I am pleased to appoint Kim VanPelt as the new Health Department Director. She comes to Snohomish County from Tucson, Arizona, where she served as Deputy Director for Programming and Development at the Pima County Health Department since 2022. Kim brings a wealth of experience overseeing a diverse body of work, building community engagement, and leading the planning and evaluation of strategic goals.
Our public health professionals work every day to keep people safe and healthy. Their efforts locally and regionally are especially important right now. I am excited for Kim to lead that team here in Snohomish County. She is set to take on the role Oct. 20, about three months after former Director Dennis Worsham moved into a new job as the Washington State Secretary of Health. Her appointment follows an extensive national search and a multi-step hiring process that relied on input from County leadership, Health Department staff, and community partners.
The Snohomish County Council confirms Executive appointees for department directors. A Council decision on confirmation of the new appointee is expected at an upcoming meeting.
|
We live in a remarkable place with a bounty of natural wonders. Living among these wonders, we have a responsibility to understand our natural hazards and be prepared for them. Our region is no stranger to emergencies like landslide, wildfire, windstorms, or flooding. We are fortunate to have strong partnerships throughout Snohomish County and beyond, and I am grateful for all our partner agencies. Yet there is no partner more important than the public. We can all take steps to help keep ourselves, our family, and our community safe. If you aren’t sure what those preparedness steps are, the annual preparedness guide is an excellent start. This year’s guide is now available online here.
 |
The next round of grants through the Hotel-Motel Small Fund is open for applications. An estimated $300,000 is available, funded through sales tax collected on hotel and motel room rentals within the county. Typically, the amount awarded per selected project averages $10,000 and can range from $5,000 to $50,000.
This round of funding prioritizes projects and activities that promote multi-day tourism to Snohomish County in advance of upcoming national and international events. Grant applications are reviewed by the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC), which provides its recommendation to the Snohomish County Council.
Congratulations to Snohomish County Elections for winning the 2025 Professional Practices Independence Award from the National Association of Election Officials. The award was presented at the 40th annual national conference. It recognizes the team’s outstanding service and commitment to accessibility through the Elections Explained initiative, a comprehensive voter education effort. The initiative combined community partnerships, targeted marketing, and direct voter engagement opportunities to ensure voters had access to clear, reliable election information ahead of the 2024 November General Election.
I hope you’ll join me in congratulating the Elections team for this prestigious award and for their ongoing efforts to inform voters and ensure free and fair elections.
Snohomish County Auditor Garth Fell and Elections division staff pictured with the “Independence Award” from the National Association of Election Officials.
Snohomish County’s Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board is now accepting applications for new members. Board members will learn about issues affecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, connect with others in the community, share ideas, and provide recommendations to the County Developmental Disabilities team on how to shape programs and use funding.
The County’s Adopt-A-Road program is a great way for residents and businesses to serve their neighbors and their communities. Volunteers commit to cleaning a section of unincorporated county roadsides for an initial term of two years, with at least two cleanups each year. Public Works’ road maintenance division provides equipment and will pick up collected garbage. After the first cleanup, a sign with the name of the volunteer’s group will be installed at their designated section.
Adopt-A-Road has been a Snohomish County program since 2008. It is a valuable partnership between volunteers and the County to build civic pride, reduce roadside litter, and enhance the quality of the environment. Snohomish County is the third-largest county in Washington and features more than 1,600 miles of unincorporated roadway. Keeping it clean requires the cooperation and intentionality of as many people as possible. Many hands make light work. Help us keep Snohomish County beautiful.
For more information and a list of current available sections, visit https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/664/Adopt-A-Road.
Presenting Snohomish resident Joe Hernandez with a new Adopt-A-Road sign marking his group’s 10 years in the volunteer program in April.
As part of the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update passed in December 2024, the Snohomish County Council voted to add a new Urban Tree Canopy sub-element to the Natural Environment Element of the Comprehensive Plan. The Urban Tree Canopy sub-element contains a new goal, objectives, and policies aimed at preserving and enhancing tree canopy in unincorporated urban growth areas. It prioritizes preserving existing tree canopy, developing a management plan, and seeking recognition as an Evergreen Community.
A cross-departmental implementation committee has been convened and is currently working on next steps to implement the policies outlined in the sub-element. You can learn more about this project by exploring the Urban Tree Canopy Policies Implementation webpage, or by visiting the Urban Tree Canopy GIS map to see where tree canopy coverage currently exists in Snohomish County.
|
