City of Snohomish Quarterly Magazine - Summer 2023

Snohomish city of

In This Issue

SUMMER 2023

City Hall

City of Snohomish PO Box 1589

116 Union Avenue Snohomish, WA 98291-1589

Phone: 360-568-3115

Office Hours

Tuesday/Wednesday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.

Monday/Thursday/Friday by appt. only

Please see the City’s website to report a concern or for additional information at www.SnohomishWA.gov.

Police

230 Maple Avenue Snohomish, WA 98290

Phone: 360-568-0888

Emergency: 911

Non-Emergencies: 425-407-3999

Office Hours

Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.

Patrol deputies are on duty 24 hours a day and can be reached by calling 911.

Department Contacts

Linda Redmon, Mayor 360-282-3154

redmon@SnohomishWA.gov

Heather Thomas, City Administrator 360-282-3194

thomas@SnohomishWA.gov

Brooke Eidem, Planning Director 360-282-3167

eidem@SnohomishWA.gov

Rebekah Park, Human Resources Manager 360-282-3155

park@SnohomishWA.gov

Brandi Whitson, City Clerk 360-282-3181

whitson@SnohomishWA.gov

Nova Heaton, Public Works Director 360-282-3187

heaton@SnohomishWA.gov

Alisha Hendren, Finance Director 360-282-3197

hendren@SnohomishWA.gov

Shari Ireton, Director of Community Engagement & Strategic Initiatives 360-282-3176

ireton@SnohomishWA.gov

Mike Martin, Police Chief 360-568-0888 snohomishpd@SnohomishWA.gov

Planning for the Future of Snohomish

BY LINDA REDMON, MAYOR

Have you ever wondered how city planning happens? How your elected officials and City staff know when to move forward on building infrastructure and facilities? What kind of thought goes into the needs of current and future residents?

How we make sure that we have a good foundation for handling changes that we see coming? The Comprehensive Plan is the answer!

As defined by the Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington, “Comprehensive plans are the centerpiece of local planning efforts. A comprehensive plan articulates a series of goals, objectives, policies, actions, and standards that are intended to guide the day-to-day decisions of elected

officials and local government staff.” Comprehensive plans encapsulate planning looking forward 20 years, considering our current and future needs and resources, and predicting as best as possible what reality will look like two decades from now. You’ll find the specific elements needed for the City’s Comprehensive Plan on pages 8-9.

I’ve heard, “Why do we need to plan for growth? I want Snohomish to stay the same!” Well, anyone who has had children or brought a partner into the community has contributed to growth. Growth is inevitable and we need to accept and plan for it.

The comprehensive plan is the document that the city must, by law, follow in making development regulations and capital budget decisions. That's why it's important that a thorough review is conducted, and that

the community has multiple opportunities to provide input for the update.

The review process involved in updating the comprehensive plan is also a good opportunity for assessing and identifying level of service standards to better serve the needs of the community. Transportation levels of service, typically focused on traffic flow through intersections, is the only level of service standard required by law, but the City is also working on standards for levels of service for parks and multimodal transportation. We will be seeking as much public input as possible on all of these elements because they are really important for the quality of life of our community. Please make your voice heard by going to https://www.snohomishwa.gov/ 184/Comprehensive-Plan. Help us plan the future of Snohomish!

Linda Redmon, Mayor redmon@snohomishwa.gov 360-282-3154

How do we make sure that we have a good foundation for handling changes that we see coming?

Ambassadors to the Future: Civic Ambassadors Program Engages Volunteers in Comprehensive Plan

Your chances of running into Bill Webster around Snohomish on any given day are pretty good. Bill is a Snohomish resident, painting contractor, and prolific volunteer. “We have a lot of energy,” he says. Bill and his wife, Erin, have a strong sense of community and volunteering is a way to turn their gratitude for Snohomish into action. In addition to being president of the Kla Ha Ya Days board of directors, a Snohomish Chamber board member, and a food bank volunteer, Bill is now one of the City’s Civic Ambassadors.

The Civic Ambassadors program, which began in the spring of 2023, engages volunteers in spreading the word about the City’s comprehensive planning process. As Bill is quick to point out, there can sometimes be a stigma around government. Working with community members like Bill allows the City to reach people who might not otherwise feel comfortable sharing their thoughts on pressing issues such as growth and development. Bill says Snohomish is “the greatest place most people have ever lived,” and that its residents feel strongly about its sense of place.

