MUKILTEO— Crime fell sharply, major infrastructure projects advanced and city leaders adopted a long-range financial plan in 2025, Mayor Joe Marine said in his 2026 State of the City address, on Thursday, May 5, at Mukilteo’s Rosehill Community Center — outlining a year he described as one of “significant strides” across departments and previewing waterfront, parks and transportation projects ahead.
Speaking to residents and community leaders, Marine highlighted a 32% overall drop in crime, nearly 30,000 traffic-camera infractions issued in school and park zones, progress on waterfront redevelopment and the adoption of a long-range financial plan aimed at insulating the city from regional fiscal pressures.
“Our population has remained relatively flat, and that’s important to us,” said Marine, noting Mukilteo’s estimated population of 21,600. “The small-town feel is what attracted so many of us here, and I think it’s important that we retain that.”
City snapshot and annexation
Marine, who has lived in Mukilteo for 30 years, said the city completed an 84-acre annexation east of the Mukilteo Speedway on the south end of the city in July 2025. The move extends city services to businesses in the area and keeps tax revenues local, he added.
Mukilteo’s population has remained steady compared with faster-growing neighboring cities, a trend Marine said reflects community priorities around scale and livability.
Public safety: Crime down 32%
The mayor led his recap with public safety statistics, reporting that the Mukilteo Police Department responded to 23,635 incidents in 2025 — an average of 1,477 incidents per patrol officer — and conducted 3,682 traffic stops.
Overall crime fell 32% across categories, Marine said, adding that the department continues to surpass national averages in case-closure rates with arrests in most crime categories.
Despite one unfilled park ranger position, noncommissioned officers issued 34% more parking tickets than in 2024, he said.
In May, the city implemented automatic traffic cameras in school and park zones. From May through December, the cameras issued 29,877 infractions and 3,592 warnings. Only 13% of violations involved Mukilteo-registered vehicles, according to the city.
By December, the number of speeders traveling through parks and school zones had dropped by 9,221, Marine said, calling the reduction “most impressive.”
The Mukilteo Fire Department responded to 2,790 incidents in 2025, its second-busiest year on record. The department replaced three cardiac monitors and defibrillators on ambulances, allowing responders to evaluate heart activity during CPR and transmit live patient data to hospitals before arrival.
“This is just one example of our ongoing investment into the community we serve,” Marine said, thanking first responders for their daily work.
Public works and infrastructure
The city completed several infrastructure projects in 2025, including drainage improvements and a stormwater outfall on Chennault Beach Road, as well as pavement preservation on 47th Place West. The latter included installation of a new crosswalk between the YMCA and the Boys & Girls Club, a frequently requested improvement.
A remodel of the Police Department added space for a new wellness center for officers and staff. At City Hall, the city installed electric vehicle fleet chargers and constructed a covered parking structure to protect charging infrastructure and vehicles.
Marine said the city also finalized a strategic waterfront parking plan, implementing several recommendations to improve access, with additional changes planned this year.
At Lighthouse Park, new Coast Salish-style artwork titled “Welcome Figures” was installed on the bandshell posts. The carvings, created by artists Joe Gobin and James Madison, reflect Snoqualmie, Duwamish and Snohomish-Tulalip heritage, Marine said.
The city partnered with the local Rotary Club to install new ADA-accessible play equipment at 92nd Street Park.
Marine also announced that the long-closed Edgewater Bridge is expected to reopen in April, more than a year after its closure for construction.
“We can’t wait to welcome our neighbors back to Mukilteo again,” said Marine.
Planning and development
Permit activity remained strong in 2025, with more than 1,000 applications submitted. City staff streamlined review processes, updated development regulations and reduced the length of the zoning code by several hundred pages to improve clarity and enforcement.
Two major planning updates were completed in-house without outside consultants: a revision to policies governing parks, open space and the arts, and an update to critical areas regulations aimed at protecting streams, wetlands and landslide-prone areas.
Marine said the city nearly doubled its code enforcement investigations in 2025, focusing on unpermitted signage and new tree protection regulations.
Recreation, culture and tourism
Mukilteo’s Recreation and Cultural Services Department expanded youth enrichment, wellness, arts and intergenerational programs in 2025, Marine said. The Lighthouse Parade returned to the waterfront district, and three “Theater in the Park” performances broadened access to cultural events.
The Mukilteo Youth Bike Rodeo promoted bicycle safety, and Rosehill Community Center saw strong demand for conferences, weddings, meetings and community events. Enhanced marketing and streamlined reservation processes improved access, Marine said.
