Thank you for reading Monroe This Week.

This week’s edition includes details on the return of the Swifts Night Out event; serving on a City Board, Commission, or Committee; Coffee With Your Chiefs next Thursday; an ARP success story involving the Evergreen Recovery Center; Cub Scout Pack 148's upcoming Bike Rodeo; and a summary of the August 16 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,

SWIFTS NIGHT OUT RETURNS TOMORROW

Swifts Night Out in Monroe returns tomorrow, August 20, from 4:00 p.m. until dusk. Enjoy an evening on the lawn at Frank Wagner Elementary School and watch the Vaux’s Swifts descend into their evening chimney roost. While waiting for the Swifts to appear around sunset, there will be children’s activities, vendor booths, and a presentation available in the Wagner Center Auditorium. Don't miss out on one of nature’s most breathtaking migrations!

Today, I issued a Proclamation recognizing Swifts Night Out. I encourage you to read the full text of the Proclamation, and to attend the event.

SERVE ON A BOARD, COMMISSION, OR COMMITTEE

As I mentioned in recent editions of Monroe This Week, the City has openings on multiple Boards, Commissions, and Committees. Are you looking for ways to serve the community you live in? We currently have the following vacancies:

1 - Civil Service Commission (pending vacancy, six year term 10/1/2022 - 9/30/2028)

2 - Economic Development Advisory Board (1 mid-term vacancy ending 12/2024; 1 mid-term vacancy ending 12/2022)

1 - Community Human Services Advisory Board (mid-term vacancy ending 12/2022)

1 - Salary Commission (mid-term vacancy ending 12/2022)

1 - Park Board (mid-term vacancy ending 12/2022)

4 - Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (membership reviewed annually)

For more information on the duties of each board or commission, please visit our Boards, Commissions, and Committees page. To apply, please visit our Boards, Commissions, and Committees vacancies page.

COFFEE WITH YOUR CHIEFS NEXT THURSDAY

We’re less than one week away from Coffee With Your Chiefs. Join Monroe Police Chief Jeff Jolley and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue Chief Kevin O’Brien on Thursday, August 25, between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. The Chiefs will be at Monroe Coffee Co., formerly Original Pilothouse Coffee, located at 408 W. Main Street. They look forward to seeing you there!

ARP FUNDS SUPPORT UNINSURED & UNDERINSURED RESIDENTS

In a recent edition of Monroe this Week, there was a highlight about the Evergreen Recovery Center’s Scholarship Bed Program. This program was created through the first round of awards of the City’s ARP funding. This week, I'd like to share another story of this program, featuring a 21-year-old female with opioid and cannabis use disorders. 

This patient was referred to the program by the Monroe Police Department's Community Outreach Team. She was homeless, unemployed, out of compliance with her mental health medications, and lacked a current primary care physician. Her main motivation for recovery was safety issues related to poor mental health, trauma experienced while homeless, and she stated that she just wanted to be in control of her emotions and learn more about life. Her trauma history includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse as an adult. She identifies a history of suicidal ideations, self-harm, isolation, anger, family discord, low self-esteem, anxiety, and bipolar and schizoaffective disorders; she also lacked connection to sober support. While engaged in the program, she was able to stabilize back onto her mental health medications, obtained sober housing in Wenatchee, connected to a 12-step community, and obtained a sponsor. Her treatment recommendations are for ongoing addiction treatment, and physical and mental health care. She has been discharged to the Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment for intensive outpatient treatment, and to American Behavior Health Systems (ABHS) for medication management and prescribed ongoing care.

BIKE RODEO TO TAKE PLACE NEXT WEEK

Join Cub Scout Pack 148 for their first annual Bike Rodeo next Tuesday, August 23, from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. at Galaxy Theatres Monroe. This free community event will be aimed at teaching bicycle safety. They will have obstacle courses, safety stations, giveaways, and food trucks! Bring your bicycle, a helmet, and your friends to this fun event. 

AUGUST 16 CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY

The City Council met in a Regular Study Session Meeting on Tuesday, August 16. The following items were discussed:

Administrative Reports:

• City Administrator Deborah Knight reminded Council that the August 23 Committee meeting has been cancelled, and a Transportation Benefit District Board meeting will be held in its place at 6:00 p.m. Administrator Knight also reminded Council that City offices will be closed on September 5 and the September 6 meetings will be cancelled in observance of Labor Day.

Discussion Items:

• Public Records Officer Sherri Simonson gave a presentation to review Monroe’s 2021 Public Records Report.
• Public Works Director Jakeh Roberts gave a presentation to review proposed code amendments related to motorized scooters, and explained that the proposed amendments could repeal the limitations on use of motorized scooters by individual residents and visitors on City property. Director Roberts, Deputy Chief of Police Ryan Irving, and Parks and Recreation Director Mike Farrell answered questions from Council regarding enforcement of speed limits, limits of use on paths in City parks, and potential liability issues.

The City Council will next meet in a Regular Business Meeting on Tuesday, August 23, 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 23 agenda, which can be accessed by clicking the button below.