November, 2011
In this newsletter:
1. Budget approved for 2012
2. King County Comprehensive Plan meetings
3. Unincorporated area public engagement meetings
4. Food Day promotes food security
5. Stay awake on the road
6. Study shows how commuters use transit here
7. Winter energy safety tips
Dear District 3 friend,
Best wishes to our veterans and their families as we celebrate Veteran’s Day this week. I would like to invite you to join me for the dedication of the new Snoqualmie Valley Veterans’ Memorial, which is being installed next to the American Legion Hall across the street from Snoqualmie City Hall. The dedication ceremony will take place at 11:11:11 a.m. on Friday, November 11, 2011. The memorial includes a monument inscribed with names of Snoqualmie Valley residents who lost their lives serving in the line of duty, as well as flags and stones representing each Valley community. The project is the work of the Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion Renton-Pickering Post 79 and the Tolt Historical Society.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Kathy Lambert
Thank you to all who participated in the budget review process this year, including those who took the time to write or call or appear in person at one of three public hearings in October. As a member of the Budget Leadership Team, I appreciate the thought and effort you put into letting the Council know about your priorities for funding in 2012. Serving on the Budget Leadership Team is hard work, but it helps to make sure that funding for local as well as regional services provided by the county is distributed as equitably as possible within the existing dollars.
The King County Council unanimously approved a budget for 2012 on November 9, which was nearly two weeks earlier than planned, thanks to a thoughtful proposal and a responsible review process.
The final budget continues the Council’s proactive approach to reforming county government while protecting vulnerable populations and redirecting limited road levy funds toward maintenance of the county road system while reducing administration. Reducing management positions in the Road Services Division will increase workers in the field, a realignment that puts additional personnel on the road to help with snow removal and storm response. Read more at www.kingcounty.gov/council/news/2011/November/budg_ADOPT
2. King County Comprehensive Plan meetings
The 2012 King County Comprehensive Plan (KCCP) draft document is out for public review. The King County Department of Development and Environmental Services will conduct two public informational meetings next week:
• November 15, 5 - 7:30 pm, DDES Hearing Room, 1000 Oakesdale Avenue SW, Renton.
• November 16, 6 - 8 pm, Chief Kanim Middle School, 32627 SE Redmond-Fall City Road, Fall City.
Read more at www.kingcounty.gov/property/permits/codes/growth/CompPlan/2012_PublicReviewDraft. For more information or to provide public comment, contact Paul Reitenbach at paul.reitenbach@kingcounty.gov. The deadline for comments on 2012 KCCP is December 23.
3. Unincorporated area public engagement meetings
King County is hosting four regional workshops to collect public comments about creating community service area boundaries. Each workshop includes an open house from 6:30 to 7 p.m. followed by discussion from 7 to 8 p.m. Meetings are set for:
• November 29, Federal Way Library, 848 South 320th Street, Federal Way
• November 30, Hobart Community Church, 27524 SE 200th Street, Maple Valley.
• December 6, Tolt Middle School, 3740 Tolt Avenue, Carnation
• December 7, Enumclaw Field House (Pete’s Pool), 1400 Roosevelt Avenue East, Enumclaw.
Read more at http://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/library/dnrp-directors-office/rural/ua-voice-to-residents.pdf.
4. Food Day promotes food security
October 24 was National Food Day, a day to celebrate and support a healthy, sustainable, and accessible food system. In recognition of the occasion, Seattle City Councilmember Richard Conlin and I invited our colleagues to participate in a rare joint proclamation with the King County Council and Executive and the Seattle City Council and Mayor. The proclamation supports the beginning of the national Food Day campaign and many local events occurring in the region. Read more at www.kingcounty.gov/council/news/2011/October/KL_foodday
National Drowsy Driving Prevention Week is November 6-12. This National Sleep Foundation public awareness campaign educates drivers about sleep safety. Last year, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released a study showing that the tragedy of drowsy driving is more pervasive than shown in previous estimates. The study shows that drowsy driving is involved in about one in six deadly crashes, one in eight crashes resulting in occupant hospitalization, and one in fourteen crashes in which a vehicle was towed. The following warning signs indicate that it’s time to stop driving and find a safe place to pull over and address your condition:
• Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking and/or heavy eyelids
• Difficulty keeping daydreams at bay
• Trouble keeping your head up
• Drifting from your lane, swerving, tailgating and/or hitting rumble strips
• Inability to clearly remember the last few miles driven
• Missing exits or traffic signs
• Yawning repeatedly
• Feeling restless, irritable, or aggressive.
Read more at http://drowsydriving.org/2010/11/drowsy-driving-prevention-week%c2%ae-highlights-prevalent-and-preventable-accidents/. Also, watch an interview about drowsy driving with Issaquah residents Bill and Mary Beth Shaw and their daughter, Mora, at www.king5.com/news/local/A-familys-cautionary-tale-about-drowsy-driving-133403553
6. Study shows how commuters use transit here
More than 8 percent of employees in the Puget Sound metropolitan area took transit to work in 2010, according to data released recently by the U.S. Census Bureau. For King County alone, the percentage is even higher: 10.8 percent, or about 105,000 workers, commuted by transit. Nationwide, only 4.9 percent of workers used public transportation. Our area ranks 10th out of more than 300 metropolitan areas in the nation for percentage of workers who commute by transit. This article lists the top 10: www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/23/public-transit-workers-cities_n_978496.html#s371008&title=10_SeattleTacomaBellevue_WA (The data for the cities of Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue actually is for a consolidated metro area consisting of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.)
This Census Bureau news release has more information:
www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/american_community_survey_acs/cb11-158.html.
Get ready for winter with Puget Sound Energy’s check list of safety tips. PSE encourages residents to get their homes ready for cooler temperatures to manage energy costs and be comfortable and safe this winter. Read more at http://pse.com/safety/Pages/
• Seal gaps around doors and windows by adding weather stripping or caulk to keep heat from escaping.
• Add insulation to attics, walls, ducts and floors. PSE offers up to $1,400 in insulation rebates.
• Have the furnace inspected and serviced to make sure it is in good working order.
• Change or clean furnace filters monthly during the heating season.
• Make sure the area around the furnace and water heater is clear of all flammable materials such as rags, cardboard boxes, solvents and paint thinners.
• Repair or replace damaged heating ducts.
• Keep all heating vents open and unblocked by furniture or other items.
• Look up before doing any outdoor overhead work, such as cleaning gutters, pruning trees or working with ladders, to avoid power lines. Maintain a minimum of 15 feet of clearance from overhead power lines.
• Don’t let anyone climb a utility pole or green electric transformer cabinet. If a pet is stranded on a utility pole or if a ball or toy goes into a power substation, don’t go after them. Call PSE at 1-888-225-5773.
Visit www.PSE.com for additional preparation and safety tips as well as information about heating rebates.
 |
Subscribe to my eNews |