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Municipal Campus Improvements Project

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1. Why are City Hall and Municipal Court being remodeled?

Monroe City Hall and Monroe Municipal Court are being remodeled to provide customer services from workspaces that better align department functions and from buildings that better meet life/safety and accessibility standards. 

Monroe’s population has grown in recent years and so has demand for city services. Improved building systems and realignment of how city departments interact with one another will support meeting the increased demand for city services. 

In 1977, city services occupied the campus located on West Main Street, which was originally built as a car dealership in the 1960s. The Administrative Wing, which currently houses City Hall and Municipal Court, has not had significant upgrades in over 30 years which now present life-safety and accessibility deficiencies. Ongoing maintenance, such as the ventilation system, is becoming more expensive and challenging. Six of the nine city departments – over 40 staff members - function within less than 10,000 square feet of office area that is constrained. The Municipal Court functions in the Council Chambers which also serves as a meeting room. A 2019 evaluation of the campus concluded it was less expensive to remodel the existing buildings than to build a new municipal campus.  

2. Are property taxes increasing to pay for the remodel?

Design and construction costs of the campus improvements:

• Do not require a property tax increase;
• Do not impact funding for other capital projects and street maintenance programs;
• Do not require an adjustment to utility rates; and
• Do not affect the General Fund.

3. What is the cost of the Municipal Campus Improvement Project and how is it funded?

Since 2008, studies have been undertaken to determine the feasibility, design and phased construction of improvements to the Municipal Campus. 

• Driftmier Architects Facilities Assessment Report (2019) 
• Rolluda Architects Master Plan (2008) 

Design costs, approximately $1.6 million, are included in the 2023-2024 and 2022 adopted budgets. 

Construction costs, approximately $17 million, will be funded through “councilmanic bonds,” also known as “limited tax general obligation (LTGO)” bonds. 

In March 2023, the City Council authorized long-term debt financing (councilmanic bonds) for the construction to remodel the Administrative Wing. Councilmanic bonds commit the city to pay its debt within existing revenues. Revenue sources include the first quarter Real Estate Excise Taxes (REET) and utility revenues over the next 40 years. REET is restricted to capital uses and utility revenue will support a portion of the remodel associated with utility staffing use.

Additionally, the city is seeking funding through the State and Federal Legislature to help offset construction costs for the remodeled Municipal Court.  

4. What improvements are planned for the Municipal Campus?

Currently, the Monroe Municipal Campus includes: 

• Administrative Wing: City Hall and Municipal Court, 808 West Main Street
• Justice Wing: Police Station and Community Coordination Center, 816 West Main Street
• Public Works/Parks Operations Building: Public Works and Parks & Recreation departments, 769 Village Way 

The remodel of City Hall and the Municipal Court will include building system upgrades, relocating Municipal Court from the current Council Chambers to between City Hall and the Police Station (becoming a part of the Justice Wing), realigning department functions to improve interdepartmental coordination and exterior access improvements. 

The planned improvements will establish the Municipal Campus as a “civic beacon;” a welcoming place for community members, staff, and visitors. For more information about specific improvements, go to the City Hall/Court Remodel page. 

5. What is the Municipal Campus Master Plan?

In 2008, the City Council adopted the Municipal Campus Master Plan which identified the need to make physical improvements to city facilities and functional improvements to city services at the campus. The Master Plan aims to improve public access to city services, reduce the environmental impact of the campus, upgrade security for staff, eliminate access barriers for emergency response vehicles and equipment and acquire building space for Public Works and Parks & Recreation staff to better serve the community. 

The Master Plan calls for three phases of improvements:

• Phase I: Public Works/Parks Operations Building, Emergency Operations Center and associated facilities – Completed
• Phase II: City Hall and Municipal Court (Administrative Wing) – In progress
• Phase III: Police Department (Justice Wing) – Future

A 2019 cost analysis determined a remodel and expansion of the campus was less expensive than building a new campus.  

6. What are councilmanic bonds?

General obligation bonds and limited and unlimited tax general obligation (LTGO) have been the traditional form of financing for capital projects such as administrative facilities (City Halls, Courts, etc.) owned and operated by government.

Councilmanic bonds, also known as limited LTGOs, may be issued by a vote of the legislative body of government entity. Councilmanic bonds do not require a ballot vote. Because voters are not asked to approve a tax increase to pay for the principal and interest, general fund revenues must be pledged to pay the debt service on LTGO bonds. LTGO debt does not provide any additional revenue to fund debt service payments but must be paid from existing revenue sources. 

7. Who is the architect for the design of the remodeled City Hall and new Municipal Court?

In 2022, the city hired Architecture Resource Collaborative (ARC) architectural firm to review and update the 2019 Facility Assessment Report, provide cost estimates to correct building deficiencies, and develop architectural plans, specifications and construction costs.

8. What approval was granted to allow city services to be provided from a medical facility?

In order to provide services at the temporary City Hall location, a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) was required. On May 4, the City’s Hearing Examiner considered the application and issued approval. Contact the Community Development Department at 360-863-4501 for more information.

9. Who is the contractor for the City Hall and Municipal Court remodel?

A contractor has not been selected yet. The city expects to put the project out to be in late July 2023. Prospective bids will be reviewed for compliance with the project’s specifications. The City Council will formally award the bid. 

10. When and where will City Hall be temporarily relocated?

In order to remodel the Administrative Wing, department staff will need to temporarily relocate. Relocation is expected in July 2023. Remodeling of the current campus (located on West Main Street) is expected to begin in late summer and be completed in 18-24 months.

