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June 8, 2021
Dear Friends,
Hope you had a memorable Memorial Day and great first week of June! This time of year provides a great opportunity to spend some quality time with friends and family and reflect on the many sacrifices it took to build the freedoms we have in this country.
“We, the People, recognize that we have responsibilities as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together; that a freedom which only asks what's in it for me, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals, and those who died in their defense.”
This quote from President Obama’s 2012 DNC acceptance speech resonated with me. It’s almost 10 years old, and it’s still just as true and important.
Thank you to all who have served in the armed forces, past and present. And I’d like to specifically honor those families who have a loved one who gave their life in service to our county. We must never forget their sacrifice.
In late May, the King County Council passed a $631 million-dollar COVID relief budget. The supplemental budget, funded in large part by the federal American Rescue Plan Act, supports a variety of services that will help King County recover from the impacts of the pandemic. It includes $67 million for economic recovery and jobs, $36 million to support local arts, entertainment, culture, and science, and $256 million for rental assistance, food security, and other community supports. For a more complete breakdown of spending areas and revenue sources, please visit the council webpage: https://kingcounty.gov/council/mainnews/2021/May/5-25-full-covid-7-passage-release.aspx.
In this issue of my e-newsletter you’ll find some information on infrastructure projects around the district, a new Metro app that can provide on demand trips, and some useful resources to support people who need assistance paying for groceries or housing repairs. We are also happy to welcome King County Wastewater Treatment Division’s new director – Kamuron Gurol.
Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to assist you. It’s always a pleasure to represent you and all of District 3.
Kathy Lambert
In this Issue:
1. Reinig Road revetment repair project
2. Welcome new WTD Director, Kamuron Gurol
3. Downtown Redmond Link extension update
4. King County housing repair program
5. Food resources: Family food hotline & King County benefits hubs
6. New app, better experience for Community Ride in Juanita and Sammamish
1. Reinig Road revetment repair project
In June, King County, as the service provider to the King County Flood Control District, will begin repairs to the Reinig Road Revetment located approximately 2.5 miles east of the City of Snoqualmie, along the right bank of the Snoqualmie River at River Mile 41.8.
The project will rebuild up to 730 feet of the Reinig Road Revetment to repair four damaged areas. In addition, a series of four log structures will be installed to shift high flows away from the riverbank. These improvements will increase stability of the revetment, reduce further erosion, and maintain the integrity of the riverbank and adjacent road.
Between approximately June 15 and Oct. 30, 2021, Southeast Reinig Road will be closed near the project site for construction. The westbound lane will reopen by Sept. 6, 2021. The closure area will be limited to Southeast 81st Street to 428th Avenue Southeast. Local access for emergency vehicles and residents living along this stretch of road will be provided.
To ensure public safety, traffic control will take place on Southeast Reinig Road and a detour route will be posted. Visit kingcounty.gov/reinigroad for more information, or contact Stella Torres, Project Manager, at 206-263-0969 or by email at storres@kingcounty.gov.
2. Welcome new WTD Director, Kamuron Gurol
We are pleased to welcome Kamuron Gurol as the new Director of the King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD). He started in April of 2021 and he has hit the ground running!
Kamuron manages WTD’s 675+ employees as well as an operating budget of approximately $169 million and a capital budget of $199 million.
Prior vast experience he brings to the county include having worked at Sound Transit, as the city manager for Burien, the assistant city manager and director of community development at Sammamish, corridor planning director at WSDOT, director of Community Development at Kitsap County, manager of planning at Snohomish County and a senior policy analyst in the King County Executive’s Office and Budget and Strategic Planning. Kamuron also has a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, and a Bachelor of Science in Geological Sciences from the University of Washington.
We have already had several briefing and planning meetings. Welcome to Kamuron!
3. Downtown Redmond Link extension update
Sound Transit is finishing clearing/grubbing of their construction footprint along the north side of Marymoor Park near SR 520 and beginning construction of ground improvements for their future light rail guideway. The construction of ground improvements is expected to continue through September 2021 with construction of the light rail tracks to follow after September 2021.
This area has already been prepared and construction fencing is in place along the northern boundary of Marymoor Park to protect park patrons from construction activity. This and future construction activity is not anticipated to have an impact on public use of Marymoor Park.
For more of the latest information on this project, please use the link below. On that website there is also an opportunity to sign up for Sound Transit’s e-mail list to receive the latest updates as they happen.
https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/downtown-redmond-link-extension
4. King County housing repair program
Do you have a leaky roof? Plumbing that doesn’t work? Maybe even a septic system that isn’t performing properly? Did you know that King County has a Housing Repair Program that has been helping owners of single-family residences make repairs since 1976?
They provide funding, in the form of grants or loans, for housing repair services to low-income homeowners and special needs renters in most parts of King County. Eligible projects may include:
• Roof Replacement
• New Septic Installation
• Addressing Emergency Conditions
• Health and Safety Repairs
For renters with a disability, funding may also be available to make your home more accessible.
Please call Housing Repair at 206-263-9095 to learn more about the process, how to access services, and eligibility criteria. You can also view their website at the following link:
https://kingcounty.gov/depts/community-human-services/housing/services/housing-repair.aspx
5. Food resources: Family food hotline and King County benefits hubs
Do you or your family need support buying groceries? Basic Food may be able to help you. What is Basic Food? Also known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Basic Food helps Washingtonians by providing monthly benefits to buy food. A family of four can receive over $600/month to discretely use at grocery stores, online, and at farmers markets.
Amidst continued economic hardship, we know many King County households are eligible but not enrolled to receive Basic Food. Plus, new eligibility guidelines mean that all low-income students enrolled in certificate and degree programs, up to a 2-year degree, are eligible to receive food assistance through the Basic Food Employment and Training Program (BFET).
• The Family Food Hotline (1-888-436-6392) can assist individuals and families with eligibility screenings and applications.
• King County Community and Technical College students should connect with their on-campus Benefits Hub: https://benefitshub.setmore.com/.
Remember:
• Children in families with Basic Food are automatically signed up for Pandemic-EBT benefits, as well as free school meals, no application required!
• Individuals can apply on behalf of eligible children if they live in a mixed-status household
• Receipt of Basic Food will not impact an individual’s immigration status
Learn more at wafoodhelp.org
6. New app, better experience for Community Ride in Juanita and Sammamish
King County Metro’s Community Ride, which provides on-demand trips in the Juanita and Sammamish areas, has a new and improved app as of April 10. Customers will need to download the new app Community Ride On Demand in order to continue booking trips.
Community Ride launched in Juanita and Sammamish in September 2020 and is your connection to shopping, appointments, transit, recreation, school, social events and more. Community Ride may also connect you to transit hubs to catch a bus, get to destinations beyond your neighborhood, and return home.
• Juanita Community Ride: Flexible service is available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Kenmore, North Kirkland and Downtown Bothell.
• Sammamish Community Ride: Flexible service is available weekdays 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. throughout designated areas in Klahanie, Sunny Hills, Providence Point and Sammamish Highlands neighborhoods.
For instructions on how to download the app and request rides, please visit the following website:
https://kingcountymetro.blog/2021/04/12/new-app-better-experience-for-community-ride-in-juanita-and-sammamish/
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