News from Councilmember Sam Low - District 5

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News from Sam Low

June/July 2020

Sam Low's eNewsletter

Snohomish County Council
3000 Rockefeller Ave., M/S 609
Everett, Washington 98201

8th floor, Robert J. Drewel Building
Phone: 425-388-3494
E-Mail: Sam.Low@snoco.org

Darcy Cheesman, Legislative Aide

This has been a very challenging time in our County, State and Nation. At the county we are allocating CARES Act money to our Emergency Management, Human Services and Economic Recovery groups. We are working hard to get resources that are needed out into the community. Part of this effort has been grants to small businesses throughout the county, food into the hands of families, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the agencies and clinics who need it. I am proud of the efforts of our Snohomish County departments and its employees. I wanted to highlight some of this work below.

Small Businesses Grant Program – R3

I am committed to getting the necessary help needed for our small businesses to remain operational. In June, the Snohomish County Council approved funding for grant awards for the Relief, Recovery and Resiliency (R3) and the First in Flight (F3) grant programs. These grant programs are part of the county’s plan to use federal CARES Act resources to support those businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The R3 grants will be awarded in two rounds. In the first round Snohomish County received 2,194 R3 applications, totaling over $41 million in requests. The selection committee had $5.68 million in grant funds to award. Three hundred and seven (307) small businesses received awards. Businesses who applied in round one and did not receive funding will automatically be considered in round two. Applications were accepted for round two grant funding through June 26^th. There is $7 million in funding available in round two and the funding awards will be announced on July 13^th.

EastWest Food Rescue

A team of volunteers at Farmer Frog led by Zsofia Pasztor organized an effort called EastWest Food Rescue. Food crops in Eastern Washington are going to waste while there are people in Western Washington who could use that very food. Through the efforts of this organization food is being brought from farms in Eastern Washington to Western Washington to be distributed throughout the food banks. Last week a team from our Public Works crew brought 62,000 pounds of potatoes and onions from Central Washington to Farmer Frog. Volunteers gathered to get this food into the hands of our food banks. To date EastWest Food Rescue volunteers have collected and distributed produce to feed more than 600,000 people during the past nine weeks. What an amazing group of people!

Snohomish County Assessor announces the 2020 Property Valuation

Yesterday the County Assessor’s office started mailing out the 2020 revaluations for properties in Snohomish County. Here is a link to the FAQs regarding property taxes. The average increase countywide is 5.47% with 5.39% being residential and 5.72% commercial. Valuation increases in each of the East County school districts are: Everett 5.18%, Lake Stevens 5.12%, Index 6.94%, Monroe 5.76% and Snohomish 6.25%. I also wanted to include a link to the information for senior income exceptions. This does not include the valuation for new construction. The Assessor’s office has until August 31^st to add new construction to the roll. If you have any questions please reach out to the Assessor’s office at 425-388-3433 or contact.assessor@snoco.org.

Conservation Future Funding

I am fortunate that this year I was chosen to be the chair for the Conservation Futures Program. The Snohomish County Conservation Futures Program was started in 1988 as a way to distribute Conservation Futures Property Tax Funds as authorized by RCW 84.34.230. The purpose of this funding is to acquire interests, or rights, in real property for the preservation of open space, farm and agricultural land, and timber land per SCC 4.14.010.

The Conservation Futures Program Advisory Board (CFPAB) makes recommendations to the Snohomish County Council for projects to be funded as part of the Conservation Futures Program, and develop strategic, long-range plans for the program. Recommendations from the CFPAB are forwarded to the Snohomish County Executive for transmittal to the County Council for final action. The CFPAB consists of the County Executive (or designee); two members of the County Council; one elected official selected by all cities and towns whose population base, independently, is 10,000 or greater, one elected official selected by all cities and towns whose population base, independently, is less than 10,000, and two members representing citizens of Snohomish County. Board members serve four-year terms. Below is this year’s recommendations that will be presented to the County Council for approval.

2020 Conservation Futures Program – CFPA Board Final Funding Recommendation, June 25, 2020

CF Code	Name of Project	Name of Applicant	Grant Ask	Ranking	Funded Y/N
CF20-01	Brekhus Riverfront	Thomas Hartzell, Snohomish County Parks	$55,349.36	1	Y
CF20-02	Catherine Creek-Centennial Trail Connection	Thomas Hartzell, Snohomish County Parks	$341,250.00	2	Y
CF20-03	Darrington Recreation Connection Project	Dan Rankin, Mayor of Darrington	$157,000.00	3	Y
CF20-05	Tillman Farm Conservation Easement	Darcey Hughes, Forterra	$300,000.00	4	Y
CF20-08	Regional Trail Inholdings	Kevin Teague, Snohomish County Parks	$300,000.00	5	Y
			$1,153,599.36

Roads Update

Riley Slough Bridge Replacement Project

The Riley Slough Bridge Replacement Project is expected to be open to drivers sometime during the week of July 6. Additional information can be found here

Rice Road Closure

Rice Rd between 138 St SE and 132 St SE at 6:00 am on July 6 through 5:00 pm July 11, 2020 to install a new Fish / Drainage culvert. The detour route will be signed and utilize Sultan Basin Rd. Local access will remain available to residents and businesses on Rice Rd during the closure. The roadway will be excavated in order to install the new culvert. Additional information can be found here.

US 2 - Stevens Pass Eastside Paving

US 2 paving work began Monday, June 15 at the east of the project (milepost 78.63), with shoulder closures and intermittent flagger controlled traffic with short delays. The contractor is working west on roadway repairs and preparation, and then will turn around and move east to complete the paving work. Work is scheduled Monday through Friday during daylight hours and will require flagger controlled traffic with pilot car and delays. Timeline for this work is June 2020 to August 2020. Additional information can be found here.