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King County Local Services
There's still time to apply for a King County Small Business Assistance Grant
Small businesses in unincorporated King County still have time to apply for a King County Small Business Assistance Grant. A second round of grant applications opened Aug. 21, with updated requirements that mean more businesses are potentially eligible for grant money than during the first round.
Here are some of the revised eligibility criteria for businesses to qualify for a grant in Round 2:
- Thirty or fewer employees (up from 15 in Round 1)
- Annual gross revenue of up to $3 million (up from $1.5 million)
- Must have been in business since August 1, 2019 (down from 3 years)
- Must have specific costs related to COVID-19 that have not been covered or reimbursed through any other grant funding or program (Round 1 prohibited applicants that had received any federal assistance)
Visit kingcounty.gov/LocalBusinessHelp for more information (available in English plus Amharic, Chinese, Khmer, Korean, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese).
If you need assistance in applying for these or other funds, in English or another language, you can call 206-331-3275 and leave a voicemail with your contact information, the type of assistance you're requesting, and the language you prefer to speak (if not English). A technical services coach will call you back within two business days. Alternatively, you can fill out and submit the Technical Assistance/Coaching Request Form under "Coaching" on the King County Small Business Assistance web page (linked above).
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King County Local Services is teaming up with King County’s Health Ambassadors to hand out free masks and hand sanitizer in unincorporated communities.
There will be several drive-through pickup events on Thursdays in September (see schedule below) for King County residents only.
At the parking lot entrance, tell the staff person how many persons are in your household. You can receive 2 reusable, adult-sized, white cloth masks per person for up to 6 household members — a maximum of 12 masks per vehicle, plus one 16.9-oz. bottle of hand sanitizer.
Redmond – Sept. 3, 10 am – 12:30 pm
Redmond Ridge Park-and-Ride, 22845 Cedar Park Cres NE
Auburn – Sept. 10, 10 am – 12:30 pm
Neely Mansion parking lot, 12303 SE Auburn Black Diamond Road
Enumclaw – Sept. 10, 1:30-4 pm
Enumclaw Expo Center Field House parking lot, 1456 Roosevelt Avenue E
Fall City – Sept. 17, 10 am – 12:30 pm
Fall City Fire Station parking lot,4301 334th Place SE
Maple Valley – Sept. 24, 10 am – 12:30 pm
Hobart Church, 27524 SE 200th Street
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2021 CSA Grants are just around the corner
Information about, and applications for, the 2021 Community Service Area Grants program will be posted to the King County Local Services website (see under the Grants tab) this month. A total of $90,000 will be available to fund projects in unincorporated areas.
This year's grant application deadline is 5 pm on Nov. 16.
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King County Permits
Updated subarea planning and anti-displacement strategy work is underway
King County's Subarea Planning Program just wrapped up a series of fall planning kickoff meetings with the communities of Skyway-West Hill and North Highline. The meetings featured presentations about the updated Subarea Planning Program and Community Needs List, an anti-displacement strategy report and recommendations, and information about a Washington State Department of Transportation corridor study for Martin Luther King Jr. Way S (State Route 900) in Skyway as well as the Road Services Division's accessibility transition plan for unincorporated King County.
Recorded versions of the presentations and the notes from the meetings can viewed at the following project pages:
Please visit and share your thoughts and ideas.
Coming up next: a series of educational and interactive workshops to talk about the anti-displacement strategies being considered, including:
- Community preference policies
- Expanded tax exemptions for low-income seniors
- Inclusionary zoning
- Manufactured housing community preservation
- Community land trusts
If you're interested in learning more about this project or would like to participate in the workshops, email Alice Morgan-Watson (Department of Community and Human Services).
If you any questions or feedback for the subarea planning team, email Kevin LeClair, David Goodman, or Jacqueline Reid.
Road Services
Second phase of Dockton seawall repairs begin
King County Road Services will make a second set of repairs to the Dockton seawall from Aug. 31 through Sept. 17. The first phase of repairs was finished in late 2019.
The work requires full closure of Dockton Road SW starting at Tramp Harbor Road SW and extending south for about 1,000 feet. A posted detour will direct traffic in both directions to Monument Road SW. Work is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. Monday, Aug. 31 and continue through 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17.
Crews will work from early morning until evening on weekdays, with start and stop times dependent on tides. The county will repair sinkholes and damaged parts of the seawall along Dockton Road SW. As a reminder to residents, the pier near the work area that’s owned by the Vashon Park District is closed.
Learn more
Photo: A crew works on another part of the seawall in November 2019.
