MARYSVILLE – The reorganization of the Marysville Police Department was displayed at the City Council meeting Monday.
“We like our pomp and circumstance,” Police Chief Rick Smith admitted.
The biggest change is that for the first time in years the city is going to have an assistant police chief, Jeff Goldman. Smith pushed for the position as he wants to get out and engage with the community more.
“He’s my ‘go to’ to make sure everything gets done,” Smith said, adding in his 10 years here Goldman has always come through for him.
Other high-ranking officers also received promotions.
Mark Thomas, Larry Buell and Brad Akau were promoted to commanders.
John Elton and Kawika Davis were promoted to sergeants in the new Community Service Division and code enforcement.
And Sara Oberholtzer and Daniel White were sworn in as new custody officers for the city jail.
Meanwhile, planning director Dave Koenig asked the council to OK up to $2,200 to update the Lakewood Neighborhood Master Plan. Council Member Jeff Siebert cast a lone dissenting vote. He questioned why Makers Architecture didn’t just finish the job. He didn’t want to OK the money until he knew exactly what changes were going to be made.
Koenig explained that the Planning Commission, after receiving input from the Lakewood community, made changes to some roads, graphics and language in the plan. Chief Executive Officer Gloria Hirashima said the previous contract had expired so to make changes more funding would be needed.
Also, Zoe Wlazlak, director of the emergency cold-weather shelter for the homeless, was honored as Volunteer of the Month. Even though she is a college student and mom with three young boys she has directed numerous volunteers from the Marysville Area Pastors Association in running the shelter. When the Damascus Church suddenly couldn’t house the shelter earlier this month, Wlazlak worked with other churches to find temporary spots to finish this cold season. “I know you mean a lot to them,” Mayor Jon Nehring said of the homeless. “You upended your personal life, working nights and weekends. You’re a big part of the solution.”
And, the council OK’d a major project for the city, approving almost $1.6 million to Berger ABAM Inc. for work on the First Street Bypass. Changes are needed for when the Highway 529 intersection off I-5 is built. Public Works Director Kevin Nielsen said the amount had been cut from almost $2 million with no significant changes.
In other council news:
•The council also OK’d an agreement with the Marysville School District to put automated safety cameras on some schools buses. City police and courts would be involved.
•The council OK’d $49,500 to K2 Data Systems for an upgrade on emergency preparedness.
•Parks director Jim Ballew said 850 people attended the Father-Daughter dance over the previous two weekends. He also said the Marysville Opera House has something for everyone scheduled during the next two months.
•Ballew said the city received a $15,000 grant from Snohomish County Human Services, $4,000 more than it had been receiving for almost a decade, to help fund the city’s programs for seniors.
•Koenig said the Puget Sound Regional Council should be looking at the city’s manufacturing center in the near future.
•Council Member Stephen Muller said the future working with the Tulalip Tribes looks good after a meeting with them last week.
•Council Member Jeff Vaughan ended the meeting on a positive note. “There’s an awful lot of good going on here,” he said, mentioning the faith community, volunteers, crime reduction and city work. “Social media likes to trash the community,” he added. “But you can see the good in the community if you’re not looking.”
