EVERETT — With commercial air service set to start this year and the recent approval of the Metro Everett plan, Mayor Cassie Franklin says economic development remains a top priority.
On Thursday, the mayor announced the launch of a summer internship program to provide Everett School District students with real-world experiences at local businesses. The news came during her second State of Everett address at Angel of the Winds Arena in front of an audience of 350.
“Providing pathways for our students is so important — not only for their future success but for the health and economic vitality of our entire community,” she said.
“My vision is that people who live in Everett can also work in Everett. That we have well-established pipelines into our major industries and the trained workforce our businesses need to be successful.”
The city has lined up two large employers for the 90-hour summer internship program: Kaiser Permanente and the Providence network. Franklin said she is looking for additional businesses in three of Everett’s largest sectors — the aerospace industry, health care and business support services.
The city also will be working to attract new businesses and residents to downtown using Metro Everett, a plan that provides guidance for growth. The plan was passed by the City Council last summer.
One project, announced Thursday, will overhaul four downtown blocks of Rucker Avenue. The city aims to make the street friendlier for pedestrians and new businesses.
Also, with passenger flights coming to Paine Field, Franklin says revitalizing central and southwest Everett will be another focus of her administration.
“This area is vibrant, culturally diverse and rich with potential,” she said. “We will work with the community on strategies to take advantage of those opportunities, including the possible redevelopment of our park property.”
The mayor had planned to be on one of the first flights out of Paine Field, but the recent government shutdown delayed the start of the service by at least three weeks, rerouting her trip through Sea-Tac.
Meanwhile, planning for two of Everett’s light rail stations will begin in 2019. The mayor also highlighted the 170 units of supportive housing set to open this year.
Financial challenges still loom — the city is facing a nearly $11 million budget gap, after cutting $5.6 million from the deficit in 2018.
Some of the largest cutbacks were made to the streets fund, which pays for repaving projects. The elimination of 13 positions, three of which were not vacant, saved the city about $1.7 million. Once again the city is looking to reduce staff by offering buyouts to employees who have worked for the city a decade or more. Roughly 50 employees accepted.
To ensure a long-term sustainable budget, Franklin and the council will be tackling increasingly complex issues this year, starting with a comprehensive review of Everett Transit and the two city-owned golf courses. The fire department, the library and parks systems are on the list as well.
A recent report found the city provided more services than comparable nearby cities. Of them, the study found Everett was the only one that owned two golf courses, and directly provided fire, library, parks, transit and water services.
“Everett Transit has been built to serve the whole city and we can’t continue to serve everybody,” Franklin said in an interview with The Daily Herald on Tuesday.
Franklin brought a new face to the office in 2018, replacing Ray Stephanson, who served as mayor for 14 years.
She met with nearly all 1,200 employees over the course of her first 12 months, sitting in team meetings.
When asked what most surprised her about her first year, Franklin said it was the enormity of the job.
“You have multiple businesses you’re running. You’re running a regional utility, a police department, a fire department, and parks and recreation. On top of the whole business and operations of running a city,” she said with a laugh. “It requires you to be efficient, innovative, creative and to trust your team.”
Lizz Giordano: 425-374-4165; egiordano@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @lizzgior.
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