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Barn Dance Fundraiser for Futurewise Snohomish
You must RSVP for this event to kristin@futurewise.org.Please come out and enjoy and dance to the great music of our own The Wired Band--2012 International Blues Challenge Winners! $20 at the door, kids are in free! Chili dinner will be served along with wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages. 4 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 10th at Craven Farm, 13817 Short School Road outside of the city of Snohomish.
Livable Snohomish County Coalition Website
The Livable Snohomish County Coalition is a network of community
groups and individuals who are interested in the future of Snohomish
County. It is not an organization but a networking and educational
coalition. The website can be found at http://www.livablesnohomish.org
and
will be a central place for folks to go to find out what is going on in
the county. If you have something you want posted, please send it to
Kristin Kelly at kristin@futurewise.org.
City of Everett Comprehensive Plan Application Deadline for 2012-2013
For folks who wish to submit an amendment to Everett's Comprehensive Plan for 2012-2013, application deadline is Monday, July 2nd. Applications for Comprehensive Plan changes must be accompanied by concurrent applications for rezone changes. Contact Dave Koenig or Bob Larsen with the Everett Planning and Community Development Department at 425-257-8731 for application forms and information.
Everett Planning Commission Meeting
The Everett Planning Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15th in the city's hearing room, 8th Floor of the Wall Street Building in Everett. Their agenda includes briefings on the results of the online and written survey for the Central Waterfront Planning Area effort and proposed amendments to the tree and landscape standards in parking lot areas. For more information, contact Dave Koenig at 425-257-8736 or at dkoenig@ci.everett.wa.us.
City of Bothell Public Hearings and Meetings on Comprehensive Plan and Code Amendments
All meetings and hearings will be located in the Bothell Municipal Court Building, 10116 NE 183rd Street unless otherwise indicated. For more information, visit http://www.ci.bothell.wa.usBothell City Council will hold public hearings on the city's Shoreline Master Plan Update at the following dates and times: 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, May 15 and June 19 in the City Council Chambers located at 11116 NE 183
Street, Bothell, WA 98011.
On Wednesday, May 16, the Bothell City Council will hold two public hearings starting at 7 p.m. One is regarding Miscellaneous 2012 Housekeeping Code Amendments and the other is regarding Proposed Horse Creek Daylighting Code Amendments.
The Agenda and packet for this hearing is available for viewing at the following link: http://www.ci.bothell.wa.us/CityServices/PlanningAndDevelopment/SMPU.ashx?p= 1549 or they may be viewed at the Department of Community Development 9654 NE 182 Street, Bothell WA, 98011. For more information contactBruce Blackburn, Senior Planner, via e-mail at bruce.blackburn@ci.bothell.wa.us, or via telephone at 425-486-8152 ext. 4428
Snohomish County Water Forum
This public forum will be from 2 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 17th at the Snohomish County Administration Building, 3000 Rockefeller Avenue in Everett. Cascadia Green Building Council, Snohomish County and the City of Everett are co-hosting this forum, to explore integrated water management at multiple scales in Snohomish County. The public is invited into this discussion. An integrated approach recognizes the interconnected nature of natural and created water systems and gears all water-related activities to one another. For more information contact joel@cascadiagbc.org.Solarize Stanwood/Camano Free Public Workshops
Solarize is a local community initiative to bring renewable green energy in the form of grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) to Stanwood and Camano (zip codes 98282 and 98292) at a discount. The project is a collaboration between local volunteers, Snohomish County PUD, Northwest SEED (Sustainable Energy for Economic Development) in partnership with two expert professional solar installers, Whidbey Sun & Wind and Fire Mountain Solar.Solarize is a streamlined process that includes free public workshops, where you learn about how well solar works plus details of the federal, state and SnoPUD incentives that significantly reduce the cost and see how quickly you can pay off your system, and meet the installers. Participants who attend one of the 90 minute workshops qualify for a free site assessment.
A free public workshops is scheduled for
Thursday, June 7, 6:30-8:00 pm at Vista Madrona Fire Station (273 N. West Camano Drive, Camano Island)
Start by registering for Solarize Stanwood/Camano at http://www.solarizewa.org
Sponsored by NW SEED and SnoPUD, both of which are nonprofit organizations.
City Council and Planning Commission's Meeting Schedules
Below is a list of meetings and hearings for cities. Visit their respective websites for information on meetings and hearings to do with land use planning and development regulations. For most cities web addresses, type in http://www.ci.[Name of City].wa.us.Monday
Lake Stevens City Council workshop, 7 p.m., Lake Stevens School District administration building, 12309 22nd St. NE.
