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This year, council will start our budget deliberations almost a month sooner as we are shifting from deliberating and approving an annual budget to a biennial budget. There had been talks in early 2020 about shifting to a biennial budget, but with the COVID pandemic and the mounting uncertainties and shifts in revenue, discussions were suspended. Now that budget forecasting has settled and is more predictable, the county is better suited to transition to a two-year budget. A shift to a biennial budget will help to streamline the budget process, provide more time for oversight of programs, reduce the total amount of time staff spend budgeting which will free up time for other projects during year two, and encourage strategic thinking. I will provide updates during the budgeting process this year and share ways that you can provide input or follow along. The County Executive will be providing the budget delivery address on Wednesday, September 4, and Council is aiming to approve the final budget in early November. Past budgets and other information can be found at: https://snohomishcountywa.gov/367/Budget-Division.
The Evergreen State Fair is here! This year it runs from August 22-27 and August 29-September 2. Located in Monroe, The Fair is the largest event put on by Snohomish County and welcomes over 250,000 visitors each year. There are more activities than you can shake a scone at during the fair including some of my favorites like the duck races, goat playground, contests, and entertainment at the Courtyard Stage. As an avid knitter, I was thrilled to have been asked to participate as a fiber arts judge this year, and we had an inspiring opening ceremony and ice cream making contest this year (my team with Councilmember Nehring and Sheriff Johnson placed 4th!). If you’re able to come to The Fair this year, please swing through the 4-H barns to see all of the hard work local 4-H'ers have done for exhibits this year. For more information about the fair, the entertainment schedule, or to purchase admissions or carnival tickets, please visit: https://www.evergreenfair.org/.
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The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) recently announced changes to suspend all intakes to state-run Juvenile Rehabilitation facilities. This sudden suspension put an immediate strain on all county-run Juvenile Detention Center through changes in staffing and services levels, including the Snohomish County Denney Juvenile Detention Center. The Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) immediately sprung into action and I voted as a member of Legislative Steering Committee and Board Member to authorize a lawsuit against the State. WSAC and DCYF were able to come to an agreement to allow for the intake of juvenile offenders and then provide notification and transfer of offenders within three days of intake. This will allow local county run detention centers a chance to adjust staffing to ensure that protocols can be followed. I’ll continue to follow this situation closely and provide updates as they arise.
As we get closer to the November election, the Elections Team at the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office are working hard to prepare for what may be a record-breaking voter turn out. Presidential election years tend to have the highest ballot return rates, and this year will likely be no different. As I mentioned in a previous newsletter, our ballot processing center recently went through renovations to help ensure that the public is able to watch the tabulation processes in an accessible and transparent manner. This fall, the elections team will be hosting a series of “Elections Explained” events across the county to answer questions from the public about election security, ballot processing procedures, and the voting process. Please check their Facebook page for a listing of events.
At a recent Council meeting we recognized the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) as a Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) VISION 2050 Award Recipient. PSRC is a regional group with representatives from cities and counties surrounding Puget Sound who coordinates decisions about regional growth and economic development. Each year PSRC awards local groups or jurisdictions for their work to implement innovative programs or projects that work to create a better future for our region. This year, LISC was awarded with the VISION 2050 Working Together Award for their outreach and engagement work in the Casino Road area to put together a Casino Road Economic Agenda which will provide the framework to ensure that local residents can actively participate in economic activities. I was honored to nominate LISC for this award and thrilled to hear that they were selected. Check out more of their work at this link.
 At the award presentation at the council meeting
The Everett Animal Shelter’s Wandering Rover Program was recently created to give dogs a break from the shelter and to get out in the community and seen by potential adopters. Community volunteers can sign up to be a Wandering Rover participant and take dogs in the shelter out on a pupventure. Dogs can be checked out on a first come first served basis from 10-10:30 on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and participants should plan on staying out for at least two hours. Leashes, treats, pet waste bags, and other supplies are provided. For more information and to sign up, please visit https://www.everettwa.gov/3212/Wandering-Rover.
The Snohomish County Healthy Forest Project is hosting a Forest Stewardship event at McCollum Pioneer Park on Sunday, September 8, from 10-noon. All are welcome to join to learn more about restoration projects and how they work. After learning, you are welcome to participate in an onsite planting project. Please register at https://cerv.is/0282x143.
The opening of the first Light Rail Station in Snohomish County is coming up on August 30! The 1 Line extension to Lynnwood City Center will connect to four other new stations across Shoreline and Mountlake Terrace and connecting to the existing station in Northgate. Trains will run seven days a week for every 8 minutes during peak service, every 10 minutes midday and on weekends, and every 12-15 minutes late night and early morning. The fare is a flat $3 fee for adults, $1 reduced fares for qualifying individuals, and youth under the age of 18 ride free. I’m thrilled for the possibilities that this will open for Snohomish County with ride times from Lynnwood to Westlake at 28 minutes, and Lynnwood to SeaTac in just about an hour, which we all know can be way faster than driving! For more information on the opening events or to learn more about the Light Rail Expansion, please visit: https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/lynnwood-link-extension.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival, or “MukFest,” is coming up September 6-8 at the Mukilteo Lighthouse Park. The festival also includes a Grand Parade on Saturday, Sept 7 starting at 11 which goes along Harbour Pointe Boulevard. The whole festival is a lot of fun and I’ve volunteered in the past to shuck corn at the Kiwanis’ food booth – it was a-maize-ing! In addition to food booths, the festival has vendors, live music, inflatable slides for the kids, entertainment, and a beer garden.
It's been a great month to be out 'n about for outdoor events and celebrations. Check out some pictures below!
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At the Everett AquaSox's Union Solidarity Night. Go Frogs! |
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With Senator June Robinson at the UTSAV Celebration at Marymoor Park |
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At the Latino Expo with local leaders from the Community |
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Opening Day Ceremonies at the Evergreen State Fair. More pics next month! |
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