• Good afternoon, neighbors
• This week
• Parks Levy: South King County Benefits
• Transit News: Showing proof of payment
• Grants available for climate preparedness

Good afternoon, neighbors

A top priority of mine is ensuring kids in South King County have access to educational opportunities both in and out of the classroom. This can mean learning about northwest wildlife and critters, and it can also mean learning how to play on a team.

I had the opportunity to welcome staff from the Woodland Park Zoo to District 5 this week. We met at a park in Renton and learned about a countywide system of wildlife cameras that are monitored by teams of volunteers. The cameras are used to track the lives of carnivores like coyotes, bears, and bobcats as well as squirrels, deer, possums, and racoons that live among humans like us, including in District 5 neighborhoods.

These photos of a bobcat in D5 – night and day - were taken with WPZ Wildlife Cameras!

This system of cameras organized by the zoo is used to build a better understanding of the environment we live in and specifically about the living habits of our fellow living creatures who occupy the open spaces in our neighborhoods.

Learning about the Wildlife Camera System in Renton Left to Right: Katie Remine, WPZ Conservation Manager, CM De’Sean Quinn, Kerston Swartz, WPZ Government Affairs, former King County Councilmember Larry Phillips now member of Woodland Park Zoo Board, D5 team members BrynDel Swift, Saeed Mahamood and Jazmin Pairazaman.

As you may know, the Woodland Park Zoo has become a national model for conservation and serves as a sanctuary for animals that cannot survive in the wild on their own. It is a great resource for families and for school classes learning about our planet’s animals – from bugs to tigers to penguins.

A coyote in District 5!

You can get involved in the Living Northwest program at the Woodland Park Zoo and help conservation efforts in the Pacific Northwest. You can join in tracking carnivores specifically at Coexisting With Carnivores - Woodland Park Zoo Seattle WA. You can also track amphibians, bats, and butterflies. For more information about the Woodland Park Zoo and its local conservation Living Northwest program, please click here.  

Note: It is best to simply observe. It is never a good idea to feed or try to habituate wildlife.

Educating our kids about our co-existence with critters is valuable education.  See below for information about expanding ballfield access for kids in the King County Parks Levy.

This week’s e-news is dedicated to sharing information about our resources available to families as well as reporting on what my office did this week to support South King County.

The goal of this e-news is to share information about council business, upcoming community events, access to services, opportunities, and ways for us to build an even better King County.

If you have something to share, please do not hesitate to contact me at district5.kingcountycouncil@kingcounty.gov or 206 477-1005.

This week

On Friday March 21, we met with the Seattle Aquarium about their work to provide educational opportunities for all kids and our region’s schools on marine life both here in the northwest and around the world. 

On Monday, we met with the Woodland Park Zoo in Renton. 

We also met with Brian Chow, a spokesman for Transit Equity for All – a group representing constituents advocating for the Sound Transit III transit hub to be placed on 4^th Avenue, to the west of Chinatown/ID in Seattle.

I also welcomed my colleague CM Jorge Baron (District 4) to join me for lunch at Joey’s in District 5! And, I met with United Way King County about challenges they are facing for providing needed services to South King County.

On Tuesday, I participated in our monthly Committee of the Whole meeting which included the appointment of District 5 resident and professional artist Asia Tail to the 4Culture Board. We also discussed the King County federal lobbying agenda. 

Click the image to watch a video of the Women's History Month panel.

My team also attended a Women’s History Month panel discussion over the noon hour.

The full council met and voted on a number of items including a cable franchise agreement and lease amendment.  The Council also proclaimed March 31 as Transgender Day of Visibility and March as Women’s History Month.

Proclaiming March 31 as Transgender Day of Visibility Left to right: CM Claudia Balducci, CM De’Sean Quinn, CM Sara Perry, Luna Crone-Baron, Danni Askini, Exec Dir of Gender Justice League, CM Reagan Dunn, CM Girmay Zahilay, CM Jorge Baron, CM Pete Von Reichbauer, CM Teresa Mosqueda, CM Rod Dembowksi.

Proclaiming March as Women’s History Month Left to right: CM Claudia Balducci, Laura Clise, Deputy County Executive Shannon Braddock, CM De’Sean Quinn, former CM Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Dae Shogren, Council ESJ Director, CM Sara Perry, CM Girmay Zahilay, CM Jorge Baron, CM Teresa Mosqueda, CM Reagan Dunn, Hend Alhinnawi, Chair Women’s Advisory Board, CM Pete Von Reichbauer, CM Rod Dembowksi.

Following the Council meeting, I welcomed my family to meet my council colleagues at a reception at the courthouse.

On Wednesday, the Budget Committee reviewed the Executive’s proposal for the renewal of the countywide Parks Levy and passed a striking amendment modifying the Executive’s proposal. The King County Parks system provides access to 175 miles of regional trails, 215 backcountry trails and 28,000 acres of parkland composing 205 parks.  All to serve 2.3 million residents of King County. I have outlined the modifications to the proposal which I advocated for below.

