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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Holiday Thank You!
Christmas
is a time to cherish and give thanks to all those who bring so many blessings
to our lives. Thank you to
all of the wonderful volunteers in our county, cities, churches, charitable
organizations, food banks and youth leagues who make Snohomish County a great
place to live. Our county is truly a better place because you chose to
get involved and make a positive difference in others’ lives!
Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year to everyone! Be safe, have fun, spend time with your family
and friends. May God bless you and your families!
The County Council passed our 2017 Budget on November 21st with a unanimous 5 - 0 vote.
Budget Highlights:
- We were able to pass a fiscally responsible, balanced budget without a
property tax increase.
- We invested in Public Safety by providing funding for 5 additional
Deputy Sheriff positions. This was my number one priority that I set for the
budget last April.
- $1 million dollars from REET II funding source for a new Homeless
Housing Project.
- Added nearly $900,000 to the general fund balance increasing liquidity
and the fiscal health of our county.
- $150,000 added to our Rainy-Day Fund.
- $100,000 added for nuisance property abatement. These funds will be used
to clean up abandoned houses and remove abandoned vehicles.
- $100,000 for the Snohomish County Health District to increase their
response to the opiate addiction and treatment.
To recap the process, the Executive presents their
recommended budget to the County Council in September. The Council can pass the
budget as is, amend it, or rewrite its own budget.
A major difference between the two
budgets was the Executive’s budget proposed a property tax increase of 4% (to
the Snohomish County portion of the property tax bill).
Council’s preference was to try to
arrive at a “0” % increase in the property tax. This meant we had to cut $3.6
million dollars out of the Executive's recommended budget. That’s a difficult
thing to do since we did not want to cut public services.
Some of the initial proposals to cut
$3.6 million included pushing major expenses out a year or two. That particular
proposal would have actually increased the cost of those expenses by 30%
in higher maintenance costs and higher purchase costs.
By working together, along with our legislative analysts, we were able to deliver a budget we could all support. While it took
an extra week to get it done, the extra effort was worth it.
Thank you again to the County Council’s
analysts who worked diligently on the budget and provided accurate information
which made all this possible. Thank you also to the County Council’s Chief of
Staff, Clerks and Admin team. It is an honor working with you!
Community Transit continues to deliver on its promise to
provide more service, more often, to more places. That is evident in the Proposed 2018 Budget (PDF).
The Proposed 2018 Budget allocates agency resources to
strategic priorities, including those initiatives to support service expansion,
and ensures adequate reserves to protect customer services in the event of an
economic downturn.
This budget proposal projects a 9 percent increase in
sales tax revenue over 2017 while expenditures will grow at 5.5 percent.
Funding will go towards:
- New bus service, more buses, and more employees
to drive and maintain those buses.
- New capital projects, most notably the Swift Green
Line between Bothell/Canyon Park and Boeing/Paine Field.
An ambitious capital program that includes:
- Purchase and delivery of 32 new buses, including
6 Double Talls, as well as 84 vanpool vans (54 replacement and 30 expansion)
and 15 DART paratransit replacement vehicles.
- Construction of 34 Swift Green
Line stations and road improvements.
- Completion of the Seaway Transit Center and
128th Street widening project.
- Work to upgrade the agency’s wireless
communication system.
- $10 million set aside for future base expansion
to meet service expansion needs.
The Proposed 2018
Budget assumes operating revenue of $184 million, including operating
expenses of $142 million and $42 million for capital projects.
Community Transit Key Facts
(figures represent numbers at the end of 2016)
10,248,842 passenger boardings in 2016
- Average
weekly ridership: 36,580
- Average
Saturday ridership: 11,706
- Average
Sunday ridership: 7,208
27 local routes, 22 commuter routes, 6 Sound Transit
routes (operated under contract)
- 81% of
weekday bus boardings occur on six major corridors
- 66% of
weekday boardings occur during peak hours
Service area:
1,305 square miles
Service population:
585,616
23 Park & Ride lots with 9,468 spaces
15 Park & Pool lots with 486 leased spaces
585,616 revenue service hours
40% of Snohomish County residents who work in downtown
Seattle commute by bus.
