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Council adopts permanent step-housing ordinance with enforcement expectations after narrow vote
Summary
After debate and two votes, the Edmonds City Council adopted a permanent step-housing ordinance that retains language on operator expectations for nuisance and related issues; an attempt to adopt the planning-board version without that language failed first.
Planning and development staff presented a permanent step-housing ordinance on May 6 to replace an interim ordinance the council had adopted in February.
Mike Clugston, planning and development, told the council staff had provided two draft versions: the Planning Board’s recommended version, and a draft that retained language on operator expectations in Section B (recorded in staff materials as proposed 17.120.030(b)). He said either draft would meet the city’s requirements but that the versions differed on whether to keep that expectations language.
Council member Payne moved to adopt the Planning Board’s recommended version (the draft that omits the Section B expectations language). That motion failed on a roll-call vote: 3 in favor, 4 opposed.
Council President Tibbitt then moved to adopt the alternate ordinance — the version that retained the interim ordinance language (including the Section B expectations). The council adopted that motion on a 4–3 vote; the minutes record the motion as passing and the ordinance as adopted.
Debate centered on two competing concerns. Supporters of the Planning Board’s recommendation said the expectations language was redundant with existing code enforcement and eviction laws and risked creating a chilling or exclusionary signal toward low-income housing operators and residents. Opponents argued that the Section B expectations would clarify city support for operators and make clear the city’s expectation that providers act to prevent nuisance or criminal behavior and that operators could call on city resources.
Council members who opposed the Planning Board draft cited the need to protect the perceived safety and functioning of step-housing sites; council members supporting the Planning Board draft said the added language could stigmatize residents and deter developers of affordable housing.
The council’s action makes the interim-era language permanent (including the Section B expectations) for step housing; staff and the Planning Department will implement the code change and reflect it in the city’s code book and permit review processes.
