Story and photo by Doug Petrowski

Second Congressional District Representative Rick Larsen met with Mountlake Terrace city officials on Monday, Jan. 7, to receive an introduction to the community and hear a report on economic development issues in the city. At the meeting were Mayor Jerry Smith, Councilmembers Kyoko Matsumoto Wright, Seaun Richards and Bryan Wahl, City Manager John Caulfield and a number of city staff members.

Larsen, D-Everett, is beginning his sixth term in the House of Representatives, but due to redistricting this is his first term representing Mountlake Terrace. “With the district as it is now, I expect to spend lots of time here in the south county,” he said.

Caulfield briefly gave Larsen a demographics introduction to Mountlake Terrace, then spent most of the 50-minute meeting describing economic development occurring in the city. “Mountlake Terrace is a phoenix coming out of the ground,” he told the congressman, “and it’s not just a vision, it’s happening now.”

While not specifically asking Larsen to deliver some federal funds to the city, Caulfield did share that the city is looking to bring economic development to its Town Center core, and that desired street and utility upgrades along 56th Avenue West between 230th and 236th Streets Southwest are short of funds needed for completion. “We’re chasing $5.5 million to finish the job.” Caulfield explained.

Larsen noted that earmark spending in Washington, D.C. is generally out of favor right now, but didn’t dismiss the idea of helping with city efforts to seek federal grants for specific projects. “Staying as focused as possible will help me to be as successful as I can be, and help you to be as successful as you can be,” Larsen advised.

Larsen will be back in Mountlake Terrace on Wednesday afternoon to get a tour of the clubhouse and grounds of the now-closed Lake Ballinger Golf Course. City officials will be updating the congressman on culvert improvements made to Halls Creek last year and on future plans for additional flood control and water quality improvements to the Lake Ballinger watershed.