Dear Neighbors:

I hope this E-News finds you all doing well and enjoying our slowly-emerging sunny weather. I am excited to be sponsoring legislation that will give the King County Council a roadmap for bringing public campaign financing, or voter-owned elections, to King County races. The council will hold a special Town Hall Meeting on Monday, May 19, at the Shoreline Conference Center, 18560 1st Avenue Northeast, in Shoreline, for a panel discussion and public comments on this subject. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m., with a reception beginning at 6:00 p.m.

You can learn more about this important topic by listening to my King County Conversations Podcast or by viewing my recent Comcast Newsmakers interview. You may also read my current Seattle Times Op-Ed on the issue.

I hope to see you all in Shoreline on May 19th!

Sincerely,

Bob Ferguson
King County Councilmember, District 1

Legislative Updates

BNSF Eastside Corridor

You may be aware that the Port of Seattle has committed to buying the 42-mile Burlington Northern Santa Fe (“BNSF”) Eastside Corridor, which runs from Renton to Snohomish, for approximately $107 million. King County is buying an easement to build a multi-use trail along the same corridor for approximately $2 million. The negotiations between BNSF, the Port of Seattle and King County are complex and ongoing. I am heavily involved in these negotiations. As with any deal that is being negotiated, the documents are all a work in progress and change by the hour.

Photo credit: Lorrie McKay, Office of the King County Executive

I remain committed to dual use of the corridor, for trail and rail users alike. My guiding principles for the negotiations are:

• I support the port and county effort to bring the corridor into public ownership.

• I support having the corridor rail banked.

• I support a regional public process for determining the future use of the corridor and the trail.

• I support building a trail.

• I recognize that multi-use and bicycle transportation corridors will become increasingly important commuting options as gridlock worsens and commuters recognize the environmental impacts of their commute choices.

On May 5th there will be two opportunities for public testimony on this issue. The first opportunity will be at the King County Council Committee of the Whole meeting, which begins at 9:30 a.m. The meeting will be held at the King County Council Chambers on the 10th floor of the King County Courthouse at 516 Third Avenue in Downtown Seattle. The second opportunity will be at the King County Council meeting, which begins at 1:30 p.m. in the same location.

I will keep you updated on this matter as it proceeds.

King County Animal Shelters

Last month I reported to you about findings regarding the animal care provided by King County Animal Care and Control. Animal care in King County is a function of the executive branch, and it is our role on the County Council to provide legislative oversight. As part of this oversight role, the council has received three separate reports (UC Davis; Consultant Nathan Winograd – Part 1 and Part 2; Citizens' Advisory Committee) detailing the conditions of King County’s animal shelters. Each report has been troubling. This is an emergency and my colleagues and I are working to implement short- and long-term solutions on behalf of the animals in King County’s care.

The Operating Budget Committee, which I chair, recently approved an ordinance to provide nearly $1 million to fund the immediate operational and capital improvements needed by King County Animal Services. The County Council also approved a motion that will allow private veterinarians to assist medical staff at county animal shelters.

Learn more by visiting the County Council’s website. As my colleagues and I continue to work on this issue, I will keep you updated.

King County Conversations Podcasts

Subscribe to the King County Conversations Podcast: Learn more about how to subscribe.

In my April E-News I introduced my new podcast series, King County Conversations. This series covers topical issues in District One and King County. Since last month, I have added new programs about public campaign financing and the grand opening of the Chinook Building, King County’s new office building.

Last year for Christmas I received an MP3 player, which convinced me it was time to learn more about this new technology. A podcast is a mechanism that delivers programs to your computer. If you subscribe to my podcast, for instance, every time I produce a new show it will automatically appear on your computer’s media player. Learn more about how to subscribe.

My next program will be about the plan to re-open the King County Courthouse’s South Entrance. This entrance, which was converted into a loading dock in the 1960’s, was once a grand access way for the building. You can subscribe to King County Conversations and listen to this new program when it is released. If you prefer not to subscribe, you can still listen to individual programs by clicking on the specific program link listed on the multimedia page.

Van Donation to Seattle's Outdoors for All

Bob with participants and volunteers of Outdoors for All.

On April 10 I delivered a retired Metro Vanpool van to Outdoors for All in Seattle. I had the opportunity to secure the van through the County Council’s retired Metro Vanpool van donation program. It was a privilege for me to drop off the keys to Outdoors for All, located at Magnuson Park, whose mission is to enrich the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities through outdoor recreation. The van will be used to drive participants to their activities throughout the county.

Building Better Communities Event

On April 16, State Representative Ruth Kagi and I facilitated a discussion with over 80 Shoreline citizens to start a dialogue about building community cooperation. Ruth and I were asked to draw upon our political experiences and share the principles that have guided us throughout our careers. It was great to see so many interested Shoreline residents, and I particularly enjoyed working with Representative Kagi who represents the 32nd Legislative District so well. View my presentation.

Bob and constituents at the Lake Forest Park Town Hall.

Lake Forest Park Town Hall a Success

I want to thank everyone who attended my April town hall meeting in Lake Forest Park. Mayor Dave Hutchinson co-hosted the meeting with me. It was civic engagement at its best, with nearly 90 participants raising excellent questions about local and regional issues including Brightwater, transportation, and flooding.

Shoreline Transfer Station to Recycle Electronics

Effective June 1, the King County Shoreline Recycling & Transfer Station will begin accepting electronic waste for recycling, such as televisions and computer monitors. The recycling fees are as follows:

• Television (19" and less), $15 each, max 3 per load
• Television (20" to 36"), $25 each, max 3 per load
• Television (over 36"), $35 each, max 3 per load
• VCR/DVD/CD players, $5 each, max 3 per load
• Fluorescent bulbs, $0.80 each, max 12 per load
• Fluorescent tubes, $0.80 each, max 12 per load

Updates from Around District One

• On May 28, the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce will host its sixth annual Dollars for Scholars awards luncheon at the Shoreline Center to honor Shoreline high school students receiving merit and need-based college scholarships. Last year Colleen and I donated to this program, and I encourage all students within the Shoreline School District boundaries, whether they attend school in Shoreline or reside there, to apply. The event begins at noon and the greater Shoreline community is invited to attend.

• The Lake Forest Park Commons Farmers Market opens for the season on Mother’s Day, May 11. On Father’s Day, June 15, the market will be celebrating its annual Family Fun Festival with live entertainment, games, activities, and the usual selection of fresh and local food and flowers.

• The Mother’s Day Flower and Garden Show will be held in Bothell on May 10 and 11. Local specialty nurseries will be bringing their best to the Country Village, 23718 Bothell Everett Highway.

• Opening day for the Farmers Market in Bothell is June 6. The market will be open every Friday, June through October.

• In the past many of you have written to me to express your displeasure at the closing of the Washington State Driver License agency that was located near 132nd Avenue and Aurora Avenue North. I want to let you know that a new facility has recently opened at 18551 Aurora Avenue North, Suite 100, in Shoreline. Read here for more information.

About my E-Newsletter

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Phone: (206) 296-1001 | Fax: (206) 296-0198 | TTY/TDD: (206) 296-1024 | Toll Free: (800) 325-6165
Mailing Address: King County Courthouse, 516 Third Avenue, Room 1200, Seattle, WA 98104-3272