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

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This week, I compiled results from my most recent survey of District 9 residents. As the cost of living continues to rise, many of you expressed growing concerns about affordability and the increasing tax burden. Public safety also remains a top issue across King County.

Here’s a breakdown of the top issues identified by District 9 residents in my survey:

Reducing costs of living

Costs have continued to rise across King County, and housing affordability remains a significant challenge. Whether it’s reducing burdensome regulations on small businesses, building more affordable housing, or opposing unnecessary tax increases, my work with constituents is focused on addressing the root causes of price increases. Part of this is ensuring that King County is a good steward of your tax dollars, exercising the same fiscal discipline that all of our families must utilize in tough economic times.

Reducing crime and improving public safety

As a former federal prosecutor, I've worked with my colleagues on the Council to prioritize support for King County law enforcement, as well as our courts, jails, prosecutors, and other key aspects of our criminal justice system. I am pleased to have recently led the Council in unanimous votes to keep the King County Juvenile Jail open and to reverse funding cuts to Sheriff’s Deputies in unincorporated King County. There is more work to do, and the safety of you and your families will continue to be the highest priority.

Reducing your tax burden

With at least five new taxes proposed in King County this year alone, and significant tax increases passed by the state legislature as well, it is not surprising that many residents identified taxation as a primary concern. I remain focused on strengthening fiscal accountability in County government—prioritizing cost control, reducing inefficiencies, and avoiding unnecessary expenditures, rather than turning to taxpayers first.

All my best,

Reagan Dunn
King County Councilmember
District 9

Farmers' Markets in District 9

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn with Enumclaw Mayor Jan Molinaro and Enumclaw Plateau Farmers' Market board members

It’s never a bad time to support local businesses and farms, and there are few better ways to do so than by attending a local farmers’ market. I've had the privilege of presenting grants to a number of our District 9 markets in just the past year. Additionally, last week was National Farmers Market Week, and District 9 has several markets you can attend this summer.

Below are some of your District 9 Farmers' Market Options.

The Maple Valley Farmers’ Market operates consecutive Saturdays from May through October at the Maple Valley Legacy Site, 25719 Maple Valley Black Diamond Road SE. The Market is open from 9 AM to 2 PM each Saturday in season. Vendor information is posted to the Vendors tab.

The Enumclaw Plateau Farmers’ Market is open Thursdays from 3 PM to 7PM all season, which lasts through September. Enumclaw Plateau Farmers’ Market is located along First Street/Kasey Kahne Drive between Griffin Avenue and Washington Avenue in Downtown Enumclaw, between Tractor Supply to the east and the Enumclaw Public Library to the west. Parking is available on the west side of the Enumclaw Public Library.

While not technically a Farmers’ Market, Fairwood Market Night is still a fantastic way to support local businesses in our community. The market operates on the second Wednesday of each month from May until October from 4 PM to 8PM at Northwood Middle School in Renton, Washington.

Just a little outside District 9, The Renton Farmers’ Market serves many District 9 residents and is held each Tuesday, 3 PM to 7 PM, through September. The Renton Farmers Market is held on Williams Ave South - between So. 2nd and So. 3rd Streets. Metro's Renton Transit Center is one block west of the Market location, providing bus access via several dozen routes. Two-hour free parking is available at Renton's City Center Parking Garage - enter on 2nd Street.

Plan ahead: SR 18 closure expected this weekend

A weekend-long closure of State Route 18 will shut down both directions of the roadway around the clock starting Friday night, Aug. 15.

Beginning at 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, until 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 18, SR 18 will close between Interstate 90 and Issaquah-Hobart Road. Drivers should plan to seek alternate routes. Freight traffic should use I-405 and I-90 throughout the weekend. Issaquah-Hobart Road and Issaquah city streets are not suitable for semi-trucks.

Maintenance crews will perform annual work on the highway. Meanwhile, contractor crews for the I-90/SR 18 Interchange Improvements project will work on widening a 2-mile stretch of SR 18 to two lanes in each direction between I-90 and Deep Creek.

Once SR 18 widening is complete later this fall, it will work with the diverging diamond interchange that opened July 25 to improve traffic flow through the corridor.

I know that extended closures are a hurdle for all who rely on the highway, including myself. In 2023, I sent a letter to WSDOT requesting they convene an interagency task force to give cities and other impacted groups input on a traffic management plan so that everyone can plan and adapt to delays and congestion. This letter was also signed by the mayors of Maple Valley, Issaquah, Snoqualmie, Covington, Black Diamond, and Kent; multiple Chambers of Commerce; the Snoqualmie Tribe; and the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority. As a result, the SR 18 Task Force began meeting regularly and many stakeholders have been able to offer feedback and solutions to help alleviate the stress felt by nearby communities.

You can read more about WSDOT’s ongoing work at the I-90 – SR 18 Interchange Improvements webpage.

Re+ Seed Grants powered by NextCycle Washington

Applications are now open for the next round of Re+ Seed Grants, powered by NextCycle Washington. The grants provide funding and technical assistance for early-stage ideas that divert waste from landfills. Selected projects will be supported with up to $10,000 in funding along with access to mentors, consultants, and networking to support project execution and growth planning. King County’s Re+ Program will provide over $120,000 in funding for this program.

Review the application packet and apply now through the grant portal, and contact circulargrants@kingcounty.gov with any questions.

Full applications are due Friday, September 19. Learn more at NextCycleWashington.com

Behavioral Health Services in Rural King County Grants

The Behavioral Health Services in Rural King County Request for Proposals (RFP) is now open, with. The RFP seeks to fund organizations located in King County’s rural Community Service Areas (CSA). Eligible applicants must provide mental health or substance use services, including but not limited to prevention, treatment, recovery support, peer-based services, and care coordination with a goal of reducing geographic barriers to care. Funding comes from King County’s local MIDD behavioral health sales tax.

You can also read more about the RFP on the DCHS blog here. 

Applications are due by Friday, August 22, 2025 at 2 PM. For more information and to apply now, see the full RFP here

4Culture Launch Program

The Launch program is a brand new 4culture grant opportunity that will support new and emerging cultural and science organizations in King County. Organizations that are selected through the Launch program will receive three years of unrestricted general operating support and will also have access to capacity-building support services.

Full applications are due Wednesday, August 27 at 5pm. Learn more at the 4Culture website.