Thank you for reading Monroe This Week.

This week’s edition includes details on the approval of the 2023 - 2024 Recommended Biennial Budget, serving on a City Board, Commission, or Committee, the end of the Monroe Police Department's Citizen Academy, how ARP funds are supporting childcare programs, the debut of the winter edition of the Sky & Sno Adventure Guide, how you can help out the Sky Valley Food Bank, the Monroe Community Senior Center's Thanksgiving Drive-Thru Dinner today, and a summary of the November 15 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,

2023 - 2024 RECOMMENDED BUDGET APPROVED

After multiple public hearings, the City Council approved my 2023 - 2024 Recommended Biennial Budget this week with no changes. This document is the culmination of a significantly collaborative and inclusive process that includes our City Council, the Planning Commission, the Park Board, the Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB), the Community Human Services Advisory Board (CHSAB), and City staff at all levels of the organization. If you would like to review the budget, it is available on the City’s website. The document does still say recommended but again, there were no changes to the numbers. Over the next month, our Finance Department will be updating the document from recommended to adopted. I want to say a huge thank you to all that helped with the development of this budget. 

SERVE ON A BOARD, COMMISSION, OR COMMITTEE

Are you looking for ways to serve the community you live in? The City of Monroe is currently recruiting for current and upcoming vacancies on multiple boards, commissions, and committees. We are currently recruiting for the following positions:

2 - Community Human Services Advisory Board (1 mid-term vacancy ending 12/2025; 1 pending vacancy with a new term ending 12/2026)

3 - Economic Development Advisory Board (1 mid-term vacancy ending 12/31/2025; 2 pending vacancies with new terms ending 12/2026)

1 - Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (one hotelier position mid-term ending 6/2026)

1 - Planning Commission (4-year term ending 12/2026)

2 - Salary Commission (two 3-year terms ending 12/2025)

• The Civil Service Commission assures that police officers are recruited through open competition, are hired and promoted on the basis of merit, and oversees civil service examinations and certifies eligibility lists.
• The Community Human Services Advisory Board advises myself and City Council on work program, policy issues, and related budget issues; and provides non-binding recommendations on how to assist community members experiencing homelessness, who are at risk of becoming homeless, or who are experiencing poverty or are adversely impacted by a crisis.
• The Economic Development Advisory Board provides a forum for the coordination of information among entities identified as having economic development roles; recommends priorities, and establishes a means to monitor progress on goals, and provides such other advice and guidance with furthering Monroe’s economic development strategy.
• The Lodging Tax Advisory Board reviews award applications and makes recommendations to City Council regarding allocation of local lodging tax funds. Reviews and comments on any proposed imposition of lodging tax, increase in the rate of lodging tax, repeal of an exemption from lodging tax, or change in the use of revenue received from lodging tax.
• The Park Board advises the City Council on the management, supervision, improvement, and budgeting for parks and recreation facilities and programs; reviews the comprehensive park and recreation plan, assists with new park sites, and advises the City Council on capital projects in city parks.
• The Planning Commission reviews and makes recommendations to the City Council concerning land use issues including zoning, code changes, and revisions to the comprehensive plan.
• The Salary Commission reviews and establishes the salaries of the Mayor and City Councilmembers.

For more information on the duties of each board or commission, please visit our Boards, Commissions, and Committees page. You can apply directly here, but we request that you download the document and fill it out to avoid any technical errors. 

CITIZENS ACADEMY WRAPS UP THIS WEEK

The Monroe Police Department Citizens Academy concluded this week, with their graduation on Wednesday, November 16. The men and women of the Monroe Police Department have spent the better part of ten weeks preparing hands-on, interactive exercises for each of the academy participants to enjoy. Classes have included exposure to crime scene investigation, SWAT, K9, Community Outreach, Officer Wellness, EVOC and Range. Participants were also able to participate in mock scenes, utilizing the array of skills they were exposed to during the ten-week academy. Congratulations to the graduates of the 2022 Monroe Police Department Citizens Academy.

ARP FUNDS SUPPORT CHILDCARE PROGRAMS

In recent editions of Monroe This Week, I’ve shared information about the American Rescue Plan Act funding, and how the City is partnering with local organizations to respond to needs in the community created by the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, I would like to highlight how ARP funds have supported summer camp programs at the Monroe YMCA.

The YMCA received funds to support their Ready, Set, Go and Mini Camp programs this summer. They were able to provide 23 scholarships to campers to engage in hands-on learning and exploration activities through art, STEM, group games, stories and songs. Campers had the opportunity to build skills to help them be ready for entering grade school in the fall along with working on social and emotional learning development to be able to verbalize their feelings and frustrations in different situations. Great friendships amongst campers and lasting connections with staff were built through these summer camps. The childcare workforce took a big hit during the pandemic. The funds also helped the YMCA with overall retention and recruitment of staff which is important for the kids to feel comfortable in a new environment.

Thank you, Monroe YMCA, for applying for and utilizing these funds to administer these important programs. I will continue to share stories of how ARP funds are impacting our community in future issues of Monroe This Week.

