Party of one at Marysville event

Marysville City Manager Walter Munchheimer hopes turnout for the second of two scheduled “community conversations” will be livelier than the first.

One person attended Wednesday’s talk at Covillaud Elementary School.

Munchheimer, who took over administrative duties for the city in October, had intended to deliver a presentation detailing the city’s financial circumstances and follow with a question-and-answer period.

“It was meant to engage with the public about our (the city’s) priorities and get some feedback,” Munchheimer said.

Approaching his first budget season in the cash-strapped city, he said, should include outreach efforts to solicit comment from residents.

“You begin by getting the pulse of the community, especially in hard economic years,” he said.

Aleta Zak, who has lived in the city for 16 years, said she was disappointed in the lack of response to Munchheimer’s effort.

“This is the first time we’ve had any change in the dynamic,” she said of recent political and administrative changes.

In addition to Munchheimer, the city’s administrative services manager Matt Michaelis has been in his post less than seven months.

In November, Marysville elected a new mayor, and last month, appointed a new city council member, Chris Pedigo, who filled Mayor Ricky Samayoa’s empty council seat.

Zak, who was appointed Tuesday to the city’s Planning Commission, said the recent personnel changes have made her more optimistic about the city, and eager to help improve its image and business climate.

Munchheimer recently introduced a plan to prepare Marysville for future investment and to, hopefully, reverse of its economic fortunes over time.

“The local economy has been dealing with at least three decades of decline,” he said. “This is the fifth year of declining revenues to the tune of a million dollars a year.”

But input from the public, he said, is important for moving forward with any big plans or changes.

“I don’t know how you get people engaged,” he said.