Laserfiche WebLink
November 7, 2012 <br /> as a prosperous community that is attractive to businesses and provides a <br /> high quality of life for our residents. <br /> First and foremost on this list is our effort to cultivate here at home the <br /> educated workforce that businesses will need in a growing economy. <br /> With that in mind, establishing a four-year university in Everett has been a <br /> long-standing ambition for this community. <br /> We have been on notice for some time now that Boeing, our largest <br /> employer, is concerned about a shortage of skilled engineers to replace <br /> retiring workers over the next five to ten years. To address this concern <br /> we have been working in partnership with Washington State University to <br /> develop a four-year engineering degree program here in Everett. We <br /> played a lead role in the passage of 2011 legislation that will enable WSU <br /> to run Everett's University Center by 2014. Additionally, in 2012 we <br /> helped secure state funding for WSU to create 60 new full-time-equivalent <br /> engineering student slots at University Center. <br /> The other major undertaking that I would like to highlight is the Central <br /> Waterfront Plan. On occasion, when one door closes another one opens. <br /> While we deeply regret the loss of Kimberly-Clark, we are mindful that we <br /> have, at the same time, been presented with a once in a generation <br /> opportunity to reshape the face of Everett's core. This is a significant <br /> responsibility that we take very seriously. <br /> Considerable effort is going into the development of the Central <br /> Waterfront Plan, which will address land use and redevelopment concepts <br /> for reuse of approximately 93 acres of prime real estate that spans from <br /> the southern end of the Central Business District to Port Gardner Bay. I <br /> would like to take a moment to thank community members who have <br /> provided input into this critical process as well as the City Council and <br /> staff who have made it a priority to ensure that we create an outcome that <br /> will serve the best interests of our City, its businesses, and residents for <br /> years to come. <br /> In closing, it bears repeating that we have a lot of hard work ahead of us. <br /> We will need to continue to be thoughtful as we evaluate what is important <br /> to our mission and guide the City's operations and investments <br /> accordingly. <br /> 306 <br />