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King County Local Services
King County’s 2020 Town Hall meetings continue in October
King County’s unincorporated-area community meetings are happening online this year via Zoom. Hear from elected and appointed King County leaders and staff members about how your local government is delivering services in your community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants can ask questions directly or type them into Zoom’s chat feature.
Each meeting begins at 7 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m. The slides for each town hall are posted after the meeting on the Community Service Areas web page.
Thursday, Oct. 1: Bear Creek/Sammamish
Councilmember: Kathy Lambert (District 3)
Join Zoom meeting or dial in: 1-253-215-8782, Meeting ID: 907 476 2461
Tuesday, Oct. 6: West King County – Skyway
Councilmember: Girmay Zahilay (District 2)
Join Zoom meeting or dial in: 1-253-215-8782, Meeting ID: 907 476 2461
Thursday, Oct. 15: West King County – North Highline (White Center)
Councilmember: Joe McDermott (District 8)
Join Zoom meeting or dial in: 1-253-215-8782, Meeting ID: 907 476 2461
Thursday, Oct. 22: Vashon-Maury Island
Councilmember: Joe McDermott (District 8)
Join Zoom meeting or dial in: 1-253-215-8782, Meeting ID: 907 476 2461
Monday, Oct. 26: Snoqualmie Valley/NE King County
Councilmember: Kathy Lambert (District 3)
Join Zoom meeting or dial in: 1-253-215-8782, Meeting ID: 907 476 2461
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Technical assistance is available to businesses in unincorporated King County through the end of this year
King County's Small Business Assistance grant applications are closed, but you can still get help applying for other funds, or dealing with other business issues, from the coaching and technical assistance part of this program.
Visit kingcounty.gov/LocalBusinessHelp for more information (available in English plus Amharic, Chinese, Khmer, Korean, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese).
Or 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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2021 CSA Grant applications are open through Nov. 16
King County offers Community Engagement Grants each year to fund projects that offer residents in the county's unincorporated areas opportunities to participate and be more connected in their communities.
Funded projects must demonstrate how their benefits are accessible to all residents regardless of race, income, or language spoken. These funds may not be used for political activities.
For more information and application materials, visit the Community Service Areas website.
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As more businesses reopen after closing due to COVID-19, King County's Small Business Task Force has seen confusion and questions come up around regulations and guidelines. So the county is now providing a Reopening Toolkit for small businesses on its Safe Start website. The toolkit, which is aligned with Governor Inslee’s Safe Start requirements, provides small businesses with the information and materials they need to reopen and operate safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ready-to-print kit includes a customizable COVID-19 Safe Work Plan template, which is a requirement for reopening. This tool is available for businesses to download, customize, and add to their standard operating procedures. It can be used to help any small business develop a Safe Work Plan for reopening and operating in a way that protects employee and customer health and safety. The template includes general categories and practices recommended or required by Washington State. Business owners will need to tailor the template with occupancy, personal protective equipment, and safety requirements for their own business and industry.
The Reopening Toolkit also includes an Owner’s Guide with information that business owners need to know about current rules, rights, and regulations.
Additional materials include a health screening tool to help screen employees before work, ready-to-print posters for educating workers and customers, and more.
A version of the toolkit is also available in Spanish.
King County's Safe Start website shares the latest guidance that businesses/workplaces, community and faith-based organizations, schools, and residents in King County need to know right now in Phase 2.
Road Services
Berrydale Bridge reopens after important safety work
 Rotted planks on the wood deck of the Berrydale Bridge were replaced last month.
After a two-week closure, a safer Berrydale Bridge reopened just east of Highway 18 on Sept. 22. During the closure, King County Road Services crews ripped out and replaced 43 old wooden deck planks and set the new ones in place with tighter, more secure bolts. They also repaved the entire bridge deck. This work keeps the bridge in good working order until funds can be secured to replace the entire bridge.
Traffic on the very busy detour route was managed by uniformed officers during morning and evening commutes. Road Services thanks drivers for their patience during this work.
Work wraps up on Vashon Seawall
Just in time for fall storms, Road Services crews wrapped up seawall reinforcement repair work on Dockton Road SW near Tramp Harbor Road SW. This critical work, which had to be managed around fluctuating tides, helps keep the water at bay and protects the road that connects Vashon and Maury islands.
This challenging, phased project began in 2019 when crews replaced 90 feet of seawall and filled 23 sinkholes. This time around they repaired another 100 feet of seawall and also repaired nine sinkholes.
Learn more on the project website.
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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.
Winter preparedness
Be prepared for flooding during King County’s wet months
 Photo: Floodwater inundates State Route 169
Did you know that flooding is the most common natural disaster in King County? It can happen almost any time, but as we move toward months with more rain and snow, the risk increases. Even a few inches of extra water can be damaging and costly, so please take the time to prepare now and keep your loved ones and property safe.
Here are 3 steps you can take to prepare:
1. Learn your flood risk and buy flood insurance. Visit floodsmart.gov to learn more about buying a policy and finding an insurance agent.
2. Sign up for flood alerts.
3. Create an emergency plan and make or update your disaster supply kit (see article below for more details).
Learn more about recommended precautions on King County's how to prepare for flooding website.
Get ready for fall and winter weather
Fall has arrived, and King County Emergency Management reminds you that this is a good time to review your emergency kit and plan for things we all hope won't happen in the coming months.
1. The first step is to understand the hazards in your area. The Hazard Ready website offers an interactive page that provides details about the risks in your specific part of King County.
2. Make an emergency plan. If you already have one, you might need to revise it to take COVID-19 into account. For example, agencies that would ordinarily operate public shelters in an emergency may not be able to do so during the pandemic.
