MARYSVILLE – We can build that waterfront park for $26 million, consultants said.

We can build that waterfront for $13 million, the city of Marysville says.

Build that park.

Improvements at Ebey Waterfront Park are just some of the projects in the next biennial city budget, for 2017-18, that the City Council started working on this week, and will continue working on until at least the public hearing on it Nov. 14.

The city already has saved $7 million in reserves for the project and will finance a $5 million bond for most of the rest. The city is hoping for a grant to help pay for Olympic View Park on the east side of the Qwuloolt Estuary.

Chief Administrative Officer Gloria Hirashima said at the City Council meeting Oct. 24 that staff thinks it can do the project for $13 million, minus the major building that was part of a consultant’s plan. An elevated boardwalk over wetlands, which would probably take 10 years or so to permit, also is left out, along with some loops in the trail.

Hirashima said the waterfront area is a priority for the council so this would help them “move forward.”

She said the park could spur economic development, with possibly private businesses being a part.

Parks director Jim Ballew said the facility would increase “ecotourism.”

One item not in the budget is a new Public Safety Building.

Hirashima said even though one is “critically needed” the city could not find a finding source for one.

A consultant said the city could build one for up to $48 million. But just as in the case of the waterfront park, the city thinks it could do it for less. Hirashima said a bond in 2018 might be needed.

She added that the current facility is 30 years old, and was built when this city had 8,000 people. Now is has almost 70,000. She added that the original building housed police, courts and fire, but the latter two have their own buildings due to previous growth.

Public Works director Kevin Nielsen talked about the many traffic projects in the proposed budget.

He is most “excited” about widening State Avenue from 100th to 116th, so there will be five lanes between Marysville and Smokey Point. He will find out about a $7 million grant in November that would secure the plan.

That department has received many other grants, and some will help pay for the First Street Bypass, improvements at 88th with a cemetery relocation, an overcrossing at Grove Street at the railroad tracks and improvements around 156th, which will aid in manufacturing growth there.

The city also talked about spending $1 per resident for the Snohomish Health District. Mayor Jon Nehring said north county mayors agreed to put that in the budget for consideration because of cuts to the health district by the county.

In return, the health district would report what it plans to do for the city with that money. They also will come up with a plan for sustainable funding.

“It earns us a spot at the table,” Nehring said.

“It’s a good start,” said council member Donna Wright, who represents the city on the district’s board.

Nehring said the health district still would face cuts, so he wants to know, “What would be saved with that dollar.”

Parks, Cultural and Recreation director Jim Ballew said he needs a new supervisor to guide the 3,000 hours volunteers will put in over the next two years, along with seasonal workers.

A large part of the discussion focused on police. Chief Rick Smith said an assistant chief is needed. He hopes to promote one commander then promote three lieutenants to commanders. Also requested is a sergeant to supervise a new unit that would focus on the city’s parks. The city also is being asked to contribute $15,000 for the department’s anti-bullying campaign.

Smith also said a permanent position is needed for the Regional Property Crimes Unit, along with a full-time person to deal with public records.

Other budget items:

•The courts need more money for interpreters because they are hard to find for some languages.

•$10,000 for abatement so the city can cleanup nuisance properties. Liens can be placed on the property, so the city eventually could recoup those monies.

•Comeford Park shelter and barbecue; restroom at Jennings Memorial Park; and more work on Ebey Waterfront Trail.

•Increased budgets for workers compensation because of more claims and pension because more workers are retiring.

•Hike in the fire department budget of 3.5 percent, which is in line with other departments.

•Money for an arborist because of the fear of trees falling in a windstorm.

•Replace 20-plus-year-old vehicles

•Roundabouts on Soper Hill

The budget wasn’t the only thing the City Council talked about this week.

The busy meeting had everything from Police Chief Rick Smith talking about his connections to both World Series managers to the council itself coming to a split vote on reducing traffic impact fees for nonprofits.

Housing Hope was looking for a break on impact fees because of its plan to build low-income housing near Twin Lakes park.

Community Development director Dave Koenig said rather than the full price of $160,000 in impact fees, Housing Hope would pay $80,000.

Council Member Jeff Vaughan asked what the public benefit would be for the city to allow such a reduction.

Mayor Jon Nehring said it’s hard to put a dollar amount on that.

“It’s difficult to monetize,” he said, adding it would help the homeless problem, which could cut police and social service costs.

Koenig added, “It would serve a group of people who are homeless.”

Council president Kamille Norton asked if a number of nonprofits might do the same thing if such a law was passed.

Koenig replied that it is so hard for nonprofits to come up with enough money for such projects that he “doesn’t see them rushing in” to do more.

The split over the measure came because Vaughan and Councilman Jeff Siebert thought the council should approve such projects. The others felt city staff administrative approval was enough.

“It’s less influenced by politics,” City Attorney Jon Walker said, adding most other land-use decisions are made by staff.

Also at the meeting:

•Smith talked about when he played professional baseball he had experiences with Chicago Cubs coach Joe Madden and Cleveland Indians coach Terry Francona. He said he played with the Indians coach and was signed by the Cubs’ coach, who remains a friend to this day. “I don’t care who wins,” he said, then quickly added, well maybe the Cubbies.

•Koenig talked about a seventh home that could be boarded up soon because it’s vacant, doesn’t have sewer or water services and has squatters living there.

•A moment of silence opened the meeting in remembrance of the shooting at Marysville-Pilchuck High School two years ago. “We remember the victims and their families,” Nehring said, adding it’s been another year the community has tried to recover. “But it’s little relief for the families.”

•Public Works director Kevin Nielsen said the paving of the Ebey Waterfront Trail was 11 percent under budget.

•The council expanded its definition of parks to outlaw shooting guns from those trails, especially during duck season. Walker said the change will include trails as parks within the city. “We can’t be discharging firearms on the new trails,” he said.

•Nielsen discussed the delay in the overlay at 88th Street because of rainy weather. He also said BSNF will be closing 172nd around Christmas time to do work.