Our Towns: Central County

Everett: City ready to lobby for UW campus

The Everett City Council this week extended until the end of June a professional services contract with Seattle real estate consultant Heartland LLC.

Heartland, the city’s lead negotiator for the pending sale of 220 acres of riverfront property in a separate deal with a San Diego developer, has also worked with the city to promote the idea of a downtown university campus.

The Everett site near Everett Station was named in November as the preferred site for a University of Washington campus.

The City Council agreed to pay Heartland $150,000 for a real estate analysis of the proposed site. Everett has also hired a pair of lobbyists in Olympia for a combined $6,000 a month.

The debate on a UW campus next year will go before state lawmakers and the governor, who will decide the issue.

Everett governmental affairs director Pat McClain said the city must prepare for the scrut­iny of legislators and their staffs.

“We want to have the best talent available to deal with any queries and be able to turn them around as fast as lawmakers demand, which is usually pretty fast,” he said.

Lake Stevens: Coats, blankets needed

The Lake Stevens Family Center is accepting donations of new or gently used coats, jackets and blankets for families in need this fall and winter.

For more information or to donate, call Linda at 425-397-7433.

Mukilteo: Teens can help plan for events

Teens can help plan events at the Mukilteo Library by attending a meeting scheduled for mid-January.

The meeting of the Teen Advisory Board is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 17 at the library, 4675 Harbour Pointe Blvd.

For more information, call the library at 425-493-8202.

Snohomish: City alters legal contract

The City Council on Dec. 18 approved an amendment to the legal service agreement with Weed, Graafstra and Benson Inc. The Snohomish law firm has served as city attorney for Snohomish since 1970.

The new agreement will increase the cost of the basic service from $5,000 per month to $6,000 per month, starting on Tuesday.

Also, attorney hours for general needs beyond the basic service will go up from $90 an hour to $125 an hour. The new agreement will continue through Dec. 31, 2009.

For more information, call the city at 360-568-3115.