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

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope you and your family have a wonderful and safe Independence Day weekend.

As we celebrate our nation's birthday, I hope you’ll join me in reflecting on the remarkable experiment in self-government that began 250 years ago. America's founders made a bold declaration: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, and that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Preserving those freedoms has never been easy. Generation after generation, Americans have been called to defend our liberty, secure our rights, and strengthen the institutions that make self-government possible. Our men and women in uniform, veterans, and military families have borne an extraordinary share of that responsibility, and we owe them our deepest gratitude.

As we gather with friends and family this Fourth of July, I am grateful to live in a country founded on the enduring principles of freedom, equality, and government by the consent of the governed. Those ideals have guided our nation for 250 years, and they remain as worthy of our commitment today as ever.

All my best,

Reagan Dunn
King County Councilmember
District 9

Changes to Regional Homelessness Authority are welcome. I would go further.

Councilmember Dunn discusses homelessness solutions with press.

This week, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay and Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson announced a plan to restructure the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) following an independent forensic review that identified serious concerns with the agency's financial management, governance, and accountability. The proposal would shift many homelessness service contracts back to King County and the City of Seattle and give KCRHA a narrower focus.

This is a step in the right direction, but it doesn't go far enough. After years of mismanagement, King County must end this failed experiment by taking back responsibility for homelessness services and moving away from an unaccountable bureaucracy that has lost millions of taxpayer dollars and failed to reduce homelessness on our streets.

Taxpayers and individuals experiencing homelessness deserve a system that spends public dollars responsibly, delivers results, and is accountable to the public. I commend Executive Zahilay and Mayor Wilson for taking this important first step, but I remain convinced that it is time to fully part ways with the King County Regional Homelessness Authority.

Ultimately, King County must reverse course on its failed policies if we want to truly reduce homelessness and match the progress made in other regions.

Proposed Changes to Residential Yard Waste Burning

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is considering a rule that would prohibit residential yard waste burning throughout King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap counties, including areas where burning is currently allowed with a valid permit. Current rules remain in effect while the agency considers the proposal, and a formal public comment period is expected this fall.

If you live in a rural area where residential yard waste burning is currently allowed, this proposal could affect you. I wanted to make sure you were aware of this proposal and knew about the opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback as the rulemaking process moves forward.

Fireworks Update

In addition to the burn restrictions I mentioned last week, King County’s ban on consumer fireworks in unincorporated areas is also currently in effect.

• This ban impacts the District 9 unincorporated communities of Fairwood, Greater Maple Valley, Enumclaw Plateau, Four Creeks/Tiger Mountain, and the East Renton Highlands.

• Within city boundaries, firework regulations vary, but please note that all cities within District 9 except the cities of Black Diamond and Enumclaw have laws banning the discharge of fireworks within city limits. In the City of Enumclaw, legal fireworks can be discharged between the hours of 9 AM and 11 PM on July 4^th. In the City of Black Diamond, legal fireworks can be discharged between the hours of 9 AM and midnight on July 4^th.
• If you are setting off your own fireworks, please make safe choices for those around you and be considerate of the impact on your neighborhood. Be aware that bottle rockets, firecrackers, and missiles are illegal to buy, sell or discharge under state law.
• For answers to frequently asked questions, visit the Department of Local Services website.