EVERETT JULY 11: Amendments and ordinances made to the Park District Project were approved by the council last night, after months of planning and community deliberation.
Everett Housing Authority (EHA), in working with the Delta Neighborhood Association and Park District developers has worked to create amendments to the project based on community feedback. The amendments include enhancing wetland areas, improving pedestrian connections and ensuring tenant occupancy within the district.
“This has been a wonderful example of everybody coming together and legitimately having conversations and listening to folks. And I feel that is exactly what government should be doing, is helping people, and listening,” Councilmember Mary Fosse said.
Mayors comments:
The Fourth of July transit shuttle transported roughly 7,300 people to and from the parade downtown and firework show at Legion Park on July 4, Mayor Cassie Franklin said.
Everett families experiencing hunger this summer can receive free lunch starting at noon at the Everett Library Main Branch and 12:15 p.m. at Forest Park, until August 15. The Everett Public School District also has locations to receive meals around Everett as part of their summer meals program.
The Everett Police and Fire Departments continue to fill their vacancies in light of ongoing law enforcement shortages across the state. “There’s a lot of work that goes in behind the scenes before an officer can be welcomed to our Everett family and in general recruitment is really challenging right now,” Franklin said.
Franklin and Police Chief DeRousse swore in Tycen Johnson. Johnson is close with his family who resides in Washington state, and is the oldest of five siblings, DeRousse said. Johnson is excited to begin his time at the Everett Police Department.
Council comments:
Councilmember Paula Rhyne encouraged residents to look more into Proposition 1, a measure that will be on the August ballot. The next Prop 1 informational session is July 27 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Evergreen Library branch. The last one will be July 30 from 5:30-7 p.m. in Weyerhaeuser Room. For more information on Prop 1 and informational sessions, see here.
Public comments:
Annie Fitzgerald, a Marysville resident, spoke on the homelessness crisis in Everett and surrounding areas.
“Rent prices are out of control, people being forced to live on the street or out of their cars and it’s a growing crisis,” she said. Fitzgerald also expressed concerns over the Supreme Court’s decision regarding homeless encampments, and how it will impact Everett and Marysville’s laws on homelessness.
“I am concerned that this council isn’t taking this issue seriously,” Fitzgerald said.
Everett resident Allan Miller expressed concerns about overgrown bamboo around Everett. “It’s time for the city to act and dig up the roots and plants to save the land from this invasive plant,” Miller said.
Granite Falls resident Ethan Pfahl, on behalf of Laborers Local 292, supported the Park District project as long as labor standards were upheld throughout the duration of the project. “This project is going to bring hundreds of construction jobs to Everett… this project is what the city needs to meet growth demands,” Pfahl said.
