By Brian Kelly
Herald Writer
EVERETT — It’s a group that may want to lead as well as listen.
Mayor Ed Hansen, with the city council’s approval, has selected 17 people to serve on Everett’s shoreline public access committee. The newly formed group will help create a plan for public access to dozens of miles of waterfront in Everett.
"This is a great group, I gotta tell you," said Paul Roberts, director of Everett’s planning department.
"I’m personally very excited about this committee, and I think the mayor and council have done a great job in selecting people who are excited and interested in seeing public access," he said.
Seven at-large citizens have been tapped to serve on the committee, as well as representatives from the city’s planning commission, parks board and other organizations in Everett.
Bill Belshaw, an at-large member, said the group will work hard to consider citizens’ views.
"I want to make sure that everybody who has something to say gets heard — that’s the most important thing," Belshaw said. "There are lots of people out there who have ideas."
Earlier this month, the city hired a consulting firm to help create the plan. Beyond public access, the plan will also detail possible waterfront projects and costs. A draft report is expected sometime in May or June, with the final report being presented to the city and Port of Everett in July.
The committee will take an active role in the issues that come up, added Belshaw, a home designer and builder who has called Everett home for roughly 30 years.
"I’m open to anything and certainly want to have a committee where the committee initiates ideas and not just approves consultant ideas," he said.
Members of the committee are Drew Nielsen, Brenda Stonecipher (planning commission); Gretchen Shaffer, Dick Wendt (parks board); Phil Bannan (port commission); Scott Bader (transportation advisory committee); Barry Smith (Greater Everett Community Foundation); Hazel Hessein, Emily Olson (youth advisory committee); Mike Sells (Snohomish County Labor Council); and Belshaw, Howie Bargreen, Tracy Johansen, John Lindstrom, Gary Meisner, Loren Sand and Mary Zuanich.
The first meeting of the group is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 5.
You can call Herald Writer Brian Kelly at 425-339-3422 or send e-mail to kelly@heraldnet.com.
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