3. If you have an emergency kit, is it time to refresh it? Check supplies you may have in your vehicle or at your workplace to see if anything has expired. If you don't have a kit, this is a good time to make one. Here are some items you should include:
| > Water (1 gallon per person per day) |
> Comfort items (toys, cards, books, etc.) |
| > Non-perishable food |
> First aid kit |
| > Medications and medical equipment |
> Hygiene items |
| > Warm clothing |
> Flashlights and extra batteries |
4. Gather important documents. Make sure you have extra copies of insurance paperwork, bank information, and copies of identification and prescriptions. Keep these in a safe and secure location in case the originals get lost.
5. Sign up for emergency alerts at Alert King County and get up-to-date information on winter storms and other emergencies.
Resources
> King County's Emergency Management website
> Emergency preparedness guide (Washington State Department of Emergency Management)
> How to plan for emergencies (King County video)
> Essential items for your emergency kit (King County video)
> Family emergency plan template (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
Executive Services
Senior and disabled property owners waiting for approval of tax deferral or exemption can opt for extension
Seniors, people with disabilities, and others with qualifying conditions who applied for property tax exemptions or deferrals but are still waiting for a determination will be able to extend payments until January 31, 2021.
Affected property owners will be contacted, and will need to notify the Assessor’s Office at taxreliefextension@kingcounty.gov, 206-296-3920 or exemptions.extension@kingcounty.gov to opt in to this program. The statutory deadline of Nov. 2 remains in effect for all other property taxpayers. Seniors seeking property tax payment extensions must mail or file an application on or before Oct. 19.
For more information about applying for property tax exemptions or deferrals, visit kingcounty.gov/assessor/seniors or call 206-263-2338.
For more details on the opt-in extension program, see content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAKING/bulletins/2a35467.
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 and Parks
Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park—Coal Creek culvert replacement
King County Parks has closed a portion of Clay Pit Road at Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park during a culvert replacement project at Coal Creek. The project is scheduled to last through Friday, October 30. During the closure, please follow the Bypass Trail, located at C3/C9 on the park map. Questions? Call 206-477-4527 or send email to parksinfo@kingcounty.gov.
Maplewood Park—pathway improvements and culvert replacement
King County Parks will close Maplewood Park near Renton from Monday, October 5 to Friday, October 30 to improve the pathway and culvert, weather permitting. Call 206-477-4527 or send email to parksinfo@kingcounty.gov.
Solid Waste Division prepares for fall rains
Rain is a fact of life in the Pacific Northwest, and for King County’s Solid Waste Division, the extra time to prepare for wet weather season protects facilities, controls polluted runoff, and preserves access to vital garbage and recycling services for 1.4 million ratepayers.
Actions include gutter cleaning, roof inspections, and repairs at all eight transfer stations, as well as repairing and replacing water valves and filters. Workers are also installing curbing and sump pumps as needed to prevent flooding and water damage.
At the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill, workers are hydroseeding hillsides to control erosion and mudslides, and making sure the storm water and wastewater systems function optimally with higher water volumes. Cleaning containment ponds, setting water levels, clearing lines, replacing filters, and inspecting pumps and electrical panels will help ensure normal operation and avoid overflows and backups. Wastewater crews are also on round-the-clock standby to respond to emergencies.
Residents in unincorporated King County can take a few simple actions at home to support efficient waste collection and processing, mainly by keeping their recycling empty, clean, and dry. Securely close the lids on all outdoor disposal bins and make sure materials stay out of the rain—especially cardboard and paper, which turn moldy when wet and become useless for the manufacturers of recycled products.
Learn more on the King County Solid Waste Division website, or call 206-477-4466 (TTY 711).
Executive Services
Help shape the future of King County International Airport
King County International Airport wants your input to help shape the airport’s future. To meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements, the airport is updating its master plan. You’re invited to any of three virtual open houses to learn more about the airport’s draft preferred alternative. Save the date:
Wednesday, Oct. 28
> 8–9:30 a.m.
> 12–1:30 p.m.
> 6–7:30 p.m.
If you would like to receive an email with meeting details, please send email to KCIACommunityOutreach@kingcounty.gov. The online meeting link will be added to the airport’s website closer to the date. For more information on the Master Plan or to check for the link, see kingcounty.gov/services/airport/planning.
You may also provide input about the master plan in the following ways:
> Email: KCIACommunityOutreach@kingcounty.gov
> Phone: 206-296-7380
> U.S. Mail: King County Airport, 7277 Perimeter Road S, Seattle WA 98108-3844
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White Center now has a second scooter option
Lime rolled out scooters in the North Highline Urban Unincorporated Area in August, and now Spin scooters are also available to riders in the area. These shared electric scooters are a new transportation option available during a one-year pilot program created through legislation led by King County Councilmember Joe McDermott.
Spin scooters can be unlocked for $1 and cost 25 cents a minute to ride. To highlight scooters as a “first mile/last mile” connection to transit, Spin is offering $1 off their next ride to users who park scooters near specific bus stops at the end of their ride. Check Spin’s app for these select locations.
Customers with low incomes may qualify to use scooters at discounted rates by applying for the Spin Access program, which is similar to Lime’s Access program. The program also gives access to those without smartphones, mobile location services, or credit cards.
For more information or to provide feedback about the program, visit kingcounty.gov/scooters, which now includes information in Spanish and Vietnamese.
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4Culture offers more grants for artists
Artists and cultural workers who have experienced financial loss due to COVID-19 can apply for grants of up to $2,000 to help with necessities including housing, utilities, groceries, and childcare. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 5 p.m.
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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, Oct. 5, 7-9:30 p.m.—Zoom virtual meeting
(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
Association meetings are canceled until further notice. 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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