Terry Ryan's eNewsletter
 Snohomish County Council
3000 Rockefeller Ave., M/S 609
Everett, Washington 98201
8th floor, Robert J. Drewel Building
Phone: 425-388-3494
E-Mail: Terry.Ryan@snoco.org
Pam Pruitt, Legislative Aide
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Courthouse Update:
We are moving ahead on a courthouse remodel.
Due to the County’s finances, we cannot afford the $162
million new courthouse that was previously proposed to be built across the
street from the current site. The current courthouse needs major repairs so
doing nothing is not a viable option.
What we can do is to remodel and upgrade the existing
courthouse.
We will be adding approximately 29,188
square feet and renovating portions of the existing building. The project
will also include:
- Two
new elevators and refurbishing the existing elevators;
- One
new courtroom;
- One
new district hearing room:
- One
new criminal hearing room
- One
new jury assembly area
- Limited
seismic rehabilitation;
- Security
and cooling/heating system upgrades;
- Accessibility
improvements (ADA); and
- Renovation
of existing courtrooms.
According to the Executive’s office, this remodel will
extend the life of the building by 50 years.
The functional life of the mechanical facilities will be extended by 25
years which we have been assured is standard for any new construction. This remodel/upgrade will cost ½ of what the
original proposal was for the courthouse across the street.
Based on County
finances and all the information we have on the remodel project, I supported
moving forward with a remodel of the current facilities for approximately $72
million. We can afford this without any new taxes.
Upcoming North/South
Road Projects:
There are
several key road projects in the works for the area around Mill Creek. While I
covered the Seattle Hill Road project in an earlier column, I am including it
here again to show how all the projects all fit together. Due to the size of
the projects and the complexity of rerouting traffic through and around the
construction, the projects are separated and will be done over several years’
time.
Each project
requires Right of Way (R.O.W.) acquisition, engineering, coordination with
utility companies so they can move their lines to accommodate the widening of
the roads. Another key consideration in
the project timing below is the funding from our funding partners. (Some of the
following information comes from the Snohomish County Website).
Snohomish
County will be rebuilding Seattle Hill Road between 132nd Street SE and 35th
Avenue SE. This project will widen the roadway to three lanes including a
center turn lane and straightening out some of the curves in the road. Other
improvements include; Bike lanes, curbs, and sidewalks on both sides of the
road. Seattle Hill Road has become an important commuter route for Snohomish
County residents, and has received some improvements in the past as nearby
residential developments have been built.
Roadway construction will begin in early April
2017 at the south end of the project. The work is scheduled to continue through
the summer of 2018.
Snohomish County will be completing its
widening to the 35th Avenue SE between 180th St SE and 152nd St SE (Seattle
Hill Road). The corridor is an important north-south route for many Snohomish
County residents. The project widens the road to three lanes including a center
turn lane for the entire corridor. Other improvements include; Adding bike
lanes, curb, gutter, planter strips, sidewalks on both sides of the road, and
stormwater detention and treatment facilities.
The proposed improvements will improve
traffic flow and help ease congestion during busy morning and afternoon
commutes. The addition of continuous center turn lanes will reduce delays
caused by turning vehicles.
Snohomish
County is acquiring the R.O.W. now. Construction is expected to start in Mid
2018.
This
will complete the widening of 35th Avenue from 180th St
SE south to State Route 524 (Maltby Road). Same improvements as Phase I: three
lanes including a center turn lane for the entire corridor, bike lanes and
sidewalks on both sides of the road.
Snohomish County is working on appraisals now,
will acquire R.O.W. in 2018-19, and begin construction in 2020.
In the next six years, Snohomish
County will be investing over $91 million in transportation and pedestrian
projects in my district including a new north/south corridor on 43rd Ave which
will help alleviate some of the congestion on 35th Ave. This is a huge
investment in our efforts to catch up with the increasing traffic. I will
discuss these in a future column when more details are known.
courtesy
of the City of Bothell
 Councilmembers James McNeal, Tom Agnew, Tris Samberg, Mayor Andy Rheaume, Snohomish County Councilmember Terry, Deputy Mayor Davina Duerr and Councilmember Joshua Freed
At the
March 21 City Council meeting, the City of Bothell received a $100,000 check
from Snohomish County for the Cedar Grove Park project.
"The
City of Bothell is very grateful to Snohomish County and Councilmember Ryan for
the contribution to improve the sport field at Cedar Grove Park," said
Bothell Mayor Andy Rheaume. "With a high demand on sport fields in both
Bothell and unincorporated Snohomish County, this improvement will make the
field usable more days of the year."
The
City will use the funds toward a project to improve drainage at the Cedar Grove
Park athletic field. Currently, the field is not usable when it rains,
according to John Keates, Director of the City of Bothell Parks &
Recreation Department.
