[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5992603,"mediaKeyId","5899565-e7609953ac85fa0534d5eb4e4fdda10c","parentId",5899565,"title","Council grants first reading to five-year telecom franchise for Intermountain Infrastructure Group","audioSeconds",154,"startMs",2486000,"endMs",2640000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5899565-e7609953ac85fa0534d5eb4e4fdda10c&start=2486&end=2640","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5899565-e7609953ac85fa0534d5eb4e4fdda10c/thumbnail_2486000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5992603/Monroe-City/Snohomish-County/Washington/Council-grants-first-reading-to-five-year-telecom-franchise-for-Intermountain-Infrastructure-Group","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5992603-fcbe86bbce5aaf53c85e71418e592873/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448247&Signature=ieOGvmgiNsRozCdLYWao2xiGsFz1yTIj33LIgQalYtE49gZlbgMtUuT78JoCaRry1kYJJfbYZpZNiteEnX5sLptfKRS~qQOstgmKjpP568LPoXqsmOjIeEOLjF~qxw3zueHoMhhNC1qPOHBws4Pp~H4bmrsQYB8FvJtkm8ELN6ZKIq3T5eue2j2NpBlGk5sVC3YQE~cFd0-YnNJ6BXcHbgLNDgX37F96zxPQ707HXgGh3rC4QIqCJcL3kjmLAyI8Ah7fdKOK~Gd75EeGYyf8D1C1V~qkbb5~FUPgzPqoeCQJu2C7~JG~rI5WNipvYvMlAi~X7Wvr~25COVWQyKzXnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Monroe City, WA","date","2025-09-11T17:36:41Z","article","Monroe City Council on Tuesday granted first reading approval to ordinance 019-2025, authorizing a nonexclusive five-year franchise to Intermountain Infrastructure Group LLC (IIG) to construct, maintain and operate a telecommunications network in city rights-of-way.

City staff said IIG offers dark fiber and telecommunications services to large commercial customers and other providers and already holds similar franchises in other Washington cities. The franchise ordinance requires the company to obtain all necessary permits and pay applicable permitting fees; the agreement was reviewed by city legal counsel prior to tonight’s hearing.

Liam McCorkle presented the application and staff summarized that the franchise is the city's standard regulatory mechanism under Monroe Municipal Code chapter 5.54 for telecommunications services in public right-of-way. The first-reading motion passed 7-0; the franchise still requires any property-specific permits and compliance with construction and traffic-control requirements.

What happens next: staff will prepare the ordinance for second reading and final adoption at a future meeting; IIG may begin permitting and coordination with public works and other departments once the franchise becomes effective and once permits are issued.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","September 9, 2025 Monroe WA City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Monroe City Council approved first reading of an ordinance granting a nonexclusive, five-year franchise to Intermountain Infrastructure Group to construct and operate telecommunications facilities in the city's rights-of-way; permitting and fees remain required.","taxTitle","Monroe City, Snohomish County, Washington","taxId",71110,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5992608,"Council accepts petition and directs staff to pursue steps for Davis annexation initial meeting",217,3023000,3240000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5899565-e7609953ac85fa0534d5eb4e4fdda10c&start=3023&end=3240","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5899565-e7609953ac85fa0534d5eb4e4fdda10c/thumbnail_3023000.jpg","/articles/5992608/Monroe-City/Snohomish-County/Washington/Council-accepts-petition-and-directs-staff-to-pursue-steps-for-Davis-annexation-initial-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5992608-fd84afffdc9ce3b5ca20e9daae7b54b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448247&Signature=Y~NQAuos7rPE1L07aQm7Ut9p0Nx8hBegdgc6nhSBsZYxlAYI2aFNJBwh~azYjYpXCDM5C9FHAb8kJd8HQ5NyO5s4-WzhZHNiEGr65-q2c0u0PLW4pbC9iV8a1DRq7gwWM3mpyhD0R7ckj-lPlFalthH~6QdmzEBz0FedWxnf9LiB66rsOX5BtTn-chYyF~WZosREWodDn-25MQFR5itaJFsk--b5PIltA5-x70EBFIGEt-qYgGWKqzZCS~wIjQPDgcCfiOQoijZU7VVBVlw5I2RwC5lir4Zp74rj-PK-joJ0mm1cmRV3ChSImBB~5WMZANl6bhTPphaFhLBwiF1Rzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Monroe City Council on Tuesday directed staff to prepare a resolution accepting a 10% annexation petition filed by the Davis family and to begin the procedural steps toward a 60% petition and annexation. The actions were unanimous.

David Toyer of Toyer Strategic Advisors, representing the Davis property owners, described the filing as a standard 60% petition process that begins with a 10% notice and initial meeting. Toyer said the Davis property has been part of Monroe’s comprehensive-plan discussions and that the applicant expects to use a development agreement and a site-specific interlocal with Snohomish County, similar to the city’s recent Monroe 30 annexation.

