MONROE THIS WEEK

October 14, 2022 • Volume 8/Edition 41

Thank you for reading Monroe This Week.


This week’s edition includes details on residential window replacement requirements, the graduation of a Monroe Police Department officer from the Police Academy, the East County Coordinated Entry Program’s recent successes, updates to allowed entertainment uses in downtown Monroe, the Monroe Historical Society’s cemetery walking tour next weekend, the Monroe Chamber of Commerce’s announcement of their annual Downtown Trick or Treat event, and a summary of the October 11 City Council meeting. 


Please contact me with any and all feedback regarding the articles below. I can be reached at GThomas@MonroeWA.gov.


Yours in Service,

Mayor Geoffrey Thomas 

REQUIREMENTS FOR WINDOW REPLACEMENTS

The Building Department has received several inquiries regarding window replacements in single family residences. Per section R105.1 of the State adopted Residential Code, window replacements do require building permits.


Several of you may be asking why this is now required when it wasn’t in the past, and below are a few examples of safety and energy code items that get reviewed and confirmed through the permit and inspection process.


  • Safety glazing based off location per section R308.4 of the 2018 International Residential Code.
  • Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings: size, location, sill height etc. per section R310 of the 2018 International Residential Code.
  • Max .30 U-Factor per Table R402.1.1 of the 2018 Washington State Residential Energy Code. 


With this new requirement, City staff are attempting to make the permit and review process as quick and simple as possible for our customers. Below are the two items they need to achieve this goal, so please ensure your submittal includes these.


  1. Completed and signed Building Permit application, which can be found here.
  2. Window Schedule including size, operation, U-Factor and location. A bid from the window seller often includes all these items.


Lastly, it is very important that you apply for permits prior to purchasing the windows in case anything not in conformance with code is found in review. Thank you for partnering with the City of Monroe to ensure your investment is safe and energy efficient.

MONROE OFFICER GRADUATES POLICE ACADEMY

Congratulations to Officer Angela Patton, who graduated from Police Academy this past Thursday. Joined by friends, family and members of the Monroe Police Department, Officer Patton now begins a field training phase, partnering her with experienced officers for the next few months. Please join us in welcoming Officer Patton to our community and be sure to give her a 'hello' when you see her out and about.

EAST COUNTY COORDINATED ENTRY SUCESSES

At the beginning of 2021, East County service providers applied for and received a County contract to host the East County 211 Coordinated Entry Navigator locally, with Volunteers of America (VOA) as the lead agency. 

 

East County Navigator, Mr. Roger Evans, has been advocating for Monroe community members who need rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing to come up in the County’s priority pool. Mr. Evans shared some of the recent success stories about formerly homeless individuals who have been housed through the 211 system:


  • A mother with a child and another on the way. Hopefully this family will be the first of many moving into the new Twin Lakes 2 Housing Hope Complex by the end of October. 
  • Two female clients who were chronically homeless are now in rapid rehousing through Catholic Community Services (CCS) and YWCA. 
  • A mother and son who were guests of the Monroe cold weather shelter in 2021 were able to increase their income through employment assistance. Their move in costs were covered by county flex funding and are they are now on a regular lease. 
  • An individual in Monroe who was struggling with income and housing connected with a local business owner to help increase her income. She now has a pledge letter from the VOA to assist her with moving into permanent housing. 
  • An individual who has been homeless in Monroe for six years and living in his car with a disability has permanent housing through the 211 priority pool. He is working with a case manager at Catholic Community Services (CCS) to find the right apartment. 
  • Another individual who has been homeless in Monroe for three years living in his car with an undocumented disability has a Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) referral and is on his way to getting into the right place. 
  • An individual who completed treatment and was able to find housing with the help of the YWCA. 


Thank you Mr. Evans and VOA for your outstanding work to help coordinate housing for these individuals. We appreciate you and all your hard work! 

