Planning for Flood Resilience: 2024 Flood Management Plan Update!
September 2024
Dear Friend,
I am grateful to my colleagues on the King County Council for their unanimous support of the 2024 Flood Management Plan update ordinance that I worked on and sponsored this year! The plan includes critical updated and revised floodplain management policy language to guide our efficient and effective response to flooding, the most common natural emergency our residents can experience in King County.
As policymakers, our primary responsibility is to the safety and wellbeing of our residents. With the increase in flood and flood-related hazards along our rivers and streams in both urban and coastal areas of the County, we need to be adapting to the ever-changing risks facing people, property, and infrastructure. Through the course of my work on the Comprehensive Plan update this year, I’ve been focused on preparing for the ability to respond to the impacts of increased temperatures, fires, and flooding, and the 2024 Flood Management Plan update is an extension of that work.
The ability to meaningfully shape our response to flood hazards is incredibly important and will only become more pressing over time for each of our residents. To learn more about the work we have been doing to get us to this ordinance, check out this video from King County TV. Thank you again to all my colleagues for their support in passing this impactful plan!
All the best,
Council Briefings & Actions!
Council has been working hard this month – here’s the work that matters most to D3:
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At the September Budget and Fiscal Management (BFM) Committee meeting, we heard a briefing on a proposed motion from my colleague Councilmember Zahilay that would request the Executive establish a Regional Workforce Housing Initiative, where the County would partner with housing agencies and housing developers to provide permanently rent-restricted, multiple-unit housing. Our committee had a robust conversation with many questions, and we will be bringing this back up for more discussion soon.
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At the September Committee of the Whole (COW), we heard briefings on our Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Strategic Plan and Disability Equity Action Plan, both of which align our county to the commitments we have toward ensuring accessible resources and services for all residents.
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At the September Local Services and Land Use (LSLU) Committee meeting, we had a discussion on an ordinance I sponsored relating to the concept of Complete Streets, which promotes roadways that are safe and convenient for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and motor vehicle drivers of all ages and abilities.
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; Health and Human Services; Labor Policy; Law and Justice; Local Services and Land Use; Transportation, Economy, and Environment; Regional Policy; Regional Transit; Regional Water Quality
King County Budget Leadership!
As I shared last month, it's budget season, which means our Council is hard at work to deliberate on our King County Budget. I am honored to have been asked to serve on the Budget Leadership Team (BLT)! The primary function of BLT is to review the proposed $10.2 billion budget for 2025, transmitted last week by Executive Dow Constantine, and help develop the Budget Chair’s striker, which includes our Council's proposed edits before passage of the final budget in November.
As we navigate this important work, we are providing multiple opportunities for the public to learn about and weigh in on the Council’s budget priorities. The schedule includes upcoming town hall meetings taking place across King County and six budget panels held at the King County Courthouse. Panels are in-person meetings that focus on specific budget issues.
Our three evening town halls will be held in Bellevue, Kent, and South Seattle:
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Thursday, October 10, 6 PM - 8 PM, Bellevue City Council Chambers Room 1E-126, 450 110th Avenue NE, Bellevue 98004. This meeting is in-person or virtual. Zoom.us/join or call 1-253-215-8782. Webinar ID: 883 8530 7341
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Thursday, October 24, 6 PM - 8 PM, Kent Senior Center Social Hall, 600 E Smith Street, Kent 98032
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Wednesday, October 30, 6 PM - 8 PM, New Holly Gathering Hall, 7054 32nd Ave South, Seattle, WA 98118
Our six upcoming budget panel meetings begin on Tuesday, Oct 8th and will conclude on Thursday, Oct 17th:
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Budget Panel #1 – Public Transit, Climate, Local Services, and Infrastructure, chaired by CM Sarah Perry - Tuesday Mornings, October 8 and 15, at 9:30 AM
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Budget Panel #2 – Public Safety, chaired by CM Rod Dembowski - Wednesday Mornings, October 9 and 16, at 9:30 AM
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Budget Panel #3 – Health, Housing, and Human Services, chaired by CM Teresa Mosqueda - Thursday Mornings, October 10 and 17, at 9:30 AM
We encourage you to follow along on our website as we review the budget. Thank you for participating and sharing your priorities with us. We hope to hear from you soon!
Safety Updates and Opportunities on King County Battery Energy Storage Systems
Last week, King County Council approved the ordinance I put forward to establish Battery Energy Storage Systems in unincorporated King County while also ensuring public safety and protection of our natural environment so that we can meet our Strategic Climate Action Plan goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050! These systems are becoming increasingly critical in the array of renewable energy, and this legislation makes battery energy storage systems an allowed use on nearly 97% of the county’s unincorporated land area, exempting the remaining 3% of land protected for farming. All this while ensuring we are meeting or exceeding all established best practices by the two national standard bearers for BESS, American Planning Association and Pacific Northwest National Labs Zoning Considerations.
