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Council restores parks staff, moves volunteer coordinator to full time amid calls to protect waterfront
Summary
Council approved restorations and new staffing for Parks and Recreation, including funding for beach rangers, a parks capital project manager and converting the volunteer coordinator to full time, after public testimony urged investment in waterfront maintenance and emergency preparedness.
The Edmonds City Council voted to approve proposed restorations for Parks and Recreation in the mid‑biennium modification, approving staff requests intended to shore up maintenance, capital project delivery and environmental stewardship.
Public testimony emphasized the waterfront—s importance to tourism and residents. "If you want to attract people to Downtown Edmonds to spend their dollars, investing in those parks and rangers makes good sense," Arlene said during the public hearing. Parks staff presented a package that restores routine and preventative maintenance funding, funds beach rangers and a parks capital project manager, and moves a 0.5 FTE volunteer coordinator to full time to expand volunteer program capacity. The package also restores positions for park maintenance leads and program support for environmental stewardship.
Council debated an amendment to keep the volunteer coordinator at 0.5 FTE; the amendment failed and the full‑time coordinator was approved. Council members noted that some positions are seasonal (seven part‑time seasonal ranger naturalists equate to a small FTE) and that rebuilding programs cut during earlier fiscal constraints will take time.
The motion passed 5–2. Council directed staff to prioritize filling vacancies, plan capital projects such as Yost Park trail and bridge work, and coordinate volunteer programming to leverage outside partners and possible grants.
