Learn about summer fire safety in Skyway on June 14
Summer is here! Join us!
Flag Day, June 14, 10-2 p.m.
Skyway Fire Department
12417 76th Avenue S
Learn about the new fireworks ordinance in unincorporated King County and get some tips for summer and fire safety.
For more information, send email to:
Bong Santo Domingo
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Local Services
King County Local Services’ efforts to celebrate the diversity of its team in 2021 garnered some prestigious recognition last month.
The department won first place in the Blue Pencil and Gold Screen Awards competition by the National Association of Government Communicators. The winners were announced during a ceremony in Louisville, Ky.
Local Services spotlighted members of its diverse team throughout 2021, starting with Women’s History Month. It used social media – specifically Instagram and Facebook – to spotlight Road Services employees in a virtual webinar where women employees shared their experiences. The approach was so successful that the department took similar approaches to highlight employees throughout 2021, including during Asian American Pacific Islander and Hispanic Heritage months and LGBTQ+ Pride month.
Learn more on the King County Local Blog.
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Road Services
Dry weather equals road safety work
King County Road Services uses dry weather to complete important road safety work. One tool for improving safety is High Friction Surface Treatment— a layer of anti-skid material added to the road surface to create more traction for vehicles going around curves. This makes vehicles less likely to slide off the road and into a guardrail, tree, or other object.
Road Services plans to apply this treatment to eight locations this summer (learn more on the Road Services website).
Photo: Anti-skid surface material has a slightly different rust color and is applied on both lanes of this two-lane road on Vashon Highway SW.
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Know before you go
Road Services crews work in every corner of unincorporated King County. They want you to know where this work is happening so you can avoid or plan for closures and congestion.
So they put all construction work on their MyCommute website. At right is what a closure looks like on their map. It's updated often and is the best site to check before heading out the door.
Sample image: The map’s blue line shows the start and end of the work zone. Roads on either end show alternate routes travelers can take to avoid the work zone. The pop-up box provides detailed information about the work and when the road will be closed each day.
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Natural Resources and Parks
Construction is underway at Skyway Park
Construction at Skyway Park began last month and is scheduled to continue until September. This work will bring updates to the park, such as a new playground and play equipment, a mini turf soccer arena, and two new parking spaces.
If you visit the park during construction, please respect closure signs and use marked pathways. Learn more on the Skyway Park web page.
Learn to identify noxious water plants at a free in-person
“Lake Weed Watcher” training
The Lake Weed Watcher Program trains volunteers to be on the lookout for aquatic weeds in small King County lakes. Participants learn to identify both native and non-native aquatic plants, and how to watch out for invasive weeds that have the potential to spread locally and cause damage. Detecting these weeds early allows us to stop them before they get too entrenched to remove.
Free in-person training event:
Tuesday, June 21 - 6-8 p.m.
Beaver Lake Lodge
25201 SE 24th Street, Sammamish
Please register online and bring a mask, as part of this training will be held indoors
Photo: At the last training, held in 2018, participants checked out samples collected ahead of time and also learned how to collect samples by a lake.
Learn more on the King County Noxious Weed Program website
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Executive Services
License your pets for love
Show your pets love by licensing them today! Now through June 30, you can license your cat or dog or renew an expired license, and Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) will waive any late fees within its jurisdiction.
If your pet goes missing, your precious one is much more likely to be returned to you if they are licensed. License fees also help fund RASKC’s lifesaving work, including finding homes for adoptable pets and investigating cases of animal cruelty and neglect.
Pet preparedness
Another way to show love for your pets is to include them in your disaster plans. June is National Pet Preparedness Month, a great time to begin or refresh your pet preparedness plan. Here are some tips:
- In addition to licensing and microchipping your pets, make sure they have identification tags that are current and easy to read.
- Plan for the possibility of evacuation in case of fire, power outage, or other potential emergency and consider the best way to evacuate your pet. Always leash or crate your pets to keep them safe.
- Prepare a “go kit” for your pet, including enough food for a few days, bottles of water, medications and vet records, and safety, first aid, and sanitary supplies. Treats and favorite toys will always be appreciated by your furry friends and can help them keep calm during a stressful event.
Are you ready for wildfire season?
As we begin to enjoy summer, it’s a good time to think about and prepare for possible wildfires. They are becoming more frequent and creeping closer to suburban neighborhoods. Ready, set, go is a good way to prepare:
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Ready – Prepare your home for fire season and think about ways to prevent fire from reaching your residence. For example, trim branches that overhang your home, porch, and deck and prune branches of large trees up to 6 to 10 feet (depending on their height) from the ground. Plants should be carefully spaced and fire resistant.
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Set – Create your evacuation plan, your “go-bag” or disaster supply kit (supplies for three days, including food, water, clothing, first aid kit, etc.) and your communication plan.
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Go – Leave your area based on the instructions from local officials.
