February 9, 2021

Dear Friends,

2021 continues to be very busy here at the King County Council as we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in our region as well as the myriad of other issues we are working on. See the list below!

Governor Jay Inslee recently announced new COVID-19 guidelines and measurements for the reopening of businesses. With the updated guidelines, the Puget Sound Region, which includes King County, Snohomish County, and Pierce County, moved in into Phase 2 last week. You can learn more about the announcement by clicking here.

Continue reading for an update on the COVID-19 vaccine distribution, a number of openings on King County commissions, an open funding opportunity, and more.

As always, thank you so much for everything that you are continuing to do limit the spread of COVID-19 in our region.

Stay Healthy!

Kathy Lambert

In this Issue:

      1. COVID-19 vaccine distribution update
      2. Join a King County subcommittee and share your voice!
      3. Upcoming guardrail installation
      4. Apply for the King County WaterWorks Grant Program!
      5. Unincorporated area community needs list
      6. Food Biz Week: February 22-26
      7. An update from the Department of Local Services
      8. Property tax statements are coming soon
      9. Wastemobile set to begin service in February

1. COVID-19 vaccine distribution update

You may have likely seen the news reports about some vaccine providers prioritizing donors, board members, families, and friends for vaccine distribution. The State Department of Health is responsible for regulating and overseeing health care providers in Washington. In response to this news the Department of Health notified all vaccine recipients that “VIP scheduling, reserving doses for inequitable or exclusive access, and similar practices are banned and will not be tolerated. If we find out a provider is giving out vaccine inequitably or is doing behaviors listed above or similar, we may reduce or stop allocations to that provider.”

I am working with King County Public Health to make sure the vaccine is distributed in a fair and equitable manner. While supply of the vaccine remains limited, King County is focusing efforts of vaccine distribution to parts of the county with the highest rates of infection, hospitalization, and death. In the meantime, I continue to work with Public Health, the Executive, and our Eastside cities to plan and be ready for vaccine distribution in our district as the supply of vaccines increases. Several cities, groups, and organizations have generously donated their space and are ready to collaborate with other groups. Our fire department has volunteered to do the administration of the vaccines (nice way to say “shots”). So when there is more vaccine, we are ready!

Currently there are mobile vaccination teams being stood up around the county. Their first task will be to vaccinate seniors in long term care facilities and other vulnerable seniors. We are working with Public Health to make sure they are coordinating with senior communities on the Eastside so that seniors are fully vaccinated as we receive more vaccine doses.

It is stressful for us all to wait, but until the vaccines are available, that will be necessary. Dr. Duchin, the head Doctor of Public Health says he thinks it will be late summer until all in the county who want shots have been vaccinated.

2. Join a King County subcommittee and share your voice!

Are you passionate about improving education or have new insights to share?

The Puget Sound Taxpayer Accountability Account (PSTAA) Subcommittee is recruiting new members to provide guidance to the King County Council and the Executive on the educational needs of King County Youth.

PSTAA was created to direct the way a portion of Sound Transit-related funds are used to improve educational outcomes in early learning, K-12, and post-secondary education.

Applications to the subcommittee are due on February 15, 2021.

Learn more here.



Are you more interested in aviation?

The King County International Airport-Boeing Field is looking for applicants to fill several open positions on the Airport Roundtable, including one for a representative from unincorporated King County.

The Roundtable is an advisory group that makes recommendations to the airport’s administrators, the King County Council, and the King County Executive. They meet each month, and meetings are currently being held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more here.

3. Upcoming guardrail installation

As winter continues, guardrail installation across King County begins to pick up!

Last week, road crews began installing guardrail location along West Snoqualmie Valley Road NE. This work will be done on several locations on the road and is expected to be worked on through early May.

This important project will improve driver safety in the region.

Learn more and view other locations that will be worked on here.

4. Apply for the King County 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. Non-profits, schools and educational institutions, cities, counties, tribes, and special purpose districts are eligible to apply.

The deadline for letters of intent (the first step of the process and required to receive funding) is February 17 and full applications are due May 26.

Approximately $2 million is awarded every two years for organizations carrying out a variety of projects. For more information, click here.

5. Unincorporated area community needs list

We would like to have your valuable input!

If you live in unincorporated King County - The Department of Local Services is creating a community needs list of services, programs, and capital improvement projects for the unincorporated area!

The first step in the process is gathering requests from community members. To learn more and submit your ideas, click here.

6. Food Biz Week: February 22-26

Food Biz Week is a free opportunity for food and farm businesses in the region to learn from industry experts through a curated week of virtual panels, presentations, and networking activities. The event will be all virtual, so food and farm entrepreneurs are invited to attend from anywhere in the region.

Event Date: Feb. 22 - 26
Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. every day

View the full schedule here.

Seats are filling quickly so make sure you register early at https://businessimpactnw.org/annual-events/foodbizweek .

7. An update from the Department of Local Services

The King County Department of Local Services has been serving the residents of unincorporated King County for two full years now. Here is some helpful information from their recent email newsletter:

“Meet Manny Apostol, new Community Engagement Specialist for the King County Sheriff's Office

The King County Sheriff's Office serves the law enforcement needs of more than half a million people in King County's unincorporated areas and in 12 contract cities. They also provide police departments for the Muckleshoot Tribe, Metro Transit, and the King County International Airport–Boeing Field.

Manny Apostol is their new community engagement specialist. His role is an active way for the Sheriff's Office to be available to residents and help address issues before law enforcement needs to become involved.

No stranger to public service, Apostol put in 29 years at the Sheriff's Office 9 1 1 Communications Center, ‘When you work the emergency needs of the community all those years, you learn a lot of insights,’ he says. ‘I hope to take that experience to interact with communities and residents.’ ‘One of the most important things I’ve learned so far is the power of partnerships,’ he adds. ‘Partnering with the Department of Local Services has shown what can be achieved when agencies work together towards the mutual goal of dedication of service.’

Learn more on the King County Sheriff's Office website, or contact Officer Apostol by email or phone (206 477 2241). You can also follow the Sheriff's Office on Facebook.

8. Property tax statements are coming soon

Property tax statements for 2021 will be mailed on Feb. 14 (this date is selected in state law). If a mortgage lender pays your taxes, tax statement details are forwarded to them. If you pay your property taxes yourself and you have not received a statement by March 1, request a tax statement online or contact King County Treasury Operations by email or at 206 263 2890.

The first half of your 2021 property taxes are due by April 30. King County's in-person services are still suspended due to COVID 19, but the King County website lists other payment options. You can also use that link to sign up for text and email reminders about your property taxes.

Learn about property tax relief programs for seniors and people with disabilities.

9. Wastemobile set to begin service in February

First stop: Bothell/Woodinville area

If you live in King County, you can take your household hazardous waste to any of the county's four collection sites or to the traveling Wastemobile. You don’t need to make an appointment, and there’s no fee for this service. In 2019, these sites kept 3,346,500 pounds of hazardous waste out of the environment!

The Wastemobile will kick off 2021 with a three-day visit (Feb. 19-21) to the UW Bothell Campus, 18115 Campus Way NE in Bothell.

Learn more about the program, including the Wastemobile schedule, what to bring (or not) to a hazardous waste collection site, or how to safely transport waste on the Hazardous Waste Management Program website.”

Conclusion

We are all looking forward to being with friends and family and more activities… we are building memories during this time. So hopefully you are accomplishing something, fixing something, or cherishing something that will give you hope and encouragement as we look forward to being on the other side of a pandemic.

Best wishes.