It is exciting to have this opportunity to meet our clean energy needs while intentionally implementing guardrails that protect the residents of King County. I want to thank my Council colleagues for their strong support and, specifically, I am grateful to Executive Dow Constantine for his leadership in supporting this crucial step.
Out in the Community!
 (Left): I joined the North Bend Library to celebrate its 30th Anniversary in the North Bend community; (Right): We celebrated the 7th annual Armenian Festival in Redmond to celebrate the wonderful contributions of the Armenian community.
(Left): We visited Carnation Elementary School in Carnation to see their beautiful new ceramic salmon mural; (Right): I joined Tasveer for their Tasveer Film Festival & Market Launch Party!
 (Left): We celebrated with the Sno-Valley Senior Center at their ribbon cutting of 15 Affordable Senior Apartments; (Right): We joined Sammamish residents, including the youth Robo Eclipse Robotics team, at the weekly Sammamish Farmers Market!
On the Issues!
Informed by both our survey data and community conversations, our priority areas this year include Community Health & Safety, Environmental Preservation & Farm Protection, and Small Businesses & Creative Economy. We are hard at work convening meetings with organizations and are looking forward to the positive change we can create together!
On the Topic of Community Health & Safety
2024 Mental Health Champion Award: I recently learned that NAMI Eastside, a tireless advocate for behavioral health in our community, is recognizing both me and King County Executive Dow Constantine as their 2024 Mental Health Champion Award recipients! I’m incredibly thankful to all the amazing partners in our community – including local behavioral health agencies, law enforcement and first responders, schools, and the 70+ behavioral health community organizations with whom we've connected. Without all of their support, I would not be able to be in this position to accept this award! I am humbled and deeply grateful to be the recipient of this award by NAMI Eastside. Please join me in thanking them for all they do!
On the Topic of the Environmental Preservation & Farm Protection
The Lower Frew Levee Setback Project: The King County Flood Control District (KCFCD) has been working diligently since its creation in 2007 to safeguard our communities from flooding. The KCFCD, in collaboration with King County as service provider, has spearheaded over 370 capital projects aimed at mitigating the risk of levee and revetment failures. These projects cover 118 linear miles and ~800 acres of land crucial for flood mitigation. One project in District 3 is the Lower Frew Levee Setback Project, which improves flood protection, enhances habitat, and creates recreational opportunities in Carnation! This project is a pivotal step in safeguarding our community while restoring the natural ecosystem of the Tolt River.
On the Topic of Small Businesses & Creative Economy
Doors Open Implementation Plan: Last year, the King County Council voted unanimously to pass the Doors Open legislation to establish a Cultural Access Program across King County. I was proud to be a co-sponsor of this landmark legislation to create transformative access to science, heritage, culture and the arts for all residents. The Doors Open Implementation Plan has been developed and will be before Full Council for review and possible final vote in October 2024!
In August 2024, applications were open by 4Culture for initial one-time capital and operating grants, and they got 882 total applications for roughly $50 million in available funding to be allocated by the end of this year! This includes 61 applications from D3 organizations or those who hope to bring programs to our District. Applications for the full program will be made available in January 2025! We'll be communicating major deadlines, but please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions – we are very motivated to ensure support for our District 3 organizations.
September Recognitions and Holidays!
 September was full of festivities, holidays, and proclamations! We kicked off the month by recognizing Labor Day, a day to honor the workers and labor organizations across King County who have given so much for our communities. We also celebrated the month of September 15th - October 15th as Hispanic Heritage Month in King County, a month that serves as a celebration and tribute of the generations of Hispanic Americans who have enriched our nation, state, county, cities, and our communities! Finally, we had a few recognitions in Council, including recognizing Esther Lucero, the President and CEO of the Seattle Indian Health Board and a District 3 resident, as our 2024 King County Recovery Champion. Finally, we were able to present a recognition to the University of Washington Men’s Washington Rowing team, who won their 20th National Championship in 2024. We look forward to what October has in store for us!
District 3 Town Halls
KC D3 Redmond Town Hall Recap
It was delightful to hear from our Redmond residents at the new Redmond Senior and Community Center. Our guest speakers joined us to talk about behavioral health, creative economies and economic vitality, and environmental preservation in Redmond and across D3. You can watch a recap of the Town Hall here!
KC D3 Skykomish Town Hall Recap
It was so great to hear from our Skykomish residents at Sky Artworks. Our guest speakers joined us to talk about community safety, road infrastructure and maintenance, and environmental preservation in Skykomish and across D3. You can watch a recap of the Town Hall here!
$5 million King County Parks Funding for Youth!
I'm excited to share that our Council approved $5 million in grant funding proposed by Executive Dow Constantine for youth to have increased access to outdoor recreation, after-school activities, refurbished aquatic centers, sports fields, and playgrounds!
The King County Parks grants will play a crucial role in nurturing a love of sports and outdoors for youth in our district with infrastructure and programs through the Youth and Amateur Sports grant and the Healthy Communities and Parks Fund. We are excited about King County's investment in the health and happiness of our next generation of future leaders! Learn more about the grant funding here.
