Happy Holidays!
December 2023
Dear Friend,
As some of our neighbors celebrate the final day of Hanukkah and others get ready to celebrate Christmas, Kwanzaa, or other Holiday traditions, I want to thank you for another wonderful year serving as your District 3 King County Councilmember! We made our goal this year of prioritizing behavioral health access, environmental protection, and creative economy development. We have expanded and addressed these priorities together with, and in support of, our communities well past 2023.
These investments in behavioral health, environmental preservation, and creative economies guide the long-term vision for both our incorporated and unincorporated communities across District 3 and King County. I’m looking forward to all the partnerships that we can continue to work on together in 2024 and beyond!
As we enter a new year with new goals, please consider joining me for a cup of coffee, or an online conversation - I’d love the opportunity to connect with you! Please reach out by email, sarah.perry@kingcounty.gov, or phone at 206-477-1003, and we’ll find some time to connect!
All the best,
WHAT A YEAR! Here’s our Top 23 Accomplishments for 2023!
As I wrap out my second year on Council, our District 3 team and I are excited to share some transformational victories for our communities, and all of King County! As a note, District 3 includes the cities and towns of Snoqualmie Pass, North Bend, Snoqualmie, Preston, Fall City, Carnation, Duvall, Skykomish, Bothell, Woodinville, Redmond, Sammamish, and Issaquah.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS
🔋 Sponsored a Battery Energy Storage Ordinance, which strengthens environmental protections and safety, while ensuring we are positioned as a model for renewable energy with BESS in unincorporated King County.
🛢️ Introduced a Council Motion in support of the Re+ program, an excellent approach to building a healthy environment and economy by reinventing our system of waste management.
🚵 Supported Eastside connectivity as Co-Chair of EasTrail and celebrated the opening the final link of the 11-mile East Lake Sammamish Trail (ELST) to connect the 44-mile continuous rolling, walking, and running trail!
🛣️ As the Vice Chair of the Flood Control District Board, I advocated for $500,000 to be used for a feasibility study for raising roadways above the 100-year flood plain in the Snoqualmie Valley.
🐟 Allocated $4 million to fund salmon conservation, education, and fish passage projects across District 3’s Water Resource Inventory Areas, WRIA 7 in the Snoqualmie Valley and a portion of WRIA 8 around Lake Sammamish.
CREATIVE ECONOMIES
🎨 Convened monthly meetings with a representative from each of our 10 cities and 2 towns to help build toward each forming a Creative District for arts, culture, heritage, and business through ArtsWA!
✒️ Sponsored the Doors Open proposal, which will provide $94 million a year going to community organizations throughout King County and District 3 for art, culture, heritage, and science!
🔊 Supported KC’s Office of Economic Opportunity & Creative Economy at their Harbor Island Studios Grand Opening to mark the opening of the region’s only soundstage facility.
👟 Allocated $22K to the City of Carnation for use toward youth sports and fitness programs across the city, including funding classes that focus on pickleball, tennis, basketball, nature walks, obstacle courses, yoga, and more!
👩🌾 Worked with farmers, farming organizations, and State and Federal representatives to protect and sustain farms and farmland from the Snoqualmie Valley to the Sammamish Valley.
🤝 Had over 250 meetings with non-profit environmental, creative, and behavioral health organizations, chambers, businesses, and farms throughout our 10 cities and 2 towns to listen to what is needed!
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INITIATIVES
🏥 Sponsored successful legislation to create a countywide network of five crisis care centers, restore and expand mental health residential treatment beds, and grow the community behavioral health workforce.
📞 Supported the 988 crisis hotline rollout and convened Behavioral Health Roundtables with Behavioral Health Specialists, Police & Fire Chiefs, Tribal Leaders and State Legislators to ensure optimal implementation.
🧾 Testified on behalf of the expansion of the Senior Property Tax Exemption at the State Legislature, which resulted in increased eligibility of over 30,000 additional seniors.
🏘️ Worked to award over $1 million to the Sno-Valley Senior Center and Sound Generations to ensure 15 new affordable apartments for our senior residents in Carnation!