Civic Ambassadors hear out these concerns and help residents provide feedback to the City. While they don’t discuss their own opinions, they can help provide context by sharing information about the City and its comprehensive planning process. Civic Ambassador Jan Lengenfelder, a resident of the historic district and former Public Safety Commissioner, points out that the City is expected to grow by less than 3,000 people over the next 20 years. “Compared to our neighboring cities,” she says, “that is a very modest increase.”

Kelly Holderman also believes that the Civic Ambassadors program is helpful in bridging the gap between the City and its residents. Kelly, a retiree who spent 25 years working for Volunteers of America, has lived in Snohomish for 39 years. In addition to being a Civic Ambassador, she also volunteers at Providence Hospital and Snohomish First Presbyterian Church. “People don’t understand what rules we have in this city and why we have them,” she says, “and we’re leading people to find the information.”

Civic Ambassadors help survey the community in a couple of ways. The City’s middle housing survey asked residents about their thoughts on housing types (such as cottage housing, duplexes, or townhomes) that fill in the “missing middle” between single-family homes and large multi-family developments. Next up is the comprehensive plan survey, which asks people to envision what the future of Snohomish should be. To help spread the word, Bill leverages his networks within

the community, talks to his customers, and tries to hold coffee chats at Looking Glass

Coffee at least twice a month. Jan, meanwhile, takes advantage of how interconnected the community is – many of the people she talks to are members of multiple community organizations. Kelly’s focus is her own neighborhood, where she knows everyone and walks five days a week. But keep an eye out for her and other ambassadors around town. “I try to wear my button when I go anywhere in the City,” Kelly says.

As the Civic Ambassadors stress, it’s important for everyone to share their own experiences and individual perspectives. Volunteers like Bill, Jan, and Kelly help empower Snohomish residents, but you don’t have to wait until you meet them to provide your feedback to the City. Take the comprehensive plan survey today by scanning the QR code below or by visiting the City’s website at:

https://www.snohomishwa. gov/184/Comprehensive-Plan.

Civic Ambassador Bill Webster

City News

Project Updates

• On Memorial Day, the City, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 921, American Legion Post 96, and the Carnegie Foundation hosted an unveiling ceremony for the Snohomish Veterans Memorial Obelisk on the grounds of the historic Snohomish Carnegie Building. The monument, created by the community in the early 1960s, includes about 80 names of veterans from the area who died in various conflicts, from World War I to Afghanistan and Iraq. It was relocated in 2012 to the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery on the outskirts of Snohomish to protect it from any possible damage while the Carnegie Building underwent extensive restoration.

• Pilchuck Park is closed for the summer for a roadway relocation project. Work includes utility improvements, slope grading and restoration, and relocation of the road into the park.

• In April, over 20 volunteers and staff from the Snohomish Conservation District participated in a public planting event to continue the restoration work at Pilchuck Julia Landing. The Landing is a key component to the City’s long-term plan to restore the area with native plants and improve critical habitat for wildlife to help combat climate change.

• The City Council approved the purchase of new playground equipment that will be installed as part of the Averill Field Improvement Project, Phase I. Other future improvements include adding pickleball courts and a pavilion. Additional information about these projects, including specific closure dates, are available on the City’s website: www.snohomishwa.gov.

—continued on page 13

Council Feature: Felix Neals

Community engagement is a core part of why I was inspired to become more civically engaged and sought to become a city councilmember. Learning with and from our communities is embedded in my personal mission and a huge part of how I learn what matters to all of you, and in turn how those learning experiences translate to actionable items for the City of Snohomish.

As we continue to examine and, in some cases, redefine how best to engage all of you, our citizens, there are some basic tenants I have committed to. These include fully considering public input in decision making and engagement of the full range of stakeholders from the community, including vulnerable populations and marginalized communities.

With these principles as a guide, I have found alignment on “what matters.” To be sure, we have much work to do, ensuring we maintain the highest quality

schools, remain committed to public safety, solve the riddle of “missing middle” housing to ensure that Snohomish is a place where the beautiful mosaic of our state is also reflected in our beautiful city.

We are also embarking on an update to our Comprehensive Plan, “Our Future Snohomish,” to help us look towards 2044 and which you will learn more about in this issue. We cannot do this without the valuable input of you, the citizens of Snohomish.

So how can you get involved? Sign up to receive news from the City (www.snohomishwa.gov/List.aspx), or follow us on social media

(@SnohomishWA)

to learn more about participating in surveys or attending an open house. Attend a City Council meeting (https://www. snohomishwa.gov/115/ City-Council) or contact any of your councilmembers or the Mayor’s office (www. snohomishwa.gov/662/Mayors-Office).

