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On June 5th, Snohomish County Council unanimously passed Ordinance 24-040 which implements Project Labor Agreements (PLA) and Priority Hire Requirements for any Snohomish County Project over five million dollars. I am proud to have championed this initiative as a demonstration of mine and the county’s commitment to supporting working families, equitable workforce entry points, and ensuring fair labor practices across the region.
In October of 2020 I championed an ordinance that required a minimum apprenticeship utilization for county projects over $1M to help support the workforce pipeline to the trades. Reports from our Public Works and Purchasing Departments have shown that the apprenticeship utilization projects have not just met but often exceed the 15% utilization requirements. Building on this success, I worked with representatives from local trades unions and members of the Snohomish & Island County Labor Council to draft an Ordinance that would further support family wage jobs.
PLAs have a proven track record of fostering collaboration between labor and management, leading to safer worksites, increased efficiency, and ultimately, better outcomes for everyone involved. PLAs also include no-strike and no-lock-out clauses which will help ensure that county projects are completed on time and on budget. The Ordinance also includes priority hire stipulations intended to establish equitable workforce entry points. Through the priority hire requirements, twenty percent of the workers on any county project over five million dollars utilizing a PLA must reside in a distressed zip code in Snohomish County. Other stipulations include mentorship, respectful workplace, and parking provisions, as well as provisions to ensure access to childcare – a groundbreaking provision essential to stabilizing the economy.
Many thanks to all who worked hard to get this together and past the finish line. Thank you too to Executive Somers and my fellow Councilmembers for their support. The changes will take effect in January 2025 to allow time to train staff to oversee the reporting requirements and for engagement and outreach with contracting companies. Onward!
 With councilmembers and labor representatives in council chambers following the historic vote.
Many thanks to all who were able to join for the 4th Annual Pride Flag Raising Event at the county campus earlier this month. It was a beautiful day and a great way to ring in Pride Month here in Snohomish County. This year my office worked with the County Executive and the Office of Social Justice to raise the Pride Flag and host a resource fair highlighting the work that many county departments and local groups are doing to support the LGBTQIA+ community. Please see some pics below from the flag raising event.
Over 60 people joined for the flag raising event as we heard from local speakers about the importance of making sure that everyone in our community, no matter who they love or how they identify, feel welcome and safe. Many speakers mentioned how overwhelming it can be to go down to Seattle for the big Pride Parade and celebrations, and how exciting it is to be able to celebrate love in their own communities. Four years ago when we first raised the Pride Flag, there were only a few events in Snohomish County. And in just in the past four years, it has been great to see this momentum blossom into eight events across the county! To find an event near you, including the Everett Pride Block Party happening this weekend, please check out the Snohomish County Pride Guide.
Happy Pride Month! 🌈
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Sharing remarks before the flag raising |
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Naomi Dietrich with Snohomish County Indivisible providing remarks |
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Kevin Henry with VOAWW tabling at the Resource Fair - there were almost 15 tables! |
Earlier this month I attended the State of the County Address at the Future of Flight hosted by the Economic Alliance of Snohomish County. The format was a little bit different this year as it featured both remarks from Executive Somers and representatives from Boeing and Amazon as panelists. The discussion centered around how easy it was for these companies to either stay in Snohomish County, or choose Snohomish County, because of the beauty and solvency of our region. It was a good reminder of the wonderful things that we have to offer in the county – from mountains to the Sound, and how important it is to work to protect and support the environment and the people who live here.
With Executive Somers at the State of the County Address
As you may have seen from the papers, firefighters from IAFF Local I-66 were not able to come to a consensus on contract negotiations for the contract renewals, and as a result, Boeing locked out the firefighters from work. What this means was that the Boeing Firefighters were not allowed to come to work until they were able to successfully negotiate a new contract. Paula and I stopped by the picket line on a rainy Tuesday to show our support and talk with the firefighters about what they were experiencing. Many Boeing workers coming to/from the plant were honking in support! My late father was a volunteer fire fighter, and my mom was a leader with the Ladies Auxiliary; I grew up in a fire fighting family. I appreciate our collaborative relationship with Boeing but coming from a fire fighting and labor background, I felt the need to speak out on this issue and I was grateful that after almost a month they were able to come to a resolution at the end of May.
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Paula and I with IAFF Local I-66 Firefighters and supporters at the picket line
Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19th each year to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved black people in the US. It marks the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to share the news that all enslaved people should be freed. Though the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed two and a half years earlier, Texas slave owners continued the practice and news of this event was purposefully withheld from the people they enslaved. After federal troops arrived in Galveston to free the last of the slaves, June 19th was originally celebrated as “Jubilee Day” and is considered the longest-running African American Holiday.
Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021 and the county has celebrated through a flag raising event at the county campus. This year the event will be on Tuesday, June 18, at 11:30 and all are welcome to join. Please know that the county offices are closed on June 19. There are also quite a few Juneteenth events across the county and I encourage you to join for one or all of the celebrations.
Happy Juneteenth!
The City of Mukilteo recently kickstarted a new, modernized website and mobile app, creating a more user-friendly experience for residents, businesses and organizations. The City initiated the upgrade so web users can easily stay informed about city-related matters, including City Council, board, commission and committee meetings. The mobile app also provides streamlined navigation, including a more intuitive way to submit "Fix-it Public Works" tickets for issues such as graffiti, potholes and street light outages. You can customize your experience and sign up for notifications on emergency alerts, general bids, calendar events and other City-related news. Click here for more information.
We’re coming into the busy season for events and festivals in Downtown Everett and at the Port of Everett. There’s a festival for everyone – from plant enthusiasts (Sorticulture) to basketball fans (Everett 3 on 3 Tournament). Please check out the event page for events going on in Everett and mark your calendars. Parking can get pretty tight for events, so please make plans to ride transit, or park at the Everpark Garage, which is free in the evenings after 6p and all day on Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy!
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Last month I attended the Zero Avia Ribbon Cutting event in Everett near Boeing Field. Zero Avia has been on the leading edge of developing hydrogen-electric engines for airplanes with the goal of zero-emission flights. Aircraft is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions and the company is working to reverse this impact to our climate. The company has been growing quickly and has needed to make moves to larger and larger facilities to meet the demand for production. Snohomish County is proud to be home to innovative companies like this and I’m especially excited for Zero Avia’s commitment to a green economy.
 With the amazing team from Snohomish County at the ribbon cutting event
I also recently attended a ribbon cutting event for the Maritime Institute which just opened its doors down on the Everett waterfront. The Institute is a national organization but this location is its first in Washington State. They chose the Port of Everett because of the volume of work that happens at the Port and because of the proximity to waterways that can help the training. After the event, I toured the facility and was even put to the test on a simulated fire emergency! The Institute offers four-week training courses with maritime certifications to help jumpstart a career in the maritime industry. For more information, please visit their website: https://maritimeinstitute.com/everett
Paula and I trying out the fire fighting training!
Washington State Ferries (WSF) is seeking your input next week on several topics, including problems experienced by riders and ferry communities, developing fares and fare policies, and changes to route service levels. Other material includes the Service Contingency Plan, recruitment and workforce development, the budget, system electrification, and terminal development. Community members are invited to participate in two Zoom meetings: June 17th at 12 p.m. and June 18th at 6 p.m. You can help guide decisions on the SR 160 - Fauntleroy Terminal - Trestle & Transfer Replacement project and the San Juan Islands Schedule Improvement program. WSF staff will answer questions at the end of the presentations. To register for the virtual meetings, click here. For questions and comments, email: WSFcomms@wsdot.wa.gov.
Mukilteo Garden Bike Park
On Saturday, June 15, you are welcome to join for the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of the Mukilteo Garden Bike Park near the Mukilteo Community Garden. The bike park includes a 6,000 square-foot pump track and four jump lines for bikers of all levels. The City of Mukilteo used 300 cubic yards of donated dirt from contractors and worked closely with over 20 volunteers to construct the course, including ramps, slopes, and sign installation. I was proud to help support this project through a contribution of a portion of my District 2 Capital Improvement Project funding to help with repaving the trailhead parking lot. For more information about the Mukilteo Garden Bike Park, contact the City’s Recreation Department at (425) 263-8180 or email: ttrofimczuk@mukilteowa.gov.
Mukilteo Touch-A-Truck
Coming up on June 29 from 10-1p at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo is a Touch-A-Truck event. There will be a variety of working trucks that children (and grown-ups!) can see in action. This year’s event also has a kids dig pit, fun activities, free swag, and a Menchie’s Fro-Yo wagon! Food trucks will be on site too. More information can be found on this website.
I've had the honor to join for a few events around District 2 and the Puget Sound region over the past month. Please see a few pics below!
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Providing welcoming remarks at the Snohomish County Innovation Assistance Grants Awards Ceremony with Ventures Capital |
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On Memorial Day I attended a ceremony in Mill Creek to honor our service people who have paid the ultimate price for the freedoms that we enjoy. |
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I attended the Puget Sound Regional Council's General Assembly event earlier this month. There were over 20 representatives just from Snohomish County! |
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Speaking at the Parent and Youth Leadership Forum at Everett Community College. It was the 10th Anniversary of the Washington Family Engagement organization - congrats! |
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