For more information, go to www.kingcounty.gov/wildfires. Also get some quick tips from Disaster Danny in these short videos.
Community and Human Services
King County's Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) still wants to hear from you
VSHSL is partnering with community groups from across King County to host a series of Community Conversations to receive YOUR input on issues related to the levy.
Conversations are open to all King County residents. Each conversation will focus on a specific community. Feel free to join all that are relevant to your community.
This month's Community Conversations
☐ Tuesday, June 7, 5:30-7 p.m. — Focus: southwest King County. Meeting will be in-person at the Federal Way Community Center with the option for virtual attendance. Register
☐ Thursday, June 16, 5:30-7 p.m. — Focus: Southeast King County, including communities in and around Enumclaw. Meeting will be in-person at the Enumclaw Community Center with the option for virtual attendance. Register
☐ Tuesday, Tuesday, June 21, 5:30-7 p.m. — Focus: greater Seattle area. Meeting will be in-person at the Phinney Neighborhood Association with the option for virtual attendance. Register
☐ Tuesday, Tuesday, June 28, 5:30-7 p.m. — Focus: communities in and around Redmond, Kirkland, and Woodinville. Meeting will be in-person at the Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village with the option for virtual attendance. Register
☐ Thursday, June 30, 5:30-7 p.m. — Focus: North Seattle, including Northgate, Lake City, Roosevelt, and the University District. Meeting will be in-person at the King County Veterans Program Northgate Office with the option for virtual attendance. Register
Learn more on this blog post
:: 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
Tuesday, June 21 – virtual meeting via Zoom (6:30-8:30 p.m.)
Monthly meetings are open to the public, and often feature guest speakers in addition to community reports and information from a variety of local organizations. For more information email Nancy Merrill.
:: Fall City Community Association
First Tuesdays – Virtual meeting (7-8:30 p.m.)
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. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month, and are open to the public. For more information, visit fallcity.org or email send email.
:: Four Creeks Unincorporated Area Council
Second Tuesdays – Virtual meeting via Zoom
Visit the website for the latest information and to confirm meeting dates and locations.
:: Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council
Monday, June 6, 7-9:30 p.m. — attend in person or via Zoom
Hobart Church, 27524 SE 200th Street, Maple Valley
(NW corner of SE 200th Street and the Issaquah-Hobart Road)
Special guest speakers will be District 5 state representatives Bill Ramos and Lisa Callan, who will review the recently completed legislative session and take questions.
Visit the website for the latest information and to confirm meetings. An agenda, including a list of any invited guest speakers, and Zoom information will be posted several days before the meeting.
:: Green Valley/Lake Holm Association
The Green Valley/Lake Holm Association advocates for those who live in unincorporated southeast King County. Primary goals are to maintain the community’s unique historic, agricultural, and rural character; protect the environment; and sustain quality of life in the area. We engage regularly with local government agencies to address concerns and influence policies on topics of mutual interest, such as growth and development, transportation, public safety, and flood control. Stay connected by visiting their Facebook page.
:: 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
Thursday, June 2 – virtual meeting via Zoom (7-9 p.m.)
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
Visit the website or Facebook page for the latest information.
:: Vashon Chamber of Commerce
Contact: discover@vashonchamber.com.
:: Vashon-Maury Island Community Council
Monday, June 20 – Virtual meeting via Zoom (7-9 p.m.)
Monthly board meetings are open to the public, and often feature guest speakers in addition to community reports and information from a variety of local organizations. For more information visit vmicc.net or email David Vogel.
:: West Hill Community Association
Wednesday June 8 – virtual meeting via Zoom (7-9 p.m.)
Monthly board meetings are open to the public, and often feature guest speakers in addition to community reports and information from a variety of local organizations. For more information, visit the website or send email.
As warmer weather approaches—however slowly this year—most of us are beginning to think about sunny days and summer fun. One major change we’ll see this year is that this Fourth of July, recreational fireworks will no longer be legal for residents to buy or use.
Last year the King County Council passed, and the County Executive signed into law, a ban on the sale and use of personal fireworks. Professional fireworks displays and small novelty fireworks (like snakes, party poppers, toy smoke devices, and toy caps) are still allowed. This is the first year in which the ban will be in effect, and we’re concentrating enforcement efforts on education about the new prohibition. In most cases, enforcement officers will issue warnings and information about the new law to those who violate it.
If you see someone using prohibited fireworks, you can call 206-848-0800 to report it. We’ll need you to provide the name and address of the person violating the ban, along with any additional details that will help our code enforcement officers send a warning and information about the ban to the individual.
Next year, we’ll begin enforcing the ban with citations.
In the meantime, let’s make sure this summer will be both fun and safe for everyone.
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Director’s Corner is a column from John Taylor, the director of King County Local Services. To contact John, email AskLocalServices@kingcounty.gov or call 206-477-3800 (Relay 711; language interpreters available).
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