February 25, 2019

Dear Friends,

Hope you are staying warm and safe with all this snow…. I have permission to share this snow scene with you. It is beautiful and I am sure that you have many special scenes of memories of this snow event too. I am thankful for the team who worked 12 hour shifts 24/7 to keep our roads as clear as they can despite the size of this county and amount of equipment they have. Kudos to them, and we are grateful for the work that they do.



It is with great enthusiasm that I share the launch of a formal LOCAL services department. This department known as DLS – Department of Local Services, gives greater accountability, streamlining of services and predictability of finances. For the first time we have a clear budget and a member in the executive cabinet directly reporting to the executive on the local service needs in this county. If the unincorporated area were a city, it would be the second largest in the state! So having direct oversight of service levels and quality reported regularly to the executive is a wonderful development.

The executive and legislative branch coordinating on this is a fabulous example of good government. The department formerly known as DPER – the Department of Permitting and Environmental Review, is now called Permitting. The former transportation department is now divided into transit and roads. The roads department is part of DLS and can focus on the many serious issues facing roads and bridges in the county. We have documented these issues to take to the Legislature again to ask them to change the BROKEN and OBSOLETE state funding formula. Permitting and Roads now operate under the DLS umbrella, which will allow for enhanced coordination between these important agencies. The other services will be contracted with the department for more accountability. As these functions are better coordinated and monitored, the local services delivery will be more efficient thanks to the work of DLS Director John Taylor and new Deputy Director Danielle de Clercq. John previously served as Assistant Director for the King County Water and Land Resources Division, and Danielle is an efficiency expert from the private sector!

In 2019, I look forward to new opportunities for working with residents on more projects to enhance District 3 and our great region. There are many things in the works! So stay tuned for an exciting announcement on children safety coming in a future newsletter.

If you would like to see regular updates, you can like my official Facebook page (Facebook.com/lambert.kathy) or follow me on Twitter (@kathylambert) or Instagram (cmkathylambert).

It's always a pleasure representing District 3. Stay warm and Safe!

Kathy Lambert

In this Issue:

      1. Mt. Si Bridge lane restriction, Feb 25-March 1
      2. County Council reorganizes committee memberships
      3. Carnation Farms van delivery
      4. WaterWorks Grant program
      5. 4Culture Project grant program
      6. Measles outbreak
      7. Emergency prep tip

1. Mt. Si Bridge lane restriction, Feb 25-March 1

Starting Monday, February 25th, bridge washing will take place on Mt. Si Bridge #2550A near North Bend. The work requires a daily lane restriction on Mt. Si Bridge/SE Mount Si Road from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., 200 feet west of the bridge and 200 feet east of the bridge. The work is expected to finish on Friday, March 1st at 3 p.m., but it is weather dependent.

2. County Council reorganizes committee memberships

Earlier this month, the Metropolitan King County Council met to reorganize the different committees. I am happy to announce that I will be the chair of the new committee on local government (the Local Services, Regional Roads and Bridges Committee) and will continue as chair of the Regional Water Quality Committee. In addition, I will be serving as the vice chair for the Law and Justice Committee and the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee, and will also be a member on the following five committees: the Committee of the Whole, the Mobility and Environment Committee, the Health, Housing and Human Services Committee, and the Board of Health.

I am excited for the opportunity to chair this new committee and work with the Department of Local Services to deliver quality service to the residents of unincorporated King County. King County has had the theme of creating the “Best Run Regional Government,” but with the addition of this new committee and department, we are working towards the goal of making unincorporated King County the “Best Run Local Government” too!

3. Carnation Farms van delivery

I recently had the pleasure of delivering a “retired” King County Metro van for Carnation Farms to use for their different educational programs.

Each year, a few used vans are donated to organizations in the district to help the community. Carnation Farms will use this van to transport kids to and from their educational programs, in which they teach kids about where their food comes from, how it is grown, and the importance of farming. Originally established in the early 1900s to produce milk for the region and conduct research, the farm now teaches groups of all ages about farming, cooking, and other important skills. I am very happy to see this van go to such a great use. To learn more about this nonprofit organization’s work, click here.

4. WaterWorks Grant program

King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division is now accepting applications to the Waterworks Grant Program. This grant supports local efforts to protect water quality, control pollution, and build healthy communities. The deadline for letters of intent is March 6 and full applications are due June 5.

Approximately $2 million is awarded every two years for organizations carrying out a variety of projects. Non-profits, schools and educational institutions, cities, counties, tribes, and special purpose districts are eligible to apply. For more information, click here.

5. 4Culture Project grant program

4Culture has also opened their grant process, and they are now accepting applications to fund projects in arts, heritage, and preservation. 4Culture is the cultural funding agency for King County and works to make our region vibrant. Applications are due by March 6th. To apply, click here.

6. Measles outbreak

A recent measles outbreak has been spreading through Washington, and there has been one confirmed case in King County. If you have received the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine or have had measles before, there is very little risk of contracting measles. However, if you have not received a vaccine, you could be at risk of getting the disease if you were at a location of potential measles exposure. The primary location for this outbreak is Vancouver, Washington in Clark County.

The infected individual in King County was in public locations in Auburn, Kent and Covington between January 9th and 16th before being diagnosed. If you were in the locations of potential exposure, it is recommended that you confirm that you have received the MMR vaccine. If you developed an illness with a fever or unexplained rash between January 16th and February 6th, call a health care provider promptly.

For more information from Public Health – Seattle and King County, click here.

7. Emergency prep tip

An emergency kit is vital when preparing for the unexpected. Having a kit in your home or office ready to go can save lives. We will periodically suggest items for an emergency kit in these newsletters.

The first item to include in your emergency kit should always be water. The Department of Homeland Security recommends that you have one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation. When disaster strikes, having enough water on hand is crucial.

These storms are reminding us that we all need to be prepared to be in our homes for up to ten days and information on this is on the King County Emergency Management webpage. To learn more about keeping you and your family safe, click here.

Keep safe!