Councilmember Nehring's April Newsletter

Snohomish County, Washington sent this bulletin at 04/01/2024 09:30 AM PDT

Dear North County Neighbors,

I hope you and your family enjoyed a wonderful Easter this past weekend as we celebrate the Resurrection and hope in the world. In my April newsletter, I will highlight some updates from last month, ongoing legislation I am working on, and a number of community events I participated in.

Before jumping into the newsletter, I would like to recognize the life and service of Washington State Trooper Christopher Gadd. Trooper Gaad was killed in the line of duty when his patrol car was struck by another vehicle on I-5 near Marysville on March 3rd. I hope you will join me in praying for Christopher Gadd’s family, especially his wife and two-year old daughter.

In The News

County: Decontamination process on Edmonds and Everett bridge housing moving forward | MyEdmondsNews – March 3, 2024

‘Solemn promise’ kept with opening of memorial to Oso landslide victims | Seattle Times – March 22, 2024

Ceremony, memorial mark 10 years since 43 killed in massive Oso landslide | Kiro 7 – March 26, 2024

Upcoming Community Events

April 8 – Granite Falls Chamber Networking Breakfast

April 9 – Arlington State of the City

April 13 – Marysville Happy Parks-Happy Hearts

April 26 – Arlington Teen Night

April 28 – McClinchy Camano Classic Century (Stanwood)

Oso Slide Memorial

Ten years ago, in March 2014, the SR 530 “Oso” Slide took the lives of 43 of our neighbors in North Snohomish County. On the 10-year anniversary of this tragic event, community members joined together at the site to dedicate the permanent memorial to the lives lost, the first responders who heroically responded, and the community impacted.

The ceremony was a fitting tribute and the memorial is a beautiful reminder of resilience of the community and a somber space to honor the 43 victims of the slide. I had the opportunity to join the family members, community members, first responders, and fellow elected officials for the official dedication on March 22nd. You can learn more about the memorial and ceremony in Kiro 7’s coverage at this link.

Testing Ordinance Update

In February, I introduced an ordinance to require regular testing of county-owned housing facilities for harmful chemicals and substances. Ordinance 24-011 is specifically intended to identify the presences of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs within taxpayer-subsidized housing facilities.

The ordinance received a public hearing on March 20th and again on March 27th. During the public hearings, members of the public provided testimony on the proposal and Councilmembers received briefings and answers to their questions. A final vote is expected to occur at our County Council meeting on May 1st. If you would like to share your thoughts with the County Council on Ordinance 24-011, you can email contact.council@snoco.org.

Snohomish County Update Presentations

In March, I continued presenting to community groups with a Snohomish County update. I presented to the Arlington ROMEOs and Stilly Valley Chamber of Commerce. I always appreciate the opportunity to share the work we are doing on the Snohomish County Council and answer your questions about county government.

At these presentations I shared updates on Snohomish County’s budget, economic development efforts throughout our area, the Regional Apprenticeship Pathways (RAP) Program, local parks and infrastructure projects, broadband expansion efforts, affordable housing issues, and public safety. If you have a group that would be interested in one of these updates either virtually or in-person, please contact my office at Nate.Nehring@snoco.org.

RAP Spring Showcase Event

On Tuesday, April 30th, the Regional Apprenticeship Pathways (RAP) Program will be hosting its second annual Spring Showcase Event. This event, which we started last year, is an opportunity for the community to visit the RAP Center and learn about the program, tour the facility, and meet the students. I am continually impressed by the great work happening preparing today’s youth as the future’s workforce.

If you can attend, I encourage you to join us to learn about and celebrate the success of the RAP Program. Also, please share the invite below out to your networks. We are hoping for a great turnout!

Youth and Government Presentation

On Thursday, March 7th, Councilmember Jared Mead and I visited the Youth and Government group at the Mill Creek YMCA. This program teaches youth in our community about all levels of government and civic engagement. In addition to gaining a deeper understanding of government, the students participate in activities to build their skills and get involved in civic life.

The students will have the opportunity to travel to our state’s capitol in Olympia and participate in a mock legislature. This is a wonderful learning experience for them to get involved, learn, and gain a more in-depth knowledge of the legislative process.

Council Budget Retreat

On Friday, March 29th, the County Council held a 3-hour budget retreat for the upcoming 2025-2026 budget. This will be the first biennial (two-year) budget in the County’s history. During the retreat, the Council received briefings from staff including our 5-year forecasts on revenue and spending, considerations around property and sales tax levels, and the budget calendar. Councilmembers also discussed budget priorities and started discussions which will be continued into the budget process which begins in earnest when the County Executive delivers his proposed budget in September.

I have remained consistent over every budget adopted by the County Council that I will not support tax increases until we have done our due diligence, tightened our belt, and cut wasteful spending. I will continue to fight for responsible, balanced budgets while prioritizing public safety, the County’s number one responsibility.

I send out monthly newsletters to keep you informed about what I am working on and how I am representing North Snohomish County on the County Council. If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate in reaching out to me at Nate.Nehring@snoco.org or 425-512-4810.  

Sincerely, 

Nate Nehring
Councilmember, 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