June 2008
In this newsletter:
• Issaquah-Fall City Road
• Public safety budget town hall meeting
• Carnation wastewater plant
• Charter review
• Farm pads
• Issaquah transit center
• Countywide Community Forums
• In the community
• Recycling tips
• Emergency preparedness tip of the month
Dear District 3 residents,
During the past month, I have had a chance to get an up-close view of King County’s election system by serving as a member of the Canvassing Board for the recent May 20 special election. This assignment involved meetings to review special-case ballots and determine voter intent in this all vote-by-mail election, prior to certification of the election results last week. Some people make comments or unusual markings on ballots that can interfere with the ballots being counted properly. Another issue that came up was voters using election envelopes from prior elections. Be sure that you use the envelope that came with your ballot. This election did come out with all ballots being accounted for!
It is also a good time to remind voters about the new earlier primary election date, which will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 19. This will be the first election under Washington State’s new “top two” primary system. More information about elections is available from King County Elections at www.kingcounty.gov/vote.aspx or at www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/.
Issaquah-Fall City Road
Students walking to school at the Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus along busy Issaquah-Fall City Road will see some pedestrian safety improvements this fall, prior to construction of a larger sidewalk project in 2009. This week the King County Council unanimously approved an improvement plan that uses a $500,000 allocation to match a grant application for an additional $795,000 from the Washington State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program. A grant award late this year would allow for construction next summer.
Because of ongoing safety concerns, I requested some interim improvements to occur earlier, in time for students returning to classes in September. Road Services Division has agreed add rumble strips to separate the travel lane from the narrow paved shoulder where students walk to school, and to enhance driver awareness with solar-powered electronic reader boards.
The grant award would allow King County to construct a sidewalk between the school at 247th Place Southeast and Klahanie Drive, where many of the students live. In addition, to the sidewalk, the grant would fund curbs, gutters, drainage improvements, lighting and signal upgrades. Should the grant not be awarded, this legislation requires the $500,000 allocation to be spent on scaled-back pedestrian safety improvements.
These pedestrian safety improvements are one portion of the larger roadway improvement project. The Phase III widening project still is needed, and I will continue to work with other levels of government on a joint effort to relieve the traffic congestion on Issaquah-Fall City Road.
Public safety budget town hall meeting
Last week, the King County Executive informed all county agencies about an estimated $68 million shortfall in the County's Current Expense fund for 2009. As a result, the Executive has asked all criminal justice agencies, including the Prosecuting Attorney's Office, the Sheriff's Office, the Superior and District Courts, and the jails to take an across-the-board budget cut of 8.6 percent from their 2009 budgets. Community and Human Services agencies could be subject to even larger cuts.
To address public safety concerns and discuss options, Sheriff Sue Rahr and Precinct Commander Major Jerrell Wills will host a Town Hall meeting in Fall City on Monday, June 23. The meeting will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Fall City Fire Station, 4301 334th Pl. SE. More information is available from Elisa Elliott at (206) 205-7920 or elisa.elliott@kingcounty.gov.
Carnation wastewater plant
Two years after I participated in the ground-breaking ceremony, I was delighted to assist with the dedication of the new Carnation Wastewater Treatment Plant on June 2. Thanks to the many dedicated volunteers of the Carnation Action Network of Determined Optimists (CAN DO Team) who got involved in the design and implementation of this facility, and the willingness of staff to listen to their hopes and concerns, this treatment system is now a reality. My congratulations go to the citizens and public officials of Carnation, who have worked with diligence and cooperation and endless patience to reach this solution. I share the hopes of all that this state-of-the-art wastewater system will enhance the economic viability of the community and make Carnation a vibrant model of self-sufficiency and sustainability.
Charter review
The 21-member Charter Review Commission concluded its once-a-decade review of our county’s constitution last month. The final report includes a list of 12 suggested charter amendments as well as some additional recommendations and a proposal to phase the amendments on the ballot over three years. Here is what happens next and how you can be involved:
• June 16 – The Council will host a Town Hall meeting in Federal Way to accept public comments about the proposed charter amendments. The Town Hall will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Federal Way Community Center.
