Everett: Council approves budget
The Everett City Council on Wednesday approved a $488 million budget for 2008.
The budget sets priorities for how money will be spent next year to deliver public services, such as water and sewer utilities, police and fire protection, streets, libraries and parks, as well as money set aside for capital projects, savings and fire and police pensions.
This year’s budget allows a total of 1,175 full-time positions, 16 more than the 2007 budget.
In other news, the City Council amended Everett’s 2007 budget on Wednesday.
Since January, the budget has grown by $15.8 million to reflect additional revenue and spending.
The latest round of budget increases, which puts the year’s total at $451.8 million, includes a $585,000 environmental insurance policy for the riverfront redevelopment site and nearly $1.8 million for buying unspecified properties around the city.
Price climbs for new animal shelter
The Everett City Council voted Wednesday to increase its design budget for a new animal shelter on Smith Island by $20,000 to $520,000.
In March, the council voted to hire CNJA Architects of Everett to design a 15,000- to 19,000-square-foot building to house the city’s stray, abandoned and dangerous pets.
Carlton Gipson, Everett’s facilities director, said design work is nearly half complete. He said the budget was increased to account for additional work and a clerical error in the bid that was recently discovered. Gipson said the changes will not slow down the project.
CNJA was selected as the best qualified of 14 companies that sought the city job.
The new shelter is expected to cost more than $2 million and be completed by March 2009.
The city designated land last year between Langus Riverfront Park and Everett’s sewage treatment plant for a new animal shelter.
The existing animal shelter stands in the way of an expansive commercial and retail development that city officials would like to see built between I-5 and the Snohomish River.
Lake Stevens: Parents get a night of their own Friday
Parents will have a chance to get free babysitting for three hours Friday night.
The Lake Stevens Family Center, in conjunction with the Sherwood Learning Center of Lake Stevens, is providing a Parents Night Out on Friday.
Parents may leave children between the ages of 2 and 12 at the center from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Special-needs kids are accepted.
Santa Claus, along with crafts and other activities, are planned. Reservations are required.
For more information, call the Family Center at 425-397-7433.
Snohomish: Make picture books
The Snohomish Library, 311 Maple Ave., is set to have Create Your Own Picture Book at 2 p.m. Dec. 27.
The free class helps people learn how to make their own picture book with local children’s author Bonny Becker. Using her own books as examples, Becker will lead children through the process of writing and illustration.
For more information, call the library at 360-568-2898.
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