Angie Fester, Parks, Recreation and Human Services director for the City of Edmonds, and parks staff presented a proposed six‑year parks capital program that emphasizes stabilizing deferred maintenance before starting new projects.

The plan is a planning document, Fester said, not a budget: it lists projects to make them eligible for grants and to guide future budget requests. "This plan is a planning document. It's not a budget document," she told the planning board.

Shannon (parks staff), the presentation lead, said the department is operating with significant staffing reductions and mounting deferred maintenance. "Simply put, our parks are deteriorating," Shannon said, listing overflowing trash receptacles, failing playground surfacing, a recently repaired diving board at Yost Pool and mechanical failures at a spray pad that serves as a county cooling center.

Key elements of the parks proposal:
- An increase in the six‑year allocation for ADA improvements from $500,000 to $900,000 to address accessible routes, restrooms and dog‑park accessibility. The plan identifies ADA gaps at playgrounds and other frequently used sites.
- Shell Creek restoration planning as a top multi‑year priority: staff said they want a systemwide study of trails, bridges and channel alignment rather than piecemeal repairs.
- A new, Coast Guard‑required buoy installation project estimated at roughly $75,000 in total, with about $25,000 planned for next year to support permitting and consultant work.
- Continued focus on deferred maintenance, including playground surfacing and safety repairs, hazard‑tree removals (some done in partnership with a tree fund) and portable restroom access in underserved neighborhoods.

Staff emphasized funding constraints and dependencies. Many parks projects are funded with real‑estate excise tax (REIT) revenue and park impact fees; those sources are restricted for capital uses and are separate from the general fund. Fester and Shannon explained some capital project managers are funded from REIT allocations to keep projects moving.

On budget risks: Fester said the department’s operating budget and capital delivery are linked through staffing capacity and that the city asked departments to prepare contingency plans if a ballot measure does not pass. "If the levy is not passed, my department has been instructed and needs to cut an additional $1,800,000, which is 11 positions," she said. Fester described priority shifts that would emphasize safety, sanitation and asset preservation if revenue is cut.

Board members asked whether the plan is achievable without a ballot lift; staff said the plan assumes the levy pass scenario for added capacity but can be scaled back if needed. Board members requested follow‑up questions be answered by email before the next public hearing.

Ending: staff asked the planning board to forward recommendations to the City Council after the next hearing; staff also invited board members to submit follow‑up questions in writing so the department can respond with the same information to all board members.