Food Trucks Are Coming to Lynnwood

I’ve long had a “thing” for food trucks, so I’m pretty excited about this. They will be a fun addition to the food scene in Lynnwood.

 

Food Trucks Are Coming to Lynnwood
City Council Unanimously Approves Food Trucks in Lynnwood

LYNNWOOD, WA (March 29, 2016) – Before long, you will be able to purchase an authentic street taco, a slice of pie, a strawberry crepe or a burger from a mobile vendor in Lynnwood. On March 14, 2016, the Lynnwood City Council voted unanimously to allow food trucks to operate within the City limits between the hours of 7am and 10pm. “This is something the City has carefully researched and considered,” said Paul Krauss, Community Development Director. “These trucks are safe, well regulated, and offer such a great opportunity for independent businesses owners. People enjoy the whole food truck experience.” Food trucks will be able to park in local business parking lots, with the approval of the business owner, but not on City streets.

“Food truck will go a long way to help improve the vibrancy of our City Center,” stated David Kleitsch, Lynnwood’s Economic Development Director. “Food trucks in other cities, like Portland and Seattle have become a mainstay and even a tourist attraction; they will be a great asset in Lynnwood too.” During the Public Hearing at the March 14 City Council Meeting, Rosario Reyes, Director of the Latino Education and Training Institute, voiced her support for allowing food trucks in Lynnwood. Reyes commented that food trucks in Lynnwood will be an asset to the Latino community, in particular those who are looking for start-up business opportunities.

The ordinance is effective as of March 23, 2016. Operators must apply for a City of Lynnwood business license and be approved by the Snohomish County Health Department. Lynnwood is ethnically diverse and already has so many unique dining options – it will be exciting to see what starts rolling into town!

Ministry Position At Lynnwood’s Trinity Lutheran Church

This is my church, so I’m biased. But I think extremely well of all the staff and think we’re a world class organization.

If you have any questions about Trinity Lutheran, feel free to ask me.

Open Ministry Position: Full-time Children and Family Minister


Purpose: To work with congregational members to provide programming, outreach, encouragement and support to children, parents, and families through the ministries of Trinity Lutheran Church.
Responsibilities: Sunday morning children’s programming, nursery, Vacation Bible School, Faith Formation Stepping Stones program, supporting children’s music and choirs, family worship services, parents care, and support and seasonal programming.
Qualifications: Include education and/or experience in ministry to children and families.
Salary & Benefits: Salary based on education, experience, and skills.  Medical and pension provided.
Visit http://www.trinitylutheranchurch.com/ to view the complete job description

Submit cover letter and resume to Trinity Lutheran Church, 6215 196th St. SW, Lynnwood, WA. 98026 or by email to p​aul@trinitylutheranchurch.com no later than April 10, 2016.

Some “Earth Month” activities in Lynnwood for you

Heritage Park Spring Clean – Wednesday, April 6

Spring Clean

Wednesday, April 6th, 10am-3pm (2 shifts available)

Heritage Park

Potluck Lunch Provided

Join us for a day of cleaning and landscaping at Heritage Park, Equipment, tools and lunch provided. We’ll be cleaning windows, floors, mopping and dusting, and landscaping, weeding, and spreading bark.

RSVP by April 4th to Marielle Harrington; mharrington@ci.lynnwood.wa.us or 425-670-5532.


Earth Day at Daleway Park – Saturday, April 23

earth day

Saturday, April 23rd, 9am-2pm

Daleway Park

Lunch Provided

Global Peace Foundation and the City of Lynnwood are inviting youth volunteers to join in the celebration of Earth Day 2016 through trash cleanup, invasive plant removal, and playground rehabilitation at Daleway Park. Come out, meet new people, and love our earth!

Register by April 16th by visiting: http://goo.gl/forms/15LT11uSSZ or for more information contact USyouth@globalpeace.org

Lynnwood Is Hosting Community Disaster Preparedness Town Hall on March 15

As many/most of you know, Western Washington is due (perhaps even overdue) for a major earthquake. The best thing we can do is prepare. And our friends at the City of Lynnwood have pulled together the following event below to do just that.


 

Count me in

What would you do in a natural disaster or emergency?

Would you be prepared?
What about your family, friends, and neighbors?


Our team of first responders and disaster experts will provide you with the emergency preparedness know-how and tools to get you and your loved ones ready for the “just in case.”

Town Hall Will Include:

  • Keynote lecture from Dr. Brian Atwater, world-renowned USGS Geologist, earthquake expert, and professor at the University of Washington
  • First responders providing basic tips for disaster preparedness
  • Information and resource tables
  • Pinpoint your address on the wall-sized map
  • Information on next steps you can take to prepare for a disaster or emergency

For More Info:

Follow us on Twitter @LynnwoodFire @ReadySnoCo @SnoCoFire1

RSVP’s are kindly requested, visit our Eventbrite site to let us know you’ll be coming: http://bit.ly/SnoCoDisaster

Sponsored By:
Snohomish Co Fire District #1, Disaster Medicine Project, My Neighborhood News Network, Edmonds Community College, and the City of Lynnwood’s Police and Fire Departments.