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Major culvert replacement project gets underway in Renton’s Fairwood community
King County Road Services has begun a major project to replace a 167-foot-long pipe and catch basin system that carries Madsen Creek and controls water flows from an upstream detention facility. The new structure will protect roadway infrastructure and community safety and improve fish passage through the area. To do this large-scale work, crews will close the intersection of 162nd Avenue SE at SE 166th Court in Fairwood for seven weeks. Learn more
Photo: The bottom of this culvert, which carries Madsen Creek under 162nd Avenue SE, is completely rusted out.
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White Center sidewalks and mobility ramps, Fairwood sidewalks and drainage
This summer, Road Services is repairing sidewalks in White Center and Fairwood.
In White Center, crews are focusing on some of the busiest pedestrian pathways, like SW 107th Street between 18th Avenue SW and 22nd Avenue SW, a popular bus route. Workers removed tree roots that cause sidewalks to heave and buckle and replaced the broken sidewalk panels with new concrete sections that are smooth and level. Most of the trees will be replaced with new trees this fall. Next, county crews will widen and build out curb ramps at 16th Avenue SW and SW Roxbury Street.
In Renton’s Fairwood neighborhood, crews dug up broken sidewalk and made repairs to improve drainage and walkability.
Help Road Services plan accessibility improvements to curb ramps, sidewalks, and crosswalks in unincorporated areas by visiting their ADA Transition Plan Survey website (see next article for details).
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Road Services seeks community input to inform Americans with Disabilities Act transition plan
Photos show the Before, During, and After of a finished curb ramp improvement project at NE Novelty Hill Road and 238th Place NE.
Road Services seeks to make sidewalks, curb ramps, and street crossings on unincorporated King County roads accessible for all users. Road Services is currently preparing an Americans with Disabilities Act transition plan that will identify and plan accessibility improvements to pedestrian facilities on unincorporated King County roads.
An important part of this plan is hearing from members of the community who have mobility challenges, such as people who use wheelchairs, to learn about existing physical barriers and community priorities for improvement. Road Services invites people who travel on unincorporated King County roads to provide input regarding their accessibility needs through a short survey.
Road Services will use the survey results to help prioritize improvements to its existing pedestrian facilities. Note that the resulting ADA Transition Plan will cover only pedestrian facilities on unincorporated King County roads — it will not include those on highways, city streets, or trails, which are maintained by other agencies.
Back-to-back construction continues in Snoqualmie Valley on West Snoqualmie Valley Road
It’s been a very busy construction season in the Snoqualmie Valley area, including paving and slide repairs on NE Novelty Hill Road and the state's multi-week closure of SR-203 for culvert replacement work at Loutsis Creek.
Now that the state's work is done, King County Road Services will move in to replace an aging culvert under West Snoqualmie Valley Road. To do this, crews will close the road between NE 124th Street and NE Woodinville-Duvall Road for three weeks (Aug. 27–Sept. 17). There is no posted detour, but travelers can use SR-203, NE Novelty Hill Road, and NE Woodinville Duvall Road. For more information, see MyCommute.
24/7 Road Helpline
Call Road Services for help with road maintenance and traffic safety issues in unincorporated King County (like downed stop signs, traffic signals that aren't working, or trees over the roadway) — 24 hours a day: 206-477-8100 or toll-free at 1-800-KC-ROADS, or send email.
You can also visit the King County Road Services website or follow Road Services on Twitter @kcroads.
NOTE: The following section was inadvertently omitted from the version of this newsletter sent out on Sept. 1. Unincorporated Area News regrets the error.
Executive Services
Tolt Dam’s siren sounds a false alarm
On July 28, the siren system designed to warn Carnation and the Lower Snoqualmie Valley residents of a Tolt Dam failure sounded, prompting evacuations and confusion. Seattle Public Utilities verified that there was no issue at the dam, and a faulty panel unintentionally triggered the sirens. Response agencies began messaging that a false alarm had occurred. Seattle Public Utilities, the owner and operator of the Tolt Dam, continues their 24/7 monitoring of the structure.
Incidents like these serve as a good reminder of the presence of dams in our community. King County has 69 dams that would impact human life if they were to fail. If you want to learn more about dams and how to better prepare yourself visit kingcounty.gov/dams.
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September is Preparedness Month!
Join King County Emergency Management in celebrating National Preparedness Month. Throughout the month of September, King County encourages you to spend some time preparing your home and family for emergencies. There are so many easy things you can do:
Follow King County social media on Facebook and Twitter @KingCountyWA (hashtag #KingCountyReady) for more preparedness tips and tricks.
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Regional Animal Services offers help to people and pets in need
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Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) is proudly working with a number of public and private organizations to provide pet food and supplies to the communities we serve. Thanks to the generous donations of national charities, we are working together to distribute food to various locations. Mobile pet food banks are also organized throughout the King County area.
