Welcome to Community News! You can find the newsletter online with links to program details, at the
UA News website. To see previous versions of the Unincorporated Area Community Newsletter visit the
archives.
Engage with King County
New Rural Ombudsman
The Rural Ombudsman’s office works to resolve land-use and other issues affecting citizens and property owners in the rural and unincorporated areas in response to citizen complaints about the operation of county government. Contact the new Rural Ombudsman, Elizabeth Hill at
elizabeth.hill@kingcounty.gov
or 206-477-1058.
Learn how to recycle more through free King County Master Recycler Composter program
More than half of what comes to King County's Cedar Hills Regional Landfill as "garbage" is actually recyclable. To help reduce waste and conserve resources, King County’s Solid Waste Division offers
free training
that teaches the do’s and don’ts of recycling and how to engage the public to recycle more. Classes are scheduled for May in south King County.
Customer Service Guide updated online
Many of the wide range of public services King County provides are listed in the
Customer Service Guide. The guide is also available in
Spanish.
Nominations sought for King County’s Earth Heroes at School awards program
King County wants to honor the very best students, teachers, staff, school volunteers, programs and even entire schools that contribute to student environmental education and environmental protection, through the County's
Earth Heroes at School
awards program. Nominations are due March 10, and winners will be honored at an event this spring. Earth Heroes can be nominated by colleagues, classmates and the public.
King County seeks applications for Youth Sports Facilities grants
King County’s Youth Sports Facilities Grant (YSFG) Program
has helped build or renovate hundreds of public sports amenities at minimal taxpayer expense. Applications for King County YSFG Program grants will be accepted until June 20, with letters of intent due May 2. For more information, and an application packet, visit the
website.
News
2014 State of the County
For the first time, a King County Executive will deliver the annual State of the County Address from an unincorporated area. At White Center Heights Elementary School on Monday, Feb. 10 at 10 a.m., Executive Dow Constantine will frame the agenda for his second term, including policies to help make farmlands profitable and protect them from development, while eliminating food deserts in low-income communities. Please visit the
Executive’s State of the County website
after the speech for video, audio, full text, and infographics that help frame the challenges we face in confronting climate change and building equity for all.
Don’t delay, it’s nearly Election Day
Sixteen school districts, along with the Klahanie Annexation Area and the City of Issaquah, are participating in the Feb. 11
Special Election. If you’re eligible to vote in this election, be sure to sign and date your return envelope and get it back before the Feb. 11 Election Day deadline.
Expanded customer service hours
The Department of Permitting and Environmental Review now has
expanded customer service hours
for in-person/in-office services at the main office located at 35030 S.E. Douglas St., Suite 210 in Snoqualmie. The new hours are 7:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The customer service lobby is closed on Wednesdays.
Cavalia returns to Marymoor Park
Cavalia
is returning to Marymoor Park on Feb. 19 with their latest show, "Odysseo," featuring 63 horses and 47 artists, the 125-foot-tall White Big Top, and a state-of-the-art video screen equal to the size of three IMAX screens. Tickets are on sale at on the website. Sign up for
King County Parks’ E-Newsletter
between now and Feb. 10 and be entered in a drawing for one of three pairs of tickets to opening night, Feb. 19.
Black Forest [29,930,000 tons]: Volunteers Wanted
King County Parks is looking for volunteers to help with a special temporary public art installation, Black Forest [29,930,000 tons], at Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park from Friday, Feb. 21 to Sunday, Feb. 23. For more information on the project and how to volunteer, visit the
website.
Regional Trail Closures
King County will make important safety repairs to a damaged bridge that carries the
Cedar River Trail
over the Cedar River near Maple Valley, requiring a two-day closure of the bridge and trail on Feb. 18-19. Additionally, the County must make important safety repairs to an old trestle along the
Preston-Snoqualmie Trail
near the City of Snoqualmie, leading to a scheduled five-day closure of the trail on Feb. 24-28. You can stay up-to-date on what’s happening on your King County Regional Trails by subscribing for
Parks trail alerts and news.
Free fair housing seminar
The King County Office of Civil Rights will host an Advanced Fair Housing Seminar on Feb. 18, from 1:30-3:30 p.m., at the King County Chinook Building, in Seattle. Extensive free fair housing materials included. Please pre-register by emailing Civil-Rights.OCR@kingcounty.gov or calling 206-263-2446. For details and directions, visit the workshop
website.
Those who care, prepare!
February is the middle of winter storm season, so be sure you and loved ones are prepared at home, at work/school, and during your commute. Download a list of emergency supplies on the
Take Winter by Storm website.
King County offers employment and education programs
Are you a returning veteran who needs help finding a new job? Were you laid off and need to get on track for a new career? King County has free computer labs, career counseling, training scholarships and more. Call WorkSource Renton at 206-205-3500 or visit the
website.
EnviroStars: Good for the Environment. Good for Business.