We need your collective voices, passion, and enthusiasm to build upon the great work that we have accomplished, together, over the last few years. Help us continue to make Snohomish one of the “coolest small towns in America!”

Felix Neals, Councilmember Position #3 neals@snohomishWA.gov

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The Comprehensive Plan is central to land use and infrastructure planning in Washington State. Required by the Growth Management Act (GMA; RCW 36.70), it is the city’s statement of how we intend to handle growth into the future. The Comprehensive Plan is the difference between planning for growth and having growth simply happen, so it’s critical that the community gets involved to help identify what’s most important, what needs to be improved, and where new development makes the most sense. Included within the plan is a vision statement and characteristics that need to be preserved while still meeting GMA requirements.

The plan is divided into chapters, called elements, each discussing an aspect of the City. Some of these elements are required by state law, some are voluntary. All of them begin with a discussion of existing conditions relative to the topic, including inventories and assessments. Following that is a list of goals and policies that will guide the City into the next 20 years on that same topic. The goals and policies are important because they instruct staff, the City Council, and the mayor on budgeting decisions, development regulations, and capital improvement projects.

Amendments to the Comprehensive Plan can be made every year, but the document is required to be fully updated every decade. The last update was done in 2015, and the next update is due in December, 2024 with a planning horizon of 2044. So what are your plans for the next 20 years? Will you still live in Snohomish? Will your children or grandchildren live here too? What would you like Snohomish to be like in 20 years?

Encourage development in urban areas where adequate public facilities and services exist or can be provided in an efficient manner.

Encourage efficient multimodal transportation systems that are based on regional priorities and coordinated with county and city comprehensive plans.

Promote

Reduce the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped land into sprawling, low-density development.

Plan for and accommodate housing affordable to all economic segments of the population of this state, promote a variety of residential densities and housing types, and encourage preservation of existing housing stock.

and encourage economic opportunity for all, within the capacities of the state's natural resources, public services, and public facilities.

Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation having been made. The property rights of landowners shall be protected from arbitrary and discriminatory actions.

Applications for permits should be processed in a timely and fair manner to ensure predictability.

Maintain and enhance natural resourcebased industries like timber, agriculture, and fisheries. Encourage conservation of productive forestlands and productive agricultural lands, and discourage incompatible uses.

Retain open space, enhance recreational opportunities, conserve fish and wildlife habitat, increase access to natural resource lands and water, and develop parks and recreation facilities.

Protect the environment and enhance the state's high quality of life, including air and water quality, and the availability of water.

Encourage the involvement of citizens in the planning process and ensure coordination between communities and jurisdictions to reconcile conflicts.

Ensure public facilities and services necessary to support development are adequate to serve the development at the time of use without decreasing current service levels below established standards.

Identify and encourage the preservation of lands, sites, and structures that have historical or archaeological significance.

If you’ve attended a community event or Farmers Market over the last year and stopped by the City table, or if you’ve filled out one of the questionnaires, then we’ve heard your input. We’ve asked about housing, parks, urban forestry, future planning, and general questions about priorities and what you love most about Snohomish.

The Comprehensive Plan questionnaire will be open for the remainder of 2023, but here’s what we’re hearing most often from you so far (please keep giving us input!):

» Dog park

» Splash pad/water feature

» Updated playground equipment

» Restrooms

» Walkability and sidewalk improvements; more sidewalks

» Bike lanes and trails

» Traffic concerns

» Improved transit

» Manage growth strategically

» Keep Snohomish small; maintain historic character

» Inclusivity and community events

» Mixed use, things like parks in walking distance of homes

» Climate planning

» More trees

» More green space

» More animal habitat

» Housing affordability

» More housing

» Allow seniors to age in place

» More housing options

» Make First Street a pedestrian mall

» Turn City Shop site into a riverfront park

» Public parking lot south of Snohomish River with a pedestrian foot bridge across the river

» Community gardens and food forests

Public involvement is vital to making sure the Comprehensive Plan accurately represents the vision of the community. We need to hear from you. There are lots of ways to get involved and make your voice heard, both in-person and online.

Civic Ambassadors

Read more about the Civic Ambassadors program on page 5. These are members of your community, and they’re here to talk to you talk to you about future planning. They can also help answer questions about the city. Keep an eye out for your neighbors wearing “Civic Ambassador” pins and say hello.