The mobile app offers a constantly updated feed of
district news and events with photos and links to the district’s website. Users
can customize the app by selecting the schools they are most interested in for
news and updates. Users can also choose to receive push notifications to get
breaking news, updates about school closures, calendar changes, and can
translate content into their native language.
Parents, guardians and students can log in to the app to
get student-specific information including:
- grades and test scores
- bus route information
- checked out library items
- communications preferences
- attendance and class schedules
This free mobile app can
be downloaded to a smart-devices from iTunes or from Google Play app stores. Or search for "Everett
Public Schools" in your app store.
Bothell
Tree Lighting Festival
Sun, 12/3/2017
Bothell's Tree Lighting Festival on Main Street between
101st St NE and 102nd St NE
Date: December 3, 2017
Time: 4:45PM - 7:00PM
Celebrated as the
world's largest living Christmas tree in 1962 by Life magazine, the tree will
once again be lighted at 5:00PM. Main Street will celebrate with a
Holiday Festival of activities, refreshments, and an appearance by Santa and
holiday characters.
Holiday Events at Country Village
23718 Bothell Everett Hwy
Bothell, WA 98021
425-483-2250
www.countryvillagebothell.com
Live Reindeer
Fri, 12/1/2017 to Mon, 12/25/2017
Visit two of Santa’s live reindeer throughout the entire holiday
season. They are located between Keepsake Cottage and The Pet Place.
Stroll the grounds filled with beautiful twinkling lights and wonderful lit
displays.
Santa's Workshop
Fri, 12/1/2017 to Sun, 12/24/2017
Come enjoy Santa’s Workshop featuring on the spot photos with Santa by Arthur & Associates.
You’ll love the cozy atmosphere and quality photography done on the spot – NO
reservations necessary. Santa's hours are as follows:
- December 1st-December 14th:
10am-7pm Monday thru Saturday &11am-6pm Sunday.
- December 15th-December 23rd:
10am-8pm Monday thru Saturday & 11am-6pm Sunday.
- December 24th: 10am-5pm
Snowflake Creation Station
Fri, 12/1/2017 to Sat, 12/23/2017
Come to our Snowflake Station in Country Village to make
a fun creation, holiday ornaments and more at our FREE craft station. Join us
every Saturday from 10am to 4pm throughout the holiday season.
December 2nd: Paper Garlands
December 9th: Pinecone Tabletop Trees
December 16th: Ornament Making
December 23rd: Dancing Finger Puppets
Santa Arrgh-rival, A Pirate X-Mas
Sat, 12/9/2017
Steer your ship to Country Village on Saturday evening,
December 9th for the second annual Santa Arrgh-rrival, A Pirate X-Mas. The
Pirates of Treasure Island will arrgh-rive at 7pm in the center parking lot on
their famous pirate ship, The Buccaneer Queen. Santa will walk the plank and
light the Jolly Rodney, The Country Village pirate ship, located in the center
courtyard. Live music from 5-8pm.
Cookies with Mrs. Claus
Sat, 12/09/2017 to
Sun, 12/10/2017
Experience the enchantment of the season! As the Village
glows under thousands of twinkling lights, Mrs. Claus will be giving out
cookies to children at The Chic Boatique from noon to 3pm on Saturday and
Sunday. Parents and kids alike will love collecting annual cookie recipes from
participating shops to add to their collection. This is a free event for
children of all ages!
Fun with Frosty
Sat, 12/16/2017 to Sun, 12/17/2017
Meet Frosty the Snowman and his friend, Hippity Hop the Rabbit, from noon to 3pm both Saturday and Sunday at Country Village.
Enjoy a magic show at noon, participate in fun &
games at 1pm and make a winter craft project with Frosty at 2pm. This is a
free event for children of all ages!
BRIER
Brier Annual Tree Lighting
Sat, 12/2/2017
Join us at Brier Park for some carols with The Brier Elementary Choir and for the lighting of our community holiday tree. Hot chocolate, cookies and candy canes will be provided. Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive at 6pm. There will be a food drive for Concern for Neighbors Food Bank.
MILL CREEK
Santa's Coming to Town
Sat, 12/2/2017
Your whole family is invited to join in the fun on
December 2nd at the Mill Creek Town Center as Santa comes for a
visit in the Santa’s Coming to Town Event. Festive events will start at 2pm throughout the Mill Creek Town Center. All Aboard! Free train rides
for kids are sponsored by First Financial Northwest Bank. Train rides
will run from 2-6pm at the north end of the Town Center. Dramatic
holiday readings will take place at the University Book Store at 2pm.