• Beginning June 30 – The Council will receive staff briefings on the proposed charter amendments and conduct public hearings on ordinances to place any charter amendments on the ballot.
• Sept 19 – This is the final date for action on any ordinances to place charter amendments on the November General Election ballot.
Members of the Commission worked very hard. In my opinion, several of the changes are needed, but others go beyond the scope of a charter. A list of the proposed amendments is available at www.metrokc.gov/exec/charter/.
Farm pads
After many years of hard work, we have made great progress in providing more tools for farmers to mitigate the impacts of flooding. The county council is in the process of reviewing legislation that would amend our code to permanently allow farm pads (formerly known as critter pads) to be built in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) floodway where the most fertile agriculture soils are located. The farm pad legislation passed out of Growth Management and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday. It will come before the full council for a public hearing and a possible vote on June 23rd. I am excited about what this legislation will mean for our farms and am looking forward to continuing to work with the agriculture community to help make farming more viable in King County.
Issaquah transit center
As gas prices continue to rise to record levels, the demand for public transit is rising, too. This month’s good news is that work on the Issaquah Transit Center reached a milestone when the new bus bays opened on May 31. Metro and Sound Transit buses now pick up passengers at one of the six new bays on the west side of the Transit Center. The 900-stall parking garage is scheduled to open later this summer, and I will be sharing that information with you as soon as it is available. This September, once all construction is completed, Metro will add additional peak service to Seattle on new Route 215, which also will serve North Bend and Snoqualmie as part of the new Transit Now program.
Countywide Community Forums
King County wants to hear from you about how to reduce traffic congestion and improve roads and transit services. The Countywide Community Forums seek to “bring the public hearing to the people" on the most important issues facing the County.
Instead of asking people to come to a big public hearing, the Countywide Community Forums ask people to meet for two hours, in small groups of 4 to12, at times and places convenient to them, during a one-month "participation window." Participants agree either to host a two-hour small group meeting at their home or workplace, or choose to attend the small group meeting that is most convenient for them. Because the meetings are small, everyone who participates is guaranteed a convenient and comfortable opportunity to share their opinions on the topic with their friends, neighbors and colleagues. Participants also answer a detailed survey on the topic with the results sent to county officials and the media. The program is overseen by the County Auditor and funded entirely with donations, not tax dollars.
To sign up for the Countywide Community Forums, go to www.countywidecommunityforums.org or call (206) 296-1633.
In the community
I will be participating in several upcoming community events, and I hope to have a chance to see you at one of them:
• Town Hall meeting on Charter Review, June 16, Federal Way Community Center
• Port of Seattle open house on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail corridor, June 18, Carol Edwards Center in Woodinville
• Fall City Parade, June 21, Fall City
• Public safety budget town hall meeting, June 23, Fall City Fire Station
• Carnation Fourth of July Parade, July 4, Carnation
• Redmond Parade, July 5, Redmond
Recycling tips
Recycling is an important piece of our waste disposal strategy, but when it comes to shredded paper and plastics, the rules can be confusing. Different jurisdictions and haulers also have different rules about what is acceptable. Here are a few tips from King County’s Solid Waste Division to help sort out the acceptables:
• Shredded paper is not accepted by Waste Management. However, small quantities of shredded paper can be layered with organics in your yard waste bin for composting.
• On plastic packaging, the numbers surrounded by the recycling arrows do not necessarily mean that those items can be recycled here.
• DO recycle all plastic bottles and dairy tubs.
• DON’T recycle plastic lids.
• DON’T recycle rigid clear “clamshell” packaging or Styrofoam containers.
For more information on what to recycle in your area, go to www.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste.
Emergency preparedness tip of the month
Each time you go to the store, if you buy one extra item for your emergency supplies, you will be one step closer to being prepared for an emergency. More information can be found at www.metrokc.gov/prepare/preparerespond/prepared.aspx.
Sincerely,
Kathy Lambert
District 3
(206) 296-1003