tent city

A couple weeks ago, our council passed an ordinance that helps regulate potential homeless encampments. We don't have any expectation of a tent city coming to Mukilteo, but it's a good idea to be prepared. This way, we have a code that sets expectations and requirements. Were an organization to decide to bring a tent city to Mukilteo, we wouldn't first have to go to court. Instead, we could follow the conditional use permit process, which allows for public hearings, conditions to be applied, and specific communication and security in place for the encampment. It's a good thing to be prepared.

bikes & peds in Muk

For whatever reason, I didn't realize how much our trail plan really addresses bicycling and pedestrian issues. It's great to see the accounting of existing infrastructure and encouragement of future improvements. However, providing facilities isn't the only way to encourage biking and walking in the city. It would be nice to see some elements addressing encouragement and education related to biking and walking.

Publishing a bike map?
Creating walking routes?
Marketing active bikers and walkers in neighborhoods (let's tell the Lord's family story-- bike commuters, bike tourists....)?
Working with schools to educate young bikers and walkers?

ColoradoJune2008

Fort Collins Loveland Airport has one airline providing commercial flights. That airline is Allegiant Air.

Their terminal is fairly small. Inside, it has the basics of an airport:
The baggage claim is just to the right of the terminal-- outside.

This looks like it could appear at Paine Field easily. However, there's another angle to consider. Check out what surrounds the airport for at least 3 miles:

Not very similar to the issues in Mukilteo:



View Larger Map


My recent trip to Colorado was interesting to see what perspective Allegiant Air likely has. They have a small lo-fi terminal, not many amenities, in an airport that is about an hour and a half from Denver, providing mostly vacation package trips to Vegas.
Fort Collins Loveland Airport had quite a few other uses-- aerospace industry type uses. It certainly didn't look like the ability to get to the Bellagio Hotel quickly was bringing business in. I don't think economic development could at all be considered a result of the addition of commercial service.
If Snohomish County's goal is to get our residents to Circus Circus as fast as we can... Well, the solution is clear.
If we want to expand high quality aerospace jobs, continue to improve our quality of life and have choices for getting to the airport quickly-- that doesn't include putting the airport in your backyard. It's about transportation choices on the ground. The Allegiant Air model won't be a good one for Snohomish County.

walking in your neighborhood

what if the speed limit in our residential communities was 20mph? Bikes, kids, adults and cars could share the road safely. Imagine 20mph in the single family area of Old Town, or other neighborhoods? Could be an interesting vision