Showing posts with label king county council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label king county council. Show all posts

County Council adopts climate change plan

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

The Metropolitan King County Council gave its unanimous approval today to legislation adopting a strategic approach in addressing climate change in King County

“Setting goals and measuring our progress towards addressing climate change are important parts of being better stewards of the environment,” said Councilmember Bob Ferguson, co-sponsor of the ordinance. “Today’s action makes sure King County will continue to prioritize efforts to protect our environment, which is critical to our economy, health, and quality of life.”

When the Council adopted the countywide strategic plan in 2010, one of its goals was environmental sustainability—reducing climate pollution and preparing for the effects of climate change on the environment, human health and the economy.

The County has many policies and programs that help reduce emissions and address the impact of climate change. The purpose of the ordinance is to identify those programs, measure their effectiveness in meeting their specific goals, and provide information on whether those programs are helping the County achieve its goals.

The ordinance calls for the County Executive to present a Strategic Climate Action Plan to the Council by June 29, 2012. The focus of the current plan would be focused on county operations and areas of direct influence. The legislation calls for the Action Plan to be updated in 2015 and would expand to include ways the county can influence community-level emissions and mitigating impacts.



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King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson town hall at Shoreline Center

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Town Meeting

Bob Ferguson
King County Councilmember
Invites you to attend a Town Meeting

Bring your questions about transportation, public safety, budget and other County issues.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012
7:00-8:30pm

Shoreline Conference Center
Mt Rainier Room (north end)
18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline

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King County Council - Monday, January 9

Monday, January 9, 2012

What Happened at the Metropolitan King County Council
Monday, January 9, 2012

At today’s Council meeting, Councilmembers:

  • Proclaimed January 11, 2011 as Human Trafficking Awareness Day in King County.
  • Honored the vision and work of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by proclaiming the month of January as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. month in King County.

  1. Unanimously adopted an ordinance relating to salaries of County Councilmembers, providing for the reduction of annual increases to the compensation paid to Councilmembers (Ordinance 2011-0473).
  2. Held for one week a motion adopting the King County 2012 State Legislative Agenda (Motion 2011-0496).

Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system at http://kingcounty.legistar.com and enter the item numbers above



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County funding to combat gang violence already seeing results

Saturday, December 3, 2011

According to County Councilmember Bob Ferguson and County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg, the infusion of emergency funds into anti-gang activity is already starting to see positive results.

The Metropolitan King County Council’s Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee received a status report on November 29, 2011 from County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg on the County’s recently enhanced anti-gang efforts.

“We are starting to see the benefits of our investment in prevention and intervention to combat gang violence in King County,” said Councilmember Bob Ferguson, Chair of the Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee. “Addressing the problems of gangs and gang violence is critical to protecting our kids and keeping our communities safe.”

In September, the Council approved a $1.4 million investment from the 2011 Criminal Justice Reserve to address gang violence in King County. The investment included an allocation of $456,000 to expand the Anti-Gang Unit in the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

“The additional resources allowed us to dedicate additional prosecutors to build cases against criminal gang members,” said Dan Satterberg. “Without the investment in these additional resources, it is very likely we would not see resolution to these cases and they would remain unsolved.”

Comprised of four deputy prosecutors and a paralegal, the anti-gang unit is focused solely on prosecuting gang-related crimes. Two Senior Deputy Prosecutors from unit, Karissa Taylor and Maurice Classen, told committee members how the additional funds have had a direct impact on the Kent car show shooting case that left 13 injured.

With the additional funds, the anti-gang unit has been able to:
  • Dedicate a full-time prosecutor to the case;
  • Use 5 to 6 forensic techniques, including cell phone record analysis and a thorough review of nearby surveillance video, to collect evidence; and
  • Create an electronic case file for discovery and ease of analysis.

As a result of these efforts, the Prosecutor has filed charges against eight defendants in the case to date.

The committee also heard how the additional funds have helped the unit handle more cases, file criminal charges more rapidly, and increased the capacity to do more thorough investigation to build better cases against suspected criminal gang members. 
“Without the additional funds, many of gang-related cases we have closed in the last several months, would still be open,” said Satterberg.
The committee also heard from former Washington State Supreme Court Justice Bobbe Bridge about the Suburban King County Coordinating Council on Gangs which was formed earlier this year to develop a comprehensive plan for dealing with gang violence.
 “To address gang violence, it is not enough to focus on suppression,” said Justice Bridge. “We must also invest in prevention, intervention, and re-entry programs for former gang members. We need to send the message that we are never going to give up on these kids.”

