Thank you for reading Monroe This Week.

This week’s edition includes details on serving on the Civil Service Commission, use of the Lake Tye Turf Fields, the upcoming rate increase to solid waste services, my Recommended Budget for 2023-2024, the Annual Community Survey of Adults, neighbors helping neighbors, and a summary of the October 18 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,

SERVE ON THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

The City is now actively recruiting for a commissioner to serve on the Civil Service Commission.

The purpose of the Civil Service Commission is to assure that police officers are recruited through open competition, are hired and promoted on the basis of merit, and are demoted, suspended, or discharged for cause. It oversees civil service examinations and certifies eligibility lists.

An application form and explanation of the appointment process is detailed on our website. For direct questions about this vacancy or the Civil Service Commission in general, please contact City Clerk Jodi Wycoff at (360) 863-4526 or JWycoff@MonroeWA.gov.

USING THE LAKE TYE TURF FIELDS

I would like to remind residents to please be respectful of reserved field use on the Lake Tye Turf Fields. These reservations are made for the safety of the players and public. Schedules are posted weekly at the field entrance in the information station.

If you’d like to reserve a field, or have questions regarding field use, please call (360) 863-4559.

RATE ADJUSTMENTS TO SOLID WASTE SERVICES

Republic Services, Inc. provides residential solid waste and recycling collection services within the City. Republic has notified the City of routine proposed cost adjustments scheduled to take place on January 1, 2023. As proposed, the cumulative effect on the typical residential customer with a 32 gallon container is $0.20 per month. 

A detailed breakdown of the rate adjustments include:

Republic plans to post this information on the Monroe portion of their company webpage, and send notice to customers through their typical customer communication channels. 

If you would like to contact Republic Service, their customer service hotline is (425) 778-0188.  

2023-2024 CITY BUDGET

My Recommended Budget for the City of Monroe for 2023-2024 is moving toward City Council approval. The final public hearing for the budget is scheduled for October 25. Also taking place at the October 25 City Council meeting is first reading of ordinances for property tax, budget, and Capital Facilities Projects. City Council approval of these ordinances is anticipated on November 15.

ANNUAL COMMUNITY SURVEY OF ADULTS

The Monroe Community Coalition is conducting their Annual Community Survey of Adults. If you are an adult who lives or works within the Monroe School District boundary lines, this is a great opportunity to share your views on youth mental health, underage drinking, and other substance abuse in our community.

You do not have to be an expert to respond. Your experience and opinion is all that is required to respond to this anonymous survey. Please help us spread the word! Take the survey here today.

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS

During homecoming week, Monroe High School staff, students, and families collected over 7,700 items totaling 3,947 pounds! They also brought in $11,650 in monetary donations for the Sky Valley Food Bank. Organized each year by members of ASB, many local families benefit annually from this event, and it is a great example of how our community comes together to lend a helping hand.

OCTOBER 18 CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY

The City Council met in a Business/Study Session Meeting on Tuesday, October 18. The following items were discussed and acted upon during the meeting:

Public Hearing:

• Becky Hasart, Finance Director, stated that nothing was changed since the public hearing presentation on October 11, 2022 and offered to answer questions related to the 2023-2024 biennial budget. There were no questions and no public testimony during the hearing.

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

• Minutes of 10/11/2022.
• AP/ACH through 10/11/2022.
• Addendum No. 1 to the contract with Zachor, Stock, and Krepps, PS, for Prosecuting Attorney Services.

Staff Reports: 

• Human Resources/Information Technology

Mayor/Administrative Reports:

• City Administrator Deborah Knight:
• Reported that the October 25 Transportation/Planning, Parks & Recreation, and Public Works (P3) Committee meeting is cancelled and will be rescheduled for a date in November.
• Reminded Council of upcoming meetings and events, including: a reception for board/commission/committee members on November 1, and the Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce Mega Mixer on November 17.
• Reviewed proposed cost increases for solid waste service by Republic Services.
• I reported on recent meetings and events I've attended, including interviews with candidates for Government Relations Consultant, and a project kickoff meeting with the City's branding consultant.

Discussion Items:  

• Becky Hasart, Finance Director, provided a presentation of the 2023-2024 Recommended Budget and answered questions from Council related to specific trainings and projects.
• Jakeh Roberts, Public Works Director, and Ben Swanson, Parks & Recreation Planning & Capital Projects Manager, provided a presentation of the draft 2023-2029 Capital Facilities Plan (CFP) and answered questions from Council related to specific projects. Mr. Swanson also reviewed the process for annual review of the CFP.

The City Council will next meet in a Regular Business Meeting on Tuesday, October 25. 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 25 agenda, which can be accessed by clicking the button below.