Council approved multiple staff directions in sequence: accept and record the 10% annexation petition; commence pre-annexation zoning review; schedule a pre-application meeting with affected city departments and Snohomish County Regional Fire & Rescue to discuss utilities, transportation and site layout; prepare and submit a pre-annexation development agreement; and coordinate with Snohomish County on a site-specific interlocal agreement covering transfer/maintenance of utilities and infrastructure. Each motion passed 7-0.

Staff advised that the petition will proceed through signature circulation (the 60% petition), development-agreement negotiations and interlocal agreement steps. The city noted it currently has no master interlocal agreement with Snohomish County for annexations and that a site-specific interlocal will be required to prevent the county from invoking boundary-review jurisdiction.

Next steps: staff will draft the resolution accepting the 10% petition, begin pre-annexation zoning review, coordinate the pre-application meeting and start development-agreement preparation with the applicants.","The council directed staff to accept a 10% petition for the Davis property annexation and to begin pre-annexation tasks including pre-annexation zoning, departmental preapplication meetings, a development agreement and coordination with Snohomish County for an interlocal agreement.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5992611,"Council puts two comprehensive-plan amendments on 2025–26 docket; PUD seeks to remove airport overlay for new East County office",1098,876000,1974000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5899565-e7609953ac85fa0534d5eb4e4fdda10c&start=876&end=1974","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5899565-e7609953ac85fa0534d5eb4e4fdda10c/thumbnail_876000.jpg","/articles/5992611/Monroe-City/Snohomish-County/Washington/Council-puts-two-comprehensive-plan-amendments-on-202526-docket-PUD-seeks-to-remove-airport-overlay-for-new-East-County-office","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5992611-a4468c6182f5edff3338ce0bbbeb81d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448247&Signature=gatDH9TFfMdenwvKukaXTvDjCckeiHKTa-7hzQkMryEl-iqRDeatbnqvsRsl86lPsLA4Bu3PScaa6sPdqv4Dg4R47rod2R18OxIgAVD42e3IRM8Ks7JXGH19-Gx7vN3c8aVSJuAJ5Y8yNcqkMK6jAl2zbVGxY5nCCr4o2oP36~Vs6qgW7cRTS02O3bDRnACUEiMnnqtsfT-mOyvW1F~EYAJ9p95i7pdPGUYexCAh919AdTixcYpiYm6~ZOGl4aLgdmA0C9laDii~X9ll5YP5IItibZUFPf~aknXQpBc16E3bFs8oO4W4iXkW0GECTeCv-5O9Jjytemps8iHkgpBaXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Monroe City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to place two items on the 2025–26 comprehensive-plan amendment docket: a city-initiated package of map corrections and a reconciliation of population, housing and jobs numbers, and a public-initiated comprehensive-plan amendment submitted by Snohomish County PUD to remove airport references and related overlay restrictions.

The council’s placement of both items means staff, the planning commission and council will review the applications through the fall and winter and may forward recommendations for final adoption in mid-2026.

City planning staff said the city-initiated package includes (1) a 2044 reconciliation with Snohomish County to confirm population, housing and jobs allocations and (2) a small Urban Growth Area expansion north along Chain Lake Road encompassing properties near the city water tower. The map amendments also include corrections to reflect a recent citywide rezone and to remove a private parcel incorrectly designated professional office; staff said the changes do not materially alter the city’s buildable land capacity and that updated county numbers are pending.

Snohomish County PUD presented a public-initiated amendment requesting removal of references to the Monroe Airport from multiple comprehensive-plan elements and a change to development regulations to remove the airport compatibility overlay. Doug Wilson, principal engineer for the PUD, said the PUD plans an East County Community Office on or adjacent to the first-airfield/Monroe Airport site, across from the fairgrounds, and that the airport would need to be deactivated before final planning-commission action. The airport-compatibility overlay currently imposes height, use-type and density restrictions over a wide area that PUD said would preclude the planned facility.

The council approved the PUD’s request to place the item on the docket on a 7-0 vote after staff presentation. Amy Bright and Kate Turtillo of the city planning division briefed council on process and timing: tonight’s vote is the docket-acceptance step (phase 1); staff will analyze the applications in September and October, present to the planning commission in November, and the planning commission will hold hearings and make recommendations followed by council consideration in spring 2026. A SEPA threshold determination will be part of staff review where required.

Council members asked clarifying questions about anticipated timeline, capacity to accommodate additional growth, and the need for a development agreement and interlocal with Snohomish County because the city currently lacks a master interlocal agreement. Staff and the PUD representative said they expect to coordinate a site-specific interlocal and development agreement similar to the Monroe 30 annexation process.

