 June 2022: Summer is Here – Time to Enjoy our Beautiful Outdoors!
Dear Friend,
We are surrounded by the most amazing natural resources, open space, forests, trails, water, and so much more in our district, spanning across 1,000 of King County’s total 2,300 square miles! This includes Federal, Tribal, State, County, City and private forests, 4 watersheds, multiple lakes and rivers, and many thousands of acres of farmland!
We have a critical environmental footprint in our district that impacts all of King County, and we are committed to preserving and protecting our environment and natural resources toward meeting King County’s Climate Action Plan goals! Our team has been touring the beautiful natural spaces of our district, and the organizations that work tirelessly to protect their natural ecosystems. Take a look!
Environmental Work in District 3
 Left: CM Perry sharing some words at the Jim Ellis Memorial Regional Park at Preston Celebration; Right: CM Perry joining Diane McElhany, Megan Smith, and other scientists for a tour of the King County Environmental Laboratory in Seattle.
Our County has been making critical investments in maintaining and improving our open spaces and working to showcase projects that recognize the impact that our land has had in our lives, especially in District 3! A few weeks ago, I had the chance to attend and share some words at the Jim Ellis Memorial Regional Park at Preston Celebration, honoring the legacy of the late Jim Ellis and his influence not only on the greater Preston community, but on our region and state as a whole! We also had the chance to visit the King County Environmental Laboratory to see the great scientific work at hand in partnership with the King County Department of Natural Resources, particularly on Lake Sammamish. And we have been meeting regularly with representatives from the sovereign nations of the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe and Tulalip Tribes as we learn about each of their approaches to flood mitigation, preservation, protection and restoration of land and waterways.
Initiatives Across King County
 Left: Details about the King County Forest Carbon program and urban carbon credits; Right: WA State Governor Jay Inslee taking a bicycle ride on a Leafline Trail.
Across King County, forestry projects with the County, the City of Issaquah, and Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust earned over $1 million to ensure our urban forests are preserved to maintain their environmental and recreational benefits! We were also grateful to hear from WA State Governor Jay Inslee in a meeting a few weeks back as the new Leafline Trails Network map was launched, showcasing the new connection of Central Puget Sound through many miles of trails for walking, biking, and rolling!
Upcoming Environmental Preservation Measure
 Left: Sammamish River Trail; Right: Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park (Issaquah). Since 1982, Conservation Futures grant funding has helped protect more than 100,000 acres of land in King County as open space, including the two parks above (photos from www.beautifulwashington.com).
Earlier this month, the King County Council voted on an important county initiative that will send a land conservation measure to the November ballot. This measure would double our ability to preserve rivers, forests, farmlands and trails throughout the County for less than $2 per month for the average homeowner. This means we would be able to preserve 65,000 acres of open space over the next 30 years, with 30,000 of those preserved acres right in our own district! The proposal will be reviewed in Council in July - stay tuned on how you can participate!
We have been busy!! As you can see, we are deeply committed to prioritizing our environment, but there is still so much work to be done. Let's work together to make sure the beauty of our region is preserved for years to come!
Join our July Town Hall Events!
Join us for an in-person Town Hall on a Thursday in July at 6:30PM at a town near you where we’ll have an opportunity to get to know one another, ask questions, and hear about what we are working on in your town! We will have a chance to hear from the Mayor and a special speaker as well. Make sure you sign up at the links below so we have enough seats and refreshments – all kiddos, friends and family members welcome! Questions? Call/text: 206-507-9860
1. Duvall Town Hall on July 14th - Sign Up Here!
July 14th at 6:30PM we’ll meet at the Duvall Fire Station at 15600 1st Ave NE, Duvall, WA 98019. We’ll hear from Mayor Amy Ockerlander and a special speaker to be announced shortly. Space is limited, so click "Going" on the Facebook event and sign up for the event here!
2. Fall City Town Hall on July 21st - Sign up Here!
July 21st at 6:30PM we’ll meet at a location to be announced soon and we’ll hear from Fall City Community Association’s President Angela Donaldson and another special speaker! Click "Going" on the Facebook event and sign up for the event here. Stay tuned for more details!
3. Issaquah Town Hall on July 28th - Sign up Here!
July 28th at 6:30PM we’ll meet at a location to be announced soon and we’ll hear from Mayor Mary Lou Pauly and another special speaker! Click "Going" on the Facebook event and sign up for the event here. Stay tuned for more details!
Important Community Updates
Looking Out for Our Youth: We know that our kids need to be able to get to where they need to go without the financial barriers that would keep them from school, work and other healthy opportunities, and King County Metro and Snoqualmie Valley Transportation have begun work to support the positive future of our youth in these ways! King County Executive Dow Constantine shared a plan with Council that allows young people age 18 and under to ride transit at no cost and Sno Valley Transportation began free bus trips for students this summer so those 18 and under can ride the little white buses anywhere the SVT travels at no cost!
Subarea Plans Update: We are working hard on our subarea plans throughout King County to inform our 2024 King County Comprehensive Plan update, establishing the next 10-year regional vision! To learn more about these subarea plans and to find out more information about community conversations in your area, visit the King County Department of Local Services Subarea Plan website here. If you have any questions, please reach out to Subarea Planner Jesse Reynolds at jesreynolds@kingcounty.gov.
Hate Has No Place Here: There was a recent attack against St. Louise Catholic Church in Bellevue that follows on the heels of other hate crimes and attacks on local religious spaces, including but not limited to Churches, Mosques, Synagogues and Temples. Our Council stands against religious hate crimes in all forms. Religious freedom is a foundational value of our Country and of King County Council’s as well, and we are committed to ensuring that each of our residents feel safe in their places of worship. We stand in solidarity with each and all of our faith communities, and I pledge to do whatever is in my power to condemn and stop these senseless acts by those intending to do harm to themselves or others. Hate has no place here.
Celebrating Pride Month!
Community Gathering in Sammamish for the Progress Pride Flag raising, led by Deputy Mayor (and now Mayor!) Kali Clark.
I have been so happy to see, and be able to participate in, so many of the events held throughout our many communities in celebration of Pride Month. We have much to celebrate together, and much work still in front of us still to do. I will always stand in solidarity with my LGBTQ friends, family and community members for inclusion and equity for all, as will my colleagues on the King County Council, who recognized June as Pride Month across the County in our recent proclamation: Watch the video of our King County Council proclamation here!
Duvall City Spotlight!
Check out where the spotlight is shining on a Duvall 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!
Hollyhock Farm is a diverse family-run farm that offers a variety of produce and products for the community! They emphasize raising animals using ethical methods that work with nature for the health of their farm and surrounding forests lands, while also maintaining healthy pastures and plant diversity. Visit them at 27311 NE 116th St., Duvall WA 98019, or give them a call at 505-410-9636.
Acres of Diamonds sets out to ensure that every homeless woman and child receives the opportunity to rewrite their story. They aim to provide holistic, long-lasting solutions through programming and have helped over 1,000 women to date, with 94% of families now in stable housing after experiencing homelessness. If you have any questions about their programs, email them at info@acresofdiamonds.org or give them a call at 425-788-9999.
City Spotlight: Duvall
The City of Duvall has been a model community in our District for its beautiful open spaces and wonderful natural resources! Under the excellent leadership of Mayor Amy Ockerlander and the Duvall City Councilmembers, the city has been committed to growing the infrastructure while maintaining its natural beauty. The city is hosting many upcoming classes to help you perfect your green thumb and learn more about spring gardening. To register call (425) 255-9600 or email info@kcwd90.com.
Get Involved - Join Any of Our Meetings!
The Council has 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 a 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
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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