Town Hall Details:
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
6:308:30pm
Edmonds Community College, Woodway Hall
Click here for directions and a campus map

Upcoming Road Closure – 68th Ave West

Hey Lynnwood Folks,

If you’re planning on using 68th right by Edmonds Community College, you’ll want to be prepared for this.


 

Lift Station and Force Main 16 Project


Upcoming Road Closure – 68th Ave West

The contractor for the Lift Station and Force Main 16 project intends to begin extending the sewer force main on 68th Ave W, just north of the new round-a-bout in front of Edmonds Community College. This will require road closures on 68th Avenue West during working hours from Saturday, February 13, 2016Monday, February 15, 2016. Detours will be set up and local access will be permitted. Work will continue north until 202nd St SW at which time the contractor will head east down 202nd Street SW towards Hwy 99.

Please note there will be delays and detours due to this work. 

Please check the project website and sign up for project updates atwww.ci.lynnwood.wa.us/enews and select Sewer Lift Station and Force Main 16 Project.

Lynnwood, My Fair City, Is Looking For A Human Resources Director

I’m biased, but this is probably a great position. Lynnwood is quite the eclectic little community. Our population is a bit over 35k with housing types from studio condos to $ million + homes. This is a very diverse community with many languages spoken, different cultures represented, and business types in place. Lynnwood employs 333 FTE’s and has a 2015-16 General Fund Budget of $104 million and biennial budget (all funds) of $166.7 million

Below are the details from the position’s posting.

The Department & Position

 

Mission

 

The Human Resources Department strives to partner with other departments to attract, sustain and inspire a thriving City workforce.

 

The Human Resources Department provides a variety of professional human resource duties in support of the City’s personnel programs, including professional and technical duties in recruitment, examination and placement, classification and pay administration, performance evaluation, labor relations, safety, training, benefits and employee relations.  The HR Director is expected to apply knowledge of currently accepted human resources policies and procedures and relevant employment laws and regulations.

 

The HR Director is a member of the Mayor’s Executive Leadership Team as a peer with the team but also provides support and guidance regarding personnel and labor issues to the team members. The HR Director must be able to work in a fast paced and, at times, politically charged environments and must be a strategic thinker with a city wide perspective regarding personnel issues, labor agreements and staffing into the future. The director needs to implement innovative methods to recruit and retain employees and must be able to research and initiate effective succession planning programs.

 

The HR Director must have knowledge of labor laws and experience working with labor groups, including labor relations, collective bargaining and conflict resolution. The HR Director will have experience with technology and promote the value of a good technology and HR software programs.

Responsibilities Include:

 

Ø  Delegate responsibility and appropriate authority to assigned staff.  Monitor daily work activities to assure the timely and accurate completion of functional responsibilities.

Ø  Conduct applicant job interviews.  Select, orientate and train new employees.  Assure the availability of adequate staff equipment and facilities.

Ø  Prepare and conduct oral and written employee performance evaluations.  Recognize superior performance.  Effect correction in undesirable trends in performance consistent with established City policy.

Ø  Participate in department-wide long range, strategic planning activities.  Prepare and recommend objectives, methodologies and associated schedules.

Ø  Administer and manage the human resources function for the City, ensuring that appropriate federal, state and local personnel policies, acts, laws and procedures are followed.

Ø  Draft human resource policies and procedures consistent with federal and state legislation; assist City supervisors to administer policies.

Ø  Administer and control departmental budget.

Ø  Provide administrative and advisory support to City management and employees.  Serve as staff support to the Mayor and department heads.

Ø  Direct and administer the recruitment and selection program, including serving as the Civil Service Secretary/Chief Examiner for Police and Fire personnel.

Ø  Direct and/or perform development of job descriptions and classify people into appropriate salary ranges.  Conduct salary surveys to ensure jobs are appropriately paid.

Ø  Administer and direct the employee performance evaluation program and ensure that step increases are granted according to policy and procedure; advise management on discipline issues.

Ø  Develop, implement and monitor a plan to diversify the City’s workforce and provide diversity training to employees.

Ø  Direct the maintenance and security of all personnel files and employee records.

Ø  Coordinate City employee training and development programs; conduct needs assessments; determine needs; arrange for provision of employee training.

Opportunities & Challenges

 

1)    There is a need to review and update policies, procedures and codes that relate to personnel, human resource and training. (This might be completed?)

 

2)    The City will need to continue to evaluate its benefit programs to assure compliance with the Affordable Care Act, in addition to making sure the benefits are fair for employees and cost effective for the city.

 

3)    Into the future, there will be a need to evaluate staffing levels for efficiencies and alignments to the delivery of services provided by the City.

 

4)    There is a strong desire to continue to recruit, hire, and retain qualified staff who reflect the diverse population of the City.

 

Ideal Candidate Profile

 

Lynnwood is looking for a talented director or senior HR professional from a public sector organization of comparable complexity and size, with extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of human resources. Extensive knowledge of employment laws and human resources regulations and practices is required.

