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Edmonds Council approves renaming native plant demonstration garden for volunteer Susie Schaeffer
Summary
The Edmonds City Council voted to add to the consent agenda and approve renaming the city’s native plant demonstration garden the Susie Schaeffer Wildlife and Native Plant Community Garden, honoring decades of volunteer stewardship.
The Edmonds City Council on Feb. 4 voted unanimously to add and approve a consent-agenda item renaming the city’s existing Edmonds Wildlife Habitat and Native Plant Demonstration Garden the Susie Schaeffer Wildlife and Native Plant Community Garden.
The proposal, presented by Parks, Recreation and Human Services Director Angie Fessor and volunteer coordinator Jen Leach, recognizes Susie Schaeffer’s volunteer work removing invasives, planting native species and organizing the site as an educational demonstration garden beginning in 2009. Fessor told the council the garden is “located adjacent to and kind of within the Willow Creek Hatchery and Watershed Education Center” and is used as an outdoor classroom and site for community events.
The renaming follows the city’s park-naming policy and a unanimous recommendation from the planning board after a public hearing in January. Leach said Schaeffer “was at the heart of pretty much everything that was happening with environmental stewardship and volunteers in the city” and noted Schaeffer’s role co-founding the Puget Sound Bird Fest and leading workshops at the demo garden.
Council Member Olson moved to add the renaming to the consent agenda; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously. The council then approved the consent agenda, which included the renaming, by unanimous vote.
City staff described the demonstration garden as roughly two acres at the southern end of the Edmonds Marsh, adjacent to the Willow Creek Hatchery and Watershed Education Center, with a fish rearing pond and labeled plantings used for education. Presenters said the site has hosted classes, the Edmonds Watershed Fun Fair and other community stewardship programs. Sound Salmon Solutions and the Edmonds Stewards have used the site for programming, presenters said.
No alternate names or objections were recorded during the presentation or the council action. Staff said Schaeffer had accepted and supported the proposed new name, consistent with the city’s naming policy.
The council did not discuss additional implementation steps in detail; the renaming will be reflected in city materials and signage as handled through routine administrative processes.
