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As Council Chair, it was an honor to lead the process to pass the 2023 County Budget. During deliberations I prioritized transparency and open collaboration and discussions with fellow councilmembers to work towards a balanced budget that reflects our shared values and goals.
There were a number of items in this budget that I was glad to include and champion including:
- Funding for land acquisition for a future regional trail between Snohomish and Everett and connecting to the Centennial Trail
- Increased public safety through funding an additional District Court Judge, two embedded social workers with our sheriff’s department, and funding for indigent defense
- Funding to address septic issues in Possession Sound near Tulalip
- Funding for enhanced translation services with our court system
- Upgrades and remodel to our Elections Department
- A staff person in the Assessor’s Office to increase gender equity through ensuring the accuracy of home ownership records
If you would like to learn more about the county budget, this county website has the “budget dashboard” where you compare and contrast various department budgets and see how county government is stewarding tax dollars.
On Friday, November 11, I joined a celebration to honor veterans at the Carl Gibson Center in Everett. The event included a short program hosted by Dr. Steve Corsi, President and CEO of VOAWW, and featured a color guard presentation by Everett High School’s JROTC, remarks from Naval Station Everett, and keynote speaker Col. Brett Gailey, the Mayor of Lake Stevens. It was a well-attended event and I especially appreciated the remarks to remember the POW/MIA service members and the sacrifices they have made.Â
For the last three years, I've worked with the Superior and District Courts, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and the Office of Public Defense to review the county’s treatment courts, with a focus on creating a Veterans Treatment Court. With the passage of the 2023 budget and adding staff and a judge to district court, we’ll soon see an expansion of these efforts.
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With Everett City Councilmember and newly-elected State Representative Mary Fosse (left) and Everett City Councilmember Paula Rhyne (middle) |
Until November 30, Snohomish County is seeking public input on draft policy amendments for the Population and Employment, Economic Development, and Interjurisdictional Coordination Elements of the Comprehensive Plan. This comment period is Phase I (of VI) in a process taking place through May of 2023 intended to provide the public with early opportunities to review and comment on draft policy amendments related to each element of the Comprehensive Plan. For more information on the phases and ways that you can provide comment, please visit this page. And for a video to familiarize yourself with the 2024 Comprehensive Plan, please click here.Â
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In October, Council voted down an Ordinance that would mandate that anyone with substance use disorder enroll in drug treatment as a condition to admission to a county-owned residential facility. This requirement does not align with the proven “Housing First” model to address homelessness. I’m glad that some of my colleagues rejected this irresponsible policy. More of my comments can be found in this recent Letter to The Editor published in the Herald. Â
Snohomish County and Everett City Councilmembers recently signed a joint letter addressed to the Providence Hospital Administration to urge their immediate attention to address the nursing staff crisis at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett. While the nursing staff shortage is not isolated to PRMCE, both councils have been hearing about the severity of conditions and substantial staff turnover rates. I support our Providence nurses and staff and am hopeful that a staffing resolution will be reached soon. The letter can be found here, and a recent Herald article can be found here.
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At the UFCW 3000 Leafletting event with former Councilmember Stephanie Wright and State Representative April Berg as we support nursing staff |
Some Snohomish County residents have been receiving a scam letter claiming to be from a Snohomish County “Tax Resolution Unit” and threatening garnishment, property seizure, or a lien on their property if the fees are not paid in full. This fraudulent letter is a scam. If you have received a questionable notice of this type, please do not call the number listed on the form, but instead contact our Treasurer’s office directly at Contact.Treasurer@snoco.org, or 425-388-3366.
The county has many Boards and Commissions which serve in an advisory role to council and the executive’s office. If you have an interest in serving Snohomish County in a deeper capacity, please take a look through the Boards and Commissions page to see if there is a group that you may be interested in joining.
