If local residents support plans being developed by the City of Marysville, the downtown core may be transformed over the next 15 to 20 years with pedestrian-friendly shopping and residential districts, a vibrant waterfront, ample open spaces and a more consistent approach to building designs.

A community meeting is planned for Thursday, July 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. at City Hall, 1049 State Avenue, to discuss the Downtown Marysville Master Plan.

The plan, which was developed with the help of several consulting firms, grew out of the city's 2005 Comprehensive Plan, which included a vision for the downtown core.

A key component of the downtown revitalization is a central civic campus to house most city offices in one location and incorporate facilities for public use. After reviewing five potential sites for the campus, city leaders are recommending the Comeford Park location.

"The park will not go away and neither will the historic water tower," assured Mary Swenson, the city's chief administrative officer. "In fact, the location of the park is one of the chief benefits of that property."

The building housing the Ken Baxter Senior/Community Center would make way for the complex, but the new structure would include spaces specifically designed for use by seniors and community members for classes and other purposes.

"The building is definitely intended to do more than just house employees," explained community development director Gloria Hirashima. "The plans call for an inviting environment that will be actively used outside of typical business hours by community groups and for other public uses."

Delta Street, from 4th Street to 6th, would be redesigned as a "woonerf," a Dutch-based term for a pedestrian-friendly area that is open to limited vehicle use. The campus will utilize surface parking instead of a parking structure and existing adjacent businesses could continue to operate.

The City of Marysville employs approximately 275 employees. The civic campus is expected to house all departments with the exception of police, which will likely remain at the Public Safety Building on Grove Street, and the courts.

The success of the remainder of the Downtown Master Plan is dependent on private landowners' willingness to invest in the downtown core. The plan includes tax incentives to help spur those investments while spelling out permit and code requirements to enhance the area's overall look and functionality.

Engineers' conceptual drawings portray an energized waterfront with a mix of residential and retail use, street improvements that invite locals and visitors to linger downtown, and redesigned store facades and signage, all contributing to the overall quality of life for the growing community.

According to Hirashima, key objectives of the master plan, in addition to locating a future civic campus, are to support redevelopment, improve transportation, manage stormwater, improve streetscapes, enhance parks and trails, establish design guidelines and recommend catalyst projects.

But as important as the city's plans for redeveloping downtown are, Hirashima and Swenson agreed the timeline will likely be pushed back a few more years due to the unstable economy and the urgent issues surrounding the Central Marysville Annexation.

"It's critical that we're able to provide services to the people we're annexing," said Swenson, "and we have to focus on that for the next couple of years."

In addition to adding infrastructure and personnel to handle the population increase, Swenson explained that the city's management processes will likely undergo changes as well.

"A city of 50,000 [citizens] functions differently from a city of 30,000," she continued. "We run a pretty lean organization, and all our directors are working directors. But until you live it, you just don't know what to expect."

"The advantage we have is that we've managed about 70 annexations successfully in the last ten years," said Hirashima. "Of course this is the largest one, but we already know the area and understand its unique needs."

Consistency in the city's management staff is an added benefit, and both Hirashima and Swenson have been with the city for decades.

The Marysville City Council and Snohomish County Council approved the Interlocal Agreement for the 2,800-acre annexation at a joint meeting held July 13. The Boundary Review Board has 120 days to solicit comments and hold public hearings. Pending BRB approval, the annexation could be official in early 2010.

Even though implementation of the Downtown Master Plan and construction of a civic campus may be slightly delayed, the city's staff and elected officials are nonetheless anxious to gather public input.

"It's not our job to say what the community needs," said Swenson. "We're here to facilitate meetings, provide information and gather input. Our goal is to get total buy-in on the campus site."

The Marysville Civic Campus project is estimated to cost around $30 million, depending on the construction timeline, interest costs and amenities provided.

"We have a unique opportunity to guide the development of the city's downtown and riverfront, but developers won't invest without a comprehensive plan," Swenson said. "If we do nothing, the world will pass us by and we'll see job loss."

"The master plan is graphic by design," Hirashima added. "We wanted people to be able to visualize what Marysville could be, what the potential is."

"Change will come. That's inevitable," Swenson added. "We either let it happen, or we make it happen-with purpose, with vision, and with the public's support."