New Monroe city manager catching up

Deborah Knight was sworn in as Monroe's new city administrator last month.

Much of her work for the past three weeks has been getting caught up to speed and working on the 2018 Operating Budget — building the document and economic development are at the forefront of her focus for now. Knight estimates it will take her about six months to see where her skills could be put to their best use.

The Monroe City Council approved her appointment in late June. Knight left her job as the city of Standwood's city administrator, where she worked for the past five years. She held the same position in Sultan for six years and was the assistant to Woodinville’s city manager for nearly seven years.

Knight will be filling the seat Gene Brazel vacated in January, when he took a position with the city of Lake Stevens. Monroe signed on with the Seattle-based Prothman Company, which recruited applicants for Brazel's spot.

Two rounds of interviews were held, the first on April 16, but both candidates tapped at that time were found to be unsatisfactory, according to council documents. David Moseley served as interim city administrator until Knight started on Aug. 14.

Prothman's senior consultant Mary Swenson has worked with Knight previously. She helped place Knight in Stanwood five years ago. She told the Monitor her former recruit was a good fit for Monroe.

“I have known Deborah for a long time — she’s a class act,” Swenson said. “She’ll be really good for this city.”

Knight has secured millions of dollars in grant money for cities that have gone to parks acquisitions, road and trail work. While in Sultan she helped turn a $450,000 deficit into a $250,000 surplus in four years.

Mayor Geoffrey Thomas previously said Knight's familiarity with the Sky Valley also made her an appealing candidate. Swenson said it is crucial a mayor and city administrator have a good relationship. She saw that potential with Thomas and Knight, and said the two got along right away. 

Knight said she and Thomas have already been collaborating on a proposal that will lay out economic development strategies for the city. It will be the first presentation she will give to the city council, set for Tuesday evening. She said she isn’t sure what the reception would be.

“They have to get a feel for me,” Knight said. “They have to get to know me and trust me, and I have to get to know them and trust them.”

The hope is to get input from the group on the proposal before finalizing next year's budget, Knight said. That way the city can know what goals need funding. The city council will see the budget for the first time at the end of the month, and state law requires it to be completed by Dec. 31, she said.

The economic development plan is two-fold, Knight said. One part establishes a direction for tourism, promotion and marketing, and the other for business recruitment, growth and retention, she said.

Knight said a section of the proposal will include addressing the vacant properties around North Kelsey that are owned by the city. When the acreage was originally envisioned, when Lowe's moved there in 2006, the retail market was very different, she said.

Knight said large chains like Hollywood Video that were considered as potential buyers aren't even around anymore. She said to successfully market those properties now, the city will have to understand what types of retailers may be interested in setting up shop in town.

Supporting the industrial and commercial centers, tying in the downtown corridor and promoting special events are also part of building up the city, Knight said. There is no doubt Monroe is growing. The next few years will be about taking what already works and turning it into something meaningful, she said.

“Let me just say the framework is here in Monroe,” she said.