• New E-mail Address: kathy.lambert@kingcounty.gov

• Transit Advisory Committee

• Charter Review Process

• New E-mail and Web Address

• Road Closure Alert

• Summer Parades

• Fireworks Safety Tips

• Emergency Preparedness Tip of the Month

Happy Independence Day! As we celebrate the freedoms we won and that have endured for more than 200 years, I would like to wish you a safe and memorable Fourth of July!

Please see fireworks safety tips below at #6.

Bus riders needed for Transit Advisory Committee

King County’s Transit Advisory Committee is seeking a new member for appointment from Council District 3, to replace retiring committee member John Jensen. The position will become open in September for a two-year term. The Transit Advisory Committee advises Metro Transit staff, the King County Executive, the King County Council and others on transit policy issues. It is made up of 15 active bus riders who reflect many needs of King County. Meetings are on the second Tuesday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. in downtown Seattle. At the discretion of the committee, additional meetings may be scheduled. For more information, go to www.metrokc.gov/kcdot/getinvolved/tac or call my office to apply for the position.

Charter Review public hearings

Thanks to all of you who contributed your comments and testimony to the Charter Review Commission at the June 21 public hearing in Preston. The event generated the largest turnout so far for the series of hearings being conducted in each of the nine Council districts, with about 45 citizens attending. You still have an opportunity to contribute your ideas about how King County should revise our charter, which is our county’s constitution, at the remaining public hearings:

• Monday, July 9, 6:30 p.m., Federal Way Senior Center, 4016 S. 352nd St., Auburn

• Tuesday, July 10, 6:30 p.m., Black Diamond Community Center, 31605 3rd Ave., Black Diamond

The King County Charter is available to read online at http://www.metrokc.gov/mkcc/code/03-Charter.pdf.

I spoke to the full Commission on June 26 and presented my 44 ideas for changes. The Commission will use public comments to formulate recommendations for amending the charter, which will go to the Council next spring. The Council will decide on placing amendments on the November 2008 General Election ballot. Comments can be submitted in person at the public hearing, or go to http://www.metrokc.gov/exec/charter/default.aspx for more information and to submit comments in writing. Here are additional public hearing opportunities:

In June, King County debuted its new Internet home page and Web address: www.kingcounty.gov. The switch kicked off an 18-month transition to the new domain for our entire public Web site. The old www.metrokc.gov Web address will redirect users to the new home page. The change also affects all King County e-mail addresses, which now will become firstname.lastname@kingcounty.gov. The old e-mail addresses at metrokc.gov will continue to work for a couple of months. Please update your address books. Eventually, the changes are designed to make it easier for King County residents and staff to find what they need on the county’s Internet system. You can go directly to my Web page at www.kingcounty.gov/lambert, or contact me directly at kathy.lambert@kingcounty.gov. I look forward to hearing from you!

For those of you living in or traveling to the Northeast corner of King County, expect the closure later this month of Northeast Index Creek Road (the Baring Bridge) for three weeks. King County’s Road Services Division will be performing timer and steel repairs on the bridge. The closure will begin at 8 a.m. Monday, July 9 and will continue until 3 p.m. Monday, July 30. The road will be reopened at the start of each hour, but long traffic delays are expected. For more information go to http://www.metrokc.gov/kcdot/roads.

I will be participating in the Carnation Days Fourth of July Parade on Wednesday, and I will be at a booth at Redmond Derby Days on Saturday, July 7. I look forward to seeing you at one of these summer community celebrations.

Firework safety tips

• Call 9-1-1 only for emergencies during the Fourth of July. Non-emergency calls can overwhelm the system and delay calls about true life-threatening emergencies.

• DO NOT call 9-1-1 to report illegal fireworks. Call the local police non-emergency phone number.

• Use only safe and sane fireworks.

• Supervise all children around fireworks.

• Have water, shovel and emergency supplies available in case of a fire.

• According to the Washington State Fire Marshal’s office, fire departments reported 1,001 fireworks-related injuries statewide in 2006, a 17-percent increase from 2005.

• King County officials encourage citizens to celebrate safely this Fourth of July by attending one of the many public fireworks displays.

• For more information on fireworks safety and regulations please visit http://www.metrokc.gov/permits/fire/fireworks.aspx.

Emergency preparedness tip of the month

How to turn off your gas service in an emergency, IF THERE IS A LEAK:

A. Locate the service shut off valve, usually the first fitting on the gas supply pipe coming out of the ground near the meter.

B. Use a long-handled wrench to turn the valve one-quarter turn so that the wrench handle is crosswise to the pipe.

C. Once the gas is off, leave it off. Contact Puget Sound Energy or your gas company to have a professional inspect the system, reset the meter and check appliances.