The Parks Levy legislation will next be heard in the Regional Policy Committee next Thursday (9 am on April 3) before coming back to the full council for a final vote on whether or not to place it on the August ballot for voters to decide. You can find information on that meeting here.

With this spring weather, is your family wanting to get out on the trails or into a park near you? Please use any of these links above or King County Parks FunFinder to find a trail or park near you!

King County Executive Dow Constantine gave his final State of the County address and expressed his gratitude to this region and the many community leaders and constituents who make it a great place to live. Click the image above to watch his address.

I also attended Executive’s Constantine’s final farewell State of the County address which you can see here. 

Finally, I attended my first 4Culture Board meeting and expressed my interest in expanding the arts in South King County!

On Thursday, we received a state legislative update which included information on the budgets being considered in the legislature.  

I then participated in my second Sound Transit Board meeting where we reviewed an agreement for passenger information coordinators and plans for development of the South Boeing Access Road Infill Station.

I was a “strong second” moving forward with the East Marginal Way location which is the proposed location for the South Boeing Access Road Infill Station.  Next steps will be environmental review.

We also confirmed Dow Constantine as the new CEO of Sound Transit. 

CM Quinn speaks about the countywide Parks Levy at the Des Moines City Council.

That evening we attended the Des Moines City Council meeting for the discussion about the King County Parks Levy.

On Friday, we plan to meet with Mayor Dana Ralph of Kent and tour potential space for a D5 District Office in Kent!  Stay tuned for information on a D5 District Office Grand Opening – coming soon.

Sincerely,

De’Sean Quinn                                                                                                     
King County Councilmember, District 5
Des Moines, Kent, Normandy Park, Renton, Sea-Tac, Tukwila

Click here to see CM Quinn’s comments about the Parks Levy proposal in Budget Committee. He focuses on addressing unmet needs in South King County and making sure all kids can play.

Parks Levy: South King County Benefits

Looking over the Executive’s proposal for the countywide Parks Levy, I found a commitment to parks and trails to serve South King County. Here are some highlights:

• Lake to Sound Trail development- (Renton, Tukwila SeaTac) – Running from Lake Washington to Puget Sound, this trail will become a valuable regional connection to Eastrail Trail, Cedar River Trail, Interurban Trail, Soos Creek Trail and the Green River Trail. This will build toward that goal which was originally established with the advocacy of former King County Councilmember Julia Patterson.
• Interurban Trail South development
• Soos Creek Trail expansion

In addition, I worked with cities to successfully advocate for the following South King County facilities:

• a *NEW* countywide Ballfield Grant to expand access to sports fields for our kids
• Starfire Sports Regional athletic complex funding
• Funding for Kent projects connected to regional trails
• Tukwila Community Center Upland Campus Turf Field Installation
• Tukwila Community Center Riverside Campus renewal and canoe launch
• Steven J. Underwood Field renovation in Des Moines

The above are included in the amended proposal by the Budget Committee thanks to collaborative work by committee members. 

A final vote on placing the proposal on the August ballot for voters’ consideration will be in late April.

Transit News: Showing proof of payment

King County Metro Restarts Fare Enforcement March 31

Starting Monday, March 31, King County Metro Fare Enforcement Officers will ask riders for proof of fare payment on buses and streetcars.

Metro’s adult fare is currently $2.75. Beginning March 31, Fare Enforcement Officers will accept proof of payment in the form of:

• a recently tapped ORCA fare card,
• an activated Transit GO Ticket on their phone,
• a tapped ORCA card in Google Wallet, or
• a transfer slip issued to someone who paid cash at the farebox.

Friendly, verbal reminders will be given to riders who did not pay.  However, this will change.  Fare inspection will fully resume starting on May 31, 2025 which will include written tickets and fines for repeat violations.

For more information click here.

Grants available for climate preparedness

Help your community become climate resilient!

Grant applications are open now for the 2025-2026 Community Climate Resilience (CCR) Grant Program!

The program is a resource for frontline communities to develop new or expand existing community-based climate resilience projects.

Projects may center around community capacity development, community health and emergency preparedness, food systems and security, housing security and anti-displacement, energy justice and utilities, or heat mitigation.

Learn more and apply here

Tax help, forms, and information

Stressed about doing your taxes? Have a question? Need a form? Let King County libraries help advise you on tax preparation.

Your Nearest King County Library Is Here to Help

• Pick up or print tax forms at any library.
• Get free help filing your taxes in person at the library.

Live music in Des Moines! After a hearty city council meeting on Thursday March 27, maybe it’s time for some live music on Friday!

LIVE Music at Creole Soul – Duo Bravo

8-11 p.m. March 28, 2025

Eid al-Fitr is projected to begin the evening of Saturday 03/29 and runs through Sunday 03/30 . It marks the end of Ramadan.

King County Council District 5 – a great place to spot wildlife!

Thank you for reading our eighth edition of our e-news. Please feel free to contact us and share information you have about your city or neighborhood at district5.kingcountycouncil@kingcounty.gov  or 206 477-1005.

De'Sean Quinn (he/him/his)
King County Councilmember, District 5
(206) 477-1005 Send me an email
www.kingcounty.gov/quinn