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New Edmonds building official launches study to update development fees, targets fall 2025 adoption
Summary
The city began an internal study, supplemented by a limited consultant contract, to update development fees with an intended implementation in 2026; the building official said the city will use regional comparables and an internal cost study to set fees that recover costs but avoid prohibiting development.
Ted Kelly, Edmonds's newly introduced building official, briefed Committee A on a study to update the city's development fee schedule. The work is intended to produce a revised fee schedule for council consideration in fall 2025 and implementation in 2026.
Kelly said the city allocated funds to hire a consultant but that the available amount is lower than market rates, so staff will conduct much of the analysis internally. "Our fees aren't meant to be revenue generations. It's just to cover costs and recover them," Kelly said, describing a study that will combine regional comparables (the packet listed Kirkland, Shoreline, Lynnwood, Bothell and Issaquah) with an internal activity‑based cost analysis of permit processing time and overhead.
Council members asked whether finance would be involved to allocate overhead costs; Kelly said he is working with finance. Staff said the updated schedule will convert the current annual CPI adjustment into a broader overhaul — Edmonds plans to transition toward a multimodal impact fee for transportation later this year (discussed separately in the meeting). Kelly also noted a parallel state auditor review of permitting processes scheduled for the summer, which staff said will complement the fee study by identifying process inefficiencies.
Committee members requested the item return for broader council review (committee of the whole or committee A/B) when the draft fee update is ready in the fall. Kelly said staff would arrange outreach and interdepartmental coordination during the study period.
The committee did not take a formal vote on the study; the presentation was informational and staff will return with draft recommendations.
