In October, Sno-Isle Libraries approached the Snohomish Health District about participating in a stakeholder group that has been convened to create a community campus in the SE Everett/Mariner area. Exhibit A is an information sheet developed by Sno-Isle with more information on its vision and timeline, and Exhibits B and C highlight outreach and media coverage on the project.
Staff attended meetings in November and December, and briefed the Rucker Building Task Force at its November 8 meeting. Sno-Isle is prohibited from being a landlord, so a request has been made for another entity to take a lead in property acquisition. Given this location is within the general area that the Board of Health had instructed staff to focus on for potential new facility, coupled with the Budget Ad Hoc Committee’s request for staff to evaluate opportunities for capital budget requests for our headquarters, there is some interest in the Health District being in that lead role. The timeframe of construction completion in 3-5 years is also aligned with recommendations from the Rucker Building Task Force of remain in place and re-evaluate moving in 3-5 years.
Senator Marko Liias is one of the project sponsors, and he has requested that the Health District submit a capital appropriation request for $3.3M to acquire land or a property needed for the community campus. While the Boys & Girls Club has indicated a willingness to be the lead if the Health District cannot, it was noted that the Health District would likely receive more consideration by the legislature because we have not requested capital dollars in the past. The form is due to the Senate Caucus by February 15.
Staff briefed the Executive Committee on January 23, where it was agreed to move this item forward to the full Board for potential action.