This week I issued a Proclamation recognizing the week of May 7-13, 2023 as National Correctional Officers and Employees Week. First proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan on May 5, 1984, the first full week of May recognizes the men and women who work in jails, prisons, and community corrections across the country. Here in Monroe, we recognize the employees of the Monroe Correctional Complex for their role in providing safe, secure, and humane incarceration of offenders within their custody. I encourage you to read the full text of the Proclamation, and to pay tribute to the Correctional Employees of the Monroe Correctional Complex for the vital public service they provide.

I also want to wish a Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing moms out there!

I hope you all enjoy this week's edition of Monroe This Week which features details on:

• The installation of more gateway and wayfinding signs
• The publishing of the Spring and Summer Sky & Sno Adventure Guide
• The annual Spring Cleanup tomorrow
• The flag retirement program
• Week 2 of Building Safety Month 2023
• How ARP funds are supporting childhood development
• A summary of the May 9 City Council meeting

Please reach out to me with what may be on your mind about and for Monroe. I can be contacted at GThomas@MonroeWA.gov.

Yours in Service,

Mayor Geoffrey Thomas 

MORE GATEWAY & WAYFINDING SIGNS INSTALLED

As I've mentioned in recent editions of Monroe This Week, the City of Monroe is working to update the city’s gateway and wayfinding signs. These signs will greet visitors and residents at main entrances into the city with a design that reflects the city's identity and makes a good first impression. The project also includes a vehicular and pedestrian wayfinding sign program that will help people navigate through the community and promote economic development by highlighting key destinations and attractions.  New signs will begin to appear throughout Monroe over the next couple of weeks, so keep your eye out!

SPRING AND SUMMER SKY & SNO ADVENTURE GUIDE PUBLISHES

The Spring and Summer Sky & Sno Adventure Guide is out! Capture the natural wonders in the Skykomish and Snohomish River Valleys by embarking on a guided photo road trip through this beautiful valley and learn about some of the natural wonders our area offers. The Lake Stevens Monster, the history of the Snohomish River, the Monroe Swifts, Climbing in the area and more. A list of delicious grab & go eats, and a full list of lodging is provided to help you plan your visit. 

This regional visitors guide is a collaboration between Lake Stevens, Snohomish, Monroe, and the Upper Sky Valley. Copies are distributed in visitor centers and hotels throughout Washington state. Locally, copies can also be picked up at various events and locations throughout the valley. Read online here.

REMINDER: SPRING CLEANUP EVENT TOMORROW

Republic Services will be hosting their annual Spring Cleanup event tomorrow at the Evergreen Speedway from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The event is open to all Republic Services’ customers living within Monroe city limits. Flyers for the event were mailed out mid April; Republic Services is requesting that customers bring the flyer to the event as proof of residency. Please visit our website for details regarding acceptable materials and more event information.

FLAG RETIREMENT PROGRAM REMINDER

As several Federal Flag Holidays approach, the Monroe Police Department would like to remind the community that they accept flags that are soiled, torn, worn, or otherwise unable to be displayed. Their front desk personnel will personally accept your retired US flag. If requested and available, Officer Van Eaton can assist in folding the flags to a regulation triangle.

All flags handed over to the Monroe Police Department will be donated to our local Veterans of Foreign War and/or American Legion. These organizations will ensure their respectful destruction, carried out by local Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and other programs.

For any questions, please contact the Monroe Police Department at 360-794-6300 or reach out to Officer Van Eaton at SVanEaton@MonroeWA.gov. Their front desk hours are from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

For more information about the United States Flag Code, please click here.

MAY IS BUILDING SAFETY MONTH - CITY RECOGNIZES IMPORTANCE OF SAFE BUILDINGS

As I mentioned in a recent edition of Monroe This Week, the theme of Building Safety Month 2023 is “It Starts with You”. The International Code Council (ICC) has designated each week of May as a different building safety theme to help raise awareness. This week's theme is "Building Safety Professionals and You" and introduces the important role that building safety professionals play in keeping our homes, schools, and businesses safe. Their website dives into everything from who these professionals are, what they do, and when to call them.

Last week, I issued a Proclamation recognizing the month of May as Building Safety Month. I encourage you to read the full text of the Proclamation and check out the ICC's resources for the week.

ARP FUNDS SUPPORT CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

In this week’s edition of Monroe This Week, I would like to call attention to how American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act funds have gone to help the Monroe Public Schools Foundation. In a collaborative effort, the Monroe Public Schools Foundation and Monroe School District Libraries used their grant award of $7,059.08 to launch a new theme called "Celebrate the World", aimed at providing students with learning opportunities that promote diversity, cultural awareness, and understanding of human characteristics and challenges around the world.

As part of this initiative, ARP awards helped purchase books for all eight of the Monroe School District's libraries. These books were specially selected to reflect the diverse cultures represented within the school district and are now featured prominently in library book displays for students to check out. This program has been widely embraced by the students, who have shown great enthusiasm for the new books. I am proud of this valuable initiative, and look forward to sharing more stories of how ARP funds are making a positive impact in the community.

MAY 9 CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY

The City Council met in a Regular Business Meeting on Tuesday, May 9. The following items were discussed and acted upon during the meeting:

Consent Agenda – Items considered routine and approved by one vote:

• City Council Meeting Minutes for April 25, 2023
• Accounts Payable/ACH payments through May 9, 2023
• April 2023 payroll
• Amendment No.1 to the Republic Services, Inc. contract providing temporary residential garbage and recycling collection sites, in the event that regular collection services are interrupted due to inclement weather as defined in Section 2.1.8 of the contract
• Authorize myself to sign Contract # 2023-061 Concessionaire Agreement for Services with Dave Leggett, to provide seasonal boat rental concession services at Lake Tye Park

New Business – reviewed, discussed, and approved the following new items:

• My appointment of Karl Niemela to the Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB) Position 3, with a term ending December 31, 2025
• Stacy Criswell provided a brief history of Building Code updates and said that the City is required to adopt and enforce the State Building Codes. Mr. Criswell said that the most recent updates go into effect July 1, 2023, and he reviewed some of the more significant changes including the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code and how these changes will affect Monroe residents and builders. Mr. Criswell also reviewed local amendments that are being proposed. This item will be on a future agenda for first reading of the ordinance

Mayor/Administrative Reports:

• City Administrator Deborah Knight reported:
• There is a Joint Planning Commission/City Council meeting tentatively scheduled for June 20
• There are no items for the Council Study Session for May 16 and requested a motion to cancel the meeting. Council voted to cancel
• I reported on:
• The State of the City presentation I gave to the Planning Commission at their recent meeting
• Asked Council to assist with the wreath laying ceremony on Memorial Day
• Answered questions from Council with the help of staff related to the upcoming community meeting hosted by St. Vincent de Paul regarding a proposed Safe Parking Program

Staff Reports:

• Parks and Recreation
• Human Services

UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE

The May 16 City Council Study Session Meeting is CANCELLED. The City Council will next meet in a Regular Business Meeting on Tuesday, May 23. The meeting will be held in a hybrid format; members of the public may participate in Monroe City Council meetings either in-person at City Hall or remotely via the Zoom remote meeting platform. Participation information will be posted with the May 23 agenda, which can be accessed by clicking the button below.