Dear Neighbors:

Hurricane Katrina served as a wake-up call for our region to make sure we are prepared in the event of a natural disaster. I am doing my part to make the issue of disaster preparedness a priority for King County.

On Wednesday, September 7, I convened the Regional Policy Committee to discuss emergency and disaster preparedness planning for King County. We had a briefing and reviewed our current emergency plan. Next month, we will hear from the King County Office of Emergency Management to discuss public communication and steps we can take for a seamless disaster plan for our community.

It is an honor to serve you on the King County Council. Please contact me with any questions or comments. To unsubscribe, please see directions at the end of this newsletter.

Veterans, Families, and Human Services Levy

On Monday, September 12, Councilmember Julia Patterson and I worked with our colleagues to craft a ballot measure to meet the needs of King County veterans, families, and our most vulnerable citizens. The Veterans and Human Services Levy overwhelmingly passed the Council with a 12-1 bipartisan vote. This levy will now be before voters on the November 8 General Election ballot.

Bob spearheaded a levy to support veterans, families, and human services.

I am pleased that this measure passed with such broad support. It is a start, a down payment to meet the serious needs our veterans and community face. As a member of the Healthy Families and Communities Task Force, I am committed to continuing my work on a dedicated funding source for all human service agencies.

As the former director of an emergency services office, I have a keen interest in ensuring our most vulnerable are supported with adequate human services.

Many constituents have written to me and asked if veterans receive support solely from the federal government. Veterans are actually supported by a combination of federal, state, and local government funds. King County is legally required to support veterans and we are currently not meeting our responsibility and haven’t for many years. This levy will restore our financial obligation to serving our veterans and their families.

The levy will tax King County property at a rate of 5 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation for six years. Levy revenue for 2006 is estimated at $13.3 million. A homeowner of a $300,000 home would pay $15 a year under the proposed levy.

Half of the revenue will be dedicated to supporting veterans and their families with post-traumatic stress disorder, employment assistance, and other treatment services, while the other half will be used to support regional human services such as homelessness prevention, mental health counseling, and housing assistance. Two citizen oversight boards will be appointed to oversee levy expenditures.

In the News:
County Council OKs levy for vets, other groups
The Seattle P-I – September 13, 2005

Election Reform Update

On Monday, August 22, King County Elections Director Dean Logan briefed the Council on election reform efforts. You can watch the meeting and his comments online. Video links are viewed using the free Real Player.

The main internal changes the elections department recently implemented:

• Provisional ballots now include “Provisional” printed on stubs, colored shading, and coding to prevent tabulation at poll sites.

• Voter rolls are being cleaned. If you have received duplicate voter registration cards or ballots, please contact King County Elections at (206) 296-VOTE to assist the department in updating records.

• Poll worker and employee training expanded.

• Voter identification is required at polls.

• Ballot reconciliation reports required.

• Quality control measures will be implemented for September elections.

• Skills testing required for temporary and seasonal staff.

One thing is clear—there is more work to do to fix the problems in King County Elections. The changes listed above are just the start. The results of the independent audit of King County Elections that I proposed will be released in early October and will be the next step towards making real change. I look forward to sharing these results with you and implementing the reforms and recommendations our audit highlights.

Metro Van Donations to Benefit Youth and Mental Health

Bob donated a retired van to Seattle Youth Garden Works last fall.

I am pleased to announce that the Wallingford Boys & Girls Club and Community Psychiatric Clinic will receive retired vans from the King County Vanpool Program this year. I look forward to personally delivering the vans to these great non-profit organizations in the next few weeks.

The Wallingford Boys & Girls Club provides a safe place for disadvantaged and at-risk youth for educational and social experiences. The van will be used to transport youth on field trips, educational activities, and from schools to the club.

Community Psychiatric Clinic serves the mental health needs of North Seattle, including the Northgate community. Community Psychiatric Clinic provides much-needed medical and mental health for youth, low-income, and disabled residents. The van will be used to assist patients with transportation needs for medical and mental health appointments.

In 1995, the County Council began donating retired vans to non-profit groups for the transportation of low-income clients. The vans now meet the needs of youth, low-income clients, the elderly and the disabled.

Arts & Heritage Highlight: Civic Light Opera

My wife Colleen and I had the great pleasure to attend the kick-off show of Civic Light Opera’s 28th Season with the fantastic musical George M! Now through September 25, the Civic Light Opera will present George M! to highlight the life of George M. Cohan, considered the father of Broadway. Directed by Greg Morales, popular songs include “Give My Regards to Broadway” and “Over There.”

The musical theatre’s 28th Season also includes:

• big! The Musical in November.

• Nunsense II: The Second Coming in January.

• Anything Goes in May.

Civic Light Opera is located at the Sand Point Community Center. For ticket information, please call (206) 363-2809 or visit www.clo-musicaltheatre.org.

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Phone: (206) 296-1002 | 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