Dear District 2 Friends and Neighbors:

It is an honor to represent you on the King County Council. Since my last newsletter, I have had the opportunity to advance legislation on issues ranging from solid waste to civil rights. My approach is to emphasize regional cooperation and to work with my colleagues in a bi-partisan way. I hope you enjoy District 2 E-News. Please contact me with any questions or comments. To unsubscribe, please see directions at the end of this message.

District 2 E-News
July 27, 2004
Edition 2
In this issue:

Tent City
Critical Areas Ordinance
Civil Rights
Solid Waste Export Plan
Sewer Capacity Charge
In the Community

Tent City

One of the more controversial issues for King County this year was the placement of Tent City 4 in Bothell. On June 1, I voted to create a Citizens' Advisory Commission on Homeless Encampments in light of the Tent City discussion and the increase of homelessness in King County.

I selected Sandra Kortum as the District 2 Representative to the Commission. I met Sandra when I volunteered and spent the night at Tent City 3 hosted by Lake City Christian Church in District 2 this spring. By spending the night at Tent City, I had the opportunity to meet many residents and learned a great deal. I look forward to the Commission’s report due out in mid-August.

"Councilman Bob Ferguson, who recently spent the night at a tent city in Lake City, said several men in his tent got up very early in the morning to go to work. 'I can assure you that the majority of the people out there are working. They are the working poor,' Ferguson said."

Read more: "County agrees to commission on tent cities" -- Seattle Times, June 2


Critical Areas Ordinance

Although I do not serve on the Growth Management and Unincorporated Areas Committee (GMUAC), I have had the chance to hear from many of you regarding the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO), created to protect vital groundwater and natural habitat. The most controversial section of the CAO is popularly known as “65-10” which would restrict clearing in rural King County to 35 percent per property, 65 percent maintained in the natural state, and restrict impervious surfaces such as cement to less than 10 percent of the property. My staff had a chance to visit the Bear Creek area in Duvall where property owners have practiced strict regulations for several years. This is an issue that will require a balance to change our policies according to best available science and recognize the concerns of land owners. I look forward to hearing the recommendations of that committee before the full Council deliberates in late August.

The CAO will be considered on Tuesday, July 27, 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. on the 10th Floor of the King County Courthouse, 516 3rd Avenue. If you would like to testify before the committee, please contact Olivia Aguilar, Committee Assistant, at olivia.aguilar@metrokc.gov or (206) 296-1691. The full Council will vote on the CAO and the 2004 Update to the Comprehensive Plan in late August or early September. The GMUAC passed the Comprehensive Plan last week.

Civil Rights

On July 1, I co-sponsored the Civil Rights Ordinance to ensure all King County citizens, regardless of age, race, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation, are protected from discrimination. The proposed changes will update the County’s discrimination laws on housing, employment, public accommodations and contracting. This will expand coverage of the Employment Ordinance to small businesses that contract with the County, requiring compliance with provisions of the Fair Employment ordinance to ensure no discrimination occurs in the workplace.

These changes are long overdue. For our quality of life – to be the place people want to live and the place where companies want to do business – we must ensure that all citizens enjoy equal protection under the law. I am proud to co-sponsor these amendments.

Read more: "County executive seeks to amend civil rights laws" -- Seattle Times, July 2

Solid Waste Export Plan

King County operates one of the largest publicly-owned solid waste management systems in the state. Cedar Hills, the County’s only landfill, is expected to reach capacity in 2012 and the County will export its solid waste to Eastern Washington or Oregon once Cedar Hill closes. On July 12, the Regional Policy Committee passed the Solid Waste Export Plan which details a dependable and cost-effective waste export system. As the chair of the committee, I feel it was an important step for designing the blueprint that will deal with solid waste at a regional level and ensure regional cooperation in the future.

“This legislation is the result of a partnership on a regional level that we haven’t had in a long time,” said Redmond Mayor Rosemarie Ives, a member of the Regional Policy Committee. “This is an issue that will have a direct impact on suburban cities and the proposal ensures that we will not be shut out of the final decision on how we will export solid waste.”

Read more: "Regional Policy Committee Approves Solid Waste Plan" -- July 12
"Council Approves Framework for Solid Waste Export System" -- July 26

Sewer Capacity Charge

On June 15, I co-sponsored an amendment to ensure new Sewer Capacity Charge fees were dictated by County policy and did not increase for at least three years. The Sewer Capacity Charge is assessed on new homes to guarantee that new customers who generate increased demand for services bear the cost of creating the infrastructure needed to service them – “growth paying for growth.” This was a bi-partisan effort. I worked closely with a Republican colleague, Steve Hammond, to craft a solution that the Council adopted by a 12-1 vote.

"Ferguson said three consecutive years of rate increases would have meant "artificially low" rates next year, followed by dramatic rate increases the two following years."

Read more: "Sewer-rate increase for King County to last 3 years" -- Seattle Times, June 16

In the Community

North Lake Union

The King County Council formed the public North Lake Union Stakeholder Working Group to advise and give recommendations to the Council on two properties in the North Lake Union area currently used by Metro Transit. Some possible uses include public, non-profit, private, and use by waterborne transportation. I am looking forward to reviewing the recommendations of the Stakeholder Working Group in August or September.

University District Teen Feed

On June 29, I volunteered with my staff at the University District Teen Feed, hosted by University Street Ministry. We served dinner to approximately 50 homeless youth at the University Temple United Methodist Church (1415 Northeast 43rd Street). Volunteer groups host each week, purchasing and preparing food, serving, and cleaning up. After I graduated from college, I spent a year with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps where I directed an emergency services office. Our evening at the Teed Feed reminded me of those days and of the importance of giving back to the community. To volunteer or donate goods, please contact Colin Knight, Teen Feed Coordinator, at teenfeed@usministry.net or (206) 331-2911.

Seattle Youth Garden Network

On June 18, I toured the University Gardens site sponsored by Seattle Youth Garden Network. The Seattle Youth Garden Network helps at-risk and homeless youth develop important vocational and life-skills through a garden-based employment training and education program. The youth employees work after-school fifteen hours a week in the gardens planting and harvesting vegetables. Each Saturday morning, they sell their produce at the University District Farmer’s Market (University Heights Community Center, University Way N.E. & 50th Avenue N.E.) For more information or to donate, contact info@sygw.org or (206) 525-1213 ext. 3135.

Arts & Heritage Organization Highlight: Historic Seattle

On June 2, I hosted an Arts, Culture & Heritage Preservation Meeting for District 2. It was a great success with over 55 participants and 35 organizations present. From this meeting, we decided to highlight one arts and heritage group for each newsletter.

Historic Seattle is a local non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Seattle and King County’s architectural legacy. The Good Shepherd Center (4649 Sunnyside Avenue N.), one of our District’s gems and an Official City of Seattle Landmark, is one of the many buildings owned and currently being restored by Historic Seattle. Built in 1906, the Good Shepherd Center currently houses non-profit organizations and is home to the Artists Housing Project which consists of 6 live and work artist studios.

Upcoming Historic Seattle events in District 2 include:
• Preservation Treasures Hunt and Picnic
Sunday, August 8, 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (Good Shepherd Center)
• Neighborhood Exploration: Wallingford Bungalow Walking Tour
October 2, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
For more information, visit their website or call (206) 622-6952.

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