May Newsletter from Councilman Nate Nehring

Dear North County Neighbors,

I have been busy at the Council and in the district meeting with constituents and stakeholders on various issues in Snohomish County. For this month’s newsletter I want to highlight our HOPE Task Force, follow-up on the Grizzly re-introduction plan, the recent trade mission to Japan, and some opportunities for you to get involved.

When I took office, one of my top priorities was working to combat the heroin and opioid abuse epidemic in Snohomish County. The first thing I did was create the Heroin and Opioid Prevention Effort (HOPE) task force. The HOPE Task Force will have its first meeting on May 8th. I have invited school, community, and law enforcement leaders to this meeting to discuss programs and efforts to educate and prevent drug use among our youth in North Snohomish County. Our goal at this meeting is to share ideas about education and prevention programs that have been successful in certain parts of the county and discuss what we can do to help expand them. I am excited for this first meeting and I will be sure to keep you updated on our progress on this important issue.

Last Monday (April 24), I attended a public coordination meeting with representatives from other counties in the North Cascades Ecosystem, the Town of Darrington, the National Parks Service, and other federal agencies regarding the Grizzly Bear Re-Introduction Plan and Draft EIS. The meeting was very productive. We had scientists there to provide information about the various effects on the ecosystem as well as the sustainability of the plan if implemented. NPS and the other agencies answered some of our questions and we will be having a follow-up meeting to discuss this issue further.

Another exciting development this past month was the trade mission to Japan. A delegation from Snohomish County joined representatives from business, chambers of commerce, and other local government in Nagoya, Japan to explore new economic opportunities between our regions. One of the major accomplishments by our delegation was a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Snohomish County Paine Field airport and the Chuba Centrair International Airport in Japan. The meetings produced great conversations about trade between our regions, successful airport operations, and how companies in Snohomish County can benefit from more economic activity between our regions.

We have some great openings for citizens to get involved in Snohomish County Tomorrow (SCT). SCT is a group of representatives from Snohomish County, our nineteen cities, and the Tulalip Tribes that work together to recommend growth and planning strategies for our region. I serve as Co-Chair for Snohomish County Tomorrow and we are looking for two Citizen Representatives on our Steering Committee. The Steering Committee submits recommendations to the County Council, Puget Sound Regional Council and other organizations. In order to be qualified for this round of nominations, you must live in unincorporated Snohomish County. The Steering Committee meets once a month on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 6 – 8 PM.

Another opportunity to get involved with Snohomish County Tomorrow is to be a member of the Community Advisory Board (CAB). This group meets quarterly to make recommendations to the Steering Committee. CAB Members must either be residents of Snohomish County or have a business located in Snohomish County.

If you are interested in either of these opportunities to get involved, please let me know. As always, I welcome your input and please feel free to reach out to me regarding any issues or concerns you might have regarding Snohomish County and how I can serve you. I can be reached at 425-388-3494 or Nate.Nehring@snoco.org.

Sincerely,

Nate Nehring
Councilman, District 1

Snohomish County Council 3000 Rockefeller Ave., M/S 609 Everett, Washington 98201   8th floor, Robert J. Drewel Building  Phone: 425-388-3494 E-Mail: Nate.Nehring@snoco.org   Russell Wiita, Legislative Aide