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Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

Did Edmonds ever operate under a city manager form of government?

Jamie Holter, My Edmonds News
My Edmonds News is affiliated with My Neighborhood News Group.
no

Since its founding in 1890, Edmonds operated under the council/mayor form of government and never operated under a council/manager system. 

In a council/mayor system, citizens elect the mayor to a four-year term. The mayor runs the city. 

In a council/manager system, the city council selects the manager. The manager runs the city. The city council can remove the manager at any time with a simple majority vote.

Until 1970, most Washington cities used the mayor/council form. In 1970, the state gave non-charter cities a choice. Edmonds chose council/mayor. 

Using Ord. 1513, Edmonds enshrined council/mayor into city code: “The City Council … adopt[s]… the classification of noncharter code city, retaining the mayor-council plan of government under which the City is presently operating.”

A citizen initiative is underway (March 2026) to change to the council/manager form of government.

See a full discussion of this at My Edmonds News

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

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