🏠 Appropriated $125K from our COVID budget for RECLAIM Shelter (formerly Snoqualmie Valley Shelter), to increase their motel voucher program by an additional four rooms and help house our neighbors.
👴 Renewed the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL), which voters overwhelmingly passed on the ballot, to expand our programs and meet our veterans, seniors, and human services needs.
ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY
👧 Supported Girl Scout Troop 41653 with their goal of ensuring that King County employees had uniform options for all body types and genders resulting in Council passing my ordinance 2022-0429!
💵 Allocated 27 non-profit Grants throughout District 3, with $100K going to youth and seniors, $55K going toward housing and services, $25K going to community non-profits and $10K going to veterans!
🗺️ Hosted a Town Hall for each of our 10 cities and 2 towns, including Mayors, hosts, and experts on priorities for each community, including creative economies, the environment and behavioral health!
🏅 Presented the Snoqualmie Indian Tribal Chairman Bob de los Angeles with the MLK Medal of Distinguished Service award that answers Dr. King’s question, “What are you doing for others?”
🍁 Supported the civic engagement of Fall City residents in their efforts to maintain the small-town feel of rural Fall City while allowing for maximum growth for their community per zoning.
👩💼 Hosted a series of Snoqualmie Pass Roundtables on pass closures, parking, and security with King & Kittitas County business leaders, state legislators, WSP, WTI, PSE, KC & Kittitas Sheriff’s Office, Police & Fire Chiefs!
Celebrating the Retirement of Two Wonderful Councilmembers!
We want to honor the remarkable contributions of Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Councilmember Joe McDermott as they bid farewell to their accomplished careers in serving our County. Congratulations!
Councilmember Kohl-Welles has been a longtime public official in the state and County level, granting us with experienced guidance as our Vice Chair and District 4 Councilmember. She works her hardest to fight for Gender Equity and Social Justice. She has inspired so many, and I hope she enjoys her retirement to the fullest. Click here to watch this KCTV video looking back on her record of accomplishments in both state and county government.
Councilmember McDermott has been a shining light to our Council. As the first openly LGBTQ+ member to serve on the King County Council, he has contributed so much to passing legislation that protects anti-discrimination statuses and Marriage Equality. He has served West Seattle and District 8 commendably and he will be missed. Click here for Councilmember McDermott’s video looking back at some of his highlights after more than 22 years in public office.
Congratulations once again and thank you for the positive impacts you’ve had on our County. We at District 3 wish Councilmember Kohl-Welles and Councilmember McDermott well in their future endeavors.
Council Briefings & Actions!
The Council has been working hard this month – here’s the work that matters most to District 3:
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At our December King County Council meeting, we passed the supplemental budget that will provide millions to County departments and capital projects.
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We also approved the Doors Open program, which will provide grant funding to arts, heritage, science, and historical preservation non-profit organizations to increase the public benefits cultural organizations provide throughout King County.
- Also at our December King County Council meeting, we passed the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy Implementation Plan, which outlines how levy funds will be expended to support housing stability, healthy living, financial stability, social engagement, and service system access and improvement for veterans and military servicemembers and their respective families; seniors and their caregivers; and resilient communities in King County.
If you are interested in joining us for a meeting to make a comment or just listen in, click on any of the following links: 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; Regional Transit
Out in the Community!
(Left): Earlier this month, our team member joined the 5 Chamber Breakfast in Issaquah with the Issaquah Chamber, Sammamish Chamber, Sno-Valley Chamber, Mercer Island Chamber, and Newcastle Chamber; (Right): Lovely to attend KUOW Public Radio’s Year in Review with Bill Radke at the Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center with the best colleagues in the world!
 Earlier this month, I had the honor of presenting King County's 22nd Annual John D. Spellman Awards for Achievement in Historic Preservation.
Doors Open Cultural Access Program Passed!
