Update: Town Hall attracts full house

More than 125 people joined Councilmembers at Sammamish City Hall on August 27 to discuss historical preservation in King County.

Councilmembers listen to a briefing from 4Culture Executive Director Jim Kelly at the August 27 historic preservation Town Hall in Sammamish

King County Historic Preservation Officer Julie Koler and Landmarks Commission Chair Lauren McCroskey gave a presentation on the County’s major preservation projects and programs. They also discussed the “Barn Again” Initiative, a new grant program to preserve historic barns.

Current issues in preservation were discussed by a panel of presenters. Jim Kelly, Executive Director of 4Culture, King County’s cultural services agency, spoke about “heritage tourism”, and the idea that all tourism is heritage tourism since “people come to see landmarks or events that are part of the heritage of the region they’re visiting.” Bellevue Community College Professor Leon Leeds highlighted the county’s innovative archaeology program. Des Moines City Councilmember Susan White, a board member of the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, discussed the cooperative efforts on a local, county and state level to preserve structures throughout the region. North Bend City Councilmember David Cook spoke to the audience about the revitalization of his city’s downtown core and his efforts to restore a building that had become a “Bavarian Chinese Restaurant” back into the structure that housed North Bend’s first bank.

Next Council Town Hall Meeting will highlight historic preservation in King County

Please join the King County Council for a Town Hall Meeting in Sammamish on historic preservation.

The meeting will feature a briefing by the King County Historic Preservation Officer and the Landmarks Commission Chair on major preservation programs and projects, including the “Barn Again” Initiative. A panel discussion will highlight current preservation issues, including "heritage tourism," archaeology, and historic downtown core preservation.

Audience members will have an opportunity to question presenters and panelists. At the conclusion of the program, the Council will also take public testimony on any issue.

The meeting will be held on Monday, August 27 at Sammamish City Hall at 801 228th Ave SE in Sammamish. The public is invited to meet face-to-face with King County Councilmembers at an informal reception starting at 6:30 p.m. The program will run from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

The County Council is a regional government committed to engaging King County residents in their local communities. Throughout the year, the Council holds local Town Hall Meetings on issues of public importance. Community members have the opportunity to meet Councilmembers, be briefed by local and regional experts, and provide public testimony.

Each Town Hall is a special meeting of the Council’s Committee-of-the-Whole (COW), the only standing committee on which all nine members serve. COW considers legislation and policy issues of interest to the entire council.

Recent town hall meetings have been held in Maple Valley, Shoreline, Seattle, Redmond, Renton, West Seattle, Carnation, and Auburn.

Questions? Please email CouncilTownHall@KingCounty.gov or call 206-296-0335.