 April 2022: Let's Get Down to Business!
Dear Friend,
I want to say thank you if you have engaged with my District 3 team, or with me directly, over the past three months. Whether you have met with me through Zoom or in person, called or sent an email, attended a Town Hall, Community Forum or City Council Meeting where I presented, or were one of the 1,622 people who responded to our District 3 survey, I am grateful for your participation and engagement and all that you do to help our communities thrive!
Spoiler alert: The survey says that your top four priorities throughout District 3 are 1) Environmental Protection & Climate Change, 2) Public Safety, 3) Roads & Streets, 4) Behavioral Health. More on this to come soon!
It's important now more than ever to engage and help shape the county's work for years to come, especially as we’re starting to work on our 2023-2024 biennial budget and our 2024 King County Comprehensive Plan update. Over the next few months, I will be meeting with many local businesses and non-profit organizations, and hosting Town Halls in each of our 10 cities. I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming community outreach opportunities as we work together on our District 3 priorities!
Thank you for helping to build great communities for all!
Sarah
Upcoming Events!
1. TOMORROW - Snoqualmie Town Hall! Sign Up Here!
We are excited to host an in-person Town Hall tomorrow, Thursday, April 21st at 6:30 PM at Encompass NW (9050 384th Ave SE, Snoqualmie). Join us for a gathering and opportunity to get to know one another, ask questions, and hear about our goals for all of our Snoqualmie communities! Space is limited, so click "Going" on the Facebook event and sign up for the event here so that we have enough seats and refreshments (kiddos welcome)!
2. April 28th at 6:00 PM: King County Snoqualmie Valley Subarea Plan Kickoff!
As we gear up for our 2024 Comprehensive Plan update, the King County Department of Local Services is hosting the Snoqualmie Valley Subarea Plan Kickoff meeting on April 28th at 6PM on Zoom. Join us for an open discussion with residents from Snoqualmie Valley’s unincorporated communities and from service providers. This meeting is a critical part of the county’s budget and planning process and will help inform where resources are allocated. Come prepared to share what you love about Snoqualmie Valley and your vision for its future!
Zoom Link: https://kingcounty.zoom.us/j/82107118487 Passcode: SnoVal!
3. May 12th: Skykomish Town Hall
Save the date to join us for an in-person Skykomish Town Hall on Thursday, May 12th. Stay tuned for more details!
4. May 19th: Bothell Town Hall co-hosted with Councilmember Rod Dembowski
Save the date to join us for an in-person Bothell Town Hall on Thursday, May 19th at 6:30PM. Stay tuned for more details!
A Month of Celebration and Reflection
April has been a month filled with many celebrations! Easter, Passover, Ramadan, and Vaisakhi are religious celebrations that mark important days for the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and Hindu communities and they have all overlapped for the first time in 33 years! The South and Southeast Asian communities celebrated a new year, Earth Day is later this week, and it is National Poetry month! During this time of celebration for so many faith traditions, with millions locally and billions throughout the world, one common theme emerging is that there’s more that unites us than divides us!
Amidst all the celebration, it is equally as important to recognize that April is also Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), World Autism Month, and Arab-American Heritage Month. Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a month to raise public awareness about sexual assault and educate communities on how to prevent sexual violence, and this year’s theme is Building Safe Online Spaces Together. World Autism Month focuses on sharing stories and providing opportunities to increase understanding and acceptance of the autism community. Finally, Arab-American Heritage Month recognizes the achievements of Arab-Americans across the country and throughout history. While we celebrate this month, let's all take a moment to reflect on these important areas by learning more at the links above!
Funding Opportunities for Your Organization!
We are excited to announce our 2022 King County Metro Van Grant awardees: Centro Cultural Mexicano, Church on the Ridge, Empower Youth Network, and Indian American Community Services. The vans will be used to transport senior residents, folks with financial need or folks with disabilities, and will further promote access and mobility for all. Congratulations to our 2022 awardees!!