Community Events

A City table can often be found at community events to talk about the Comprehensive Plan. City staff are also at the Farmers Market every week, chatting about lots of different things. The staff rotate, but there will always be a way to submit comments about the Comprehensive Plan, and resources to learn more about it. Come find us at the next event or Farmers Market!

Subareas Design Workshops

Do you live in one of the City subareas? The North Lake, North Corner, and Central West subareas are comprised of both incorporated and unincorporated land (still County jurisdiction, but slated for future annexation). These areas were the subject of a land use and market study in 2022, and that work is continuing this year into 2024. Design workshops for each subarea will be scheduled for this fall to discuss the vision and future development concepts with owners and residents. If you live in a subarea, please watch your mailbox for an invitation to a design workshop.

Survey

Have you taken the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update Questionnaire yet? If not, please do so now. This information will be used to draft goals and policies for the future, so we want to hear from you! Access the questionnaire and other information related to the Comprehensive Plan at this link: https://www. snohomishwa.gov/184. The page will be kept updated throughout the project.

Planning Commission

The Planning Commission will be reviewing all the Comprehensive Plan materials before making a recommendation to the City Council in 2024. Their meetings provide an opportunity to participate in the process and make comment. The Planning Commission regularly meet the first Wednesday of every month at 6 p.m. Meetings are held at the Snohomish Carnegie, 105 Cedar Avenue, and a remote option is offered as well via zoom. Access the remote meeting by calling in or clicking the link on the agenda packet.

At the June 20th City Council meeting, a group of students from Cascade View and Central Emerson Elementary Schools presented their vision for the future of Snohomish to the City Council. The schools were visited by Planning Director Brooke Eidem and Community Service Program Specialist Ann Ray this spring for a three-session mini lesson in future planning, City operations, and cartography. Students were then asked to prepare a map of their own illustrating their vision for the Snohomish of the future using the principles they learned.

These ten students bravely agreed to attend the City Council meeting and present their maps to a packed house on June 20th. Each presenter received a “Junior Planner” certificate. As one of the meeting attendees noted during public comments, if these students stay in Snohomish, the future will be bright!

Many thanks to both schools, the principals, all the teachers and parents, and especially the creative and visionary students for making this partnership a success.

A Primer on Planning: How the Planning & Development Services Team Helps Turn Ideas into Reality

Every structure, building, neighborhood, or park in Snohomish was once an idea. Turning ideas into reality can be a long and complex process, but the City’s Planning & Development Services (PDS) Department works hard to make it as easy and efficient as possible. As one staffer put it: “We’re all passionate about what we do, and it’s fun, and we want to help the public in any way we can.” How, then, does a building go from being an idea to bricks and mortar?

Land development can be a complex and confusing process, so PDS staff emphasizes the importance of working with project applicants and members of the public throughout the process. There are several options available to get a project started, including a virtual counter appointment to discuss your ideas with staff or a pre-application, which is a free service that gets you written feedback about project feasibility and code compliance. Or simply walk in to City Hall during office hours.

PDS is here to help, so if you get stuck at any point during the process, don’t hesitate to reach out. As PDS staff say, they want to work with applicants to “get to yes.” Planning Director Brooke Eidem puts it this way: “Planning is a balance between regulatory frameworks and the community vision.” Codes and standards are in place to not only protect the health and safety of the community, but to ensure that development aligns with the City’s

vision for the future. PDS staff take great care to ensure fairness in how these codes and standards are applied. “I apply all our policies exactly the same across the board,” says Permit Coordinator Hoole, “even when the City is the applicant.”

PDS staff support several City boards and commissions. These are the Parks & Recreation Board, Design Review Board, and Planning Commission. They are also hard at work preparing the 2024 Comprehensive Plan update. Staff are eager to see the results of the department’s new approach, which places a premium on community engagement so that the goals and policies of the plan are informed by the public. “Planning helps create the future of what Snohomish looks like,” Planner Chulsky says. “We help the public achieve the best use of what the city has to offer.”

PDS staff can be found at City Hall on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but you will also see them at the Snohomish Farmers Market and other community events. The department is currently a six-member team, although they will soon be joined by a Code Enforcement Official:

• Brooke Eidem, Planning & Development Services Director

• Koi Simpson, Building & Fire Official

• Leah Chulsky, Planner

• Thomas Kreinbring, Assistant Planner

• Katie Hoole, Permit Coordinator

• Natalie Furness, GIS Coordinator

City News, continued

The City of Snohomish welcomed several new faces to City Hall over the past three months, including:

• Leah Chulsky, Planner, who joined us from the City of Bellevue after almost 24 years in Development Services and remains passionate in her commitment to community.

