Favorite things, reflections on the past year and now it’s time for a look into the future.

There will be no city mayoral or council member elections in 2014 in Bonney Lake.  That means there will be much accomplished in the next year and a half without the distraction of campaigns.

The economy will continue to improve.

Red Robin will open in Junction 192. Yummmmm! Not only will this bring another eating establishment to Bonney Lake, but more jobs, and revenue to the city in the form of permits and taxes.

Housing starts and home sales will increase, especially to the south of Bonney Lake, adding to traffic congestion in our city to access that area.  A road will be constructed between the Bonney Lake High School and Mountain View Middle School to accommodate the traffic, but of course, it will not because (1) you still have to get up Elhi Hill on SR 410 and (2) there will be a bottle neck in Downtown and Midtown if the speed limit is lowered to 35 mph but (3) maybe this bottle neck will get the attention of WSDOT, Pierce County and Tehaleh that an alternative route on the south Plateau is needed sooner than later.  In the meantime, Bonney Lake businesses, especially in the area of Downtown and Midtown will benefit with increased business.  Perhaps this is the reason Hobby Lobby has not been able to move into the old Albertson’s space…competition for prime locations.

This competition for space will fill empty storefronts and possibly raise rents, and revenues for the city in the way of sales tax and permits.

Home sales will continue rise, as will interest rates and home prices.  This equates to housing starts, permit revenue, jobs, and tax revenue (not necessarily in the order of importance).

Sewer will finally come to Eastown, allowing for economic development, sewer, increased opportunity to sell properties to developers and a much needed public works facility.   But Eastown is beyond all roads leading south to Plateau 465 and Tehaleh.  They will need a really big destination big box store out there to draw customers beyond Midtown.  Or perhaps a marijuana production plant if and when the 6 month moratorium is lifted.

Moving the Public Works Center is a good idea. If you have been in the vicinity of the Public Works Center (former city hall), you know the building is old, the heating system is unreliable, the yard is small and equipment must be jockeyed around morning and afternoon to get the equipment in and secure in the cramped space.  Not to mention, it is in a residential area, so all this coming and going is disruptive.

The senior center and its active seniors will get lonely there all by themselves.  But they can go next door to the Public Works Center and create a video as they tell their stories about the history of the Bonney Lake Plateau to members of the Bonney Lake Historical Society.  Hopefully, they will bring pictures with them to make copies of, too.

We will eagerly await the formation of an Arts and Cultural Heritage commission that the Mayor said he wanted to get underway in 2014.

The gnomes may or may not return to Bonney Lake Parks this spring.  Vandals nearly drove them away. They may change their migration route.

The Greater Bonney Lake Historical Society will keep working towards getting a museum and more historical markers along the Naches Trail as they video those areas to compare to historical records and photography of an era gone by.

There may be a Christmas Parade; and a tree on top of the Municipal Justice Center that will be a beacon for miles around to come to Bonney Lake and shop, eat and be merry.

There will be wonderful Bonney Lake Days, concerts in the park, Kids Club and all of the many wonderful free events for citizens to attend in the city.

Hopefully the Swim Safe program will return and expand, leading to another safe summer on the lake through a cooperative effort of local law enforcement, Sumner School District  and East Pierce Fire and Rescue.

We can look forward to an EPFR open house in the fall.  How about groundbreaking for a new headquarters building at the corner or Main Street and Veteran’s Memorial Drive?

Behind the scenes work will continue on the Fennel Creek Trail.

City staff will continue to do great things.  Like in many industries, government is no different.  There will be turnover as we Baby Boomers retire, some earlier than others, making room for those younger ones who have worked side-by-side with us old-timers who have taught them what the job entails.  Then it will be up to the GenX and Millennials to add their technology skills, pick up the ball and run with it.  Some will lose patience and use the skills they learned at the City during cross training and succession planning to get jobs with better pay and benefits in other cities.  Why? Because Bonney Lake employees have a reputation for being real professionals.

New apartments will be built overlooking the Kelley Farm, Midtown and the Fennel Creek watershed.

Our kids will continue to be important and youth initiatives will continue, such as the youth forums that indicated our youth want parks and trails and a bowling alley.  The City has been listening and has been moving forward on this, but it takes time and money and voters that are forwarding thinking, kids.

Our schools will continue to provide the best education possible and be involved in the community through coalitions.  It would be great to have a youth advisory committee.

Like you, I will continue trying to make a difference in my community, no matter how small.  But our elected officials will continue to make the tougher, far reaching decisions with their vision and the help of staff and citizen commissioners and board members that will carry our City into the distant future.

I leave you with a final thought.

“I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.” Nelson Mandela