But wait...there’s more coming in May! Check out the grant opportunities below for social service organizations, veterans and armed service organizations, and housing organizations If you know of a city or non-profit that would be interested in applying for one of these grants, please download the application here, fill it out, and send it to our Communications and Community Engagement Manager at Osman.Salahuddin@kingcounty.gov. We are closing applications in May, so apply soon!
Community Service Grants: Community Service Grants are available to help further community needs. We have a total of $50,000 to award and will likely be issuing multiple smaller awards.
Veterans Service Organization Grants: VSO grants can be awarded to any veterans’ services organization. We have a total of $10,000 to award, with a minimum award of $2,500 each.
Housing Service Grants: Housing Service Grants are available to support local housing stability in the community. We have a total of $55,500 to award, with a minimum award of $5,000 each.
Also, be on the lookout next week for an email with a comprehensive list of other grant and funding opportunities that a non-profit organization that you care about can apply for!
Hard at Work in District 3!
Left: Meeting with Milenko Matanovic, Consultant & Founder of Pomegranate Center in Issaquah; Right: Redmond Town Hall co-hosted with King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci.
I have been working hard to make sure that our District 3 community has all the resources and services that we need! Some of the recent initiatives that we are working on include:
- As Chair of the Local Services and Land Use Committee, I’ve been working with the Department of Local Services on preparing Community Needs Lists for our District and Subarea Planning efforts for other communities in our County as we begin work on the 2024 Comprehensive Plan.
- I will be meeting this week with Sno-Valley Mayors and King County Metro to explore ways to increase transit options and alternatives to meet the unique needs of our Snoqualmie Valley residents.
- At month’s end I’m meeting together with our King County Interim Sheriff, our District 3 Police and Fire Chiefs, and representatives from the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe and the Tulalip Tribes to discuss the gaps and overlaps in behavioral health resources in our district.
The Council has also been staying busy in our Full Council Meetings and Committees. If you are interested in tuning in to join us for a meeting to make comment, or just listen in, click on any of the links below:
Full Council Meeting; Budget and Fiscal Management; Committee of the Whole; Government Accountability and Oversight; Employment and Administration; Labor Policy; Law, Justice, Health, and Human Services; Local Services and Land Use; Transportation, Economy, and Environment
North Bend City Spotlight!
Check out where the spotlight is shining on a North Bend business, non-profit, and civic engagement opportunity this month! Take a look at what they bring to each of us when you get a chance – and remember to Go Local!
The Nursery at Mt. Si opened in 2019 by Nels and Anne Melgaard. This family-run nursery is a wonderful outing for everyone to make sure you have the flowers or plants you are looking for in your garden or home from one of their four greenhouses! Visit them today at 42328 SE 108th Street, North Bend, WA 98045 or give them a call at (425) 831-2274.
In 2014 a group started bringing coffee and donuts to teens living outside near a trail. Co-founders Tonya Guinn, Kristen Zuray, and Wendy Laxton decided to help create a space where these teens could feel safe and welcome. Together they rallied the community & started Trail Youth Coffee Home: a non-profit coffee shop with special hours, events, and free drinks for youth! Visit them today at 226 SE North Bend Way, North Bend, WA 98045 or give them a call at (425) 292-0299.
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Take a bow, North Bend! This is a city in our district which is known for its beautiful scenery and was just recognized nationally by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA in honor of its commitment to urban forest management! Under the excellent leadership of Mayor Rob McFarland and the North Bend City Council Members, the city is committed to preserving its natural beauty while maintaining a healthy infrastructure. There are many ways for residents to continually be involved and this year, in honor of Earth Day, the city is inviting residents to join North Bend Beautification Days on April 22nd and 23rd to help tidy up North Bend! If you have any questions, visit https://www.discovernorthbend.com/ or call them at (425) 888-1211.
Stay Connected!
Please forward this email and invite others to sign up to receive email updates. Also, make sure that you follow our Facebook account and Twitter page to stay up-to-date on everything we are working on together!
Finally... a reminder that I’d love to grab a cup of coffee and talk. Just reach out to our team member Robby at Robby.paige@kingcounty.gov or at 206-477-1003 and Robby will set us up!
 Sarah Perry
King County Council
District 3
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