Volunteer partnerships with hotels, businesses, artists and community groups helped support tourism and local economic activity.
Internally, the department adopted Lean Kaizen practices to streamline registration, rentals and financial tracking, steps Marine said strengthened fiscal responsibility while maintaining service quality.
Budget and long-range planning
Marine thanked the City Council for approving the 2025-26 biennial budget largely as proposed. He emphasized that many city funds are restricted by law, such as emergency medical services funds that cannot be redirected to unrelated expenses.
He also thanked voters for approving an EMS levy lid lift, calling the additional funding “crucial to maintaining the current Fire Department level of service.”
General fund revenues come primarily from taxes, with property taxes as the leading source. Marine noted that cities receive about 10% of a resident’s total property tax bill, with the majority going to schools.
The largest general fund expenditure is the Police Department, consistent with many municipalities, he said.
Mukilteo has received clean financial audits through 2022, the most recently audited year, Marine said, crediting the Finance Department.
In 2024, the city reestablished its Long-Range Financial Planning Committee, one of only three such formal committees in Washington state, according to Marine. The City Council adopted the committee’s long-range financial plan in August 2025.
“Many cities in our region are experiencing financial hardships right now,” Marine said, citing revenue growth that fails to keep pace with inflation. “Mukilteo is not immune from these realities, which is why I feel so strongly about having a long-range financial plan in place.”
He said his administration remains committed to balancing city finances and ensuring efficient use of taxpayer dollars.
Waterfront redevelopment
Marine described the waterfront as a “crown jewel” and said the city continued implementing its long-term vision in 2025.
In addition to the new bandshell artwork at Lighthouse Park, the city plans to establish a protected scuba diving area to showcase underwater habitat and attract visitors. Permit applications have been submitted to “daylight” the estuary of Japanese Gulch Creek, restoring salmon habitat and creating a shoreline park feature.
The project would include soft-shore stabilization, native vegetation, beach access, overlook nodes and a promenade connecting to the Mukilteo ferry terminal promenade and existing waterfront paths.
The city continues to coordinate with the Port of Everett, the Tulalip Tribes and the Washington State Department of Transportation on waterfront improvements, Marine said.
Projects ahead in 2026
Among projects slated for 2026, the city will replace deteriorating gateway and park signs. Designs are complete, with manufacturing and installation expected this spring.
The city will also manufacture new boat launch floats and pave Harbour Pointe Boulevard this summer, funded in part by a grant. Work will be scheduled while school is out.
The Washington State Department of Transportation plans to pave State Route 525 from the bridge to the Interstate 526 interchange this summer. Predesign work is nearing completion on the SR 525 bridge replacement, with full design expected to take several years. Marine said the city is advocating for appropriate sidewalk widths, bike lanes and pedestrian access in the new design.
Routine maintenance, including park upkeep, sidewalk repairs, ADA improvements, pond cleaning, catch basin repairs and seasonal flower baskets, will continue throughout the year.
Legislative priorities
The city’s 2026 legislative priorities include:
- $100,000 to replace more than 20-year-old automatic gate openers at the Police Department that are increasingly failing.
- $1.3 million for development of a 6-acre Harbour Pointe Village Park in south Mukilteo, featuring multigenerational and ADA-accessible play equipment. The project is designed and permitted, with grant funding sought for construction.
- $1 million to construct pickleball courts on city-owned property at 47th Avenue West and 109th Street Southwest, addressing high demand for the sport.
- $6 million for the Japanese Gulch Creek daylighting project, part of the city’s 2016 Downtown Waterfront Master Plan.
Community events and engagement
Marine encouraged residents to participate in upcoming events, including a curbside cleanup May 16 following the annual Mukilteo Garage Sale, an Earth Day community cleanup April 18 at Lighthouse Park and “Touch a Truck” on June 27.
Other events include Boo Bash in October, Merry Mukilteo in December, a Rosehill Wedding Expo in March, the Youth Bike Rodeo in July, the Age Well Expo in September and multiple “Theatre in the Park” and “Movies in the Park” nights during the summer.
Weekly senior coffee gatherings continue at Rosehill Community Center.
Marine concluded by urging residents to apply for vacancies on city commissions, including an upcoming Planning Commission opening and openings on the Historic Preservation Commission, and to participate in city surveys and public meetings.
“As your mayor, I take great responsibility in ensuring your tax dollars are being utilized efficiently and effectively,” Marine said. “I remain committed to keeping Mukilteo safe, financially sound and a place we are all proud to call home.”
Author: Kienan Briscoe
