, Alec Rollins, a resident of Edmonds, spoke in support of city employees. He stressed the value of personnel as critical resources for the city, arguing that salary and hour reductions could lead to the loss of key staff members. Rollins warned that the current economic climate could push valuable employees to seek opportunities elsewhere if their compensation is diminished.

The meeting concluded without further public comments, and the council members were left to consider the implications of the budget proposal and the feedback received from constituents. The discussions underscored the community's concern for city services and the well-being of city employees as the council prepares to make decisions that will impact both in the coming fiscal year.