Cascade Mall
Continue to work with the new owner of the Cascade Mall: I would like to share that the City staff and I recently had meetings with the new owner of both the Cascade Mall and Burlington Plaza, formerly known as Outlet Mall. It is encouraging that the new owner of these of these two properties, which hold significant economic importance for not just the City of Burlington but also Skagit County, is making their redevelopment a priority. The ownership's investment and plan to revamp both properties reflect their confidence in the City of Burlington.
Rotary Park Inclusive Playground
The playground will be another first for the City of Burlington parks system. It will provide an opportunity for children of all abilities to play and enjoy their time in one of their city parks. The City of Burlington has recently been awarded a $500,000 grant to go towards this park. We plan on starting construction in 2024 on this playground.
Maiben and Boerner Parks
The City of Burlington is currently developing a plan to enhance Maiben Park and gathering feedback from the neighboring residents of Boerner Park to determine the amenities they would prefer to have. I firmly believe that improving Boerner Park is crucial since a significant number of children in that vicinity reside in apartments, making it essential to have accessible outdoor play areas.
Police and Fire/EMS
As part of the North Star Leadership Team, we are in the process of implementing a county-wide program that involves embedding social workers within law enforcement agencies and community paramedics within Fire/EMS departments. This initiative aims to provide better assistance to individuals in our community who may be homeless or dealing with mental health or substance abuse issues. By doing so, we hope to reduce the number of people ending up in emergency rooms or our county jail, and instead, connect them with the appropriate facilities to receive the care they need. Additionally, this program will benefit Fire/EMS services by working with frequent users of 911 and Fire/EMS services. The inclusion of a medic with social service skills is expected to decrease the number of calls for services, allowing for more resources to be allocated to higher acuity calls.
Transportation
The Mayor of Mount Vernon, staff members, and I have recently met with executives from Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad to discuss the replacement of the rail bridge between our two cities. The proposed plan entails the removal of two at-grade rail crossings on each side of the bridge, with the introduction of under-crossings or over-crossings. The entire project would be grant-funded, meaning that no city funds would be required. This project would offer several benefits, including improved flood protection, less congestion, improved traffic flow, and enhanced public safety with reduced response times from first responders. Thanks to the recent $2 million grant from the Federal Government, we can start planning for this project.