Thank you for reading Monroe This Week.

This week’s edition includes a recap of the Imagine Monroe vision statement, details on the local recognition of National Night Out and Purple Heart Day, the City's employment recruitment efforts, an ARP success story from the Recovery Center at EvergreenHealth Monroe, and a summary of the July 26 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,

IMAGINE MONROE ONE YEAR LATER

Last summer, we asked what you wanted the future of Monroe to be. More than 1,300 people responded. Thank you! Today we are striving towards an aspirational vision:

Imagine Monroe. A lively center surrounded by nature. A place of beauty and goodwill.

Our parks, waterways, and environment are healthy and accessible for everyone to enjoy. Our historic downtown and business districts are thriving and full of locally owned businesses and locally sourced products. We can find everything we need with regional connections and with a variety of choices for work, housing, dining, shopping, arts, and activities.

Friendly and responsive, we strengthen connections through gathering spaces, events, services, and community-centered infrastructure – creating a safe place for all.

In Monroe, everyone feels at home, and everyone feels they belong.

Imagine Monroe defines who we aspire to be today and who we aspire to be tomorrow. It guides the City in the following ways:

• Budgets and Policies: City Council and myself use Imagine Monroe to guide funding and policy decisions.
• Partnerships and Advocacy: Imagine Monroe informs how we work with people and organizations in our community.
• Strategic Planning: Each part of Imagine Monroe has associated goals and projects to be completed over the next 5 years.
• Programs and Operations: City staff use Imagine Monroe to shape programs and guide daily work.

What about you? Where do you see yourself bringing Imagine Monroe to life? Share your ideas: imagine@monroewa.gov

IMAGINE MONROE UN AÑO DESPUÉS 

El verano pasado, preguntamos cómo querían que fuera el futuro de Monroe. Más de 1,300 personas respondieron. Gracias. Hoy nos esforzamos por alcanzar una visión aspiracional:

Imagine Monroe. Un centro lleno de vida y rodeado de naturaleza. Un lugar de belleza y buena voluntad.

Nuestros parques, vías fluviales y medio ambiente son saludables y accesibles para que todas las personas los disfruten. Nuestro centro histórico y los distritos comerciales son prósperos, llenos de establecimientos y productos locales. Podemos encontrar todo lo que necesitamos con conexiones regionales y con una variedad de opciones para trabajo, vivienda, comida, compras, artes y actividades.

Amigables y receptivos, reforzamos las conexiones a través de espacios de encuentro, eventos, servicios e infraestructura centradas en la comunidad, creando un lugar seguro para todas las personas.

En Monroe, todo el mundo se siente como en casa y todo el mundo siente que pertenece.

Imagine Monroe define lo que aspiramos a ser hoy y lo que aspiramos a ser mañana. Esta visión guiará a la ciudad durante los próximos 30 años de las siguientes maneras:

• Presupuestos y políticas: El Ayuntamiento de la ciudad y yo mismo utilizan Imagine Monroe para guiar las decisiones de financiación y políticas.
• Asociaciones y defensa: Imagine Monroe informa sobre cómo trabajamos con las personas y organizaciones de nuestra comunidad.
• Plan estratégico: Cada parte de Imagine Monroe tiene objetivos y proyectos asociados que deben completarse en los próximos 5 años.
• Programas y operaciones: El personal de la ciudad utiliza Imagine Monroe para dar forma a los programas y guiar el trabajo diario.

Y usted, ¿dónde se ve dando vida a Imagine Monroe? Comparta sus ideas en: imagine@monroewa.gov

CITY RECOGNIZES NATIONAL NIGHT OUT

At the City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 26, I issued a Proclamation recognizing August 2 as National Night Out.  First introduced in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch, National Night Out Against Crime is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, and our community a better place to live. 

The Rotary Club of Monroe, in partnership with the City of Monroe, Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue, and the Monroe Police Department, is hosting the 2022 National Night Out on Tuesday, August 2 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Lake Tye Park. This free community event is full of family friendly activities such as SWAT and Police K9 demonstrations, bouncy houses, a scavenger hunt, face painting, firefighter challenge course, vendor booths, refreshments and more! I encourage Monroe residents, employers, and visitors to read the full text of the proclamation and attend the event to learn more about our community public safety, police, and youth programs, and to thank them for their work in supporting and enhancing our community. 

CITY RECOGNIZES PURPLE HEART DAY

On Tuesday, July 26 I issued a Proclamation recognizing August 7 as Purple Heart Day. This day is in honor of military personnel who have been injured or lost their lives in action. Our community is thankful for our military service members and their families.

Last December, the City Council and I joined together to declare the City of Monroe as a “Purple Heart City”, and committed to honoring them not just in our words and hearts, but also in our actions. We are excited to celebrate Purple Heart Day for the first time this year.

In a recent edition of Monroe This Week, I mentioned the construction of the flag plaza at the Monroe Municipal Campus. On Friday, August 5 at 5:00 p.m. we will commemorate Purple Heart Day by raising the Purple Heart Flag in the plaza. Stay tuned for an announcement in a coming edition of Monroe This Week of a more formal dedication of the plaza as Unity Plaza.