Lynnwood City Council, 7 p.m., council chambers, 19100 44th Ave. W.
Lynnwood Arts Commission, 7 p.m., council chambers, 19100 44th Ave. W.
Marysville City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 1049 State Ave.
Monroe Planning Commission, 7 p.m., City Hall, 806 W. Main St.
Snohomish County Council, 10:30 a.m., eighth floor, County Administration Building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett.
Tuesday
Bothell City Council, 6 p.m., Municipal Court, 10116 NE 183rd St.
Brier City Council, 7:30 p.m., Brier City Hall, 2901 228th St. SW.
Edmonds City Council, 7 p.m., 250 Fifth Ave. N.
Everett Parks and Recreation Board of Commissioners, 6 p.m., Spruce Hall, Forest Park; 802 E. Mukilteo Blvd.
Gold Bar Planning Commission, 7 p.m., 107 Fifth St.
Granite Falls Planning Commission, 7 p.m., City Hall, 206 S. Granite Ave.
Marysville Planning Commission, 7 p.m., City Hall, 1049 State Ave.
Mill Creek City Council, 6 p.m., 15728 Main St.
Monroe City Council budget review, 7 p.m., City Hall, 806 W. Main St.
Snohomish County Parks Advisory Board, 2:30 p.m., Park Department Administration Offices conference room, 9623 32nd St. SE, Everett.
Wednesday
Brier Parks and Recreation Board, 7 p.m., Brier City Hall, 2901 228th St. SW.
Darrington City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 1005 Cascade St.
Everett City Council, 6:30 p.m., City Hall chambers, 3002 Wetmore Ave.
Lake Stevens Arts Commission, 6:30 p.m., Annex, 1812 Main St..
Lake Stevens School Board, 7:30 p.m., Educational Service Center, 12309 22nd St. NE.
Marysville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, 7 p.m., Jennings Memorial Barn, 6915 Armar Road.
Mill Creek Youth Advisory Board, 6:30 p.m., 15728 Main St.
Monroe City Council budget review, 7 p.m., City Hall, 806 W. Main St.
Snohomish County Council, 9 a.m., eighth floor, County Administration Building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett.
Snohomish School Board, 7:30 p.m., 1601 Ave. D, Snohomish.
Thursday
Lake Stevens Library Board, 4 p.m., library, 1804 Main St.
Mill Creek Design Review Board, 5:15 p.m., 15728 Main St.
Mill Creek Planning Commission, 7 p.m., 15728 Main St.
Snohomish County Public Facilities District, 3 p.m., 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett. Snohomish County Administration Building West, third-floor conference room 3A00.
Stanwood City Council, 7 p.m., Stanwood-Camano School District Administration Building boardroom, 26920 Pioneer Highway.
Green Drinks In Everett
If you are interested in hosting a future Green Drinks, it is really simple. You find the place, make sure there is beverage and some snacks (host or no-host is ok) --simple or complex is your choice. The folks at Green Drinks will send the e-vite at no charge and then the people will come. They are inviting firms, organizations and individuals to show their green by hosting. Call Valerie Steel at 425-252-7601 or email her at valerie@greeningproperties.com to sign up.Green Drinks now has a blog at
For more information, visit the Green Drinks website at http://www.greendrinks.org
Let’s raise a toast to the planet while we figure out ways to NOT toast the planet!
Never Heard of GreenDrinks?
It began in Europe and now sustainability people in over 342 cities all over the globe meet monthly for libations. It is a lively mixture of people from non-profits, academia, government and business and is a great way of catching up with folks you know and for making new contacts. Greendrinks is simple, unstructured and rather organic. People have found jobs, developed new ideas, done deals and had epiphanies at Greendrinks.
And visit their new blog at: http://greendrinkssnoco.blogspot.com/
Snohomish County Council Public Meetings and Hearings
The Snohomish County Council Planning Committee will meet at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 15th in their chambers, 8th Floor of the County Administration Building, 3000 Rockefeller Avenue in Everett. Their agenda includes discussions regarding proposed legislation concerning verting rights for major and minor revisions for approved preliminary plat approvals, amendments to Type III applications public notification requirements, amendments to the use matrix for the Clearview Rural Commercial zone, and the Point Wells Urban Center.
All Wednesdays starting at 9 a.m. are the Council's General Legislative Session. There is public comment time during this session.
