Ann Caley, a senior planner for the city, says the overwhelming feedback provided by the town's 8,000 residents is that they want to work in the town where they live, rather than commute as they are currently forced to do. "I think there is a consensus that the folks who live here want to work here. But we don't have the jobs," notes Caley. "And according to our projected population growth in our area, we could fill 10,000 additional jobs by 2005."

The plan, the first in 25 years for the city, is being crafted after extensive input by residents and business owners. The city council is expected to approve the plan by the end of November.

Snohomish's lack of jobs, says Caley, stems in part from the spotted owl controversy and the limitations it has imposed on logging. One of the city's biggest challenges in attracting new commercial development and new businesses, he says, is the Endangered Species Act. It protects the salmon found in the region, but makes the building of necessary infrastructure an expensive proposition.