 

The ideal candidate needs to be collaborative and understand the internal and external customer service expectations of the department. He/she must be personable and approachable, and able to build alliances throughout the organization to achieve the personnel goals of the City. The ability to distinguish the skills and talents of each staff member, see the big picture, and look beyond issues of a single department is a key skill to have for this position.

 

 

There are four labor groups; Police, Fire, Teamsters and AFSCME. The most recent labor agreements were negotiated with the contracted assistance of the Summit Law Firm. The HR Director needs to be able to develop and maintain strong professional and positive relationships with labor leadership.

 

The new director must have knowledge and experience with employee benefit programs, and show strong written and oral communication skills. Experience with LEAN or process improvement programs is desirable. The ideal candidate will be approachable and non confrontational, and have strong interpersonal skills with a sense of humor. The ability to embrace diversity and see the value of a diverse workforce will be important to be successful in Lynwood.

 

Education & Experience

 

A bachelor’s degree in Personnel Administration, Public Administration or a related field, plus at least five years of HR generalist experience, including experience in a supervisory role, or any satisfactory combination of experience and training that demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the above duties are required.

 

Compensation & Benefits

 

Ø  $106,142– $134,305 DOQ

Ø  100% Medical, Dental & Vision; 90% for dependents

Ø  Life & Long-term Disability Insurance

Ø  PERS State Retirement System

Ø  12 paid holidays & 12 sick leave per year

Ø  Management benefits which include vacation days per year based on past experience

 

Please visit http://www.prothman.com/Current_Searches/index.aspx for the full position profile and to apply.

 

The Lynnwood Wendy’s Remodel Is Coming Right Along

While driving to work the other morning and waiting for the light at 196th and 52nd (right next to Wilcox park), I got this glimpse of the work being done on the old Lynnwood Wendy’s. It feels funny to consider it “old”, and it was built when was in junior high or high-school. Most importantly, it’s been pretty much the same since it was first opened. So, the update should be very welcome.

Lynnwood Wendy's Remodel Feb 2016
Lynnwood Wendy’s Remodel Feb 2016

Edmonds School District Kick Off to Kindergarten

Registration for the 2016-2017 school year begins on March 2, 2016 at your assigned school. Your student must be 5 years old by August 31, 2016 to be eligible for kindergarten. (Clickhere if your student will be 5 between September 1 and December 31, 2016, and you are interested in testing for early entrance into Kindergarten.)

Kick Off to Kindergarten –  ¡Evento de Arranque al Kínder!

Make sure you join us at your assigned school for “Kick Off to Kindergarten” on February 22 from 6:30-7:30 pm. We hope that all parents of incoming kindergarten students will attend this informative evening with their school principal and office staff. Please click here to view the flier.

 

Full details here

Lynnwood’s Development and Business Services Office

I’m pleased that the City of Lynnwood is reinvigorating (?) the word of the Permit Center (FYI, this office is not by the city offices on 44th by the library. Rather, it’s just south of 196th, kitty-corner to Goodwill). Hopefully, they can smooth out/simplify the permitting process and keep the dynamic business environment that is Lynnwood vibrant. Our little city is growing, and I’m confident details like this help.


 

 

Lynnwood Washington

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Over the Counter Reviews Return to Lynnwood’s Development and Business Services in February

LYNNWOOD, WA (January 13, 2016) – The City of Lynnwood is pleased to announce that Lynnwood Development and Business Services, formerly known as the Lynnwood Permit Center, now offers Over the Counter (OTC) plan review to expedite and simplify your projects. The OTC review is intended for smaller, less complicated projects that can be reviewed quickly.

Beginning February 2, the OTC reviews will be held every Tuesday from 9:00am – 11:00am at the Development and Business Services Center located at 4114 198th ST SW, STE 7, Lynnwood, WA.

Projects that may qualify for Over the Counter review include:

  • Small residential additions and remodels
  • Most decks, carports, porch covers and sheds
  • Plumbing and mechanical for residential
  • Commercial mechanical roof top unit (RTU) replacements
  • Simple tenant improvements (to be determined by plan reviewer)
  • Plumbing and mechanical for tenant improvements

For more information on Over the Counter plan review and the types of required documents, visit our Business & Development Services webpage.

About Lynnwood Development & Business Services:

Lynnwood Development & Business Services is home to four departments working together to help homeowners, businesses, and developers succeed with their development projects.

To the Jeep that passed the school bus on 68th a few minutes ago

Brown Jeep Cherokee, newer model. Blasted through the center turn lane, past by all the cars waiting for the school bus. You know, the one with the red blinking lights. They’re on for a reason. Punk!

I tried to get his license, but was too slow. My deepest hope is for karma to body slam him.

The anger I feel is quite intense. People, like this young man, who callously risk lives, especially the lives of children, both raise my ire and disgust. Yeah, at moments like this I want this traffic offense to be raised to felony status.

And, with that, I will leave you, dearest readers.