ReAct Theatre performs holiday classics in this annual story time
tradition!
Bring your camera and take pictures with Santa at the
Atrium from 2-3pm. Look for fun activities for the kids at Artisan
Custom Framing, Boston’s Restaurant, Spotted Cow Coffee Company, Magic Mirror
Comics and other merchant locations throughout the Town Center. You will
find crafts, story time, a photo booth, a balloon artist, and more. Pick
up a program of all the activities at Town Center merchant locations.
The Santa Parade down Main Street will start at 3:30pm. Joining in the parade will be dance companies, local kids' groups,
fire trucks and more. Also, be on the lookout for the Grinch! After
the parade and tree lighting at City Hall, it is time to take a ride in a horse
drawn carriage. The free carriage rides are sponsored by Absolute
Mortgage and will run from 4:30-6:30pm. Many locations
including Windermere and Kate’s Gifts are providing treats and hot chocolate
during the Santa’s Coming to Town Event. The fun continues from 5-7pm at
the University Book store with a Harry Potter themed holiday party! Come
dressed in your Yule Ball best for wizarding music, refreshments, photo ops,
and activities.
The events conclude that evening with a Christmas Concert with the band Cherry Cherry. The Mill Creek Town Center Christmas Concert is sponsored by North Creek Roofing and Deanna McCulloch, broker with Windermere Realty, and will be held from 6-8pm at the Forum. Bundle up and put on your dancing shoes for a fun night of Christmas music in our last concert of the year!
Santa’s Coming to Town Events:
- 2-3pm Pictures at the Atrium with Santa
- 2pm ReAct Theatre Holiday Reading at the University Book Store
- 2-6pm Free Train Rides for kids sponsored by First Financial Northwest Bank
- 3:30pm Santa Parade begins
- 4:00pm The County Council passed our 2017 Budget on November 21st with a unanimous 5 - 0 vote.
- 4:30 – 6:30pm Free Carriage Rides sponsored by Absolute Mortgage
- 5-7pm Yule Ball at the University Book Store
- 6-8pm Free Cherry Cherry Christmas Concert at the Forum sponsored by North Creek Roofing and Deanna McCulloch, Windermere Realty
Mill Creek Chorale Holiday Concert
Sat, 12/2/2017
Lynnwood High School Theater
18218 North Road
Bothell, WA 98012
Cost: $15 Adults, $10 Seniors, $10 Students,
under 10 - FREE
Times: 3PM, 7PM
The Mill Creek Chorale, an 85-member adult community
choir based in Mill Creek, presents its fourth annual holiday concert. A Mill Creek Chorale Christmas will feature sacred and
secular choral music that is sure to inspire us all in the spirit of the holiday season! Songs Include: It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas, O
Little Town of Bethlehem, See Amid the Winter's Snow, A Christmas Song, Winter
Wonderland, A Musicological Journey Through the 12 Days of Christmas.
MOUNTLAKE TERRACE
Tree Lighting Ceremony
Fri, 12/1/2017
The Tree Lighting Ceremony is held annually on the first Friday
evening of December at 6:30pm at Evergreen Playfield, 22205 56th Avenue
W.
Thanks to our Tour de Terrace volunteers who serve cocoa,
coffee and cookies at the Evergreen Playfield concession stand while local
school children sing carols. The “tree”, which can be seen from miles around,
is actually a frame constructed with 1,800 LED lights and sits atop the city’s
water tower.
Experienced attendees know that Santa will make his grand
entrance on a fire truck! Guests should dress warm and wear boots if the
weather is wet because it is a dirt field.
The Tree Lighting event is funded through sponsorships and the 2016 event was
sponsored by Vineyard Park of Mountlake Terrace. The event is free to the
public, however cash donations will be accepted at the concession stand for the
Michelle Ringler Youth Recreation Scholarship Fund. Since 2002 the Fund has
helped over 400 children register for recreation programs at the Mountlake
Terrace Recreation Pavilion.
The Tree Lighting Ceremony brings our community together with holiday spirit.
For more information, please call the Recreation Pavilion at (425) 776-9173.
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