May 2011
In this newsletter:
• New building permit processing service
• Novelty Hill Road survey
• Redistricting public meeting May 11
• Got mice or rats? Try barn cats
• Carnation-Duvall Medical Reserve Corps anniversary
• Fall City video profile
• Child abuse prevention
Dear District 3 friend,
Thank you for your interest in staying informed about activities and issues in King County. I have several important items to share with you this month.
As always, King County Council and Committee meetings can be viewed on King County TV, Cable Channel 22, or by online streaming video at www.kingcounty.gov/council where you can also stay informed and get agendas and minutes.
Please feel free to share this newsletter with family, friends and neighbors. It is a pleasure to serve you, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Hope the sunshine comes soon!
Best wishes,
Kathy Lambert
New building permit processing service
I am so pleased with last year’s change in leadership at the Department of Development and Environmental Services. The quality of customer service is improving! As an example, King County is taking the next step to reform customer service by improving the process of applying for mid-size permits at DDES – working up-front with customers who bring in permits too complex for over-the-counter service. The new Pre-Submittal Services (PSS) process will provide direct customer service to applicants before they submit the application by providing feedback to identify technical issues or red flags, and set expectations for the process ahead.
Incorrect and incomplete application submittals are major factors that add to the cost and complexity of the permitting process. Applicants who have a PSS qualifying project will pay $357 up front, which will be credited to the cost of the application once the final paperwork is submitted. The total processing time is expected to drop significantly. Read more at
www.kingcounty.gov/exec/news/release/2011/April/14DDES.aspx. For hours and location of DDES, visit www.kingcounty.gov/permits
The King County Road Services Division would like you to help them evaluate the safety improvements on NE Novelty Hill Road by completing a short online survey. Last spring, in an effort to reduce the number of run-off-road collisions, Road Services installed vehicle-activated flashers, radar speed signs and in-road lights that flash if a motorist exceeds the advisory speed. The improvements were installed on NE Novelty Hill Road between NE 243rd Street and West Snoqualmie Valley Road NE. If you drive this portion of the road, please take five minutes to complete the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/s/kingcounty. The survey will be available until May 15.
Meanwhile, the new Novelty Hill Road widening and improvement project to reduce congestion is now underway. For details about the two-year project and schedule, see http://your.kingcounty.gov/kcdot/roads/cip/projectdetail.aspx?cipid=100992.
Redistricting public meeting May 11
The King County Districting Committee is hosting a series of community meetings about redrawing King County Council districts. The meetings are an opportunity to learn about how population has shifted in King County and to share your ideas and priorities for Council redistricting, which must be done to equalize population following each U.S. Census. The final meeting time and location is:
Wednesday, May 11, 6:30 p.m.
Robert Frost Elementary School Commons Room
11801 NE 140th St
Kirkland, WA 98034
The first phase of public hearings will provide an opportunity to make recommendations to the Districting Committee about how County Council Districts should be redrawn. The Committee will then create and publicize draft redistricting plans, and hold a second phase of public hearings. If you have any questions or want more information, I encourage you to visit the King County Districting Committee's website at www.kingcounty.gov/districting.
Got mice or rats? Try barn cats
Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) has a solution for rural residents who have rodent problems on farms and ranches: adopt barn cats. These outdoor felines are feral or semi-tame, and are available now for free, natural, organic rodent control. Read more at www.kingcounty.gov/exec/news/release/2011/May/kcNewsItem.aspx
Carnation-Duvall Medical Reserve Corps anniversary
April 20 was the 5th anniversary of the Carnation-Duvall Medical Reserve Corps. The Corps is a community-based group of more than 80 volunteers, both with and without medical training. The Corps volunteers receive training and work with the American Red Cross to support the medical services of first responders and Public Health during an emergency or disaster. Congratulations to Duvall volunteer Gene Laughlin, who was instrumental in starting the Carnation-Duvall Citizen Corps in 2003, developed and taught Community Emergency Response Team classes and organized drills, as well as assisting other communities to organize volunteer efforts. His coordination of these volunteer programs for eight years was recognized last month at a ceremony in Olympia with a Governor’s 2011 Volunteer Service Award. Read more at www.kingcounty.gov/council/news/2011/April/KL_MedicalReserveCorps.aspx.
Did you know Fall City is not a city at all? Find out more information about the community with a new video profile produced by King County Television, KCTV, at www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUggwRSohdY&feature=email
To help broaden awareness about the impacts of child abuse and neglect, King County joined in the national effort with a proclamation of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. I was honored to present the proclamation at the April 19 annual meeting of the Washington State Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association. The CASA program trains volunteers to represent the best interests of child victims of abuse and neglect who are involved in the legal process in Dependency Court. I also look forward to serving on the Board of Directors of the state CASA Association. Read more at
www.kingcounty.gov/council/news/2011/April/KL_ChildAbusePrevention.aspx
More information about the preventing child abuse and volunteering with the CASA program is available at
www.washingtonstatecasa.org.
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