Is your local King County government doing something about climate change?
The Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee (TrEE) is reviewing the proposed 2025 update to the Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP).
This is King County’s roadmap for mobilizing resources so that we are prepared to both prevent and adapt to climate change.
You can see the proposed SCAP here. It is a large, comprehensive document but as you can see, it is organized in a way that is easy to read and offers specific recommended action steps.
The TrEE committee was briefed this week on the SCAP and will be again on September 8 when the committee is expected to vote on amending the plan and recommending it to the full council. You can watch these briefings here.
Highlights of the plan include: promoting transit-oriented development and retrofitting buildings to address housing security and energy justice, and responding to climate impacts like flooding and extreme heat. The SCAP was originally created in 2012. This update is the result of ongoing work by the King County Climate Office. You can get more information about the climate office here.
The goal of the D5 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.
*To translate this week’s e-news into another language, scroll down and click on the language of your choice. Whether you would like to read this e-news more easily or whether you are studying a new language, we are bringing you language technology to help us stay connected.
Maria Batayola, representing a coalition of community organizations concerned about health equity spoke to TrEE about how the Strategic Climate Action Plan addresses public health and ways to improve.
On Monday, my staff worked out of the District Office in Kent. I met with Maria Batayola and constituents concerned about aviation emissions and pollution and tree canopy policies in the King County Strategic Climate Action Plan.
I also met with staff from the Local Services Division who have been working with local school districts on school impact fees which are fees paid by housing developers to help pay for school construction. The council is asking questions about how school impact fees may be affecting housing costs and how they support schools too.
Metro Transit General Manager Michelle Allison and I had our regular monthly meeting to discuss transit safety, development of the RapidRide “I” line in South King County and the Regional Fare Forum. Scroll down for more details about the construction of the I line.
My staff also had meetings regarding the future of Fire District 24 and also the Waterworks Grant Fund to support neighborhood efforts to protect and enhance water quality.
On Tuesday, I chaired the Transportation, Economy, and Environment Committee (TrEE) which included detailed briefings on the proposed 2025 Strategic Climate Action Plan for King County. There was considerable public comment on issues such as tree canopy and aviation emissions. Most commenters liked the proposed Strategic Climate Action Plan and wanted it to go further.
Click here to hear Councilmember Quinn's remarks.
The TrEE committee also received public comment about the development of the proposed RapidRide “I” line. The White River Buddhist Temple in Auburn is working with Metro to ensure their temple remains fully visible and that their signage is seen clearly from the road with the addition of a RapidRide bus stop. Several commenters spoke about the importance of protecting the signage of the temple.
In the afternoon, the Council presented a proclamation recognizing the impact of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and in support of efforts to curb nuclear weapons.
The Metropolitan King County Council was pleased to welcome Jim Thomas from Pax Christi and Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, Gretchen Hund, Board Chair of the Ploughshares Fund, and Stan Shikuma, of From Hiroshima to Hope, Japanese American Citizens League, Tsuru for Solidarity to receive the proclamation.
World War II was deeply impactful in the number of deaths on the battlefield, in the air and on the ocean, but also the number of civilian casualties and injuries and the shocking impact of the atomic bombs on Japan. I am glad and grateful that we have had peace with Japan since 1945.
Remembering this history is critical to ensure we work to maintain peace. Remembering is particularly critical to the worldwide work to contain the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
The Council also received public comment and debated school impact fees. The vote on school impact fees was delayed until next Tuesday’s council meeting to allow questions to be answered more fully.
Click here to hear Councilmember Quinn's remarks.
On Wednesday, I joined with my colleagues on the Local Services and Land Use Committee for final consideration of the Critical Areas Ordinance. I offered amendments to ensure direct government to government consultation with local Tribes about policies and practices involving indigenous knowledge and culture. We also received a briefing about options for public transportation to Snoqualmie Pass in the winter to relieve parking congestion at the pass.
On Thursday, the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee received a briefing on the Mental Illness and Drug Dependency MIDD program.
I joined Council Chair Girmay Zahilay for a tour of protected farmlands in east rural King County with Michael Tanksley from Friends of Sammamish Valley.
We met with James King, Executive Director and Ray Williams, Special Projects Manager of the Black Farmers Collective. They outlined how critical it is for us to conserve and protect our local farms.
Farmer Tom Quigley met as at Viva Farms and introduced us to Bonnie who is operating a program for student farmers.
On Friday I met with staff regarding funding for youth education. I also met with staff regarding the Strategic Climate Action Plan.
Next week, you are invited to join me and my colleagues:
Tuesday, August 25: Provide public comment virtually or in person at the Committee of the Whole meeting where we will be receiving briefings on the Federal Government updates on impacts to operations and funding, and the Doors Open evaluation framework report among other items. You can find that agenda here.
Tuesday, August 25: The Council meeting welcomes public comment – virtually or in person. We will be taking a final votes on legislation regarding school impact fees. You can find that agenda and those materials here.
Wednesday, August 26: Budget Committee will be considering renewal of the Mental Health and Drug Dependency (MIDD) program. You can find that agenda here.
Thursday, August 27: The Sound Transit Board with representatives from Snohomish, King and Pierce Counties will meet on Thursday August 28. The Sound Transit Board governs an agency separate from King County that is charged with constructing light rail, heavy passenger rail and bus rapid transit service through Snohomish, King and Pierce Counties. To watch those meetings, go here. For materials for those meetings, look here. You are also welcome to sign up to give comment.
You are welcome to review the agendas and materials for the King County Council meetings that are used by the councilmembers and sign up to speak to items on the agenda.
You are also welcome to write emails, letters or request appointments with your representatives to share your thoughts about the items on these agendas. You can find a list of committee members here.
To watch the Sound Transit meetings, go here.
I hope this information is helpful to you. I am committed to keeping you informed about what King County government is doing on behalf of District 5 and I want to make sure we stay connected as a community.
King County Councilmember, District 5
Des Moines, Kent, Normandy Park, Renton, SeaTac, Tukwila
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