Public Health
King County COVID-19 resources
Public Health-Seattle & King County
Website | News and Blog | Facebook | Twitter
Washington State Department of Health
Website | Facebook | Twitter
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Website | Twitter
----- COVID-19 Call Centers -----
Medical questions related to COVID-19
206-477-3977 (8 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
Non-medical questions about COVID-19, including compliance and business issues
King County COVID-19 Business and Community Information Line
206-296-1608 (Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
General questions about COVID-19 in Washington State
Washington State Novel Coronavirus Call Center
800-525-0127
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Natural Resources & Parks
Free online trainings on noxious weeds
If you’re interested in getting some in-depth knowledge about noxious weeds and invasive plants, check out these webinars by the King County Noxious Weed Control Program. You can join from the comfort of your home, office, or mobile device. The half-day sessions are designed for vegetation management professionals and restoration crews, but anyone looking to expand their knowledge of weeds is welcome to attend!
For more details on presentation topics and to register for your free ticket, follow the links below.
King County Noxious Weed Control Webinar - Morning Session
September 23, 8 am – 12 pm: Details and registration
King County Noxious Weed Control Webinar - Afternoon Session
September 30, 12:30 – 4 pm: Details and registration
Questions? Contact Marta Olson
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It’s Salmon SEEson again!
Fall is coming and salmon will be returning to streams and rivers throughout King County to spawn. The 14th annual Salmon SEEson program will run from late August through November, promoting self-guided salmon viewing sites as well as virtual tour opportunities.
If you decide to visit a self-guided site near you, please remember to recreate responsibly: plan ahead, practice physical distancing, wear a mask, choose a site near you, leave no trace, and contribute to an inclusive experience for all. Check out the Salmon SEEson website for more information on self-guided and virtual viewing opportunities.
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Working to ensure capacity at Cedar Hills Regional Landfill
King County’s Solid Waste Division is working to ensure there is adequate capacity at the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill beyond 2028. A Draft Environmental Impact Statement that evaluates “action” and “no action” alternatives, as well as options for relocating support facilities currently at the landfill, will be out for public review and comment in September. Learn more
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Rural Area news
Unincorporated Area Councils/Associations & Organizations
2020 KCCP Mid-Point Update —Joint Comments
On July 20 and 23, seven Rural Area unincorporated area councils, associations, and organizations* submitted Striker 4 and 4.1 Response Comments to the King County Council on the 2020 King County Comprehensive Plan Mid-Point Update. These comments were the fourth and fifth sets submitted jointly by these organizations to the King County Council.
In all, the five sets of detailed comments covered many key issues that affect the King County Rural Area: the Four-to-One Program, Non-Resource Industrial Uses, Agricultural Production Districts, climate change, transportation infrastructure, pathways/sidewalks, wineries/breweries/distilleries, and Pacific Raceways zoning. The seven organizations prepared a summary table on these key issues and impacts to the Rural Area.
The final update was approved by the King County Council on July 24.
* Enumclaw Plateau Community Association, Green Valley/Lake Holm Association, Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council, Hollywood Hill Association, Upper Bear Creek Unincorporated Area Council, Friends of Sammamish Valley, and Soos Creek Area Response
Countywide planning policies seminar
On Sept. 17, King County Executive Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget Senior Policy Analyst Karen Wolf and King County Demographer Rebeccah Maskin will provide a virtual seminar to seven Rural Area organizations (listed above) on the upcoming late 2020/early 2021 update of the countywide planning policies.
—Submitted by Peter Rimbos, Corresponding Secretary, Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council
Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council
Comment letters
On Aug. 11, the council submitted detailed comments to the King County Permitting Division on a proposed upzone from RA-10 to RA-5 in Ravensdale. After review of Washington's Growth Management Act, King County's Comprehensive Plan, and King County Code Title 20–Planning and Title 21A—Zoning, the council concluded that specific conditions laid out in the applicable comprehensive plan policies and King County Code had not been met, and that the application should therefore be denied.
On the same day, the council also submitted detailed comments to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its notice to partially delete soils at Queen City Farms Superfund Site (immediately south of the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill). The council recommended the deletion document note that the likely presence of dioxins and furans in undisturbed soils near the final containment cell is a significant unknown. Should residential use ever be allowed in this area, even far into the future, these areas near the final containment cell should be evaluated for dioxins in near surface soils before such a land use change is approved.
Further, before finalizing the deletion, the EPA should evaluate whether the Record of Decision cleanup level for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is still protective and, if it’s not, the confirmation sampling results from the buried drum area outside the final containment cell should be re-evaluated to see if that area still meets risk-based cleanup levels. The council Environment Committee’s Principal Investigator, Marcia Knadle, has personal knowledge of EPA’s actions at the site based on her 29 years as the EPA hydrogeologist working on the Queen City farms project.
