I had the honor to attend a ribbon cutting for the renovated and improved Silver Crest Park in Mill Creek. The park improvements were a culmination of hard work and dedication from city and county staff. As part of the improvements, the park has a repaired basketball court and fencing, repaired pathways, and improved benches and picnic tables. As Spring arrives, the upgrades to Silver Crest Park will be a great benefit to the community to enjoy this space!
Last month, I had the opportunity to tour Helping Hands and the Aurora Oaks facilities. Helping Hands is an Everett-based non-profit behavioral health organization. Through their work, Helping Hands provides community-based mental and behavioral health services. Aurora Oaks Enhanced Shelter is a high-performing shelter in King County. Aurora Oaks offers a dignity-first model with private rooms and on-site services. Touring these venues has been beneficial to expand my knowledge and awareness relating to different approaches for assisting individuals. I am so thankful that we have providers like Helping Hands and Aurora Oaks throughout our region that assist our most vulnerable populations with a dignified approach.
Last month, I met with the City of Mill Creek leadership team. We were able to connect on priorities that Mill Creek is working on and opportunities for collaboration between the city and the county. I am thankful for these opportunities to connect with our local leaders to work better together on behalf of our constituents. In the coming months and throughout the year, I will also be meeting with leadership from Mountlake Terrace, Bothell, and Brier.
The County Council will be hosting a panel discussion this month to discuss policy surrounding Critical Areas in Snohomish County. Many of my constituents have been interested in this ongoing discussion and as part of the panel, we will be hosting experts on Tuesday, March 18th during the Council's Planning and Community Development Committee to address questions about critical areas and their importance to communities during development. If you are interested in learning more, you can visit the County Council Meetings Webpage.
Last month, I met with Tom Murdoch to visit and tour the Northwest Steam Center located at McCollum Park. During the tour, I learned about riparian zones, watersheds, and the importance of buffer zones for our community. As part of my effort to inform my decision about Critical Areas, we spoke at length about various ecosystems that exist in these zones, the science behind critical areas, and how we can be great stewards of our natural areas. I am thankful for Tom’s time and insight on buffers, streams, and the historical context of the issues.
Last week, Snohomish County Councilmember Nate Nehring an myself introduced Ordinance 25-
015 to improve access to childcare across the county. The ordinance aims to reduce local regulatory barriers for childcare providers and allow childcare facilities in more locations throughout Snohomish County.
The ordinance creates a more simplified and cohesive permit process for daycare centers in various zoning areas. By allowing childcare centers in more circumstances through flexible zoning requirements, the ordinance will help address a documented shortage of childcare services.
To better understand the challenges facing childcare providers, the Snohomish County Council will host a panel discussion with industry experts from across the county to provide feedback relating to the ordinance. The panel will present at the County Council’s Administrative Session on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 9:00 AM. Members of the public can observe the meeting in person or via Zoom at this link. To learn more about the meeting, visit the County Council Meeting Webpage, I've also shared a link to a Herald article highlighting the ordinance and the ongoing work I've been focused on while on the Council.
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