The $1.4 million gang violence initiative also funded prevention, including:
  • The Nurse Family Partnership Program, which improves health outcomes for high-risk mothers and results in lower rates of involvement in the criminal justice system;
  • The Back to School and Employment Training Program, which provides education and employment training for youthful offenders; and
  • The Avanza Project, which engages youth at risk of dropping out of school or falling into the juvenile justice system.

Shoreline police say that the City of Shoreline sees little gang-related activity, but Lake Forest Park has different issues. 

According to a LFP detective, there are few actual gang members living in the City, "because it's too expensive to live here." However, he said there are a lot of gang members living in North Seattle, just south of Lake Forest Park and it is easy for them access LFP.

Leaders feel that the kind of programs funded by King County will benefit the entire region.


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Ferguson, Gossett propose wage protection legislation

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Metropolitan King County Councilmembers Bob Ferguson and Larry Gossett today proposed legislation to protect workers by prohibiting employers who steal wages from their employees from entering into business contracts with King County.

Wage theft includes such actions as withholding an employee’s last paycheck, stealing tips, forcing workers to work off the clock, paying employees less than the minimum wage, and not compensating employees for overtime.

“The County should not be in business with unscrupulous employers who willfully violate state wage laws,” said Councilmember Ferguson, Chair of the Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee. “Wage theft has a negative impact on workers and our economy. This ordinance establishes safeguards to make sure the County doesn’t reward employers that shortcut the law.”

“Employers who resort to these tactics are taking money away from working people and their families, and in this current economy, literally every dollar counts,” said Gossett, Chair of the County Council. “I want to ensure that these businesses never benefit from working with King County.”

Under the proposed ordinance, employers that willfully commit wage theft can be disbarred or suspended from contracting with the County. Under County Code, the Executive has authority to disbar or suspend a person or company from consideration for award of contracts for cause, such as embezzlement or conviction under antitrust law.

The Department of Labor and Industries handles all wage theft complaints in the State of Washington. According to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, there were more than 4,000 Wage Payment Act violation claims in 2010, an average of eleven each day, and 613 citations were issued for “willful” violations, meaning the employer knowingly and intentionally violated the law.


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County Council acts to support King County employees called to active military duty

Thursday, November 10, 2011

In advance of Veterans Day, the Metropolitan King County Council acted today to ensure all King County employees who are members of the National Guard or Reserves and are called to active military service receive full benefits and a stable income stream during their tour of duty. 

The Council approved an ordinance, introduced by Councilmembers Bob Ferguson and Joe McDermott, and developed in collaboration with County Executive Dow Constantine, which expands current County policy to cover all King County employees on active duty.

For some County employees, being called to active duty means taking a pay cut because their salary while serving in the military is less than their County compensation. This can be particularly challenging for service men and women who are the only wage earner in the household. The U.S. Department of Defense estimates that thousands of military families live in poverty and that 40 percent of lower ranked soldiers face “substantial financial difficulties.”

Under the new legislation, King County employees who are called to active duty and whose military pay is less than their county wage, are eligible to receive “military leave differential pay,” providing income stability for these military families. These employees will also continue to receive the full set of health and other benefits as well.

“Individuals who answer the call to serve our nation deserve our appreciation and support,” said Councilmember Ferguson, prime sponsor of the ordinance. “County employees and their families should not bear the burden of being forced to make do with less, while also worrying about their own or a loved one’s safety overseas.”

The ordinance codifies an existing County policy that was put into place by Executive Order shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. That policy, however, only applied to County employees who were in the military on or before those attacks. The ordinance adopted today extends the benefit to all County employees, regardless of when they signed up to serve in the military.

In 2010, 29 County employees were on leave because of active military duty.


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King County Council hosts a panel on sexual assault and domestic violence

Saturday, October 15, 2011

The Metropolitan King County Council’s Committee of the Whole will host a special panel on Monday, October 17, 2011 for a briefing on the impact of sexual assault and domestic violence in King County and the regional efforts to combat the abuse and provide resources to the survivors:

Monday, October 17, 9:30 a.m. in the County Council Chambers, King County Courthouse, 10th floor

The meeting will be carried live on King County TV, seen on Comcast and Broadstripe Cable Channel 22.

Committee members are scheduled to hear from:
  • Mary Ellen Stone, Executive Director of the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, the largest and most comprehensive sexual assault services organization in Washington State.
  • Barbara Langdon, Executive Director, Eastside Domestic Violence Program, which provides assistance to people who have experienced physical, emotional or sexual abuse.

The Committee of the Whole is the only standing committee on which all nine members serve. It considers legislation and policy issues of interest to the entire Council.


