At their regular meeting on May 21, 2013, the Bothell City Council approved listing the W.A. Anderson School building to the Bothell Register of Historic Places (Register). The school and associated buildings are owned by McMenamins, who plan to transform the historic Anderson School building into a 70 room hotel with eateries, a pub, movie theater, and live music entertainment venue by August 2014. McMenamins submitted a nomination form in January 2013 to the City’s Landmark Preservation Board for the building’s inclusion on the Register. Inclusion on the Register will require McMenamins to employ, at a minimum, the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

“Protecting the Anderson School building was a high priority for Bothell citizens as the city began its downtown revitalization program,” stated Mayor Mark Lamb. “I am greatly appreciative to McMenamins for their commitment to preserving this building and its history for our community and look forward to its opening next year.”

The art deco style school building, designed by Seattle architect Earl W. Morrison, was constructed in 1931 for use as a junior high. In 1941, an addition was constructed by the Works Project Administration, matching the original architectural design and providing six more classrooms. In 1959, three ancillary building were constructed at the rear of the site, including a gym, home economics space, and multi-purpose addition.  

In a recent proclamation, Bothell Mayor Mark Lamb proclaimed the month of May as Autism Awareness Month.  The proclamation was made in honor of citizens who are facing the challenge of autism, either in their own lives or in the lives of those close to them. In order to highlight the growing need for awareness and early diagnosis of autism, the Mayor is recognizing May as a special opportunity for everyone to educate the public about autism and issues within the autism community.

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a "spectrum disorder" that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause of autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today.

“The City of Bothell would like to commend two facilities in our City: the Sorenson Early Childhood Center and Tessera for their work in helping autistic children and adults in the City of Bothell and Northshore Region,” said Mayor Lamb. The Tessera Center is opened in Bothell in 2012 serves as a center for life-long learning for people with autism and their families.  The Sorenson Early Childhood Center provides a variety of preschool programs for children ages three to five in the Northshore School District, including children with autism.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 88 children have been identified with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  Citizens with an ASD benefit greatly from early intervention and treatment, but this is only possible when they receive an appropriate diagnosis.  The City of Bothell encourages all parents to ask their pediatrician about developmental milestones at their child’s check-ups.  Parents who have concerns should talk to their health care providers and research the early signs of autism at http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/index.html and http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/learn-signs.  

Currently, the Autism Society estimates that the lifetime cost of caring for a child with autism ranges from $3.5 million to $5 million, and that the United States is facing almost $90 billion annually in costs for autism.  For more information visit www.autism-society.org

BOTHELL, WA (April 8, 2013) – Bothell Municipal Court Judge Michelle Gehlsen has been selected as the Snohomish County Bar Association’s 2012 Judge of the Year.  Candidates are nominated by their peers in the judicial community for recent and significant work that furthers the legal profession and enhances the public good. Judge Gehlsen was selected by the Association at their March 21, 2013 board meeting and will be honored during the Association’s Annual Dinner on May 4, 2013.

 

“Judge Gehlsen was selected as our Judge of the Year for her outstanding efforts last year in establishing the Bothell Youth Court,” explained Will Steffener, President of the Snohomish County Bar Association.

 

"I am very proud of the Michelle's service as Bothell's Municipal Court judge," said Robert Stowe, Bothell City Manager. "She is very deserving of this recognition and I congratulate her."

 

Judge Gehlsen’s desire for a Youth Court was fueled by her concerns over the number of teenage drivers showing up in the adult court system due to charges of reckless and aggressive driving, as well as the increase in cell phone and texting citations.  Frustrated by an adult system that did not always resonate with teenage drivers, and mindful of the high number of serious and fatal accidents that involve teenagers, she sought a way to make a more meaningful and lasting impression on these young drivers.

 

“The City joins the Bar Association in recognizing Judge Gehlsen’s efforts to assure the Court is able to reach and impress upon young residents the risks of unsafe driving,” said Mayor Mark Lamb. “Gehlsen’s achievements further demonstrate that Bothell is a place of innovation and of a city that works determinedly to serve its residents and businesses.”

 

Unlike traditional adult courts, youth courts focus primarily on restorative justice.  Offenders are truly judged by a ‘jury of their peers’, with a focus on making amends and contributing back to the community.   An emphasis is placed on education and prevention, rather than punishment.  In many cases, the sentence includes a requirement that the individual must in turn serve as a juror on another case. 

 

“When I became a judge, one of my goals was to positively engage the community with the court system,” explained Judge Michelle Gehlsen. “My efforts in Bothell have been complimented by volunteers, including Professor Camille Walsh and University of Washington Bothell students, by other city department staff to assure that our Court delivers meaningful justice. It is an honor to be recognized for doing what I love and to work in a community backed by its citizens.”

 

Gehlsen is known for her commitment to improving the justice system.  She first served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Snohomish County where she is credited with having established a pilot program to improve the handling of domestic-violence cases to ensure that victims were not re-victimized by the process of prosecution. On the civil side, Gehlsen also became the county’s expert on the Involuntary Treatment Act. Her work in involuntary commitment hearings required not only a comprehensive understanding of mental health legislation, but the ability to absorb and understand complex medical opinions.  In both of these difficult areas, she was known for her compassion and determination to treat vulnerable populations with respect and dignity. 

 

As a member of the judiciary, Judge Gehlsen belongs to the District Municipal Court Judges Association Legislative Committee where she has testified regarding courtroom safety.  She is also a strong advocate of youth programs, and has served as a judge on YMCA and Leadership Everett Mock Trials since 2010.  In April, 2013 she began teaching “Street Law” at Bothell High School, to educate students about the legal system while also teaching them skills to improve their lives and strengthen their own communities.

 

Judge Gehlsen moved to Bothell following her graduation from Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas, Texas, where she was a member of the Order of the Barristers and distinguished Board of Advocates, Master level. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Texas State University, graduating cum laude. 

 

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On Tuesday, March 19, the Bothell City Council approved a Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA) and a Development Agreement with Polygon Homes., doing business as PNW Home Builders, LLC.   These agreements serve as the transaction documents necessary for another downtown development to transform the historic downtown into a vibrant pedestrian center envisioned by the adopted downtown plan. This agreement summarizes the deal points, which include the developer's plans to build approximately 100 for-sale town homes in downtown Bothell. The property will sell for $5,000,000 plus off site contributions for adjacent roadways.

City Manager Bob Stowe said, ”The agreement with PNW Home Builders is another example of how the City is partnering with the development community to fulfill its community’s dream of a revitalized downtown and further shows the strength and interest in the Bothell market.  We are excited to work with PNW Home Builders, as they develop and complete an important piece of the community’s vision for a vibrant mixed-use community, creating a sense of place and commons for family and friends to enjoy and business to prosper.”

The development agreement lays out the timeline for construction, which dovetails with other projects occurring in downtown including The Village, McMenamins, Six Oaks and others. Early stage work on City Hall and the West Boulevard projects are going to bid this spring, and the Crossroads realignment and second stage of Wayne Curve is now underway, as well as the UWB Science building.

More details on the downtown projects: www.FutureOfBothell.com