What happens next: staff will proceed with environmental and technical review, scheduling planning commission hearings later this year and returning recommendations to council. The PUD indicated deactivation of the airport will be required before final approval of code changes removing the airport overlay.","Monroe City Council on Tuesday placed two comprehensive-plan amendment requests on the 2025–26 docket: a city-initiated map and reconciliation package and a public-initiated text amendment from Snohomish County PUD to remove airport references and enable an East County Community Office near the Monroe Airport site.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5992616,"Monroe council approves first reading of broad park-code revisions after heated debate over open carry",1580,2150000,3730000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5899565-e7609953ac85fa0534d5eb4e4fdda10c&start=2150&end=3730","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5899565-e7609953ac85fa0534d5eb4e4fdda10c/thumbnail_2150000.jpg","/articles/5992616/Monroe-City/Snohomish-County/Washington/Monroe-council-approves-first-reading-of-broad-park-code-revisions-after-heated-debate-over-open-carry","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5992616-d156413223f739d8d4d593d92d9ed9e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448247&Signature=K8~WEoguHLj2sfRT5QcrklUM2Y~ZvbP0iWoUhm3Arf0Vx03L5gV9IpPb9fk2USU3ZlZkjl1i7vcW9ifmb-~uFHs0A7tVRGF71Dv6thhuGJoSWf-47l6VB~UzlIPPGr~~2bdIo--3V2SGoALv0Pzz8aXQ5744lge2VN4kakaju~N20wVfxbNXm77erGYpyxjY82l5PAVs3m57Y9-CDAQTDMr5~e41v7IeQLFPveU4Vd5qfDZh8VsMlKcFj-IVsuPUF4yAAlJy9pBi~MI3Wr-KkxecxLWQvdTVPyEV2ERElwZqusfwjAwD7s0MoK92gTlBf3UT4Lfj5Z~~xJic1X40Qg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Monroe City Council on Tuesday gave first reading approval to ordinance 017-2025, a package of revisions to Title 9 of the Monroe Municipal Code that changes park hours, clarifies watercraft and camping rules, tightens waste-disposal language, and expands the scope and duration of park exclusion orders.

The revisions aim to provide clearer, enforceable rules for parks across Monroe and to align enforcement and permitting processes for special events and maintenance. Council and staff debated several provisions at length, including whether police should be authorized to bar people who openly carry firearms from parks.

The most immediate change sets park hours as 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset unless otherwise posted; staff noted Lake Tai Park currently posts 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. for field lighting. The updated watercraft rule prohibits launching boats from trailers except at designated boat launches while allowing nonmotorized craft—paddleboards, kayaks, canoes—to be launched from other shore locations. The camping rule was clarified to allow overnight camping only through an approved special-event permit; portable shade structures are not considered camping, and overnight presence without a permit remains subject to the hours code.

On human waste disposal, the code now allows a “limited quantity” of sanitary waste contained in a single sealed, nonreusable absorbent garment—for example, an infant diaper or similar product—to be placed in city receptacles when generated during a park visit, while attempting to prohibit large-scale disposal (for example, RV-generated waste) into park trash cans. Fire rules were revised to allow supervised, self-contained gas cooking appliances on noncombustible surfaces and to keep grills away from playgrounds, sports fields and designated combustible areas.

Council also approved changes expanding park-exclusion authority. The draft allows law-enforcement-issued trespass notices to apply citywide (not only at the park where the incident occurred) and increases the maximum exclusion period to two years for serious violations; weapons-related offenses may trigger a two-year exclusion without prior violations. Violations of the park code were revised to match the city prosecutor’s requested language, making certain high-level violations misdemeanors.

The package cleared first reading on a 7-0 vote. Parks staff said a second reading is scheduled for Sept. 23.

A separate council motion to direct staff to draft an amendment prohibiting open carry in city parks failed after debate. Council members who spoke against that direction cited Second Amendment concerns and instances where they carry for personal safety; those voting against were recorded in the meeting as Council members Hanford, Fisher, Fulcher and Gamble. Several council members said they supported further study and a future discussion about whether and how the city could limit visible firearms in parks.

Parks staff and the city attorney said the proposed language attempts to balance public-safety needs, case law and enforceability; staff will bring back answers to questions raised about camping in vehicles and other edge cases at the second reading.

The ordinance also includes procedural guidance on memorial bench donations, noting applicants must pay for bench materials and installation to city design standards and the city will place and maintain donated benches after installation.

What happens next: staff will refine language requested by the council, prepare materials for second reading on Sept. 23, and follow up with the police department and city legal counsel on questions about day camping, vehicle camping and enforcement of weapons-related exclusions.

","Monroe City Council gave first reading approval to a sweeping update of park rules covering hours, watercraft, camping, litter, fires and trespass penalties, but rejected a separate effort to direct staff to prohibit open carry in parks.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council grants first reading to five-year telecom franchise for Intermountain Infrastructure Group

Council accepts petition and directs staff to pursue steps for Davis annexation initial meeting

Council puts two comprehensive-plan amendments on 2025–26 docket; PUD seeks to remove airport overlay for new East County office

Monroe council approves first reading of broad park-code revisions after heated debate over open carry