By Chris Hendrickson, Monitor
PROVIDENCE MEDICAL BUILDING MONROE
Representatives from Providence Medical Group made a presentation to city council last week, giving a basic outline of the services that will be provided at their new facility, the Providence Medical Building in Monroe.
The $22 million medical services clinic will feature family practice, internal medicine and pediatrics providers. Specialty care providers will include cardiology, midwifery, orthopedics, sleep health and more.
Special features include two public conference rooms and a caf+¬. Health records are all electronic, eliminating the need for medical records rooms. Providence utilizes a system called My Chart, through which patients can access lab results online, along with other medical information pertaining to their care. They can also send private messages to their physician.
Providence focused on a relaxing atmosphere when designing the new clinic, including a water feature. They also made an effort to use art primarily crafted by Snohomish County artists.
Providence is hosting a community open house on Sept. 28 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the new facility located at 19200 N. Kelsey St. in Monroe. Families are welcome to attend and celebrate the grand opening. There will be a rock climbing wall, children's bouncy house, food, and the first 500 people through the doors will receive a fleece blanket.
The facility will be open to patients on Oct. 7.
MARIJUANA BUSINESS LICENSE REGULATIONS
With the recent passing of legislative initiatives legalizing marijuana-related business activities, there exists a conflict within Monroe's municipal code that authorizes business licenses. City Council has requested advice from attorney Scott Snyder, who specializes in employment and land-use related issues.
Snyder presented council with their options last week for rectifying the problem.
"Your city, like a number of cities, had a provision that said that you will deny business licenses to businesses that are not in compliance with state and federal law,GÇ¥ said Snyder. "It's the "and federal law' that causes the problem.GÇ¥
With the current wording in Monroe's code, the city could not issue a business license to a retail marijuana business due to the conflict between state and federal law. This is an issue because of the changes in state laws, which do allow people to pursue these types of businesses.
"Everybody has the right to pursue an occupation and a business,GÇ¥ said Snyder.
Snyder outlined two options.
The first option is that the city could adopt an ordinance to amend the current code so that it states that the city can issue business licenses to businesses that comply with state law only, thus eliminating the stipulation that federal law must also be adhered to.
The second option would be to stipulate a different process by which marijuana businesses could operate in the city of Monroe. The businesses would receive a Compliance Certificate in lieu of an actual business license. All criteria for obtaining a Compliance Certificate would be identical to that of a business license, including fees, inspections and any other specified requirements for business operation within the city.
The Compliance Certificate method is a way of not necessarily endorsing these types of business, but allowing them access to the city as per Washington State law.
Council will be making a final determination on the issue at an upcoming council meeting.
NEW STREET NAME IN DENNIS ADDITION
Council passed a motion to amend the Interim Address and Street Name Master Plan, in accordance to their decision with regard to adopting a new street name.
At the Aug. 20 council meeting, council member Kurt Goering made a motion to change a portion of 159th Street S.E. to Johnson Street S.E. in an effort to correct a discrepancy; some of the addresses on 159th are based on Snohomish County's five-digit regional street numbering standard, while the four new residences located east of Alden Avenue were addressed according to the city's four-digit addressing grid standards.
Goering's motion changed the street name of the four new residences from 159th Street S.E. to Johnson Street S.E., but left the four-digit numerical addresses intact.
In a letter from Fire Chief Jamie Silva and Police Chief Tim Quenzer addressed to council in March, Chief Silva wrote that the ideal solution to correcting some of Monroe's addressing discrepancies would be to adopt a five-digit addressing system, as have the homes located at the west portion of 159th Street S.E.
Gamble, who has been opposed to the idea of changing the street name since it was first presented, remained opposed last week, and was joined in opposition by Patsy Cudaback.
Gamble cited the presentation from Chief Silva and Chief Quenzer as his reason for concern, and stated that he is not in favor of keeping the four-digit addresses and adopting the new street name.
"That is not the optimal, safe solution,GÇ¥ said Gamble.
The motion passed 5 GÇô 2.
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