WINTER SKY & SNO ADVENTURE GUIDE HITS THE STREETS

The Winter Sky & Sno Adventure Guide is out! Get off the beaten path to discover the cities and towns that make up the Skykomish and Snohomish River Valleys. This visitors guide is a collaboration between Lake Stevens, Snohomish, Monroe and the Upper Sky Valley. Copies will be displayed at visitor centers and hotels throughout the state, on the Washington State ferries, at Seatac Airport and more visitor locations. In Monroe and want a hard copy? Stop by the Monroe Visitor Center. You can also read the publication online here.

HELP OUT THE SKY VALLEY FOOD BANK THIS SEASON

The Sky Valley Food Bank is still in need of your help. To make a monetary donation or learn more about SVFB programs, visit their website. As you are able to, please consider making a contribution today. At least 1,300 families in our community don’t know where their next meal is coming from. With your help, the Food Bank can make sure that every family in Monroe can put food on their table this holiday season.

MCSC DRIVE-THRU THANKSGIVING TODAY

Join the Monroe Community Senior Center today from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. for their Drive-Thru Thanksgiving Dinner. They'll be serving turkey and all the fixings. Only $10 per dinner. This event is sponsored by Living Faith and benefits the programs of the Senior Center. You can RSVP at 360-794-6359, all are welcome!

NOVEMBER 15 CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY

The City Council met in a Regular Business Meeting on Tuesday, November 15. The following items were discussed and acted upon during the meeting:

Public Hearing:

• Anita Marrero presented the staff report for the public hearing regarding Ordinance 03/2022 amending MMC 22.12 UDR Definitions. Anita explained that since the Planning Commission recommended approval, two non-substantive changes were discovered including the definition of the term “administrator” and regrouping multiple “parking lot” definitions. Anita asked Council to authorize the newly discovered changed which would be incorporated into the ordinance for final adoption. There were no public comments. Council accepted first reading of the ordinance including the proposed additional changes.

Announcements/Presentations:

• Senator Brad Hawkins gave a brief history of himself; said he serves on the Education and Transportation Committees; and expressed his eagerness to work with Monroe.

Consent Agenda:

• Minutes of 11/01/2022.
• AP/ACH through 11/07/2022.
• October 2022 payroll claims.
• Authorized Mayor Pro Tem to execute Interlocal Agency Agreement with Snohomish County for the purpose of Snohomish County providing funds in support of the City of Monroe's US 2 Non-Motorized Shared Path Project.
• Authorized me to execute the Consultant Agreements for On-Call Engineering Services; and expressly authorize further minor revisions to the extent deemed necessary or appropriate. 
• Authorized me to sign the interlocal agreement between the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services and the City of Monroe for the purpose of working cooperatively on public works projects including but not limited to the WWTP biosolids treatment improvements (CIP 5). 
• Approved the City of Monroe 2023 Strategic Priorities and 2023-2027 Strategic Plan as proposed.
• Authorized me to execute a contract with Perfect Image, Inc Precision Scanning and CAD Services for digitizing services, and expressly authorize further minor revisions as deemed necessary or appropriate. 

New Business:

• Accepted as first reading, Ordinance 032/2022 amending Title 23 MMC by the addition of a new Chapter 23.70 MMC Right-of-Way Dedications and Easements thereto; establishing standards and procedures for the requirement and acceptance of right-of-way dedications and easements for access and utility purposes in conjunction with the development approval process.
• Authorized the Mayor Pro Tem to sign the Agreement to Relinquish Real Property Interest with Snohomish County regarding property held by the Snohomish Health District commonly known as the Rucker Building.
• Authorized the payment of $3,750 for one year (2022 – 2023) for participation in the coalition – “Mayors and Business Leaders for Public Safety.”

Final Action:

• Re-appointment of Tony Balk to position 4 of the CHSAB
• Re-appointment of Brady Welever to position 4 of the Park Board
• Re-appointment of Ron Petrick to position 5 of the Park Board
• Re-appointment of Katy Woods to position 7 of the EDAB
• Appointment of Sally Petty to position 4 of the EDAB
• Ordinance 029/2022 – 2023 Property Tax
• Ordinance 028/2022 – 2023-2024 Biennial Budget
• Ordinance 026/2022 – 2023-2029 Capital Facilities Plan 

Staff Reports: 

• Human Services
• Parks
• Public Works

Mayor/Administrative Reports:

• City Administrator Deborah Knight reminded Council that the Monroe Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce Mega Mixer on November 17.

• I reported that I appointed Kayleigh Alsin to the Civil Service Commission with a six-year term ending 9/30/2028. I said that the next Snohomish County Cities meeting is on December 15 and reported on recent and upcoming meetings and events including speaking at a School District Parent Hub meeting, the luncheon for Police and Fire Appreciation Week, a ribbon cutting event for a local business, and a meeting with an area resident. Lastly, I thanked Police and Fire personnel for their service to the community.

The City Council will next meet in a Business Meeting on Tuesday, December 6. 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 December 6 agenda, which can be accessed by clicking the button below.