MAY E-UPDATE from KING COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER KATHY LAMBERT
May 11, 2007
This Month:
- Fall City Town Hall Meeting
- Animal Specialty Services Public Hearing
- Charter Review Process
- Historic
Preservation Awards
Dear District 3 residents,
I hope you are enjoying the wonderful weather of the last few days.
We, my husband and I, as you may have heard celebrated our 25th wedding nniversary with a renewal ceremony in Hawaii attended by all the family who were there at the first one! What a wonderful and memorable experience. It highlighted to us the importance of family and community. So I want to thank you for all you do to make this such a wonderful community to live in and raise our family - who are now raising their own families!
2. Town Hall Meeting
Discussion
of Possible Fall City Park Transfer
Town Hall Meeting
Wednesday,
May 16
6:30-8:30
p.m.
Chief
Kanim Middle School Gymnasium
32627
SE Redmond-Fall City Road
Fall
City, WA
Concerns? This is the time to express them and to learn more details. The King County Executive and the Snoqualmie Tribe have been working on a possible agreement to transfer ownership of the Fall City Park from King County to the Snoqualmie Tribe. This transfer would include the ball fields and the Hop Shed, which is listed as a King County Historical Landmark. This park is unique because it has many groups that use it: Little League, youth soccer, 4-H, Fall City Arts Council, King County Search and Rescue, ladies’ drill teams, and the Raging River Riders, to name a few. The park also serves as a trailhead for the Snoqualmie Valley Trail, which is used by cyclists, equestrians and hikers. The full King County Council has yet to see a version of the proposed agreement. I got a copy this week if you would like to see it. I would like to offer an opportunity for the community to provide input to the Executive about this possible transfer of ownership. King County Parks Division Director Kevin Brown will be at the meeting as well. Please come share your thoughts about this important issue at the Town Hall Meeting. What is determined at this meeting will help set the course for the next steps.
3. Animal Specialty Services
In response to requests from my constituents, I am sponsoring a zoning code amendment to allow animal specialty services to operate in the unincorporated areas of King County. As surprising as it may seem, King County currently does not allow businesses such as animal day care, boarding or grooming services to operate outside of cities. This amendment will allow permits for these businesses in any commercial or industrial zone, and will also allow the businesses to operate in residential zones with a conditional use permit. This legislation already has been approved by the King County Council’s Growth Management and Natural Resources Committee, and now it goes to the full Council for a public hearing:
Tuesday,
May 29
1:30
p.m.
Council
Chambers
King
County Courthouse, Third and James
Seattle
If you are interested in allowing animal specialty services to operate in King County’s rural areas, then I hope you will support this ordinance with e-mails, letters and phone calls, or by attending the public hearing. You can learn more about Ordinance 2007-0169 at http://mkcclegisearch.metrokc.gov/legistarweb/
4. Charter Review Process
Earlier this year, King County began the once-a-decade review of the Charter, which is our county’s constitution. The process began with the appointment of a 21-member Charter Review Commission, which is meeting monthly on the last Tuesday. Currently, the Commission is undertaking a public outreach effort to get agencies, organizations and citizens involved in recommending modifications to the Charter. In June and July, the Commission will conduct nine public hearings around the county, one in each of the nine King County Council districts. I would like to invite you to participate in this process at our District 3 public hearing:
Thursday,
June 21
6:30
p.m.
Preston
Community Center
8625
310th Ave. SE, Preston
The League of Women Voters and the Municipal League already have presented their priorities to the Commission, including making elected county positions non-partisan, public financing of campaigns, better representation for the rural area, more authority for regional committees, and revising the method for placing charter amendments on the ballot. I have several ideas that I will be bringing to the Commission. Comments can be submitted in person at public hearings, or go to http://www.metrokc.gov/exec/charter/default.aspx for more information and to submit comments in writing. The King County Charter is available online at http://www.metrokc.gov/mkcc/code/03-Charter.pdf
5. Issaquah Hailstone Project Gets Preservation Award
I am proud to announce that the Hailstone Feed Store and Shell Gas Station restoration project in Issaquah will be recognized this month with one of the King County Executive’s 2007 Awards for Achievement in Historic Preservation. The project was coordinated by the Downtown Issaquah Association and funded with grants and donations. The awards will be presented by the Executive, the King County Landmarks Commission and 4Culture on:
Tuesday,
May 15
10:30
a.m. coffee/tea social
11
a.m. awards ceremony
Issaquah
Depot Museum
50
Rainier Blvd. N., Issaquah
For more information, contact King County Historic Preservation Officer Julie Koler at (206) 296-8689 or julie.koler@metrokc.gov.
So many other things are happening now. We are working on the waste-to-energy issue. Please see the link to the recent article. The report on evaluating this technology will be ready soon.
I hope you are doing well. It is such a pleasure to work with you and to represent you.
Sincerely,
Kathy
Lambert
District
3
(206)
296-1003
kathy.lambert@metrokc.gov
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