July 18th Community Update
King County, Washington sent this bulletin at 07/18/2025 05:00 PM PDT
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News from and about King County… from health updates to community news affecting our daily lives. Dear Friends: Today’s update includes news about the King County Council's Disability Pride Month Proclamation, the Regional Policy Committee Meeting at KCIA, King County's New Animal Shelter, King County Local Services' Survey, the 2025 WaterWorks Grant Program, transit and sports updates, local events, and more.
Washington Trivia This former Secretary of State was instrumental in the United States’ acquisition of Alaska over 150 years ago, a pivotal event that sparked the Klondike Gold Rush. Who was he? (Answer is at the bottom) On Tuesday, the King County Council proclaimed July 2025 as Disability Pride Month, commemorating the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was enacted in 1990. This proclamation seeks to honor the history, accomplishments, and experiences of individuals with disabilities. The Council is committed to nurturing an inclusive, safe, and welcoming atmosphere for people of all abilities across our region. King County will host a Disability Pride Celebration on Saturday, July 26, at 10 AM at the Seattle Machinists Hall (9125 15th Pl S, Seattle, WA 98108) to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the ADA. For any access needs, contact KCADA@kingcounty.gov. Click here to view the proclamation (timestamps 02:08-09:50).
With King County Councilmembers Rod Dembowski, Sarah Perry, Claudia Balducci, Girmay Zahilay, Teresa Mosqueda, De’Sean Quinn, Reagan Dunn and Jorge Barón, and Ariele Belo, Director of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services and Co-Executive Director of Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center
Regional Policy Committee Meets at King County International Airport On July 9, the King County Regional Policy Committee (RPC) convened at the Museum of Flight, located at the King County International Airport (KCIA). The agenda featured a briefing on the economic impacts of the airport, presented by the Museum of Flight, the King County Office of Economic and Financial Analysis, Modern Aviation, the King County Airport Round Table, and several other organizations. Additionally, there were presentations on the planning for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as well as an update from the King County Sheriff's Office regarding infrastructure security. Click here to watch the meeting.
With RPC Members Mayor Dana Ralph (Kent), Mayor Angela Birney (Redmond), Councilmember Rod Dembowski (King County), Mayor Armondo Pavone (Renton), Deputy Mayor Jay Arnold (Kirkland), Matt Hayes (Museum of Flight CEO), Lizbeth Martin-Mahar (King County Office of Economic and Financial Analysis Chief Economist), Jan Hogrefe (The Boeing Company Chief Economist), Eric Schneider (Modern Aviation Regional Manager), Stephen Ratzlaff (Friends of Boeing Field Board Member), and Eric Utter (King County Airport Round Table Chair).
King County Acquires Property for New Animal Shelter King County has acquired a building for a new animal shelter and headquarters for Regional Animal Services, located at 5920 S 194th St. in Kent, with an anticipated opening in 2027. This new facility will replace the aging pet adoption center, and will include a more efficient layout, upgraded kennel spaces, and enhanced pet adoption experiences. It is conveniently located about two miles from the existing shelter, near major access routes and the Green River Trail. Read more here.
Help Local Services Improve Communications with You The King County Department of Local Services is like a city hall for the unincorporated parts of King County. These areas include Skyway, White Center, the Snoqualmie Valley, greater Maple Valley, the Enumclaw Plateau, Fairwood, northwest King County, southeast King County, and Vashon Island, with a combined area larger than the state of Rhode Island and some 250,000 residents. If you live, work, and/or do business in these areas, Local Services wants to connect with you to:
Visit PublicInput and take a 5-to-10-minute survey to share your thoughts. To learn more, contact Chrissy Russillo at chrussillo@kingcounty.gov or 206-263-1892.
Transit Updates Sound Transit Link Light Rail May Arrive in South King County This Fall Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine has announced intentions to recommend the expedited launch of the Kent Des Moines, Star Lake, and Federal Way Downtown light rail stations by late 2025, although a specific date has yet to be determined. This nearly completed extension was originally scheduled for completion in March 2026.
As our region prepares for FIFA next year, light rail will put South King County on the map as a destination for the hundreds of thousands of visitors traveling to our region for the tournament. Better a delayed promise than a broken one! Read more in The Seattle Times article here.
Sound Transit Coffee Town Hall I recently hosted a Sound Transit Coffee Town Hall at KO-AM TV in Federal Way to provide an opportunity for a dialogue between Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine and local leaders, as well as community members. The discussion centered on the forthcoming Link Light Rail Federal Way Downtown Station.
With Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine, Maple Valley Mayor Sean Kelly, Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus and Councilmembers Hanan Amer and Lisa Stirgus, Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell, Council President Linda Kochmar, Councilmember Jack Walsh and Jack Dovey, and Kent Councilmember Toni Troutner
Metro Wants Your Feedback on Proposed Route Improvements
Upcoming Virtual Information Sessions: Wednesday, August 6 | 12:00 PM | Register here Wednesday, August 20 | 6:00 PM | Register here
King County Council Goes to D.C. In late June, the King County Council traveled to Washington, D.C., to engage with our congressional representatives, Senator Patty Murray, Representative Suzan DelBene, and Representative Adam Smith. The purpose of the meeting was to address ongoing issues affecting our region and to seek support for vital projects and services that King County residents depend on, including public transportation.
With Sen. Patty Murray, Rep. Suzan DelBene, Rep. Adam Smith, King County Council Chair Girmay Zahilay, Councilmembers Jorge Barón, De’Sean Quinn, and Teresa Mosqueda
2025 WaterWorks Grant Program
The WaterWorks Grant Program funds projects that protect and improve water quality in King County, such as rain gardens, tree planting, community engagement and education on pollution prevention and source control, research, water quality monitoring, and stormwater retrofits. For details visit the WaterWorks Grant Program website, email water.grants@kingcounty.gov, or contact Elizabeth Loudon at 206-477-4297 or Kai Fulginiti at 206-477-3968.
