I believe that Marysville offers an enviable quality of life – one that is attracting new businesses and residents while retaining our community charm and character. Your city government strives to deliver on this vision: Live, Work, Play.
Live
Local governments provide basic services – streets, water and sewer, public safety and more. Marysville is committed to public transparency and being responsible with your tax dollars. This year the city will complete widening of State Avenue between 100th and 116th Streets NE; pave arterials on Grove Street, 67th Avenue NE and 51st Avenue NE; and add water and sewer infrastructure to support new development. Four new police positions will support further crime reduction efforts, including increased patrol presence. A new Community Services Unit incorporating Code Enforcement will continue to target problem drug and squatter houses. The successful pilot Regional Property Crimes Unit will transition into a regularly funded program. Last year the Marysville Fire District responded to nearly 14,000 fire and emergency response alarms. This year Marysville, Arlington and Fire District 12 are continuing discussions about establishing a Regional Fire Authority.
Work
We have a strong economy with new businesses opening and several more on the way in 2017, including three new car dealerships and two hotels. To support the long-term vision for attracting family wage jobs, the city will develop a local road network in north Marysville and continue with Arlington to pursue designation by the Puget Sound Regional Council as an officially recognized Manufacturing Industrial Center. The Lakewood area comp plan, approved by the Planning Commission, will go to the City Council in the next few weeks. In the Lakewood business area, we are moving forward with design work to improve traffic flow and add road capacity.
The State Avenue plan will resume this year, providing long-range guidelines so our city’s “main street” evolves in a way that meets our community’s long-range vision for this important corridor. Investments in the historic downtown will improve how people get around. Work wrapping up on 3rd Street and starting soon on 1st Street will upgrade utilities; improve traffic flow, safety and walkability; and upgrade landscaping. A state project to build a new I-5/Highway 529 interchange will go out to bid this spring. Hand in hand with that project, the city will begin construction on the 1st Street bypass, a multi-lane arterial connecting State Avenue and the Sunnyside area. Together these projects will provide a much-needed new southern gateway that avoids railroad tracks and is an alternative to exit 199.
Play
Downtown revitalization also includes the Ebey Waterfront Park and Trail. The city will open the first part of the trail this spring. Next is work to extend the trail further into the restored Qwuloolt Estuary, creating a natural destination experience. The city continues to offer beautiful parks and recreation programs, expanding on popular annual events and introducing new ones. A focus is the historic Marysville Opera House, where we are offering new cultural programs and increasing its marketing as a wedding venue.
Jon Nehring is the mayor of Marysville. His column runs monthly.
