State of the City: Mill Creek mayor talks economic development, community

Published 1:30 am Thursday, May 21, 2026

MILL CREEK — Community members gathered at The Forum at Mill Creek Town Center on Wednesday to hear Mill Creek Mayor Stephanie Vignal’s first State of the City address.

The address largely focused on significant city projects, including potential annexation, the South Town Center project, and the creation of a new community campus at the Dobson, Remillard, Church and Cook site known as the DRCC. In 2024, the City Council approved a three-to-five-year strategic plan, which included all of these projects plus community engagement.

“We’re at that special moment where everything is coming together, and we’re starting to see those ideas that we have, those dreams we have for our future, starting to become concrete and making those decisions, and that’s what this year is,” Vignal said. “We’re going to be making a lot of big, bold decisions this year.”

Mill Creek has seen vacancies at key retail spaces across the city, Vignal said, including the Town Center, The Farm and the QFC Plaza.

“While the city cannot determine which businesses occupy privately owned spaces, we can continue to create conditions that help businesses succeed and prosper,” she said.

The South Town Center project and the DRCC campus are two ways the city is looking to spur economic development, Vignal said.

The City Council is currently working on South Town Center Subarea Project, a plan to create a walkable district that extends the existing town center. The area extends west of Bothell Everett highway to North Creek and south from Mill Creek City Hall North to the QFC building on 164th Street.

The council is also working on the DRCC Community Campus Master Plan, which would include public gathering spaces, services for youth and seniors, a new City Hall, and multipurpose venues. The council will hold multiple study sessions in the coming months and will make a decision on what the campus will look like in the summer.

Another aspect of economic development is annexing nearby unincorporated areas, Vignal said. The council is looking into what annexation would mean for infrastructure, finances and preserving the “feel” of Mill Creek, she said.

“Annexation could give the city more influence over how nearby urban growth areas develop, land use, transportation, utilities and economic activity,” Vignal said. “As areas like South Town Center grow, the surrounding neighborhoods and infrastructure will become even more important to our planning.”

Regarding the budget, the city is in a stable position for the short-term, Vignal said. However, budget planning will become more challenging over the next several years as costs continue to rise, she said. City staff are currently working on a financial plan for the next six to 10 years.

“We have a balanced 2025-26 budget and a plan to address the deficits that we expected in this cycle and the next,” Vignal said. “That stability gives us the capacity to plan responsibly for the future.”

Vignal also provided updates on some city departments. One of the priorities of the police department in the past year has been traffic safety, she said. In 2025, the department made nearly 8,600 traffic stops, 3,000 more than in 2024.

The department is now fully staffed, Vignal said. She highlighted positive feedback from residents about the city’s school resource officers at Jackson High School and Heatherwood Middle School.

“They have been a tremendous resource for our students in the community and continue to establish relationships that allow them the comfort to trust our officers when needed,” Vignal said.

One of the city’s main challenges is addressing deferred maintenance, including sidewalks, stormwater pipes and other critical infrastructure, Vignal said. The city is currently performing more of its public works projects in-house than ever before, which saves money and gives the city more control over its projects, she said. In this year’s legislative session, Mill Creek received more than $360,000 for sidewalk repairs and replacements.

One of the city’s priorities over the past year has been community engagement, including through the city newsletter, website and City Chat events, Mayor Pro Tem Melissa Duque said. This year, the city has been working to engage the community through city proclamations, such as for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, National Library Week and Small Business Week.

Duque highlighted the city’s boards and commissions, including the the Art and Beautification Board and the Parks and Recreation Board. Both groups have been working on an expansion and improvements of Veterans Monument at Library Park. The city expects to complete the project before Veterans Day this year.

On Monday, the city is hosting a Memorial Day ceremony at 9 a.m. at the monument.

Duque recognized the Friends of Penny Creek Natural Area, a group that is advocating for the city to assume ownership of a natural area off of 35th Avenue Southeast. The city is still analyzing any long-term impacts that assuming the site could create.

“These conversations with the group reflect the community’s passion for open space and thoughtful environmental stewardship,” Duque said.

Duque also recognized the Mill Creek Chamber of Commerce for supporting businesses and hosting community events. This year, the Mill Creek Festival and Street Fair will be celebrating its 25th birthday on July 11 and 12.

“Mill Creek may be a small city, but our progress is made possible by the tireless efforts of our staff and many volunteers that our city is privileged and honored to have,” Vignal said. “Their dedication continues to strengthen our community each and every day, and we would not be what we are without them.”

Jenna Peterson: 425-339-3486; jenna.peterson@heraldnet.com; X: @jennarpetersonn.