Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >> Dan Bates / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Jason Lindberg of Innovative Vacuum Services of Edmonds climbs a ladder to relieve Scott Wynne (upper right) who, along with Randy Vomenici (upper left) works with a huge vacuum hose to remove a thick layer of sod and vegetation from a roof on the new Mukilteo City Hall this week.   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • Marge Simpson in Playboy 10/10/09   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Saturday, October 10, 2009 Mukilteo pulls off City Hall's weed-filled sod roof By Oscar Halpert Herald Writer MUKILTEO — The green roof atop City Hall is leaving some people red-faced. Work crews this week, using a vacuum truck, began removing a weed-infested environmentally friendly roof above the year old, $9 million City Hall's council chambers. The roof consists of a layer of soil with native plants and grass. Roofs like this mimic the way plants and soil absorb and filter rainwater naturally, reducing the volume of storm-water runoff. One is being used for the Winter Olympics expansion of the downtown Convention Center in Vancouver, B.C. The vegetation roofs also provide insulation from extremes of cold and heat, which saves energy. Problems were apparent by May, Mukilteo public works director Larry Waters said. “We didn't get what we paid for,” Waters said. “Half of it looks green, it's just not a real green roof. It's a Charlie Brown weed patch.” By then, it was clear that subcontractors had mistakenly added mulch full of weeds and alfalfa, which overtook natural ground-cover plants — such as sedum — specifically added for insulation and to control storm-water runoff. “We've been working with the contractor for months trying to figure out how to deal with it,” he said. “It's a first time for us — we're not exactly experts on dealing with green roofs.” Contractor Sierra Construction of Woodinville will pay for replacing the roof, Waters said. Sharon Collman, a horticulture and pest management expert with the Washington State University Extension Snohomish County, said experts often design green roofs using a series of plant trays. Individual trays can easily be removed if weeds show up or if there's any other problem, she said. Marine said that wasn't done at City Hall. “Had they done trays, it would have been easier,” he said. Waters said he feels sorry for the contractor, but under terms of the city's agreement, the contractor has to cover the cost. City Hall was touted during its construction as among the most environmentally friendly public buildings in Snohomish County. A green roof also is planned for the new Mukilteo Community Center. Construction of the new center begins next year. The 15,000-square-foot City Hall at 11930 Cyrus Way was recognized by the Washington, D.C.-based Green Building Council in 2008 as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design structure. It also includes geothermal heating and natural lighting. Marine said he's certain the green roof will be a boon to the city over the long term. “If you saw it in the spring, it was very nice,” he said. Oscar Halpert: 425-339-3429, ohalpert@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

1. Some stores, malls to get a jump on ‘Black Friday' 2. $6.5 million lottery ticket purchased in Lake Stevens 3. Fire displaces Arlington family 4. Everett man will take his do-it-yourself ethic to the grave 5. Inmates with mental illness bring extra costs to Monroe prison 6. When the customer is wrong and a jerk 7. Mayor-elect won over Granite Falls 8. Economy may silence Everett Symphony's season 9. Soldier who had lived in Marysville killed in Afghanistan 10. Ongoing road work near schools worries parents 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Eat local this Thanksgiving • Mavericks moving on • Canada's Great Big Sea rolls into Edmonds • A. Murphy finishes 2nd in volleyball • Art Walk features music, demonstrations • EAT LOCAL: Getting the goods • Lynnwood HS history teacher Vic Bennet dies • Wildcats head to semis • CSO Chamber annual show slated Nov. 23 • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million