Thank you for reading Monroe This Week.

This week’s edition includes details on our local National Night Out event, the Parks Department's upcoming online picnic shelter reservation system, this year's Movies Under the Moon lineup, the second annual Wiggly Walk, the release of the Lord Hill Regional Park Preferred Plan, and a summary of the July 19 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,

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT SET FOR AUGUST 2

National Night Out Against Crime is Tuesday, August 2 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Lake Tye Park. Bring the whole family for a free night of food and fun. Activities include SWAT demonstrations, Police K9 demonstrations, Fire Rescue demonstrations, a scavenger hunt, community resources and more. 

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT PROGRAMADA PARA EL 2 DE AGOSTO

National Night Out Against Crime es el martes 2 de agosto de 5:30 p.m. a 8:30 p.m. en el Lake Tye Park. Traiga a toda la familia para una noche gratis de comida y diversión. Las actividades incluyen demostraciones de SWAT, demostraciones de Police K9, demostraciones de Bomberos, una búsqueda del tesoro, recursos comunitarios y más.

PARKS DEPARTMENT PREPARING TO LAUNCH ONLINE PICNIC SHELTER RESERVATION SOFTWARE

Reserving a picnic shelter just got easier. Our Parks Department will launch an online picnic shelter reservation software on August 15. CivicRec will be accessible through the city’s website and will allow users to create accounts, make reservations and pay online all within a few steps from the ease of your own home. Learn more by visiting the City's website, more information will be coming soon!

MOVIES UNDER THE MOON START AUGUST 5

Our Lake Tye Park Summer Night Series will continue in August with Movies Under the Moon. Join the community on Friday evenings in August for free movies in the park. The park's concession stand will be open for drinks, food, and snacks prior to the movie, which will begin at dusk. Bring a chair or blanket and the family for a free night of fun at Lake Tye Park. Please watch the City's Facebook page or website as for any event updates.

This year's movie lineup is:

• August 5: Encanto
• August 12: Sing 2
• August 19: The Karate Kid
• August 26: No Way Home

SECOND ANNUAL WIGGLY WALK SET FOR OCTOBER 1

Monroe’s second annual Wiggly Walk is set for Saturday, October 1. Grab your furry friends and walk, wag, shop and eat your way through Sky River Park! Presented by the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, the event will feature pet friendly vendors, a food truck, doggy kissing booth and more! All well behaved/friendly dogs are welcome.

SNOHOMISH COUNTY RELEASES LORD HILL REGIONAL PARK PREFERRED PLAN

The Snohomish County Division of Parks and Recreation has released the final Lord Hill Regional Park Preferred Plan. The 114-page report outlines the history of the intensive planning process and the plan for the future, which includes a comprehensive trail system and signage plan. This goal of the updated system is to balance the recreation needs of multiple user groups and ensure a safer, more enjoyable and sustainable park.

Lord Hill Regional Park is an over 1,400-acre, County managed park located between the communities of Monroe and Snohomish. Featuring nearly 30 miles of trails, Lord Hill is a regional destination for equestrians, hikers, mountain bikers, and recreationalists of all interests.

Highlights of the plan include: 

• A cohesive trail system update
• Updated trail guidelines for all trail building 
• A balanced system of multi-use, hiking-only, hiking/biking, biking-only and equestrian/hiking trails 
• Increased safety at trail intersections 
• North entrance reconfiguration including a parking lot swap 
• Decommissioning of unsustainable and/or rogue trails 
• A comprehensive wayfinding and signage plan 

For more information about the Preferred Plan and related public meetings, visit the Snohomish County Lord Hill webpage. The Preferred Plan can be accessed directly here.

JULY 19 CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY

The City Council met in a Regular Study Session on Tuesday, July 19. During the meeting, I reported that I have recently attended interviews with firms that have applied to assist the City in a rebranding project, and that I have recently conducted interviews with applicants to vacant seats on City boards, commissions, or committees.

During the meeting, the City Council also held a joint meeting with the City's Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB). Members of the EDAB presented recommendations for Council’s consideration, which included:

• Hiring a firm to conduct a more robust, statistically valid Business Survey.
• Extending the EDAB for an additional four years; the board's term is currently set to expire on December 31, 2022.
• Conducting a comprehensive tourism data and visitor analysis.
• Finalize and implement the Business Recruitment, Retention, and Expansion (BRRE) strategy.
• Continuing regional and locally-focused publications.
• Review the Choose Monroe tourism brand.

EDAB members also reviewed important economic issues, including:

• Advocating for continued funding for to Finish SR522, and for US-2 capacity improvements.
• Redevelopment of the First Airfield property.
• North Kelsey and Downtown/Main Street developments.
• Completing sidewalks in the Fryelands industrial area and 154th Street SE/Blueberry Lane SE area.

The City Council will next meet in a Regular Business Meeting on Tuesday, July 26, 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 July 26 agenda, which can be accessed by clicking the button below.