For more information visit the Commissioner's agenda webpage at http://www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/PDS/Divisions/PlanningandTechnology/LR_Planning/Projects_Programs/Planning_Commission/Meetings/, and click on March 27th agenda or contact the Planning Commission Clerk, Sally Evans at 425-388-3285 or by email at Sally.Evans@snoco.org.
Snohomish County Planning Commission Meetings and Hearings
The next meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22nd in the First Floor Meeting Room of the County Administration Building, 3000 Rockefeller Avenue in Everett. The agenda includes a review of the Open Public Meetings Act by the Prosecuting Attorney's office, and then a briefing and public hearing on minor amendments to the use matrix for the Clearview Rural Commercial Zone along Highway 9.
Snohomish County Agricultural Advisory Board
For more information, contact Tom Niemann at 425-388-3311, ext. 2214.Snohomish County Working Group for Land Use Issues
A final report of recommendations for the County Council from the Land Use Working Group for public review is available on their website at www.snoco.org, and type in Land Use Working Group in Search Box and follow the links to their webpage.
As a result of a complaint by the Master Builders Association regarding decisions by the County Hearing Examiner, and as a result of the Hearing Examiner Report for 2007-2008 click http://www.snoco.org and Type in Land Use Working Group in Search Box.
During the 2009 Budget Process, the Snohomish County Council directed Planning and Development Services to form a working group to analyze and propose recommendations concerning the County’s land use decision-making process. This group has now been formed and will begin its work by crafting an issue paper on the topic for County Council review.
Consistent with goals of the UDC Update Project, the working group is providing opportunities for public involvement. Interested parties are invited to subscribe to the Land Use Decision-making Process web page.
For more information, contact Angela Day, Working Group Chair, angmday@gmail.com.
Snohomish County Ag Sustainability Project Workshop
Does Snohomish County farming have a future? The public is invited to envision the future of agriculture. The project is a community-based initiative created to enhance and strengthen the County's agricultural economy as well as preserve local farmlands.
The Agricultural Sustainability Report is now available. You can read the report on the county's website at http://www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/County_Services/Focus_on_Farming/agsustainability.htm
For more information, contact Linda Neunzig, Agriculture Project Coordinator, Office of Economic Development, 425-388-7170 or by e-mail at linda.neunzig@co.snohomish.wa.us.
Sustainable Development Task Force of Snohomish County (SDTF) Events
For more information and directions, visit the SDTF website at http://www.sustainablesnohomishcounty.org/The Sustainable Development Task Force of Snohomish County offers:
• Professional technical assistance
• Educational presentations
• Code/ordinance review
• Guidance through the permitting process
The Sustainable Development Task Force is available to help you with your green site development or your green building project. We can also help with your technical presentation.
Click Here for more information, or to contact the Task Force at their website.
Farmers Markets:
Support your local farms in Snohomish and discover what a difference fresh, seasonal food tastes like. Click here for a listing of a farmers market near you!
For a list of other Puget Sound Farmers Markets, visit the website http://www.pugetsoundfresh.org/
U.S. 2 at Bickford is funded
The state House passed a two-year transportation bill that included $20.5 million to improve the U.S. 2 at Bickford Avenue intersection in Snohomish.The project would create an overpass for drivers turning west onto U.S. 2 from Bickford Avenue. Right now drivers must cross two lanes of fast-moving eastbound U.S. 2 traffic to merge into the fast lane of westbound U.S. 2.
The House Bill 1175 also includes $1.7 million to support Sunday service for Community Transit. The agency cut all Sunday and major holiday services in response to declining revenue.
Port Susan Food and Farming Center
A new cooperative food processing center is under development in Snohomish County. The facility will be a center for the production of value-added and niche market agricultural products and business incubation support, with a strong retail and educational component. The project team recently launched an informative web site http://www.portsusanfoodandfarmingcenter.orgThe mission is to provide long-term vitality for the food and farming community in Stanwood/Camano Island area by providing bottling, labeling, baking, and curing access among other vital production needs. The project is being organized by Slow Food Port Susan.