"I
am excited that Snohomish County is able to help Bothell with this important
project," said Snohomish County Councilmember Terry Ryan. "With so
much growth occurring in our area, Cedar Grove Park is an important investment
in our future recreation opportunities."
Total
estimated project costs for the field improvements are $500,000. The City is
awaiting the results of a $250,000 grant request from Washington State Youth
Athletic Facilities (YAF). The City is exploring other options for the
remaining $150,000 needed. Depending on funding, the improvements could be made
later this year.
The
Cedar Grove Park athletic field was booked by local baseball, softball and
soccer organizations 49 times last season, well below average bookings of 115
to 140 at other natural grass fields.
Cedar
Grove Park is at 22421 9th Ave SE in Bothell. It features a large
picnic shelter, children’s playground, basketball court, sports field and
wetland boardwalk.
 Rick Comeau, General Manager, Xfinity Arena, Gary Weikel, President, Xfinity Arena, Terry, Council Chair Brian Sullivan
I was recently honored to present
a check for $125,000 to the Everett Public Facilities District to help pay for
new seats at Xfinity Arena. It was needed to attract profitable major events to
the Everett area.
These funds come from the lodging tax paid on overnight stays in Snohomish
County. They are distributed to enhance and expand tourism and economic
development in Snohomish County. They cannot be used for any purpose
other than tourism.
The success of
Xfinity Arena is important to our entire region. It is a major venue for
sports, concerts and other events for people of all ages. The Arena brings
people into our area which helps many of our local businesses.
I
support using tourism tax dollars for improvements to Xfinity Arena. These capital
grants will help to ensure the continued success of this facility. We are well
positioned to support them while maintaining a healthy budget balance in these
funds.
Meet
the Easter Bunny
Meet and greet the Easter Bunny & his friend Hippity
Hop at Country Village. He will be located in the courtyard area from noon to
3pm. Take your picture with the bunny and play a fun game with Zero &
Somebuddy.
Please be aware, there is NO egg hunt.
Location:
23718 Bothell Everett Hwy
Bothell, WA 98021
North Creek
Forest Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Friday,
April 28, 2017 10:30 am – 1 pm 112th Ave NE and NE 202nd
ST, Bothell
Contact:
425-806-6760
Come
celebrate the acquisition of the beautiful 64-acre North Creek Forest by the
City of Bothell. Join us for festivities, and stay for a forest tour following
the ceremony. Guest of Honor: Governor Jay Inslee.
Flashlight
Egg Hunt FREE
Friday,
April 7, 6 pm – 7 pm Contact: 425-921-5779
Heatherwood
Middle School 1419 Trillium Blvd. SE
Get ready for the
Annual Flashlight Egg Hunt hosted by Mill Creek Recreation & Tourism, Mill
Creek Youth Advisory Board members and local sponsors! Students are encouraged
to get their flashlights ready for this FUN event to win prizes and candy. Please
bring a flashlight and bag to collect all your goodies. Student ID and parent
waiver required
Eggstravaganza
Egg Hunt in Mill Creek FREE
Saturday, April 15
Time: 10:30
AM - 12:00 PM
Time Details: Festivities begin at 10:30am (Age-appropriate
Egg Hunt schedule below) Egg Hunts for 1 year through 4 years – begin at 11:00
AM Egg Hunts for K through 5th Grades – begin at 11:30 AM
Location: Heatherwood Middle School
Address: 1419
Trillium Blvd SE, Mill Creek, WA 98012
Contact: 425-551-7254
Cost: Please bring a non-perishable food item to
help support the Mill Creek Community Food Bank.
Join Mill Creek
Recreation & Tourism and Community Event Sponsors for the Annual
Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt – Rain or Shine. The event includes face painting and
balloon animals, bounce houses followed by and a special visit from the Easter
Bunny! Bring your camera. Each age-appropriate egg-hunt will have candy
throughout the multitude of eggs. Please bring a basket to collect eggs!
Mountlake
Terrace Easter Egg Hunt set for April 15 at Evergreen Playfield
The annual Mountlake Terrace
Easter Egg Hunt is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, April 15 at Evergreen Playfield,
22301 56th Ave. W. The event, open to children ages 2-12, is sponsored by the
Cheeseburger Babies Foundation.
More than 12,000 eggs filled
with candy and other prizes will be hidden on the field. All children must be
accompanied by a supervising adult.
In addition, kids can
participate in a coloring contest sponsored by Morgan Handyman & Remodel. Download
the flier here, print it and color it — then return your
finished masterpiece by 5 p.m. Thursday, April 13 to Morgan Handyman &
Remodel, 5720 220th St. S.W., or Red Onion Burgers, 21005 44th Ave. W. #101.
The winning contest
entry will receive a Family Fun Center giveaway package that includes four
passes for four unlimited hours, per person, at Edmonds Family Fun Center and
Bullwinkle’s Restaurant. The winner will be notified on Friday, April 14.
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