 This week, my colleague Councilmember Dembowski and I introduced an ordinance that would end King County’s practice of automatically deleting instant messages sent between county employees. This legislation would preserve future instant messages related to county business as part of the public record.
As communication technology advances, it’s important that King County adapts its records retention policies to reflect the reality of how instant messaging platforms are used by county employees. Transparency is critical to safeguard trust in government, and any electronic record of discussions over policy issues needs to be preserved and made accessible to the public.
To learn more about our proposal, visit KIRO7 News.
 Subarea Plan Community Conversation in Maple Valley on February 19
Last Wednesday, my office was pleased to attend a Community Conversation in Maple Valley, hosted by the Department of Local Services (DLS). This was the second in a series of five meetings to gather input about the Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River Subarea Plan about topics including land use and zoning, environment, transportation, and more.
If you are a resident of the Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River subarea, I hope you will attend a future Community Conversation, held on the following dates at Hobart Community Church:
-
March 5, 5:30 – 7 PM - Environment/Parks, Open Space, & Cultural Resources
-
March 19, 5:30 – 7 PM - Economic Development/Housing & Human Services
-
April 2, 5:30 – 7 PM - Land Use & Zoning/Services & Utilities
-
April 16, 5:30 – 7 PM - Transportation
Questions? Email subareaplanning@kingcounty.gov or visit the Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River Subarea Plan website.
Last chance to apply for federal financial assistance for damage caused by the November Bomb Cyclone
Washington State is offering financial assistance to eligible individuals and families severely impacted by the Nov. 19 bomb cyclone and windstorm. You may qualify for financial assistance if your household earns below the 80% median income for the area.
Find more information at the WA Emergency Management Division website.
King County Emergency Management encourages eligible King County residents to apply online first with the Small Business Administration (SBA) at www.SBA.gov/disaster. If you need in-person help with the online application, you can go to the Renton or Bellevue Disaster Loan Outreach Centers. Both locations will be open through Friday, February 21:
-
Bellevue Regional Library, 10 AM – 6 PM, Room 5, Second Floor, 1111 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004
-
King County Elections, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, Vote Center Room, 919 SW Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057
Find more information at the King County Emergency Management website.
4Culture Project grants can help you put your ideas in motion and share them with King County. Project grants are available in three disciplines: arts, heritage, and preservation:
Art Projects: Create and share your art with our King County communities! This grant offers up to $15,000 to bring your art project of any discipline to life.
Heritage Projects: Through Heritage Projects 4Culture support the people and organizations making history relevant and provocative through exhibits, publications, oral histories, and more.
Preservation Special Projects: The people and organizations preserving our historic places take on all kinds of challenges, from advocacy to long-term stewardship planning. Preservation Special Projects grants pave the way to a built environment that is valued and protected.
Applications are due March 12. Apply now or learn more at the 4Culture Project Grants website.
Best Starts for Kids Childcare Wage Boost Pilot
Childcare facilities in King County can apply now to be a part of the Best Starts for Kids Childcare Wage Boost Pilot. This wage boost will allocate approximately $5 million annually to provide a wage boost to selected child care workers, working with children ages birth to twelve in King County. This will contribute to a study to understand the impact of the wage boost on employee retention, continuity of care, and worker well-being.
Applications are due March 7. Apply now or learn more at the Best Starts Wage Boost Pilot website.
Vets Engaged RFP
The Vets Engaged program strives to reduce veterans' feelings of isolation by providing socialization opportunities for them and their families, to help address the inequities they may face while creatively building community.
Applications are due 2 PM on February 28 for a projected award start date of May 1, 2025 or 2 PM on May 30 for projected award start date of August 1, 2025.
Apply now or learn more at the Vets Engaged website.
|
