I hope you all enjoy this week's edition of Monroe This Week which features details on:

• City offices closing Monday for records inventory
• Current boards, commissions and committees vacancies
• Recognizing our City's social workers
• Monroe Public Schools Foundation auction
• Monroe Community Band's free concert Saturday

Please reach out to me with what may be on your mind about and for Monroe. I can be contacted at GThomas@MonroeWA.gov.

Yours in Service,

Mayor Geoffrey Thomas 

CITY OFFICES CLOSED MONDAY MARCH 27 FOR RECORDS INVENTORY

On March 27, city offices will be closed so that staff can conduct an inventory of city records. The City’s Records Management System, managed by the City Clerk/Records Office, ensures the safeguarding, retention and archival of city records per the requirements of the Washington State Archives Office. The State encourages agencies to conduct an inventory of its records every 10 years. The all-day closure will allow for the coordinated inventory of records within all departments.

Emergency police, fire and medical services will continue without disruption. Please call 9-1-1 to report such emergencies. Online services will be available during the closure. Impacted city services will resume on Tuesday, March 28.

City departments to be closed include Community Development, Executive, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Police and Municipal Court.

City services typically conducted in-person will be suspended including, but not limited to, over-the-counter permits and utility bill payments, court filings and appearances. Additionally, staff will not be responding to non-emergency phone calls or emails.

For questions, please email cityclerk@monroewa.gov or call 360-863-4526.

BRING YOUR TALENTS TO THE CITY: ADVISORY BOARD VACANCIES

The City of Monroe is fortunate to have many residents and business representatives serving on our various boards, commissions and committees. These groups advise myself and the Council on issues important to the community such as land use, economic development, park planning and development, tourism, human services, and police recruitment. There is even a Salary Commission that sets the Mayor’s and Council’s salaries.

We'd love for you to share your talents (and time) with us by serving on one of the following:

• Community Human Services Advisory Board makes policy recommendations on programs and services that support our unhoused populations and those at risk for homelessness, living in poverty and in crisis and marginalized communities. There are currently two vacancies: 1 mid-term vacancy ending Dec. 2023; 1 full term vacancy ending Dec. 2026.
• Economic Development Advisory Board reviews and prioritizes the list of recommended actions contained in the Economic Development Strategy, the Downtown Master Plan, and other plans identified and presents the information to the Mayor and City Council. There is one 1 mid-term vacancy ending Dec. 2025.
• Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (per RCW 67.28.1817: membership is reviewed annually, and membership eligibility applies). There is one vacancy to be filled by a member who represents a business required to collect lodging taxes (i.e., hotels and motels).
• Salary Commission, meets as needed, to set the salaries of the Mayor and Councilmembers. There is one vacancy with new term ending Dec. 2025.
• Ethics Board is a board that investigates, conducts hearings, and renders advisory opinions concerning accusations against city officials of violations of ethics or conflicts of interest. It also reviews and recommends periodic updates to the city's ethics Policy and its applicability. There are currently five vacancies: 2 mid-term vacancies ending Dec. 2023; 2 mid-term vacancies ending Dec. 2025; and 1 mid-term ending Dec. 2024.

Please consider serving your city in these important roles. For more about the duties , please visit our Boards, Commissions, and Committees page. You can apply directly here. For best results and to avoid technical errors, download the document, fill it out, and email it to JWycoff@MonroeWA.gov.

RECOGNIZING OUR CITY'S SOCIAL WORKERS

On Tuesday, in honor of National Social Worker Day, Monroe Police Department thanked their very own Social Worker, Elisa Delgado. With Elisa's expertise, compassion, and dedication, the Police Department's Community Outreach Team has been able to provide vital resources and support to those in need, including mental health services, housing assistance, and more. "We're incredibly proud of the impact they've had in our community, and we're grateful to have Elisa as a part of our team. We want to give a special thanks to Elisa and all social workers who work tirelessly to make a positive impact in our community."

In additional to thanking Elisa for all she has done and is doing for our community, I would like to recognize our embedded social worker with the Municipal Court Office of Defense, Stacy G. Kaufman. Stacy networks with the local service providers to help get people connected with the services and resources they need. Lastly, I would like to recognize Probations Counselor Brad Cotton with the Municipal Court. Brad helps to keep people on track with their court orders so that they can navigate their legal issues.

Thank you all for your dedication and hard work.

MONROE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION 'ALL IN FOR KIDS' AUCTION STARTS TODAY

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Sign up for the Monroe Public Schools Foundation's annual All In For Kids Auction. The virtual auction starts today, March 24 at 12:00 p.m. and will close Saturday, March 25 at 12:00 p.m. Admittance is free and you will only be charged if you are a winning bidder. There’s truly something for everyone at this auction. Luxurious vacations, wine tours, a Chelan getaway, tickets to the Mariners, Sounders, or Seattle Kraken, an opportunity to ride to school in a fire truck, and an outdoor grill.

Funds raised support staff grants, scholarships, emergency needs, basic student support, and much more. This auction directly funds these goals. I invite everyone to join in on the virtual auction, have some fun, and let's come together to support Monroe's students and educators. Let the bidding begin!

SWING INTO SPRING CONCERT SATURDAY

The Monroe Community Band is hosting a live, free community concert: Swing Into Spring tomorrow, March 25, at 7:00 p.m. at Wagner Performing Arts Center located at 639 West Main Street. Head over to hear some great music, and to have, as they say, a ‘swinging' good time’.

The Monroe Community Band was established in 2004 and is currently composed of approximately 50 members from Monroe, Snohomish, Sultan, Lake Stevens, Marysville, Stanwood, Granite Falls, Arlington, Duvall, Woodinville, and all points in between.

UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE

The March 28 City Council meeting has been CANCELLED. The City Council will next meet in a Regular Study Session Meeting on Tuesday, April 4. The meeting will be held in a hybrid format; members of the public may participate in Monroe City Council meetings either in-person at City Hall or remotely via the Zoom remote meeting platform. Participation information will be posted with the April 4 agenda, which can be accessed by clicking the button below.