E-mail news from Larry Phillips, Metropolitan King County Council

Council Adopts 2008 Budget
In adopting the 2008 budget, the King County Council took action to protect and enhance the services citizens value most. We included funds to ensure elections are accurate and convenient, Sheriff’s deputies are professional and accountable, and the BNSF rail trail will soon be available to citizens. We also put money away so services can continue if we encounter a rainy day. Read more.

Learn more about District 4 human services funded in the 2008 budget

Public Acquisition of Eastside BNSF Corridor Moves Forward
After many months of calling for a better plan to acquire the Eastside rail corridor, County and Port of Seattle officials and I announced a viable solution for securing public ownership of the right-of-way. The Port of Seattle and County officials finalized an agreement with BNSF that allows the Port to acquire the right-of-way. Read more.

Eat Local for Thanksgiving

I joined Puget Sound Fresh in the campaign to Eat Local for Thanksgiving. The campaign was created to shine a spotlight on the connection between buying local, protecting the environment, and supporting the community and local farmers. Read more.

Learn more about the campaign.

Council Acts to Prevent Local Flood Catastrophes
The King County Flood Hazard Management Plan identifies an urgent need to address maintenance and repairs to the County's aging system that protects floodplain residents, businesses, public infrastructure and roads. The King County Council approved funding to implement the flood plan. Read more.

Council Embarks on Local Passenger Ferry Service
The King County Council approved funding to begin operating local passenger ferry service in King County. The ferry service will provide commuters with a pleasant alternative to congested corridors such as the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the West Seattle bridge, SR 520, and I-5. Read more.

Volunteer Day for NW Harvest
My staff and I spent a day volunteering for NW Harvest, Washington’s independent, community-supported, statewide hunger relief agency. We helped pack 850 lbs. of dried beans which is enough to feed 283 families. Learn More about NW Harvest.

Council Approves Mental Health Funding
The King County Council approved countywide funding to improve mental health services. The county’s funding will help keep those with mental illnesses out of the jails and off the streets. Read more.

Need for Better Management of Puget Sound Cruise Ship Waste
The King County Council called for further cooperation between King County, Washington State, the Port of Seattle, and the cruise ship industry to improve the management of solids residuals generated by the cruise ships visiting Puget Sound. Advocates encourage a heightened level of awareness regarding waste discharges, especially in light of the federal listing of the Chinook salmon as a threatened species and the resident killer whale population as an endangered species. Read more.

Annual Raft Trip at Cedar River
I hosted the annual raft trip on the Cedar River. The participants are individuals who “purchased” their trip with a charitable donation at local auctions. The raft trip featured spawning salmon and explanations of King County habitat improvements along the Cedar.

Council Ensures Accountability in Voter-approved Parks Expansion Levy Funds
The King County Council put in motion a public process to ensure voter-approved funding for new parks projects will be fairly distributed in an accountable manner and in coordination with other county programs. The motion requests that the County Executive establish a transparent process by which projects will be developed, reviewed and recommended to the Council for final approval. Read more.

New Homes Found for “Retired” Vans
The King County Council donated retired vanpool vans to nonprofit groups for low-income, elderly, disabled, and young people throughout the county. Read more.

Electric Car Demonstration
I am participating in a clean technology demonstration by driving an electric plug-in vehicle from the county’s fleet. King County recently developed a Green Fleet Initiative, pledging to bring more climate-friendly vehicles to King County. Read more.

Council Approves Plan to Optimize Public Health Spending
The King County Council adopted a strategic and operational plan to guide the county in making decisions about public health and the prioritization of funding. The Public Health Operational Master Plan seeks to increase the healthy years lived by King County citizens and eliminate disparities in health. Read more.

Council Addresses Animal Shelter Reforms
The King County Council called on the County Executive to enact immediate reforms to protect the animals in the custody of King County’s two animal shelters. Read more.

For more information about my work in King County, visit my website www.kingcounty.gov/phillips

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If you have any questions or comments, please email me, larry.phillips@kingcounty.gov.