UPDATES TO ALLOWED ENTERTAINMENT USES IN DOWNTOWN MONROE

Fun lovers, rejoice! As of September 28, the allowed entertainment uses in the Downtown Commercial Zone have been expanded. After recommendation from the Planning Commission and action from the City Council, it’s our hope that this code amendment will help existing small businesses in downtown thrive and encourage new businesses to bring their ideas to life. What kind of fun would you like to see downtown? 


For all the details on this ordinance, please visit the Code Amendment page of our website.

HISTORIC HEADSTONES CEMETERY WALKING TOUR

If headstones could talk, what stories would they tell? Join the Monroe Historical Society next Saturday, October 22 for a walking tour of Monroe's IOOF Cemetery. Learn the history of the cemetery and visit the family plots and gravestones of many notable residents including the Wagners, the Elwells, the Jimmicums, civil war veterans and others. This free, family and pet friendly event begins at 2:00 p.m. Meet at the gazebo at Calhoun Road and 215th Avenue SE for cookies and cider before the tour. 

CHAMBER ANNOUNCES DOWNTOWN TRICK OR TREAT

The Monroe Chamber of Commerce is proud to present their annual Downtown Trick or Treat event on Sunday, October 30 from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m! This event is intended to allow the little ones in our community the opportunity to safely and responsibly trick or treat. In addition to music, treats, and ghoulish fun, there will be a costume contest, and you can vote for your favorite on the Choose Monroe Facebook page. Bring your goblins and ghouls, and enjoy a spook-tacular Halloween Party!

OCTOBER 11 CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY

The City Council met in Regular Business Meeting on Tuesday, October 11. The following items were discussed and acted upon during the meeting:


Public Hearing:

  • Finance Director Becky Hasart gave a presentation to review budget assumptions, an overview of expenditures, and an in-depth review of revenues including sales tax, utility taxes, and property taxes. There were no public comments. You can watch the full public hearing presentation here.


Consent Agenda – Items considered routine and approved by one vote:

  • City Council Meeting Minutes for September 27 and October 4, 2022
  • September 2022 payroll
  • Accounts Payable/ACH payments through October 5, 2022
  • Ordinance 025/2022, amending Chapter 10.18 of the Monroe Municipal Code, Motorized Foot Scooters; updating and revising the City’s codified regulations governing the operation of motorized foot scooters
  • Waive Council Rules of Procedure section 3.1.3 to allow for a public hearing and final action to be taken at a study session, and to hold a Business Meeting and Study Session on Tuesday, October 18, 2022


New Business – reviewed, discussed and approved the following new items:

  • Suspension of utility account shut offs in November and December and to resume utility account shut offs in January 2023 
  • American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) Change of Scope Request Process


Mayor/Administrative Reports:

  • City Administrator Deborah Knight :
  • Congratulated Rich Huebner, Management Analyst, who has accepted the position of Assistant City Manager at the City of Moses Lake – Mr. Huebner’s last day with Monroe will be Friday, November 4
  • Reported on upcoming events, including a ribbon cutting and dinner with State Representatives on October 25, and the Snohomish County Chamber Mixer on November 17
  • Shared an article recently published in the Herald featuring Sky River Park and giving kudos to Parks staff


  • I reported on:
  • My involvement in interviews for the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee and government affairs contract
  • Wanting to schedule a discussion with Council related to Board/Commission/Committee member meeting absences


Staff Reports:

  • Economic Development
  • Human Services
  • Parks
  • Public Works

UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE

The City Council will next meet in a Business/Study Session Meeting on Tuesday, October 18. The meeting will be held in a hybrid format; members of the public may participate in Monroe City Council meetings both in-person at City Hall and remotely via the Zoom remote meeting platform. Participation information will be posted with the October 18 agenda, which can be accessed by clicking the button below.

Council Agendas/Minutes

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

Councilmember
Kevin Hanford
Councilmember
Ed Davis
Councilmember
Jason Gamble
Councilmember
Kirk Scarboro
Councilmember
Heather Fulcher
Councilmember
Tami Kinney
Councilmember
Kyle Fisher
Have a question for your Councilmembers?
Contact them at Councilmembers@MonroeWA.gov 
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