Lake Stevens public works highlights 2025 work and plans 19 capital initiatives for 2026

Laurie Erickson, the city’s public works analyst, presented the department’s annual report and a 2026 one-year work plan at the March 17 workshop. "My name is Laurie Erickson. I am the public works analyst, and tonight I am excited to share with you all our annual report for 2025," she said.

Erickson highlighted five strategic priorities adopted by the division — including protecting natural and built infrastructure, improving accessibility and the natural environment, and ensuring responsible stewardship of public funds — and said the department had compiled a 19-item work plan for 2026 mapped to those priorities. She told the council the department has 33 staff and has focused on preventative maintenance to extend asset life, noting pavement preservation and sidewalk/ADA improvements among recent accomplishments.

On capital projects, Erickson said the Main Street redevelopment has substantially improved walkability and aesthetics, and she noted active projects that include Frontier Heights Park phase 2 (multiuse sports field, pickleball courts, sensory garden), Bayview Veil phase 0.5 (design complete, construction planned in 2026), and the 91st Avenue SE phase 2 sidewalk project (10-foot multiuse path and bike lane). She also described three environmental capital efforts: the Lower Stevens Creek channel realignment, restoration work near City Hall, and long-term salmonid basin projects intended to improve salmon habitat and watershed health.

Erickson summarized department training and continuous-improvement achievements: 12 employees have earned green- or black-belt certifications in the lean program and six employees graduated from the APWA Northwest Public Works Institute for developing leaders. She also recounted community engagement projects, including a school-based naming and painting contest for snowplows that drew about 700 submissions.

The presentation included a quote from Director Halverson, read aloud by Erickson: "The public works department continues to keep the City operating safely while looking for ways to improve services. In 2025 all divisions worked hard and maintained strong budget discipline. We are monitoring staff workload to prevent burnout, though we did experience some turnover. In 2026, budget reductions, particularly in streets, required us to reallocate employees and scale back some programs. We remain committed to delivering high quality service, advancing the city's strategic priorities, and supporting a positive work environment."

Council members asked clarifying questions about operations (fleet maintenance scope for 93 vehicles) and sidewalk accounting (the presentation credited the streets crew with about 900 linear feet of replaced sidewalk, excluding most developer-installed frontage). Erickson and Eric Mangold, the city’s capital projects manager, said some sidewalk work arises from off-site developer improvements and fee-in-lieu programs, while maintenance and small repairs are performed by city crews.

The department will bring more detailed breakouts and specific project schedules to future meetings; Erickson concluded the presentation and opened the floor to questions before the meeting moved on to the Transportation Benefit Program update.