September 2026 Newsletter
Looking for District 3 Interns for 2027!
Dear Friend,
The District 3 team is excited to hire two passionate interns this October who would join our team in January 2027! Please apply if you are interested or share with anyone you think would be a good fit.
Both applications are due Sunday, October 11 @ 11:59 p.m.!
 As a Data & Communications Intern, you will further your experience in public opinion analysis, data preparation, and public interest communication via social media and e-newsletter. As a Legislative Intern, you will gain experience in daily legislative branch operations and policy work.
The District 3 team serves 250K residents in Issaquah, Sammamish, Redmond, Woodinville, Bothell, Duvall, Carnation, Preston, Fall City, Snoqualmie, North Bend, Snoqualmie Pass, Stevens Pass, Skykomish, and surrounding unincorporated communities. We especially love to see people with connections to our amazing district apply!
If you have any questions, please reach out to our Communications and Community Engagement Manager, Isabel Smith, at Isabel.smith@kingcounty.gov. And, as always, don’t hesitate to reach out at sarah.perry@kingcounty.gov or at 206-477-1003. I’d love to connect!
Sincerely,
Council Briefings, Actions & Recognitions!
 Council continues to work hard for you! Here is some of this month’s work on the issues that you’ve expressed, through our annual district survey and meetings, that matter most to you:
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Budget Proposal Transmitted: I thank Executive Zahilay for his leadership in proactively addressing the challenging issues facing the county through his budget proposal transmitted to Council on September 24. The proposed budget demonstrates a focus on maximizing county resources and an understanding of how necessary it is that we remain nimble as we face uncertain state and federal policy changes. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure our budget continues to be responsive to our districts’ needs and responsible.
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Approved Flood Reduction Grant Allocations: The Flood Control District Board approved a total of $14.3 million in Flood Reduction Grants to projects throughout King County. Over $3.5 million of this was allocated to 10 projects in our district, including $250K to City of Woodinville, $200K to City of Sammamish, $257K to Town of Skykomish, $275K to Snoqualmie Valley Preservation Alliance, and more!
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Building & Energy Code Briefing: We received a briefing on updates to King County’s building and energy codes in the Local Services and Land Use Committee. We’re making these updates to comply with the state’s 2021 building, energy, and fire codes, including examining permit timelines, energy efficiency, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and more.
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King County Recovery Champion Award: The Council awarded our annual Recovery Champion Award to Johnny Ohta, a passionate and dedicated substance use disorder professional with the Ryther nonprofit organization. He has impacted thousands by supporting youth in leading healthier lives. Congratulations, Johnny! Thank you for all you do for the success of our youth!
If you are interested in joining us for a meeting to make a comment or just listen in, click on any of the following links: King County Council; Employment and Administration; Flood Control District; Committee of the Whole; Local Services and Land Use; Budget and Fiscal Management; Regional Policy; Regional Transit.
Great to Be Out in Community!
    Sharing the State of the County: Thank you to the Duvall, Woodinville, and Sammamish Chambers and the Newsies Club of Trilogy for giving me the opportunity to share the accomplishments and challenges at the county level we’re facing together! It was wonderful to hear from their members about their experiences and what I might be able to do to support them in some way. I thank them for their passionate engagement!
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9/11 Remembrance: I was grateful to join the City of Issaquah and Eastside Fire & Rescue, and the City of North Bend and American Legion Post #79 for a deeply meaningful recognition of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. I hold profound gratitude for our firefighters, police, paramedics, armed forces, all first responders, and ordinary residents who bravely and tirelessly worked to protect the health and safety of others during and after the attacks. While others were running away in terror, our first responders ran toward the burning and collapsing towers in love. They will always be remembered.
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Heroes Cafe: I met Gary Walderman, executive director of Heroes Cafe, alongside Woodinville’s Councilmember Millman. Heroes Cafe is an outstanding organization building community by bringing veterans together for monthly gatherings and delicious meals. It began in Lynnwood, and we’re glad to welcome them to Woodinville! Heroes Cafe Woodinville meets the third Thursday of every month from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at American Legion Post #127 (21920 SR 9 SE, Woodinville, WA 98072).
 Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Convention: I was deeply honored to attend the welcome reception of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians annual convention, representing 57 Northwest Tribal Governments from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Northern California, Southeast Alaska, and Western Montana. This year, the convention was hosted by the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe. Thank you to Snoqualmie Tribal Chairman Robert de los Angeles for inviting me to join you and share some words at this important gathering!