Staff from the Executive, Community Development, Finance, Human Resources/Information Technology Departments and City Clerk’s Office will move to a temporary City Hall located within the Sky River Medical Center, 14841 179^th Avenue SE, Suite 320. The building is located south of the Evergreen Health Hospital.  

Public parking is available. City offices are located on the 3^rd floor.

Open at temporary location:

• Monday, July 31: Community Development (land use, building, engineering and fire permits, planning and transportation planning)
• Monday, Aug. 7: Executive/Administration (Mayor and City Council, administration, human services, public records)
• Monday, Aug. 14: Finance/Utilities (Utility account services and payments, financial planning, and budgeting)

11. When and where will the Municipal Court be temporarily located?

In order to remodel the Administrative Wing, court staff will need to temporarily relocate. Relocation is expected in July 2023. Remodeling is expected to begin in late summer and be completed in 18-24 months.

Monroe Municipal Court will temporarily relocate to the Public Works/Parks Operations Building, 769 Village Way.

In order to transition, court services will be suspended Tues. Aug. 15 through Fri. Aug. 18. Monroe Municipal Court will resume services at the temporary location starting Mon. Aug. 21.

Public Works and Parks and Recreation will continue to function from the Public Works/Parks Operations Building.

12. How long will construction take to complete the remodel of City Hall and Municipal Court?

Construction is anticipated to begin in late summer 2023 and take up to 24 months. The construction schedule is subject to change and likely will. 

The city expects to release the project for bid in late July with the City Council awarding the bid in late August.

13. What transit service is available to access the temporary City Hall?

Below are the closest Community Transit bus stops to the temporary City Hall. 

• 179th Ave SE & 147th St SE
• 179th Ave SE & Stanton St
• Hwy 2 & 179th Ave SE
• 179th Ave SE & 154th St SE
• Monroe Park & Ride Bay 1

 Visit CommunityTransit.org for more information about routes and schedules.  

14. What transit service is available to access the temporary Municipal Court?

The following Community Transit bus stops are the closest to the temporary Municipal Court.

• Village Way and Sky River Parkway
• Village Way and Village Court
• Village Way and West Main Street
• 179^th Avenue SE and West Main Street

Visit CommunityTransit.org for more information about routes and schedules.  

15. Is the Monroe Police Department moving?

The Monroe Police Department, situated in the Justice Wing of the Municipal Campus (818 W. Main Street), is not moving. Access to the Station during the remodel of City Hall and Municipal Court will be available during the remodeling of City Hall and Municipal Court.

16. Is the Parks and Recreation Department moving?

Parks and Recreation Department staff will continue to serve from the Public Works/Parks Operations Building located at 769 Village Way. 

17. Is the Public Works Department moving?

Public Works Department staff will continue to serve from the Public Works/Parks Operations Building located at 769 Village Way. 

18. How can I pay my utility bill?

Utility bill payments can be made in the following ways. For more information go the Utility Billing webpage. 

• Online: Auto pay (automatic recurring payment via credit/debit card) or one-time online payment (via credit/debit card) are available.
• In-person: Temporary City Hall, 14841 179^th Ave SE, Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• By mail: City of Monroe, PO Box 3697 Seattle, WA 98124
• Drop off Payment Box outside of temporary City Hall

19. How can I get a land use, engineering, building, fire or other permit?

The following permitting will be available at the temporary City Hall. Depending on the type of permit you seek, please check the respective department’s webpage for specific application process and hours staff will be available to assist you. Some permits applications can be completed electronically. 

• Building (residential and commercial building permits such as demolition, remodels, windows, tenant improvements)
• Downtown Residential Parking
• Public Works/Engineering (fence, right of way disturbance, grading permits) 
• Fire (fire alarm, sprinkler, tent, fireworks stand)
• Land Use (subdivisions, conditional use permits, and site plan reviews)
• Overweight vehicle parking
• Special Events (park facility rentals, special event permit)

20. Where will City Council and council committee meetings be held?

City Council and council committee meetings are held in the City Council Chambers which is being remodeled. Starting Tues. July 11, City Council and Council committee meetings will be temporarily held at Monroe School District Admin Building 14692 179^th Avenue SE (Monroe). Meeting agendas and minutes are posted online.

• Finance/Human Resources (City Council) Committee
• Legislative Affairs (City Council) Committee
• Public Safety (City Council) Committee
• Transportation Benefit District Board
• Transportation/Planning, Parks and Recreation and Public Works (P3) (City Council) Committee

21. Where will city advisory board meetings be held?

Many city-sponsored meetings are held in the City Council Chambers which is being remodeled. Meeting information for the following advisory boards will be posted on the Meeting and Agenda page (Select the specific agenda and note the location.)

• Civil Service Commission 
• Community Human Services Advisory Board
• Economic Development Advisory Board
• Lodging Tax Advisory Board
• Park Board
• Planning Commission
• Salary Commission 

22. What is the format of city meetings?

City-sponsored meetings are held in a hybrid format where in-person and virtual (via Zoom) attendance are available. If you are attending a city meeting, an opportunity to provide public comment is available at the beginning of the meeting. 

If you are attending a City Council meeting in-person, and wish to make a public comment, please sign in and the Mayor will call you to come forward. If you are attending virtually via Zoom, indicate your interest to speak by activating the “raised hand” icon or push *9 if attending by phone. Written comments may also be provided prior to the meeting. Visit the Meeting and Agenda page for specific email contacts and deadlines. Pursuant to Council Rules of Procedure, written comments will not be read aloud and will be forwarded to City Council.