• Natalie Furness, GIS Coordinator, who has taught GIS for the last few years at Western Washington University while completing a master’s degree focused on habitat modeling for cereal grains in Northwest Washington.

• Robert Hartman, Maintenance Worker – Collections, who began his stormwater career in the City of Mill Creek.

• Nate Callen, Senior Engineering Technician, who worked as a welder until he joined the City.

• Alisha Hendren, Finance Director, who joined the City from Sno-Isle Libraries.

• Trevor Nieman, Maintenance Worker – Collections, who has worked in machining before joining the City.

New Chief of Police

In April, the City announced that Lt. Mike Martin was selected as the new Snohomish Chief of Police, replacing Chief Rob Palmer who retired in June after almost 35 years of service. “I am both excited and honored to be chosen as the next Snohomish Police Chief,” said Lt. Martin.

“I have big shoes to fill and look forward to working hard with the men and women of the Snohomish Police Department to maintain public trust through exceptional police service.”

Community Events

National Night Out

• Tuesday, August 1, 2023

• 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm

• Averill Field

• 400 Second Street Snohomish Sponsored by our Lion’s Club, join local police, fire and service organizations for Snohomish National Night Out on the first Tuesday in August at Averill Field. National Night Out is an annual community event that promotes public safety and partnerships that make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out gives neighbors and public safety providers a chance to get to know one another in a positive environment. Public safety and fun activities for kids and families are the focus.

Brew in the Barn

• Friday, August 4, 2023

• 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm

• Thomas Family Farm

• 9010 Marsh Road Snohomish Come join the fun as we feature some of the best breweries around! There will be music, football, a silent auction, food trucks and of course the best in craft brewers and cidermakers.

Snohomish Cider Festival

• Sunday, August 6, 2023

• 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm

• Thomas Family Farm

• 9010 Marsh Road Snohomish Come out and enjoy the afternoon with family and friends The 2023 Snohomish Cider Festival is a great way to sample different hard ciders from cidermakers throughout the Northwest. In addition to ciders, there will be food and music. The first weekend in August is almost guaranteed to be sunny and warm! You must be 21 years of age or older; no children or babies. No pets other than service dogs.

Snohomish Art Showcase

• Thursday, August 10, 2023

• 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

• Historic downtown Snohomish Formerly known as the Snohomish Art Walk, this community event coincides with the Snohomish Farms Market and features artists and artisans stationed throughout historic downtown Snohomish, a youth art gallery at the Snohomish Carnegie, and a street band performance.

2023 Snohomish Block Party

• Friday August 25, 2023 to Saturday August 26, 2023

• 11:00 am to 10:00 pm

• Historic downtown Snohomish Two day block party with street fair, market, concerts and entertainment!

2023 Snohomish Tweed Ride

• Saturday, September 9, 2023

• 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

• Historic downtown Snohomish Dust off your tweed, parasol or jodhpurs and join us on a Victorianthemed bicycle ride with tea and pastry service, and historyrelevant-vendor and community fair set up inside the historic Snohomish Carnegie Building.

Mad Hatter Croquet Costume Derby

• Saturday, September 9, 2023

• 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm

• Harvey Airfield Croquet Grounds

• 9900 Airport Way Snohomish Join the Snohomish Lion’s Club down the rabbit hole for an afternoon of croquet, costumes, music, food and beverages. Play croquet for fun or compete to win the tournament. Dress to win one of the Alice in Wonderland inspired costume contests. Or wear your croquet whites or in your favorite garden party attire.

Snohomish Wine Walk

• Saturday, September 9, 2023

• 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm

• Historic downtown Snohomish Taste a variety of local Washington wines while strolling from shop to shop surrounded by the charms and architecture of our 150 year old streets.

Snohomish Classic Car and Hot Rod Display

• Sunday, September 24, 2023

• 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

• Historic downtown Snohomish The "Best of the Northwest" Snohomish Classic Car and Hot Rod Display is back! See over 400 beautiful cars on display and vote for your favorites! Fun for the whole family in our Touch-a-Truck Kids Area!

artsofsnohomish.com

Visit our cooperative gallery featuring the works of community-minded local artists. Explore a diverse array of paintings, photography, drawings, mixed media artworks, jewelry, greeting cards, and unique handcrafted gifts.

Wednesday-Sunday: Noon - 5 pm Monday and Tuesday: Closed 1024 First Street, Suite #104, Snohomish