Your Weekly Update on What's Happening at the King County Council  

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I am pleased to share that this week, the King County Council unanimously approved my proposal to study strategies for improving traffic safety in the Fairwood neighborhood. I am incredibly thankful to my colleagues for their support in passing this important legislation!

This is a significant victory for the Fairwood community. After many conversations with concerned community members, it is clear to me that we need to look at all ideas for improving road safety in Fairwood, working together to proactively avoid tragedies brought on by dangerous driving.

Thank you to each person who engaged with my office to help make our community a safer place.

All my best,

Reagan Dunn
King County Councilmember
District 9

Should King County close its juvenile detention facility? Council scheduled to vote this Tuesday

You may remember that at the last Law and Justice Committee meeting, the committee approved without recommendation my motion that would state the intent of the King County Council to keep the county's juvenile detention facility open and operating secure detention. My proposal combats a push by activists to close the juvenile jail and instead house violent offenders in houses across King County—without locks on their doors. To learn more about this issue, read this Seattle Times article.

My proposal is scheduled for consideration by the full King County Council on Tuesday, August 27. To provide public comment and tell the Council to keep the juvenile detention center open and providing secure detention, you can either:

• Attend the meeting in-person at the King County Courthouse (516 3rd Avenue, Room 1001, Seattle, WA)
• Provide comment remotely via Zoom by computer, using the Zoom application at https://zoom.us/join and the webinar ID: 890 5838 1493
• Provide comment via phone by calling 1-253-215-8782 and using the webinar ID: 890 5838 1493.

If you wish to attend the meeting without providing public comment, you can either attend in person. livestream the meeting www.kingcounty.gov/kctv, or watch Comcast channel 22 and 322 (HD) and Astound Broadband channels 22 and 711 (HD).

Renton and Bellevue beach closures

Due to high bacteria levels, multiple beaches in King County are closed, including Newcastle Beach in Bellevue and Gene Coulon beach in Renton.

Though the swimming areas are closed, the park itself is still open. Signs are posted around the swimming areas indicating the closed areas.

For more information and the current status, please visit King County's website. 

$30 cat and dog adoptions during Clear The Shelters event

Help RASKC Clear The Shelters! Now through September 10, they've reduced their pet adoption fees. You can take home a cat or dog of any age for just $30 - the cost of a pet license.

See profiles of all of adoptable pets here, or visit King County Pet Adoption Center soon! They're open for walk-in adoptions from noon to 5 p.m. weekdays and noon to 4 p.m. weekends.

Doors Open grants

Doors Open Facilities grants and Doors Open Sustained Support grants are now available to King County arts, heritage, preservation, and science and technology nonprofit organizations. 

Doors Open Facilities grants provide funding for building, remodeling, and buying specialized space that houses and facilitates cultural work in King County.  

Doors Open Sustained Support grants provide one-year unrestricted funding to meet non-profit organizations' day-to-day needs.

Applications are due September 4, 2024 at 5 PM. If you have questions about either of these funding opportunities, please contact Councilmember Dunn's District Director Carson Coates at carson.coates@kingcounty.gov or 206-477-0773.

VSHSL Short-Term Engagement Projects

This program awards small grants for community-building events and activities that increase social engagement and connection for seniors and members of resilient communities in King County.

Applications are due August 28, 2024 by 2 PM. Find more information and apply online.

VSHSL Caregiver Connections and Support Funding Opportunity

VSHSL seeks to decrease family caregivers’ isolation, burden, and stress by increasing access to services, improving their skills and understanding, and promoting community connections and wellbeing. This investment intends to support caregivers so they can sustain their caregiver roles and support Seniors and Adults with Disabilities to live healthy and independent lives.

Applications are due September 24, 2024 by 2 PM. Find more information and apply online.