Unveiling Lenny Wilkens' Statue It was a privilege to be one of the speakers at the unveiling of Lenny’s statue at Climate Pledge Arena and to see numerous Sonic players who made Key Arena the home of the 1979 NBA champions. Lenny Wilkens is a three-time Hall of Famer (player and coach) and an MVP (Most Valuable Person). I have known Coach for 45 years and his success ON the court is matched by his success OFF the court with Odessa Brown Clinic and many more charities.
Seattle Mariners Host Annual Play Ball Challenger Little League Game On July 6, two games took place at T-Mobile Park. One was a thrilling pitching duel, where George Kirby excelled, and Randy Arozarena hit a home run, leading to a 1–0 victory. The other was a Little League CHALLENGER game, featuring boys and girls aged 4 to 18 (or 22 if still enrolled in school) who face physical and mental challenges. The Mariners won that game by hosting this event and supporting the challenger program throughout the region, including South King County. Their commitment to the community is evident in many ways. A heartfelt thank you to John Stanton and Dan Wilson, and to Snohomish County Council Chair Nate Nehring for joining me at the game.
Local Events King County Fair Recognized as one of the state's longest-running fairs, the King County Fair (1863) is 26 years older than the state of Washington (1889). It serves as a safe and enjoyable venue for families to celebrate our region's agricultural heritage. Thanks to Muckleshoot Tribal Chair Jaison Elkins for joining local mayors and King County Executive Shannon Braddock on opening day. Good food. Good vibes. Well worth the drive to Enumclaw this weekend! Click here for more information.
With King County Executive Shannon Braddock, Des Moines Mayor Traci Buxton, Kent Mayor Dana Ralph, Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell, Muckleshoot Tribal Chair Jaison Elkins, Enumclaw Mayor Jan Molinaro, King County Councilmembers Reagan Dunn and Claudia Balducci, Covington Mayor Jeff Wagner, and Black Diamond Mayor Carol Benson
Community Resource Day at Federal Way Farmers Market
The Federal Way Farmers Market will be hosting a Community Resource Day on Saturday, July 19, sponsored by Sound Transit. Find out everything you need to know about your health and fitness, fire and police safety, and your local resources. The Federal Way Farmers Market is held at The Commons (1701 S 320th, Federal Way 98003) each Saturday through Oct. 25 from 9 AM to 3 PM.
Kiwanis Salmon Bake
Non-Profit Corner
Did you ever wonder where words and phrases originated from? Take the wind out of their sails Meaning: To cause someone to lose confidence or energy. Origin: The idiom comes from sailing ships, where a ship loses momentum when wind is blocked from its sails. In naval battles, positioning another ship to obstruct wind slowed opponents, making them less maneuverable and diminishing their advantage. Beating around the bush Meaning: To avoid giving a definite answer or position. Origin: In medieval times, hunters would beat around the bushes with sticks to flush out birds hidden inside. This indirect method often led to missing targets. Now, when someone avoids addressing the main point directly, we refer to that as beating around the bush.
Local Services Contact Information Code Enforcement Links: Auburn | Algona | Federal Way | Kent | Pacific | Unincorporated
With best wishes,
Washington Trivia Answer:
Former Secretary of State William Seward embarked on a tour of Puget Sound en route to Alaska, during which he advocated for the development of Washington Territory. Just two years earlier, while in office, Seward had championed the United States' acquisition of Alaska from Russia, a vote that narrowly achieved the two-thirds Senate majority needed for approval. Washingtonians were in favor of the purchase, and in 1895, Seward's foresight was validated by the discovery of gold in Alaska, as well as in Canada's Klondike River, primarily accessed through Skagway and the Chilkoot Pass. The Klondike Gold Rush officially began on July 17, 1897, swiftly lifting the economic despair that had plagued Seattle and much of Washington state since the Panic of 1893. A decade after the gold rush, Seattle transformed into a thriving city, celebrating its growth with the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in 1909 and the first Golden Potlatch in 1911. While the initial celebrations brought joy, tensions escalated in 1913 with riots against labor radicals, leading to the declaration of a state of emergency. By 1915, World War I loomed, and post-war, the Potlatch festival faded. Although briefly revived in the late 1930s, it was interrupted by World War II. Afterward, discussions led to the creation of Seafair, first celebrated in 1950 and still ongoing. Photo source: Office of the Historian To unsubscribe or update your preferences, click here.
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I want to thank the ‘godmother’ of Sound Transit, Senator Patty Murray, our new Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine, and Sound Transit Board Member and Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus for helping me move South King County up on the schedule for the start of light rail service to Downtown Federal Way. Our $3.2 billion light rail project will serve an estimated 20,000 to 23,000 daily riders and will create predictability for workers who commute daily, as well as for travelers heading to SeaTac Airport.
As Link Light Rail extends south, King County Metro’s South Link Connections mobility project continues to work on improving public transportation in South King County. In response to what we heard from community members and partners in Algona, Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Normandy Park, Pacific, SeaTac, Tukwila and parts of unincorporated King County, Metro is excited to share an updated transit network proposal. 
The 2025 WaterWorks Council-allocated track grant cycle is accepting applications through priority deadline of July 29, with awards expected by the end of 2025. Proposals must be submitted through the 
The Kiwanis Club of Federal Way will be hosting its 69th Annual Kiwanis Salmon Bake on July 25 from 4 PM to 8 PM at Steel Lake Park. 
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