CITY RECRUITING FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES MANAGER AND HUMAN SERVICES COORDINATOR

The City of Monroe has recently reopened the job posting for an Engineering Services Manager. The individual in this position will plan, organize, and direct the work of professional and technical staff performing technical engineering tasks, land development and plan review processes, civil inspections of capital and private construction projects, and capital project management. They will also provide technical assistance to the Public Works Director, City Engineer, City Boards and Commissions, and other staff members. The successful candidate will have a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with major course work in civil, structural, or traffic engineering, along with seven years of progressively responsible experience in a “hands on” engineering position and five years of supervisory experience in a professional engineering position, or an equivalent combination of education and experience that meets departmental needs.

We are also currently recruiting for a Human Services Coordinator. This position will assist with developing, implementing, coordinating, and monitoring human services programs. The individual in this position will work closely with regional partners, community organizations, service providers, user groups, schools, and City staff to carry out planning, scheduling, logistics, and implementation of human service programs. They will also serve as a liaison with human service providers and government agencies. The successful candidate will have an Associate Degree in human services, business administration, social science, organizational development, or related field, and a minimum of three years of human services experience. Other equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Benefits for these positions include partial remote work, education incentive pay, 93% employer paid medical/dental/vision premiums for employee and dependents, PERS eligibility, HRA VEBA, deferred compensation plan, retiree's medical, $50,000 life insurance, vacation, exempt, and sick leave accruals, paid holidays, and access to City workout facility. For more information and to apply, please visit the City's website.

ARP FUNDS SUPPORT UNINSURED & UNDERINSURED RESIDENTS

In recent editions of Monroe This Week, I've shared information about the application process for and allowed uses of American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) funds made available by the City. I'd like to share this story, from the staff of the Recovery Center at EvergreenHealth Monroe, of how an ARP award is supporting the mental and physical health of uninsured and underinsured patients recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.

The EvergreenHealth Recovery Center was awarded $66,000 to implement a scholarship bed program for Monroe residents experiencing insurance problems. In addition to providing structure, education support, and aftercare planning, the program is also providing critical needs such as housing, nutritious meals, clothes and hygiene, safety, and access to healthcare coverage, medications, and follow-up appointments scheduled for ongoing physical and mental health needs.

The program is producing successful graduates who might not have had the opportunity to seek treatment otherwise. One such graduate is a 28-year-old male with Opioid (Fentanyl and Heroin) and Methamphetamine Use Disorders. This patient was referred to the program by the Monroe Police Department Community Outreach Team. He was homeless and unemployed, and reported that his last physical was in high school, approximately 10 years ago. His primary motivation for recovery was to be sober and stable for his daughter, sharing that he didn’t care enough about himself to get sober and lacked connection to any other sober support. While engaged in the program he was stabilized, obtained housing, connected with a 12-step community, and obtained a sponsor. His treatment recommendations are for ongoing addiction, physical and mental health treatment. He was discharged to Catholic Community Services for intensive outpatient treatment, Compass Health for mental health services, and Ideal Options for ongoing medical management. 

Thank you to the Recovery Center for applying for, and administering these important programs. I will continue to share stories of how ARP funds are impacting our community in future editions of Monroe This Week.

JULY 26 CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY

The City Council met in a Regular Business Meeting on Tuesday, July 26. The following items were discussed and acted upon during the meeting:

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

• City Council Meeting Minutes for July 12 and July 19, 2022
• Accounts Payable/ACH payments through July 20, 2022
• Recommendation of the 2022 Human Services Award Review Committee:
• Award $9,650.00 to the YMCA
• Reopen the 2022 human services award applications for the remaining $90,350.00 of the $100,000.00 made available
• Authorize staff to republish the Notice of Funding Available (NOFA) and reopen the application period
• Approve correction to Engineering Services Manager salary

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

• Appointment of Junelle Lewis to the Planning Commission Position 7 
• Appointment of Kelsi Dockins to the Planning Commission Position 2
• Resolution No. 2022-013, repealing Resolution No. 019/2018, establishing updated standards and procedures for the Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB), and extending the EDAB for an additional four-year term ending December 31, 2026 

Mayor/Administrative Reports:

• City Administrator Deborah Knight reported that:
• The August 2 meetings are cancelled to allow everyone to attend National Night Out
• Plans Examiner Ted Corey obtained the Commercial Building Inspector Certification through ICC
• Management Analyst Tyler Christian successfully completed Level 2-Risk Analysis and Implementation of the WCIA Risk Management Credentialing Program
• Provided an update related to this year’s fireworks activity including cost impacts and Police call volumes

• I reported that:
• I have been involved in interviews for Planning Commission and the upcoming branding project
• I attended the Comprehensive Plan kick-off meeting

Staff Reports:

• Finance
• Community Development
• HR/IT

The August 2, 2022 City Council Study Session Meeting is CANCELLED. The City Council will next meet in a Regular Business Meeting on Tuesday, August 9, 2022. 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 August 9 agenda, which can be accessed by clicking the button below.