This newsletter I’d like to highlight that applications and nominations are needed for immediate openings to the Evergreen State Fair Advisory Board from Council District 2 (Everett/Mukilteo/Tulalip) and Council District 3 (Lynnwood/Edmonds). Applications can be found at: https://www.evergreenfair.org/131/Fair-Advisory-Board. The Evergreen State Fair Advisory Board aids in managing and preserving the largest publicly owned fair in the Pacific Northwest. Board members meet monthly and more frequently during the Fair. For more information about joining the advisory board, please contact Kara Underwood at 425-388-6640 or Kara.Underwood@snoco.org.
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The recent windstorm left a wave of damage and people without power. With the widespread damage and high number of trees that fell, crews at Snohomish County PUD worked diligently to get power on as quickly as possible. Guest crews from all over the state came to assist with repairs as well. If you have questions about restoration efforts, I suggest reaching out directly to SnoPUD’s customer service. They are an independent organization from county government and manage their own operations. Their Customer Service line is 425-783-1000, you can report outages at 425-783-1001 or online at https://reportoutage.snopud.com/ReportOutage/SearchAddress. Their outage map can be found at https://outagemap.snopud.com/.
To help with clean up efforts and general neighborliness, please consider taking the time to clear storm drains in your neighborhood. The high winds and increased rainfall washed leaves into storm drains which can cause localized flooding in our neighborhoods. Please help prevent flooded streets by keeping storm drains near your home free of leaves and debris.
Owners of storm drainage facilities are legally responsible for maintenance to ensure they continue to function properly. See a list of storm drainage facility cleaning contractors here. To report a drainage problem, you can submit a drainage investigation request, or call the SWM office at 425-388-3464.
I recently joined an event hosted by the Snohomish County Conservation District to plant trees in the Delta Neighborhood of Everett. Bolstering our urban tree canopy is an effort that I am working to address, so it was a great event to see so many others in the community who share this dedication. This event was the kick-off event for the Future of Urban Street Trees initiative through the Snohomish Conservation District and the event was in partnership with the City of Everett, the League of Women Voters, and the Delta Neighborhood Association. Check out their website for ways that you can get involved, and pics from the event are below.
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The Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce is hosting Merry Mukilteo & Tree Lighting Festival on December 3 from 3-6:30p. The event will be at Rosehill Community Center and is bound to be a merry delight. Check out the event link for more information or for ways that you can volunteer or participate.
The City of Everett’s Wintertide celebration is bigger and more festive than ever this year. There are events the whole holiday season kicking off on Friday, November 25, for the annual downtown tree lighting celebration. Join Santa at 5p on Colby between Hewitt and California as he uses holiday magic to light up Everett’s downtown lighting displays.
The Wintertide celebration also brings art, music, small vendor markets, Santa Cruises and so much more during the whole season. Check out their website for the list of activities.
The Everett Arboretum is hosting Wintertide Lights again this year. Lights will be on 4-8p every night in December and is free to the public. There are also two Family Fun Saturdays, Dec 10 and Dec 17, where Elves will host a workshop from 4-6p for kids to craft with natural materials like wood rounds and gathered greens. Their website has more information on ways that you can visit or get involved.
The Port of Everett’s Holiday on the Bay is bound to have another successful year. The event will be Saturday, December 3, starting at 11am. The fun-filled day will include a holiday market, food trucks, family events, “Frozen Fountain” lighting, and lighted boat parade! There are two drive-in movies at 6 and 7:15 but reservations for the movies are required. They are also hosting the Pacific Ice Seasonal Outdoor Ice Rink again from November 18 – Jan 9. Please visit www.portofeverett.com/pacificice to learn more and purchase your tickets.
On Sunday, December 11, from 10-6p at the Orca Ballroom at the Tulalip Casino there will be over 100 vendors to help start your holiday shopping. The event is put on by Buzzing Bee Events and is free to the public to attend. There will also be a raffle drawing and a cash bar. Rumor has it that Santa will make an appearance as well. More info at www.buzzingbeeevents.com.
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