UA News: The cold won't stop us on our way to 1 Million Trees

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December 2017

1 million trees

We're still planting and counting trees in King County

Tree planting opportunities continue in King County parks through the holiday season. It may be cold outside, but we're still planting every weekend in our parks. This holiday season, if you'd like to give the gift of clean air and healthier habitat to your friends and neighbors without getting your hands dirty, you can donate to the King County Parks Foundation which will go toward planting trees. We estimate it takes $87 to ensure a tree grows up healthy, but any amount you can give will help clean the air and water, prevent flooding and just make our parks feel nicer. Text "KING DONATE" to 468311 or visit the King County Parks Foundation website.

Engage with King County Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy

VHSL

In November, the voters approved a new Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy. This month three community meetings are scheduled to allow residents to learn about the levy and share thoughts and ideas on how the levy can help veterans and their families, older adults and other vulnerable people across King County. Next meetings are Dec. 1 on Vashon Island, Burien Dec. 5 and Kenmore Dec. 6.  Learn more about the levy here. for more information contact adam.schmid@kingcounty.gov.

Tolt-MacDonald Park barn rehabilitation update

Tolt

The contractor is on site performing work to replace the roof of the Tolt-MacDonald barn in Carnation. The barn will be closed for the duration of repairs and is expected to reopen for public use in spring 2018. 

Proposed speed limit reductions in unincorporated King County

King County is considering changing the speed limit on three roads in King County:

•Northeast Novelty Hill Road from the trail crossing, which is located one-half of a mile west of Trilogy Parkway, to Eastridge Drive Northeast:
-Current speed limit: 45 mph
-Proposed speed limit: 40 mph

•Northeast Novelty Hill Road from Eastridge Drive Northeast to West Snoqualmie Valley Road:
-Current speed limit: 45 mph
-Proposed speed limit: 30 mph for trucks, 35 mph for all other vehicles

•Southeast May Valley Road from SE 128th Way to Issaquah Hobart Road Southeast:
-Current speed limit: 40 mph
-Proposed speed limit: 35 mph

King County is requesting public input on these proposed speed limit reductions. The public comment period closes Friday, Dec. 8. Submit comments via email to: Brent Champaco, Community Relations Planner, Brent.Champaco@kingcounty.gov.

Please visit the Speed Limit Reductions webpage for more information about the proposed changes for each location and answers to frequently-asked questions.


Great ideas from unincorporated community organization grant applications

Thank you to the creative community organizations who submitted applications for 2018 Community Service Area (CSA) grants. We received 85 applications from community organizations across unincorporated King County for the $90,000 in available funding. We plan to announce CSA grant awards to community groups in February.    


Utility-rule making underway for franchise compensation to King County

Last November, the King County Council passed an ordinance that requires electric, gas, water, and sewer utilities providers to compensate King County in return for using County road right-of-ways.

As part of implementing this ordinance, the Facilities Management Division (FMD) is seeking public comment on a proposed rule that describes a process for estimating the compensation amount. This initial estimate is intended to be a starting point for discussions between the County and utility providers. The policy section of the proposed rule describes how the financial impact to each residential customer is proposed to be capped.  If the estimate shows a financial impact of more than $5 a month to residential utility customers in unincorporated areas, a formula will be applied to cap the estimate that the County provides to each affected utility.

More details about this ordinance and proposed rule are available at www.kingcounty.gov/franchise. The public comment period ends on Dec. 7.


Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River Area News

Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council resident's survey and election

The GMVUAC's biennial survey is being conducted online until Dec. 15. It addresses issues such as planning, zoning, development, traffic, economics, water, and sewage. Go to www.gmvuac.org and click on the survey button. Your input is valuable and will be kept confidential.

GMVUAC perspective on Reserve Silica Mine

The GMVUAC submitted a detailed set of comments to King County asking to deny Reserve Silica’s request to rezone 122 acres of isolated land outside Ravensdale that is currently zoned Mining to Rural Area land use. More detailed comments are available at the GMVUAC website.


Upcoming Community Meetings

Fall City Community Association

Friday, Dec. 8, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Fall City Fire Station
4301 334th Pl. SE
Fall City, WA
Monthly board meeting, open to the public. For more information visit the website.

Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River Area Council Meeting

Monday Dec. 4, 7-9 p.m.
Monday Jan. 8,  7-9 p.m.
Maple Valley Fire Station
231st St and SR-169
Maple Valley, WA

Dec. 4 meeting: Special guests will be representatives from Lakeside Industries, who will give a presentation on their asphalt facility proposed to be moved from within the City of Covington to the rural area along SR-169 between Renton and Maple Valley.

Four Creeks Unincorporated Area Council

Tuesday, Dec. 12, 7-9 p.m.
Eastside Fire & Rescue Station 78
20720 SE May Valley Rd
Issaquah, WA
Visit the website for the latest information and to confirm meeting dates and locations.

CSA Day in Vashon

Tuesday, Dec. 5, 1-6:30 p.m.
Vashon Community Service Center
10011 SW Bank Rd.

Community Service Areas staff Bong Sto. Domingo will be on the island to assist island residents in county-related matters.  For appointments email or call 206-351-8071.

Skyway Solutions board meeting

Monday, Dec. 11, 6-7:30 p.m.
Skyway Fire District 20
13470 MLK Jr. Way S
Seattle

Monthly meeting of the all-volunteer community group where community issues are discussed, open to the public.  Guest speakers are scheduled to present.  For more information contact visit the website.

North Highline UAC monthly meeting

Thursday. Dec. 7, 7-9 p.m.
1243 SW 112th Street
Seattle

Monthly meeting of the all-volunteer community group where community issues are discussed, open to the public.  Guest speakers are scheduled to present.  For more information contact visit the website.

West Hill Community Association Board meeting

Wednesday, Dec. 13, 7-9 p.m.
Skyway Fire District 20
12424 76th Ave. S.
Seattle

Monthly board meeting of the all-volunteer, resident based organization.  Local issues are discussed at this meeting. For more information contact contact@mywesthill.org

West Hill Business Association meeting

Tuesday, Dec. 19, 9-11 a.m.
Skyway VFW
7421 S 126th St.
Seattle

Monthly meeting of the business group in unincorporated West Hill.  For more information contact Cynthia Lamothe 206-722-7343.

Green Valley/Lake Holm Association Meeting

No meeting scheduled for December. Visit Facebook or Twitter for information on meeting dates and locations.

Community Alliance to Reach Out and Engage

No meetings scheduled for December. Visit website for the latest information on meeting dates and locations.

Upper Bear Creek Community Council

No meeting scheduled for December, Visit website and Facebook for the latest information on meeting dates and locations.