Farmers and food entrepreneurs are encouraged to log in to the convenient online survey and communicate their needs, and what skills or knowledge they would be willing to contribute to the development efforts. The survey is no available on-line until the end of March at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PortSusanCenter
For more information about the center, please contact Vivian Henderson at (360) 652-2569, email vmail@cedarcomm.com or Donna King at (360) 629-2362, email dk@wavecable.com. For more information about Slow Food Port Susan, log on to http://www.slowfoodportsusan.org
Sustainable Development Task Force
For more information on these workshops visit http://snohomishcd.org/workshopsGreen Ribbon Climate Task Force Monthly Meetings
The final report of recommendations is now available on line. To access the report, click here.Granite Falls Alternate Truck Route is no open for use
The long-awaited truck route between Granite Falls and Highway 92 is now open to the public. The 1.9 mile route has roundabouts at intersetions of Jordan and Engebretsen roads, at Burn Road and at Highway 92. The $2.8 million project was funded through local, state and federal funds. More than six million tons of gravel, equaling 2,000 daily truck trips passed through Granite Falls in 2005 and this truck route will alleviate that problem. The new road will give truck drivers a faster route and also be good for tourism in the city.Link light rail to Sea-Tac Airport is now available
Link includes stops in Downtown Seattle, SODO, Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley neighborhoods and Tukwila. Normal Link operating hours are from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 a.m. to midnight on Sundays. Sea Tac / Airport Station connects to the airport garage via a pedestrian walkway. Airport passengers will follow a separated guideway through the garage to the main terminal. Luggage carts will be available at the station.
Community Transit
Traveling the Puget Sound region by bus, train and ferry is even easier with the arrival of ORCA - One Regional Card for All. The ORCA card works like cash or a pass, automatically tracking the value of different fares and transfers so you don't have to.
Purchase your card online by visiting the ORCA card website at http://www.orcacard.com/ERG-Seattle/p1_001.do
For more information, contact Community Transit at:
(425) 353-RIDE (7433)
(800) 562-1375
TTY Relay: Dial 711
riders@commtrans.org
Community Transit operates 33 local bus routes, 31 commuter routes and DART paratransit service throughout Snohomish County. It also offers carpool matching, one of the nation’s largest vanpool programs and offers transit instruction to disabled and senior citizens. Call Community Transit at (425) 353-RIDE or (800) 562-1375 for bus information, or (888) 814-1300 for carpool or vanpool information, or go to http://www.communitytransit.org.
Transit’s next Citizens’ Advisory Committee meetings are held every third Wednesday of the month in different locations in the Community Transit service areas. These meetings provide information to the public about what is going on with Community Transit and for the public to talk about the issues as well.
Community Transit, along with its partner Everett Transit, has constructed 24 Swift stations and two terminals along a 17-mile route primarily on Highway 99 between Everett Station and the Aurora Village Transit Center in Shoreline.
Swift runs every 10 minutes on weekdays between 5 a.m. and 7 p.m. and every 20 minutes at night and weekends. With only 12 stops in each direction, Swift will fly down the corridor much faster than local bus service which has about 50-60 stops in each direction.
With stations rather than bus stops and stylized hybrid buses, Swift provides a fast, frequent and reliable new transit experience for the region. Swift will be the first bus rapid transit line in Washington state.
“Bus rapid transit is gaining popularity across the country for its flexibility and low cost,” said Community Transit CEO Joyce Eleanor. “In these economic times we need to provide the most efficient public transportation service to those who need to get around for work, school, shopping or whatever destinations they choose.”
Swift stations are equipped with two ticket vending machines and two ORCA smart card readers for offboard fare payment. Passengers will pay their fares at the stations rather than on board so the buses can depart quickly.Stations also will have markings on the curb to indicate where passengers in wheelchairs or other mobility devices, and passengers with bikes should board. When a Swift bus pulls up, all three doors will open simultaneously so people can board or get off the bus quickly. Swift buses are equipped with three onboard bike racks to eliminate the delay of loading bikes on the front of the bus.
“As the name implies, Swift is about moving people quickly,” said Eleanor. “Everything from the station design to the bus layout and new technology at intersections are geared toward moving the bus swiftly down the corridor.”
For more information about Swift and station construction, visit www.communitytransit.org/swift.
Community Transit strives to help Puget Sound commuters think transit first. With an electronic alert system for instant rider information and one of the nation’s first double decker transit buses, the agency is a leader in finding new ways to make alternative transportation an attractive option. Call Community Transit at (425) 353-RIDE or (800) 562-1375 for bus information, or (888) 814-1300 for carpool or vanpool information, or go to www.communitytransit.org.
The Puget Sound Partnership has released their draft action plan for cleaning up Puget Sound
To review the plan, click on their website at http://www.psp.wa.govPilchuck Audubon Society
Snohomish Program Director for Futurewise is also Smart Growth Director for Pilchuck Audubon Society serving Snohomish County and Camano Island. In the monthly newsletter, The Profile, you will find the Director's Smart Growth Report, as well as other information going on at PAS. You can view The Profile byIsland County
The Island County Planning Department is open Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information on all planning processes, visit http://http://www.co.island.wa.us/planning/