 Supporting Our Local Food Banks: I joined the Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank (SVFB) for their Gather. Grow. Give. Celebration and the Issaquah Food Bank for their annual Recipe for Hope event! I’m deeply inspired by the work that new SVFB executive director Calib Miller is doing to strengthen connections between local food banks, farms, and the community. And the Issaquah Food Bank is making amazing progress on their journey to expand their space to meet the needs of our community. Thank you both for your work!
 Influence the Choice Youth Action Forum: I was honored to share opening remarks at Influence the Choice’s annual Youth Action Forum! Thank you to Influence the Choice for bringing us all together as a community to focus on how we can support our youth facing substance use and behavioral health challenges.
Focusing on Your Priorities!
Here are more of the happenings at King County related to the things that you said mattered most to you in our annual survey:
Priority #1: Road & Bridge Infrastructure
 Baring Bridge Community Celebration: I attended an event celebrating the historic Baring Bridge! We honored the bridge’s long history and significance to the community, and learned about the engineering behind the historic bridge and new temporary bridge that was installed after the Baring Bridge was critically damaged during the December 2025 floods. I appreciated being able to join community members, Executive Zahilay, and Local Services Director Leon Richardson, along with all of the incredibly skilled partners that brought this to fruition!
Priority #2: Safe & Healthy Communities
 Youth-Led Bike, E-Bike & E-Moto Safety: Know Your Ride, founded by Divisha Arora, is a youth-led initiative helping riders and families better understand bikes, e-bikes, and e-motos and to practice safe habits based on the different bike classifications. The initiative offers resources including Safety Modules, a Check Your Bike tool, and simple frameworks that help people better understand the rules for what they are riding and where their different bikes belong. Know Your Ride also created SAFE 10, a positive-reinforcement program designed to help young riders practice safer habits over time.
Priority #3: Environment
Apply Now for the Rural Forest Commission: King County is seeking multiple individuals with a passion and knowledge for forestry to join the Rural Forest Commission! Commissioners advise the Council and the Executive on policies, programs, and regulations affecting rural forests, ways to conserve dedicated forestland, and ways to retain working forests in King County. Apply by October 31!
Priority #4: Housing – All Types & All Incomes
Eastside Mayors Housing Discussion: I joined our District 3 mayors from Woodinville, Redmond, and Sammamish, other Eastside mayors, and my colleague Councilmember Balducci at Redmond City Hall for a discussion about the Executive’s proposed county-wide housing levy. I’m looking forward to an upcoming similar convening with the mayors of the Snoqualmie Valley!
Priority #5: Transit & Mobility
Snoqualmie Valley Transit Survey: Snoqualmie Valley Transportation (SVT) wants to hear from you about your experience using transit services in the Valley! Take 2 minutes to tell SVT about your experience with their routes, door-to-door services, and the fixed route Valley Shuttle that they operate for King County Metro here.
Duvall Spotlight!
This month the spotlight is shining on a Duvall business, non-profit, and civic engagement opportunity! We hope you have a chance to visit these fantastic community contributors – and remember to Go Local!
Small Business Spotlight: Martinez & Martinez Winery
Martinez & Martinez Winery recently opened a tasting room at 15935 Main St NE, Suite B in downtown Duvall! They’re one of the first Mexican-American owned wineries in Washington State, and we’re glad to have them bringing their family, heritage, and craftsmanship to Duvall. Check out their website, call 509-786-2392, or come visit their tasting room in Duvall to learn more from business manager Heather!
Non-Profit Spotlight: Holy Innocents Catholic Church Food Pantry
Holy Innocents Catholic Church Food Pantry works every day to provide fresh produce, meat, dairy products, and other goods to their shoppers in Duvall. The pantry is open Tuesdays from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Check out their website, call 425-788-1400, and visit them at 26526 NE Cherry Valley Rd, Duvall, WA 98019 to learn more.
City Spotlight: City of Duvall
Every two years, the City of Duvall adopts a biennial budget that sets funding levels for city operations and services for the next two-year period. The city is currently going through this budget process. Duvall residents are encouraged to participate by attending Council meetings, following budget updates online, and providing public comment. The City of Duvall will soon post a website where residents can learn all about the proposed 2027-2028 budget. Check out the 2025-2026 budget site to learn more about what goes into it!
What’s Going on Around Town?
There’s a lot going on across our district, and we want you to know all about it, so check out the events below!
