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October 28, 2015 <br /> planning and other rider services, and making changes at Everett Station, <br /> such as improving security and way-finding signage, investing in repairs, <br /> and moving the transit administrative offices to the station. <br /> The Fire Department study is now in draft form and the Council's Public <br /> Safety Committee has begun an in-depth review of the report to develop <br /> potential policy recommendations. The changes that come out of these <br /> studies will help us streamline our operations and provide better and more <br /> cost effective services to our community. <br /> INVESTING IN SAFE STREETS <br /> I appreciate the Council and community's continued support of the <br /> Community Streets Initiative and our efforts to address street-level social <br /> issues in Everett. We have already seen great success with our law <br /> enforcement embedded social worker, the Municipal Court's Mental <br /> Health Alternative Program, and the multi-jurisdictional team working to <br /> get Everett's frequent utilizers off the streets and into services. <br /> My proposed 2016 budget includes more than $2 million in new <br /> investments to keep our community safe and to support our most <br /> vulnerable citizens. I had previously proposed allocating $1.2 million in <br /> funding for a Streets Initiative coordinator, housing, and other resources in <br /> 2016. <br /> In September I announced a proposal for an additional $1 million for a <br /> comprehensive plan focusing on housing, diversion and enforcement. The <br /> plan includes funding for two embedded social workers and additional <br /> police and prosecutor resources, establishes a work crew diversion <br /> program to expand our successful alternative sentencing options, and <br /> begins building 20 units of low-barrier housing for the chronically <br /> homeless in our community. <br /> As we celebrate the successes of 2015 and look forward to the challenges <br /> ahead, I want to publicly acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our <br /> entire City workforce, who deliver essential public services and serve our <br /> citizens with care and integrity. I am honored to work alongside them. <br /> I would also like to thank the City Council and community leaders for your <br /> continuing commitment to Everett and the future of our community. <br /> 348 <br />