Revenue generation topic of second Keep Edmonds Vibrant meeting

The Keep Edmonds Vibrant organization hosted its second Budget Visioning Workshop on April 30 at the Frances Anderson Center, attracting 35 participants. This session built on momentum from the first workshop held on April 16, where attendees discussed the current sources of revenue for the City of Edmonds. Participants evaluated 25 potential revenue-generation options outside of a levy lid lift, which city leaders have indicated is essential for addressing a budget shortfall. Leaders employed a color-coded polling system to gauge community preferences, with red indicating opposition, yellow for questions, and green for openness. The organization plans to launch a “Civic Imagination Campaign” via Polis, a tool that utilizes advanced statistics and machine learning to capture public sentiment.

Future sessions include revealing the results of the Polis campaign on May 21, followed by a session on May 28 to develop recommendations for the Edmonds City Council and Mayor. This initiative aims to foster community engagement and explore sustainable financial solutions for the city. The overall goal is to involve residents in the budgetary process and ensure their voices are heard in city planning.