I'm so excited to announce the unanimous vote and passage of the Doors Open legislation at full council on Dec. 5! The Doors Open Cultural Access Program will ensure a generational impact on arts, science, heritage and culture throughout King County, and right here in District 3! We know the arts bring a 10.8% impact on our GDP, and now that financial impact can be felt in each of our 39 cities and unincorporated areas of King County. The impacts on academics and behavioral health cannot be overstated as well. This historic investment will have a transformational impact on our communities for years to come. Read more about the passage of this opportunity here!
Recognizing our Spellman Award Winners!
This month, I had the honor of presenting King County's 22nd Annual John D. Spellman Awards for Achievement in Historic Preservation! Each year, we gather to recognize exceptional individuals, programs, projects, and businesses that preserve King County’s heritage and contribute to the health and vitality of our communities. This year, we recognized five award recipients who have done work restoring or preserving the legacy of some of the many historic properties across King County that tell the rich history of our region. Congratulations to the awardees, which included:
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Carmichael’s Hardware and Variety Store in Snoqualmie (pictured above), Award for Legacy Business, for the efforts of owners Wendy Thomas and Bryan Woolsey to maintain the local traditions that define this business and our District 3 community.
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Si View Metro Parks District Executive Director Travis Stombaugh, Award for Achievement in Restoration, for preserving the history of the old Tollgate farmhouse in North Bend by reinvigorating this important piece of our rural heritage.
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City of Auburn - Government, Award for Excellence in Adaptive Reuse for their stunning rehabilitation of the Auburn Post Office as the Postmark Center for the Arts.
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Padraic Slattery, Award for Achievement in Downtown Revitalization, for his revitalization of overlooked, mid-century inspired properties, including the Burco Building in Burien and the Lumber Yard Bar in White Center.
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Dennis Lewarch, Award for Career Achievement, for his remarkable career in public advocacy, education, and protection of archaeological, historic, and Native American traditional places around King County and Puget Sound.
Please join us in congratulating this year's amazing recipients of the John. D. Spellman Awards for Achievement in Historic Preservation!
Puget Sound Energy Discount Program
Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has launched a Bill Discount Rate program to save customers money on their monthly energy bill. Income-eligible customers can now reduce their PSE energy bills by up to 45% a month. The program is designed to be easily accessible and in most cases no proof of income is required. The program can be used in addition to their other assistance programs.
To quickly find out if you’re eligible, customers can go to pse.com/discount. The only information needed is household size, county of residency, and monthly household income.
Skykomish Spotlight!
Check out where the spotlight is shining on a Skykomish business, non-profit, and civic engagement opportunity this month! We hope you have a chance to visit these fantastic community contributors – and remember to Go Local!
Small Business Spotlight: LouSkis Deli
LouSkis Deli is locally owned and operated, family business. They proudly serve up quality eats to both new visitors and locals. Stop by to get some delicious, sandwiches, paninis, salads, and soups made with the freshest ingredients here in Skykomish. They also provide a wide variety of snacks, drinks, and market items. Visit Louskis Deli at 148 5th St N, Skykomish, WA 98288, visit their website here, email them at LouSkisDeli@gmail.com, or call them at 360-677-2211.
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The Skykomish Harvest Food Bank distributes food weekly to people in the Skykomish Valley. The food bank has grown leaps and bounds since its inception. On average, the volunteers help over a hundred families and distribute over two tons of food a month. As the seasons get colder, donating or volunteering to the food bank could help some families struggling with food insecurity. Stop by Skykomish Food Bank at 108 Old Cascade Hwy NE, Skykomish, WA 98288, visit their website here, send them an email at skykomishfoodbank@gmail.com, or call them at 360-447-8718 to learn more.
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The Town of Skykomish is a District 3 treasure, surrounded by the most beautiful forests and mountains. Their council meetings occur on the second Monday of every month and the 4th Monday of the month (if needed) at the Town Hall. The town’s in-person Planning Commission Meetings are also at the Town Hall (as needed) on the third Monday of every month. Visit their website to get more civically engaged in their upcoming plans and meetings, send them an email at clerk@skykomishwa.gov, or call them at 360-677-2388.
Resources that Make a Difference!
Check out the resources below to access important services in our region. Need something else? Email sarah.perry@kingcounty.gov and we’d love to help!
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, Instagram 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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