January 16, 2020

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year! I hope you enjoyed your holiday season with family and friends. The year has gotten off to a busy start here at the King County Council, and there are a number of things that I would like to update you on as we look ahead to the work to be done in 2020.

It's a pleasure to represent District 3.

Kathy Lambert

In this Issue:

      1. Winter weather update
      2. County Council reorganizes committee memberships
      3. Spawning Grounds film premier
      4. Update from the Department of Local Services
      5. Rural Unincorporated Behavioral Health Grant
      6. Partial East Lake Sammamish Trail closure
      7. King County Services Directory

1. Winter weather update

Preparation is vital:

Due to the recent snow in the region, many people found themselves stranded in their cars overnight on Highway 2 near Skykomish. The Highway had been closed and the town lost power. This is a very scary situation to be in, and being prepared for something like this will really help if you find yourself stuck in your car due to weather or avalanche issues.

If you are planning on driving near the pass or in otherwise snowy conditions, please be sure to have:

• At least half a tank of gas in your car at all times
• A first aid kit
• A cellphone and charger
• A flashlight
• Water and food
• Boots
• Winter clothes
• A blanket
• Jumper cables
• Tire chains
• Flares
• Ice scraper/snow brush
• A shovel
• Sand

Additionally, many who were stranded found themselves without access to a bathroom. It is recommended that you also have some bathroom supplies such as toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and a bucket in case of an emergency.

2. County Council reorganizes committee memberships

Last week, the King County Council held its first meeting of 2020! Four councilmembers were officially sworn in, including our newest councilmember: Girmay Zahilay.

We also approved the reorganization of council committees, and I am excited to announce that I will be the chair of the Community, Health and Housing Services Committee, which will focus on providing critical services to those in need such as public health programs, human services, and more.

I will also continue serving as chair of the Regional Water Quality Committee and will be vice chair of both the Law and Justice Committee and the Local Services Committee. In addition, I will be a member of the following committees: the Committee of the Whole, the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee, the Mobility and Environment Committee, and the Board of Health.

This week’s meeting was a great way to kick off the year, and I am looking forward to the work that will be down throughout 2020.

We also have a new Council Chair, Claudia Balducci. She is the first non-Seattle resident in several years to chair the Council.

3. Spawning Grounds film premier

Spawning Grounds is a documentary film about the kokanee in Lake Sammamish and the premier showing will be at the North Bend Theatre on Saturday, January 18th. Doors open at 6:00pm and the film will start at 7:30pm.

These fish play an important role in our region, but the number of fish that survive to return and spawn has been very low in recent years.

Tickets are $20 if purchased in advance online or $25 at the door.

To learn more about the movie and event, click here.

4. Update from the Department of Local Services

The Department of Local Services has officially been in operation for over one year! Here is some helpful information from their December and January newsletters:

“International Building Codes are updated every three years by the International Code Council. King County Permitting is currently enforcing the 2015 International Building Codes, while the Washington State Building Code Council works to adopt and modify the 2018 International Building Codes. That group of codes includes the building, residential, fire, energy, mechanical, and other codes that make up our state’s building code.

The 2018 state building codes will likely go into effect next July 1. All new permit applications received after that date must comply with the new codes. All jurisdictions are required to enforce the state code as the minimum standard. While King County Code (KCC 16 & 17) currently references the 2012 building and fire codes, the county will enforce the 2018 state building code as of July 1, 2020.

Residential Basics Program: The changes to the 2018 state building codes are significant, and new registered plans will likely be required to confirm compliance. Based on past practice, King County may begin accepting new register plans based on the 2018 code starting in April. The current register plans, based on the 2015 code, would then expire on July 1. During the transition period, from April to July, basic permits may be issued for projects based on either the 2015 or 2018 registered plans.

Learn more about the code adoption process on the Washington State Building Code Council website. To learn about purchasing code books and future training, see the Washington Association of Building Officials website”



“FEMA Region 10 is calling on students ages 14 to 17 from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska to apply for its second annual Youth Preparedness Camp to be held in summer 2020 near Anchorage. The 40 teens chosen to attend the all-expense-paid camp will come away with skills that could save lives in their homes and communities during a disaster – all while making new friends and having fun! The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. PST on Jan. 19, 2020.

Learn more”

5. Rural Unincorporated Behavioral Health Grant

The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is now accepting applications for the Mental Illness and Drug Dependency (MIDD) Rural Behavioral Health Grants to support rural, community-driven behavioral health services in unincorporated King County.

Approximately $160,000 is available in small grant funding for 2020. Approximately $542,000 is available in medium grant funding in 2020. Additional medium grant funding will also be available in 2021-2022.

Applications are due on January 27th, 2020 by 2pm.

For more information, click here.

6. Partial East Lake Sammamish Trail closure

Due to recent heavy rains and a washout, the section of the East Lake Sammamish Trail between SE 26th St and SE 8th St is closed so that a heavy equipment crew can work on repairs to the trail.

Learn more here, or contact 1-888-668-4886 or ELST@kingcounty.gov.

7. King County Services Directory

Did you know that the King County website has a full directory with contact information for the different departments of the county? To view this great and full list, click here.

Winter thoughts

Our thoughts are with all who are dealing with storm issues this week. It is a huge reminder of how important preparedness is. We never know what emergency – natural or manmade – may happen. Our teams are up in Skykomish with WSDOT and the state working with the city and various groups to assist them in dealing with the over 400 people who were trapped at the pass and needed help as well as their own citizens.