MARYSVILLE – A trail between Lake Stevens and Marysville is in the works that could eventually connect with three existing trails and become a regional bicycling destination.
Currently called The Powerline Trail, it would be an important north-south recreational and transportation corridor, city papers say.
Each city would commit to funding design and construction of the project within their jurisdictions.
The City Council discussed the proposal at Monday’s work session and could vote on it at this Monday’s regular meeting.
The proposed agreement for the Powerline Trail would jointly design and pursue construction funding to enable a trail from Marysville’s planned Centennial Trail connection at Getchell Hill, through Marysville and the Sunnyside area, extending south to Lake Stevens and ultimately connecting easterly back to the Centennial Trail in Lake Stevens.
The Powerline Trail has been discussed for years, so to create some urgency language was put in this proposal to complete the trail within seven years.
However, Lake Stevens proposed an amendment to remove language committing each city to $200,000 to initiate trail design immediately as funds are not currently available in the Lake Stevens budget for that purpose.
Marysville will plan, locate and provide a neighborhood park with parking and restroom facilities along its segment of the trail within a half-mile of the intersection of Soper Hill Road.
The goal is for preliminary design to be completed within two years with final design done in three.
Other items discussed at the work session that will likely be voted on Monday include:
•The Community Development Department was recently approached by the co-housing group Sunnyside Village that intends to pursue a cottage housing project.
Cottage housing developments consist of groupings of small (800 to 1,200 square foot), single-family dwellings clustered around a common open space area that is developed with a coherent site plan.
The planning commission recently voted in favor of revisions to city code regarding cottage housing industry.
In a public hearing four people spoke in favor of cohousing and the code changes.
The city has not updated the code in 10 years because no one was interested until now.
•A project will construct safety improvements at various locations, including yellow flashing arrow, radar speed signs, rapid flashing beacons, new sidewalks, ADA curb ramps, high-friction surface treatment, and more.
Transportation Solutions got the bid for $112,800.
A grant will cover $101,520 of the design, requiring $11,280 from the city.
•Adopt-A-Stream Foundation will continue establishing a 100-foot forested buffer along portions of the Middle Fork Quilceda Creek in Strawberry Fields Park.
Phase I included 8.8 acres of plantings.
This new agreement is for Phase II, adding an additional 5.8 acres of plantings and invasive species removal.
•Mayor Jon Nehring praised the official designation of the Cascade Industrial Center, saying it will make the project eligible for millions of dollars in federal funds and take people off the freeway when they can now work near home.
He also thanked the council for protecting the zoning rather allowing housing there, now making it “the prime investment area in the region.”
•Consider agreement with Veolia Water Technologies, Inc. for about $456,500 to remove total suspended solids at the Waste Water Treatment Plant.
While council is concerned with the short-term fix and would prefer a long-term solution Councilman Stephen Muller said that a capital project would cost big money.
The Department of Ecology could be sending a warning letter so the problem needs to be fixed soon.
•As part of the Civic Campus Project, city staff has coordinated with the Snohomish County PUD to relocate overhead power to underground.
The PUD has estimated the cost at $352,580 and the cost of new service at $41,340.
•The Marysville Civic Center design is underway with the goal of project bidding by fall.
The city will hire a commissioning agent who ensures that the subsystems (electrical, mechanical, plumbing, lighting, etc.) are designed and operating to meet the project goals and contract expectations.
•The 2019 Roadway Re-Striping Project will involve striping of all city streets as part of the annual upkeep of centerlines, edge lines, bike lanes, gore lines and skip lines.
The low bidder was Stripe Rite at about $179,435.
•Extend a contract with MacLeod Reckard for the Ebey Waterfront Park Expansion project.
It’s done its 30 percent design work and finished early, saving the city $100,000.
The firm will now be retained for the permitting process and for more grant opportunities.
•Parks director Jim Ballew said golf is up 24 percent at Cedarcrest Golf Course since April 1.
A new app that started over the weekend brought in 140 more golfers than had made tee-times over the two days.
•Consider an agreement for almost $55,000 with RH2 Engineering for water strategies that could save the city hundreds of thousands of dollars every year.
