June 2011

In this newsletter:
• Executive Proposes Requirement for Personal Flotation Devices
• Districting Committee Public Hearings
• Reporting Crime Online
• Snoqualmie is Featured in Video Profile
• Learn How to Control Knotweed
• Snoqualmie Watershed Conservation Grants Available
• Upper Bear Creek ‘Music in the Park’ Concert Series

Dear District 3 friend,

Thank you for your interest in staying informed about activities and issues in King County.

On Sunday, June 19, we celebrate Father’s Day. Fatherhood (like motherhood) is most definitely a "labor of love" and the work never ends. It is also a great joy that makes a huge difference in the life of your child. Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers in District 3.

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 summer comes soon!

Best wishes,

Kathy Lambert

Requirement Proposed for Personal Flotation Devices

A heightened risk to public safety has prompted King County Executive Dow Constantine along with the Sheriff to propose a summer-long requirement for wearing personal flotation devices when swimming, floating, or boating on major rivers running through unincorporated King County. The King County Sheriff would enforce the wearing of a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device, or PFD, in the portions of the Snoqualmie, Tolt, Cedar, Green, White, Raging and Skykomish Rivers that run outside of cities. This requirement would apply to anyone using a buoyant device, including an air mattress or inner tube, and to anyone swimming or wading more than five feet from shore or more than four feet deep. The regulation would apply through October 2011. First infractions for failure to wear a PFD would carry a warning, while subsequent infractions could result in a fine of up to $86.

The Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee will consider the proposal at its June 14 meeting, and the King County Council will conduct a public hearing before voting on Monday, June 20. The meeting begins at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the 10th Floor of the King County Courthouse, 516 Third Ave., Seattle. I hope you will share your comments and suggestions at the public hearing or by phone or e-mail before the hearing with all of the Councilmembers. This ordinance has a big impact on our district, so I need your thoughts and comments on what parts of this ordinance are good and which need to be amended.

More information and the text of the ordinance is available at www.kingcounty.gov/council/legislation. Type in 2011-0276. To see a King County video on summer rafting safety on the Snoqualmie River, visit http://winmedia.kingcounty.gov/dnr/dnrp/SnoRiver.wmv

Districting Committee Public Hearings

The King County Districting Committee is responsible for redrawing King County Council Districts using the new 2010 Census data. By law, district boundaries must be realigned every 10 years to reflect changes in population throughout the County. Three public hearings this summer will be an opportunity for you to provide feedback on draft redistricting plans. The hearings begin at 6:30 p.m., and the locations will be announced soon.

• Wednesday, June 29
• Thursday, June 30
• Thursday, July 7

Detailed information on several alternatives will be posted to the Committee website in advance of the meetings at www.kingcounty.gov/districting or call 205-296-0335 for more information.

Reporting Crime Online

If you live in unincorporated King County, you now can report some crimes on-line. This is a faster and more efficient way to report property and nuisance crimes, and is part of the Sheriff’s Office initiative to bring E-policing to King County neighborhoods. Here's a video about how to file your report: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgVR4KIFB9s&feature=email. For more information, visit www.kingcounty.gov/sheriff

Snoqualmie is Featured in Video Profile

A new video produced by King County Television profiles Snoqualmie! The video production is part of KCTV's scenic small town series. You can view it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=26R1cQnOny8&feature=email.

Learn How to Control Knotweed

AKing County’s Water and Land Resources Division offers four workshops on knotweed control in June and July. The workshops will show what's involved in effectively getting this plant controlled and how and where to use different methods, including specific training on using the knotweed stem injectors. Participants in this training will be eligible to borrow stem injectors for use on their own land. The workshops are free and open to the public. Register online at www.kingcounty.gov/environment/animalsAndPlants/noxious-weeds/outreach/classes.aspx or contact Sasha Shaw, sasha.shaw@kingcounty.gov, or Frances Lucero, frances.lucero@kingcounty.gov, for more information or call 206-296-0290.

• June 14, 7-8:30 pm, Redmond Regional Library, 15990 N.E. 85th, Redmond, 98052
• June 25, 1-4 pm, Cedar Grange, 22531 SE 218th, Maple Valley
• June 30, 7-8:30 pm, Tree House Point, Fall City (Sponsored by PRKC & MTSGT)
• July 19, 7-8:30 pm, Meadowbrook Farm Interpretive Center, 1711 Boalch Ave, North Bend, WA 98045
• July 20, 9 am-12 noon OR 1-4 pm, hands-on treatment demonstration and work party at Three Forks Natural Area (between Snoqualmie and North Bend), two sessions (call for more information on meeting location and other logistics).

Snoqualmie Watershed Conservation Grants Available

The Snoqualmie Watershed Forum and the King Conservation District (KCD) are issuing an invitation to submit grant proposals for the 2011 KCD – Snoqualmie Watershed Forum Opportunity Fund. Since 2007, the Opportunity Fund has helped provide support to landowners, non-profit organizations and government agencies implementing small-scale restoration projects on private and public lands. Each application's funding request should not exceed $30,000. The Opportunity Fund will allocate $200,000 in 2011. Final applications are due to Brandy Reed (brandy.reed@kingcd.org) by Monday, July 18th. The Forum and KCD Board will make the final funding decisions in mid-September 2011. More information and the application form are available at www.kingcd.org/pro_opp.htm.

Upper Bear Creek ‘Music in the Park’ Concert Series

Upper Bear Creek Community Council announced it is bringing "Music in the Park" back to Cottage Lake Park this summer. The series of six FREE family concerts will be in the park on Thursday evenings in July and August from 7-8:30 p.m. You are welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy in the park at 190th and NE Woodinville-Duvall Road in Woodinville. More information is available at www.upperbearcreek.com.