Both comment letters are available on the council's website.
—Submitted by Peter Rimbos, Corresponding Secretary
West King County news
Scooters are rolling out across White Center
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White Center residents have a new transportation option. Electric scooters are being deployed around the area, with the first group from Lime rolling out on Aug. 17.
The one-year pilot program, created by legislation led by King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, will give residents a “first mile/last mile” option to connect with public transit, among other benefits. King County will monitor and evaluate the scooter share program throughout the pilot, which ends in August 2021.
Lime is the first company to launch scooters, but a second provider may join the pilot program soon. Both will operate within a defined service area in the North Highline Urban Unincorporated Area.
Lime scooters can be unlocked for $1, and cost 36 cents a minute to ride. Anyone already enrolled in a city, state, or federal low-income program can access the scooters for 50 cents to unlock and seven cents a minute to ride once they successfully apply for the Lime Access program. Low-income users who prefer to pay with cash can add balances to their accounts at select local 7-Eleven or CVS locations via PayNearMe.
For more information about the year-long pilot program, rules of the road, and ways to provide feedback about the program, visit kingcounty.gov/scooters.
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Vashon/Maury Island news
Reminder: two construction projects at Dockton Park
Dockton Park—including the marina—will be intermittently inaccessible through September due to two different projects. The removal of a bulkhead north of the dock and the first phase of the marina renovation will have overlapping timelines. Learn more on the projects' shared website.
NOTE: Although public meetings have been canceled, here's a list of community councils and associations that serve King County's unincorporated Community Service Areas, including their usual (or most recent) meeting sites and contact information where applicable.
:: Community Alliance to Reach Out and Engage
Lord of Life Lutheran Church
12819 160th Avenue SE, Renton
See blog for the latest information and to confirm meetings.
:: Enumclaw Plateau Community Association
Headsworks Brewing
1110 Marshall Avenue, Enumclaw
Newly formed community association. Monthly meetings are open to the public, and may feature guest speakers in addition to community reports and information from a variety of local organizations. For more information contact Nancy Merrill.
:: Fall City Community Association
Fall City Fire Station
4301 334th Place SE, Fall City
The Fall City Community Association promotes building of community, proactively communicates on local issues, and takes action on selected issues that affect the Fall City community. Open to the public. For more information, visit fallcity.org or email Angela Donaldson.
:: Four Creeks Unincorporated Area Council
Eastside Fire & Rescue Station 78
20720 SE May Valley Road, Issaquah
Visit the website for the latest information and to confirm meeting dates and locations.
:: Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council
Monday, Sept. 14*, 7-9:30 p.m.—Zoom virtual meeting
*NOTE: This is a second Monday because the first Monday of September is a holiday
(When face-to-face meetings resume, they will be at:
Maple Valley Fire Station
Southeast corner of SE 231st Street and SR-169 intersection)
Visit the website for the latest information and to confirm meetings.
:: Green Valley/Lake Holm Association Meeting
Mountain View Fire and Rescue, Station 95
32316 148th Avenue SE, Auburn
Stay connected through their Facebook page or by email.
:: Skywest Tool Library
Skyway Water and Sewer office
6723 S 124th Street, Seattle
Join the SkyWest Tool Library Monthly Meeting to learn more about helping to start a new tool library in Skyway. The purpose of the library will be to share ideas, teach, learn, and borrow tools and more. Contact the library on Facebook.
:: North Highline Unincorporated Area Council
North Highline Fire District
1243 SW 112th Street, White Center
(Parking and entrance are in the back of the station)
Monthly board meetings are open to the public and often feature guest speakers in addition to community reports and information from local organizations. For more information, email Liz Giba.
:: Upper Bear Creek Community Council
Woodinville Library
17105 Avondale Road NE, Woodinville
Visit the website or Facebook page for the latest information and to confirm meetings.
:: Vashon Chamber of Commerce First Tuesday Networking
Vashon Chamber of Commerce
17141 Vashon Highway SW, Vashon
Contact: Jim Marsh at 206-463-6217 or discover@vashonchamber.com.
:: Vashon-Maury Island Community Council
Regular virtual meetings on third Mondays, 7-9 p.m.
Visit the website for info on how to attend, or see the Facebook page.
:: West Hill Community Association
Skyway Fire District 20
12424 76th Avenue S, Seattle
The organization's website now features a page with information about businesses and restaurants in the community that are still operating during the Governor's "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order.
Monthly board meetings are open to the public and often feature guest speakers as well as community reports and information from local organizations. For more information, visit the website or send email. Learn more on Facebook.
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