Issaquah Salmon Days
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Saturday, October 3 & Sunday, October 4, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM: Head to downtown Issaquah for the annual Salmon Days, celebrating the return of adult salmon to Issaquah Creek! Watch the salmon return at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery, check out the parade, experience live music, explore vendor booths, and enjoy delicious food!
North Bend Blues Walk
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Saturday, October 3, 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM: Join Jazz Clubs NW for a Blues Walk in downtown North Bend! Experience live music from local artists across 19 venues, including Moose Lodge, North Bend Theatre, Boxley’s, Hartwood Cafe, and more.
North Bend E-bike, E-scooter, E-motorcycle Town Hall
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Tuesday, October 6, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM: North Bend residents are invited to join city staff, Public Health and Safety Committee members, the North Bend Police Department, Eastside Fire and Rescue, and other local organizations for a Town Hall meeting about e-bikes, e-scooters, and electric vehicles, such as e-motorcycles.
SnoValley Flood Forum
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Wednesday, October 7, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM: Join neighbors, local leaders, and experts to talk about flooding in our community and how we can all prepare! This event is put on by the Flood, Fish, and Farm Caucus, City of Carnation, City of Duvall, City of North Bend, the Snoqualmie Valley Preservation Alliance, and more.
Redmond Karwachauth And Diwali Bazaar
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Saturday, October 24, 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Get ready for a festive day filled with fun, shopping, and celebrations! Enjoy the spirit of Karwachauth and Diwali with friends and family. Dive into vibrant stalls, delicious treats, and cultural vibes that’ll light up your day. Don’t miss out on this awesome community gathering in Redmond!
Clear Creek Farm Handpainting Yarn Workshop at Carnation Farms
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Saturday, October 24, 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Take a trip out to Carnation Farms and learn to handpaint wool yarn with Clear Creek Farm’s Yvonne Ellsworth. She will cover 2-3 different dyeing techniques. Included are 2 skeins of yarn from Carnation Farms' own sheep flock. This is a paid event hosted by a non-profit; registration required.
Carnation Candy Crawl
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Saturday, October 24, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Put on your favorite costume and join the Carnation Chamber of Commerce for one of Carnation’s sweetest fall traditions! Enjoy festive activities, games, music, and raffle prizes at Tolt Commons and trick-or-treat at local business in downtown Carnation!
Snoqualmie “Spook”Tacular Halloween
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Saturday, October 24, 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Join the City of Snoqualmie for three “spook”tacular Halloween events! Wear your costumes and come trick-or-treat on Snoqualmie Ridge, at the Snoqualmie Valley YMCA, and downtown Snoqualmie!
Woodinville Trick or Tree Arbor Day Event
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Thursday, October 29, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Join the City of Woodinville at city hall for a free event for kids and families. Enjoy Halloween crafts, games, face painting, sweet treats, and pick up a free tree in honor of Arbor Day!
Sammamish Pumpkins on the Plaza
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Thursday, October 29, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Join the City of Sammamish for a boo-tiful community celebration at the Sammamish Commons! Complete the scavenger hunt and claim a prize, visit the petting-zoo station, Trick-Or-Treat at city booths, pop into the library for a KCLS hosted craft, and meet characters from faraway lands!
Duvall Halloween Kids Party
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Friday, October 30, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Join the Duvall Chamber of Commerce at the Duvall Visitors Center for their Halloween Kids Party! Enjoy games, crafts, and prizes and join them to trick-or-treat downtown at local businesses!
If you know of any upcoming events that you’d like us to highlight in our next newsletter, please share them at Isabel.Smith@kingcounty.gov.
Fall Farm Fun!
We have so many amazing farms in our district hosting an array of fun fall activities for you to experience with family, friends, and neighbors! Check out 'em out:
Duvall
Carnation
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Carnation Farms Harvest Market: Saturday, October 17, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
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Remlinger Farms Fall Harvest Pumpkin Festival: Saturdays & Sundays, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM from September 26 to November 1
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Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center Oxtober: Saturday, October 17 & Sunday, October 18, Saturday, October 24 & Sunday, October 25, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
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Jubilee Farm Harvest Festival and Pumpkin Patch: Saturdays & Sundays, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM from October 3 to November 1
Fall City
Woodinville
Stay Connected!
 Please forward this email and invite others to sign up to receive email updates. Also, make sure that you follow our Facebook and Instagram accounts to stay up to date on everything we are working on together!
Please always feel free to reach out by emailing sarah.perry@kingcounty.gov or calling 206-477-1003. I look forward to connecting!
All the best,
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