MIDD Sales Tax Behavioral Health Listening Sessions
We know that King County is facing behavioral health challenges including a growing need for mental health and substance use care, a workforce shortage, and an overdose crisis impacting residents all across the county, especially children and youth. We also know the burden that our first responders are facing when it comes to resources for behavioral health responses. That is why it's important for us to effectively use our county’s local behavioral health sales tax, MIDD, which generates $80 million each year.
We want to hear from you to help us prioritize our investments! Join a listening session to share how King County’s behavioral health system can better serve you. Listening sessions are happening from September 23rd to October 10th, including one in District 3 on Thursday, October 3rd from 6:00 - 7:30 PM at the Riverview School District Educational Center (15510 1st Ave NE, Duvall, WA 98019). Join us to share your thoughts and sign up here!
King County Citizen's Elections Oversight Committee
Interested in elections? Check-out this opportunity to serve on the King County Citizens’ Election Oversight Committee (CEOC). The CEOC is a 16-member committee of volunteers, who have interest or expertise in elections. They produce an annual report to Council on their observations, findings, and recommendations on election-related matters. Currently, the CEOC has the following unfilled positions:
- A representative from the Vietnamese-speaking community
- A representative who has experience in technology
- A representative from a nonpartisan organization in King County that promotes equality and the advancement of Black or African Americans, such as the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle.
The applications are requested to be submitted by October 11, 2024. For more information on how to apply, please visit this website.
ORCA Announces Reduced Card Fares for Next Six Months!
A special offer from ORCA is allowing riders to save on their daily rides for the next five months. During this time, the ORCA Day Pass for adults will be reduced from $8 to $6, and the reduced fare pass for seniors, ORCA lift customers with lower incomes, and people with disabilities will be reduced from $4 to $2. To take advantage of this deal, you will need a plastic ORCA card or a digital card, only available for Android users in Google Wallet.
Grant Opportunities this Quarter!
Do you know of an impactful organization that's looking for funding? Our District 3 Team has resources for you! Every month we share a Grants Newsletter that highlights upcoming grant opportunities over the next few months, and there are several grant opportunities that are available now! Investing in our local non-profits and supporting innovative ideas through funding is critical to ensure that each of our communities can thrive, now and into the future!
Skykomish Spotlight!
This month the spotlight is shining on a Skykomish business, non-profit, and civic engagement opportunity! We hope you have a chance to visit these fantastic community contributors – and remember to Go Local!
Sky River Coffee, founded by longtime Skykomish resident Monica Ainsley, opened in 2021 in an old hotel to bridge history and community. Though the space is large enough for customers to mingle and work, the menu keeps to coffee and Italian soda, plus a handful of pastries. It's a staple in the Skykomish community and a great place to meet with neighbors. Visit their website here or visit them at 102 E Railroad Ave Skykomish, WA 98288.
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The Skykomish Food Bank is committed to serving those in need in the Skykomish community. Over the past few years, their organization has grown significantly, and now on average they help over 100 families and distribute over 2 tons of food a month. They run their operations on volunteers who make everything happen! A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to visit them and present them with a Get Active Stay Active Councilmanic Grant of $2,500 to support their incredible work! Visit their website here to learn more about their work or visit them at 108 Old Cascade Hwy NE, Skykomish, WA 98288. Questions? Call them at 360-447-8718 or send them an email at skykomishfoodbank@gmail.com.
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The Town of Skykomish is a true treasure, surrounded by beautiful forests and mountains. Under the leadership of Mayor Henry Sladek and the City Council, they have been working hard to make sure that the community can continue to thrive well into the future. Earlier this month, they held a public open house to discuss their Comprehensive Plan, which serves as a blueprint for the growth and development of the town for the next 20 years and beyond. Stay tuned for more information on future community meetings here. Make sure to stop by Skykomish Town Hall at 119 4th Street N, PO Box 308, Skykomish, WA 98288 or visit their website. For any questions, send them an email at clerk@skykomishwa.gov or give them a call at 360-677-2388.
About Town!
With so much going on across our District 3 cities and towns, we want to ensure that you know about any upcoming major events, parades, festivals, and activities. Below is a short list of some upcoming events!
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Saturday, October 5th and 6th, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM: live music, kids activities, Field of Fun, hundreds of artist booths and food booths, parade, & more!
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Saturday, October 12th, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM: giant pumpkins, artisan vendors, live music, tasty food, cooking demonstrations, apple pressing, and more!
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Sunday, October 13th 2:30 - 8:00 PM: local women-owned businesses, henna, sweets and snacks, food, and more!
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Saturday, October 26th, 6:00 - 8:30 PM: costumes, crafts, fun games, and more!
If you know of any upcoming events that you’d like us to highlight in next month’s newsletter, please share them at osman.salahuddin@kingcounty.gov.
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 X (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 Osman at osman.salahuddin@kingcounty.gov or at 206-507-9860 and he will set us up!
All the best,
 Sarah Perry
King County Council
District 3
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