Meeting of May 31, 2016 #45 was called to order by  President, Deborah Wright at 12:07 on a beautiful day with the Pledge of Allegiance,

which was followed by Sean Kelly whose thought for the day brought us together.

 

Jeff Cornish introduced visiting Rotarians and guests including  

Village Theater Development Head Aileen Forde with Sherrill Dryden.

 

Announcements were pretty sparse: 

June Meeting clarifications … June 21 Regular Day Meeting

June 28 Night Meeting at the Event Center (no day mtng.)

National  Holiday – Macaroon Day!  (Which everyone  knew.)

 

included Mark Valentine who reported that while Greece may be dealing with economic problems it hadn’t impacted tourism, from Mary Toews who played a new recorded infomercial from Mary’s Place,

from PP Tom Koenig whose duty  as chair  of the Scholarship Committee was nearly complete.

 

Weekly Drawing winners were Steve Ellis, Clay Browse, and PP Steve Juntwait

 

Glen Bachman introduced

 

Mayor Ray Stephanson who spoke gave his updated “State of the City.”  Ray is an Everett Native who served on the City  Council for a time while working for General Telephone.   After spending several years doing contract work for Gen Tel in Texas installing new systems, he returned to Everett, and first ran for Mayor  13 years ago.  Ray is a vet – US Army,

Mayor Stephanson started his remarks with some benchline info about our recovery from the recession of 2007-8, and noted that 2015 was the first year when City revenues surpassed the 2007 level.  During that period, there were increases in costs but the City managed to work through the period without major layoffs. 

Boeing – Mayor Stephanson felt that the contract finally approved by the Machinists in 2013 which resulted in a decision to build the 777X and the composite wing in Everett were key ingredients in assuring the economic health  of the region for the next 50 years.  (ED Note – Maybe by then Sound Transit will reach Everett!) 

Naval Station Everett – While waiting the return of the USS Nimitz in 2019, Everett will homeport 3 new destroyers.  When the Nimitz is de-commissioned, she is due to be replaced by the USS John F Kennedy.  The likely acquisition of the 70 acres Kimberly Clark property for maritime uses bodes well for maritime development.

Health Care – The Everett Clinic merger with DaVita Health Care Partners earlier this year assures that a local provider will continue to  thrive.  And a new partnership between Providence and Children’s Hospital to build a new wing North of the current :Prov empire on Colby is another indication of Everett’s regional importance in health care.

Housing: Skotdal’s Aero Apartments are half-leased

Marriott Hotel on Colby with 166 rooms will open in mid-June

Simpson Site on the Snohomish River will be under construction by end of the year

A record number of Building Permits are in the works

Everett managed to grab 670 million in state highway funds this year/

WSU 100,000 sq ft WSU building is under construction

           

Low Barrier Housing – A problem shared by many other communities around the state … but Everett is about to launch the first units on City owned property at Peck’s Drive and Evergreen Way.  The facility will be 7 units, and will be built on the “housing first” model pioneered by Salt Lake City. 

 

Jim Staniford asked about progress in creating an Alcohol Impact Area downtown.  Mayor said that dealing with the State Liquor Control Board was tedious, but progress was being made.

Gail Larson asked whether creating treatment facilities would attract homeless people from other communities.  Answer:  Research sez this is not a problem.

Walt Greenwood   asked where the community’s economic horizon’s might be found.  Mayor replied that Seattle seemed intent on driving away  martime opportunities.  We would like them.

PP Mark Nesse shared a comment from his son-in-law who works with homeless in State Government:  “This is a problem throughout the state, but Everett is the only one whose leadership has managed to bring the community  into a common focus to solve the problem.”

 

PP Greg Tisdel announced that PP Marc Baker’s appeal for club members to help exchange student Courtney Hooks had raised $835!  Good for Us!!

 

Next Program:   “Cultural Arts Commission” presented by Carol Thomas introduced by Katrina Koontz

 

 

MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS AND MAKEUP OPPORTUNITIES:

Scholarship Awards Mtg, May 31st  6pm-8pm@ EPS Community Resource Ctr

Marina Crawl, Anthony’s Woodfire Grill, June 16th 5-7pm

Rotary Board Mtg, June 23rd ,  7:30am 3rd Flr Chapel at Bethany

Wheeler’s Meeting, July 12th will be next meeting

 

Meeting adjourned at 12:55pm.