As Chair of the Snohomish County Board of Health I have been able to follow public health initiatives and information closely across our county and state. Snohomish County’s Public Health Department has an informative blog (sign up for alerts here) which helps to share information about emerging public health concerns or trends. Most recently, they shared a concerning trend that immunization rates in Snohomish County are declining.
I was proud the board unanimously passed a Resolution recognizing August as National Immunization Awareness Month to bring awareness to the importance of accurate vaccine information and the critical role of immunizations for protecting public health. A panel of experts joined for discussion at a recent Board of Health Meeting to discuss trends and share concerns about the ramifications of a continued decline in adequate immunization rates. This was an important discussion for our board members to hear about local vaccination efforts and to be prepared for any future work related to barriers for access and availability.
At the end of August, I attended a regional conference in Chelan and Douglas counties, hosted by Washington Association of Counties (WSAC). One of the days we were provided a tour that included multiple stops in both counties to see their plans for economic development, hear from their courts and prosecutors, tour of their corrections facilities, and meet with housing and homelessness providers. On one stop we saw the new Helion facility for fusion power and we even drove a car fueled by hydrogen and practiced fueling it at the only fueling center in the state! I made important connections and enjoyed the chance to see how other counties support communities at a local level.
Driving a hydrogen-fueled car!
State Representative Brian Burnett learning how to fill the car with hydrogen.
The Evergreen State Fair was a big success this year! There were a number of new amenities and attractions that hopefully you and your family enjoyed. The Fair planning team is already starting to plan for next year’s event and would love to hear your feedback. Please use this link to share more about what attractions you enjoyed and what would make your fair experience even better next year. Happy Fair Days!
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As I shared in last month’s newsletter, Council President Nehring and I in our roles as the council leadership team this year have been working on a series of family friendly events and initiatives in Snohomish County. Earlier this month, our Snohomish County Arts Commission and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources hosted a Kayak Point Arts Fest and it was a big success! Staff shared numbers for this inaugural event and there were over 1,200 people who attended, six bands, and five food truck vendors. Money for the event came from the 1% For the Arts Fund with most of that money going right back into the creative economy by supporting the vendors and creative professionals who provided services. I was able to join and share some remarks and was especially glad to see Arts Commission members and my family and I enjoyed the incredible view and great music. We’re looking into the possibility of making this an annual event, so stay tuned for more.
Here’s some pics from the event!
Richard Porter introducing me to provide remarks to the crowd
With Joy and Kari, volunteers with the Arts Commission, at the event
The Snohomish County Food & Farming Center, planned at McCollum Park, will be a resource for farmers throughout the region. The facility will include processing and distribution of fresh local produce, a commercial kitchen, and a year-round, indoor farmer’s market. The county is hosting two public open houses for the community to learn more about the future Food & Farming Center, and for county staff to receive feedback from the community.
The first open house is Thurs., Oct. 9 from 4:30 - 7:30 pm. Presentation will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Northwest Stream Center at 600 128th St SE, Everett.
The second open house is Sat., Oct. 11 from 9 - noon. Presentation will begin at 10 am. at the Willis Tucker Park Admin Building at 6705 Puget Park Dr., Snohomish.
If you are unable to attend, a recording of the presentation, as well as an online survey will be available October 9 on the project webpage: https://snohomishcountywa.gov/6043
October is Disability Employment Awareness Month and council will be considering a Resolution to recognize this designation on Wednesday, October 1. Sherwood Community Services provides inclusive services to children and adults with disabilities in their communities and will be hosting a “Business Breakfast” coming up on October 15 from 7:30-8:30 at Sean O’Donnell’s for employers who are interested in hiring people with a disability. Breakfast is provided and I will be the MC for the event. Please RSVP to the event at: https://forms.office.com/r/Bk343smQDY.
We also have openings on the Snohomish County Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board! If you are passionate about helping to create a community where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families are respected, valued, and fully engaged, they are accepting applications for new members. Apply online at snohomishcountywa.gov/3339/Apply
I serve on the Board for Community Transit and have been following closely the work that they are doing to expand services north through a bus rapid transit route called the Swift Gold Line. The Gold Line will connect Everett, Marysville, and Arlington and the route may open as soon as 2031. Community Transit is asking for the public’s input on proposed routes and station locations and has an online open house for the public to learn more.
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For the past year I have been participating as a member of the Washington Community Forestry Council which is administered by the Department of Natural Resources. It has been a valuable experience to learn more about tree canopy protections and the work that the state is doing to protect and enhance our forests both, both urban and rural. I was recently featured on their blog in a “Faces of Urban Forestry” spotlight and wanted to share the article with you. I wrote about the work that I did here at Snohomish County to enhance our urban tree canopy coverage through various Comprehensive Plan amendments that I championed. Protections for our forests remains an important element of combatting climate change and will continue to work on ensuring that our county remains a leader on this issue.
At the county, a cross-departmental implementation committee has been convened and is currently working on next steps to implement the policies outlined in the Comprehensive Plan sub-element.
Learn more about this project by exploring:
- The Urban Tree Canopy Policies Implementation webpage
I have enjoyed serving as the council representative for the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency these past five years to learn more about the good work that they are doing to monitor and improve the air that we breathe. The Agency has been working on putting together a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan and the draft will be open for public comment from October 6-26. Using the Online Engagement Hub, you can click anywhere in the document to share your feedback on the draft. Join staff on October 6, at 11a for a virtual workshop to kick off the public input period for the draft Climate Action Plan and learn more about the Online Engagement Hub. You can register here.
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Save the date for Orca Recovery Day coming up on October 18 in Stanwood. The Snohomish Conservation District is hosting the work party from 10-1 at Ovenell Park in Stanwood. Volunteers are asked to dress for the weather and will help to plant native vegetation and remove invasive weeds to help with better filtration of the stormwater that keep rivers and streams healthy for salmon. Learn more and register here: https://loom.ly/vu9vNAQ.
The Snohomish County 20th Annual Focus on Farming Conference is coming up on Wednesday November 5. The event will provide informational sessions and speakers that discuss all types of farming and support for our local agriculture industry. The event will be at the Evergreen State Fair and early bird pricing is available until October 1, so register today.
The Washington State Ferries team is hosting two online community meetings to provide a recap of their peak season service, an update on their electrification process, and open to Q&A from the public attending. The meetings will be virtual only and will be held on Thursday, October 2 at 12:30p and 6p. Attendees must register ahead of time to obtain the participation link.
If you or someone you know is a Veteran in need of support, resources, or community, please consider joining the Veteran Stand Down event on October 3 from 9-3p at the Carl Gipson Center in Everett. There will be a variety of services available from haircuts and a dental van to to staff that can help sign up for Medicaid or VA Benefits. Please bring your DD-214 or VA ID to help speed up the process. If you don’t have access to your DD-214, there will be people on site that assist with retrieval. No one who served our country should be left behind. Please join if you are in a veteran in need.
Celebrate National Senior Center Month by joining the City of Mukilteo for a complimentary spaghetti lunch on Tuesday, September 30 at noon. Donations are accepted and will go toward supporting 55+ services in the City of Mukilteo. Please RSVP so that they can plan food service accordingly.
It has been great to get out and enjoy the community this last month as summer fades away! Here’s some pics:
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At the Kiwanis Park Ribbon Cutting in Everett. I provided grant funding to help support park improvements. |
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At the VOAWW Lynnwood Neighborhood Center Hardhat Tour. What a great space! It's on schedule to be officially open to the public in the coming months. |
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After a roundtable event with other local elected officials and service providers to learn more about the North Sound Accountable Community of Health, or North Sound ACH. |
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