Local businesses talk about the help they’ve had from the EnviroStars staff to green their business in this short video. The EnviroStars program, a service of the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County, can help with pollution prevention, promotion and cash for waste improvements.
Nourishing soil, nurturing life: Meet the people behind Loop®
Scientists, farmers, and environmental educators, along with employees from the county’s Wastewater Treatment Division, appear in
six 60-second videos
that highlight the value of Loop biosolids, from nourishing eastern Washington wheat fields to sequestering carbon and fighting climate change.
WSU Extension Forestry class
WSU Extension is offering an
online stewardship class
this spring for people who have woods on their property. Learn how to avoid forest pests, attract wildlife, assess problem trees, protect your property from damage, and even save money on property taxes.
Community Service Area news
Bear Creek/Sammamish Area
Upper Bear Creek Community Council
For more information visit
the
Upper Bear Creek Community Council website.
Four Creeks/Tiger Mountain Area
Cemetery Pond and Coalfield Park community project planning meeting
Feb. 24, 6 p.m. hosted by
Community Alliance to Reach Out and Engage (CARE)
located at Lord of Life Church, corner of SE 128th St and 160th Ave SE, Renton.
Four Creeks Unincorporated Area Council meetings
Feb. 19 & March 19, 7 p.m., at the May Valley Alliance Church, 16431 SE Renton-Issaquah Rd. in Renton. Visit the
Four Creeks UAC website
for details.
This item submitted by the
FCUAC.
-
Green River Natural Resource Students hold classes in May Valley
Green River Community College Natural Resources department has teamed with the Four Creeks Unincorporated Area Council to hold the Stream and Wetland Management and Restoration classes in May Valley. For more details, visit the
website.
Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River Area
Cedar River Trail closure coming Feb. 18-19 to repair damaged bridge
King County will make important safety repairs to a damaged bridge that carries the
Cedar River Trail
over the Cedar River near Maple Valley, requiring a two-day closure of the bridge and trail in mid-February. You can stay up-to-date on what’s happening on your King County Regional Trails by subscribing for
Parks trail alerts and news.
Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council meeting
March 3, 7 p.m., at the Fire Station, 231st St and SR-169 in Maple Valley. Check
the
Greater Maple Valley UAC website
for details.
This item submitted by the
GMVUAC.
-
Transportation Concurrency Management (TCM) Program
The GMVAC reviewed the County’s proposed TCM Program Update and submitted their comments to the King County Council. The GMVAC continues to be concerned about traffic impacts affecting rural roads. Complete comments are available at the
GMVUAC website.
Snoqualmie Valley/Northeast King County Area
Preston-Snoqualmie Trail closure coming Feb. 24-28 to repair damaged bridge
King County must make important safety repairs to an old trestle along the
Preston-Snoqualmie Trail
near the City of Snoqualmie, leading to a scheduled five-day closure of the trail in late February. You can stay up-to-date on what’s happening on your King County Regional Trails by subscribing for
Parks trail alerts and news.
Vashon/Maury Island Area
Hearing on marijuana uses in commercial business zone and industrial zone properties on Vashon Island
King County’s Department of Permitting and Environmental Review (DPER) is holding a public meeting on Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. at McMurray Middle School, 9329 Southwest Cemetery Road, regarding proposed amendments to the King County Comprehensive Plan to allow recreational marijuana growing, processing and retail uses in commercial business zoned properties and growing and processing in industrial zoned properties on Vashon. All residents are welcome to learn more and offer their comments. Contact Lisa Verner of DPER at 206 477-0304 or
lisa.verner@kingcounty.gov
for more information.
New Vashon Rural Services Center opens
On Feb. 20, King County will open the new
Vashon Rural Services Center
at 10011 SW Bank Rd. in downtown Vashon. The old location will close on Feb. 19. The Vashon Rural Services Center will be home to the King County Sheriff's Office, King County District Court, the Vashon Community Service Center, and services provided by the Department of Permitting and Environmental Review and the Community Service Area Program. The new center was made possible through a partnership between King County and Vashon Island Fire and Rescue.
Vashon-Maury Island Community Council General meeting
Feb. 17, 7 p.m., McMurray Middle School, Multi-purpose room, 9329 Southwest Cemetery Road, Vashon. For more information visit the
Vashon-Maury Island Community Council website.
West King County Area
North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting
March 6, 7 p.m., North Highline Fire District Office, 1243 SW 112th St., Seattle. Check
the
North Highline UAC website
for details.
Skyway Solutions Community Conversation
Feb. 22, 8:30 a.m. -3:30 p.m., Skyway Boys and Girls Club, 12400 80th Ave S., Seattle. Check the
Skyway Solutions website
for details.
West Hill Community Association Board meeting
Feb. 12, 7 p.m., Skyway Fire District #20, 12424 76th Ave S., Seattle. Check the
West Hill Community Association website
for details.
If you have comments or suggestions about future content, please contact Alan Painter at 206-477-4521 or
alan.painter@kingcounty.gov.