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Ferguson secures retired Metro vans to benefit kids

Friday, September 16, 2011

North King County organizations that assist youth in their communities will benefit from the unanimous vote by the Metropolitan King County Council on September 12, 2011 to donate retired Metro Vanpool vans to local non-profit organizations. Councilmember Bob Ferguson was able to secure vans for three organizations: YouthCare, Rite of Passage Journeys, and Meadowbrook Community Care.
“As a father of two, I am excited that these vans will be helping children in our community,” said Ferguson. “These organizations provide valuable programs and services to the children of North King County.”
  • YouthCare has worked with homeless youth to build confidence and self-sufficiency by providing a continuum of care that includes services such as emergency shelter, housing, counseling, education and job training. 
  • Rite of Passage Journeys provides wilderness experiences for youth that foster self-discovery and connection with others to create a greater sense of community.
  • Meadowbrook Community CARE (MC2) provides a number of programs for children in its effort to support, educate and engage the community, such as the Lake City Afterschool Project and the Lake City Holiday Gift Project. 

The donated retired vans were part of Metro Transit’s vanpool fleet and had reached the end of their service life. Since 1995, the County Council has been donating retired vans from Metro’s Vanpool program to local nonprofit organizations to provide transportation for the disabled, low-income residents, young adults, and senior citizens.

The donation of retired Vanpool vehicles provides mobility for a diverse array of King County residents, supports the positive work of various local organizations, and relieves traffic congestion by reducing the need for single-occupancy vehicles.

Interested local organizations can contact Councilmember Ferguson for more information on applying for a vehicle. He previously obtained vans in 2010 for the Shoreline - Lake Forest Park Senior Center,  Shoreline Parks and Recreation (which also serves LFP), and the Shoreline Veteran's Center.


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Metropolitan King County Council actions, Monday, September 12

Monday, September 12, 2011

Monday, September 12, 2011

At today’s Council meeting, Councilmembers:
  • Unanimously adopted an ordinance establishing a Veterans Treatment Court (Ordinance 2011-0362).
  • Unanimously adopted an ordinance setting the 2012 solid waste fees charged at recycling and transfer facilities and the Cedar Hills Regional landfill (Substitute Ordinance 2011-0145.2).
  • Unanimously adopted a motion transferring retired County vanpool vans to nonprofit organizations and local governments to meet the need of low-income, elderly disabled and young county citizens (Motion 2011-0363).

Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system and enter the item numbers above.


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Ferguson: County wisely invests emergency criminal justice reserves to address gang violence

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Bob Ferguson
Metropolitan King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson, Chair of the Council’s Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee, released this statement following today’s adoption by the Council of a funding package investing additional resources to combat gang violence in King County:


“I am pleased my colleagues unanimously agreed today to approve investing in additional resources to combat the growing gang violence problem in King County.
“This is an issue I have been working to address all year as Chair of the Council’s Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee. In February, I wrote a letter to Executive Constantine expressing my support to invest resources from the $1.5 million criminal justice reserve fund for the Prosecutor’s anti-gang unit. Following the recent gang-related shooting in Kent, many of my Council colleagues echoed the message that the County needs to act by using that reserve to address the problem and protect the public.
 “Two weeks ago, I held a briefing in the Council’s Law and Justice Committee regarding gang violence and strategies for addressing the growing problem, which was described as an ongoing gang war in our region. Following that briefing, we affirmed our commitment to keeping kids and communities safe. Today’s action helps fulfill that commitment.
“I am also pleased that the funding package includes investments for services that help provide better futures for our youth and prevent them from becoming involved in gangs. One theme of the briefing in the Law and Justice Committee was that resources for deputies and prosecutors are not enough; prevention and intervention services are critically important to quelling gang violence.
“Along with my colleagues Councilmembers Larry Gossett and Kathy Lambert, I serve on the Center for Children and Youth Justice’s Suburban King County Coordinating Council on Gangs. Led by former State Justice Bobbe Bridge, the Coordinating Council is working to promote a comprehensive response to gangs in which community organizations, law enforcement, and local government work together to develop strategies that reduce youth violence and gang activity.
“As a member of the Coordinating Council and Chair of the Law and Justice Committee, I will continue to highlight the need to address gang violence and to keep our kids and communities safe.”


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King County council recognizes Lake Forest Park's 50th anniversary

Tuesday, June 28, 2011


King Councilmember Bob Ferguson is joined by From L to R: Lake Forest Park City Administrator David Cline, Mayor Dave Hutchinson, and Councilmember Sandy Koppenol and Deputy Mayor Dwight Thompson. The County Council recognized the city of Lake Forest as the city celebrates the 50th Anniversary of its incorporation.


The Metropolitan King County Council today, Monday, June 27,  recognized the 50th anniversary of the incorporation of the city of Lake Forest Park. Lake Forest Park Mayor David Hutchinson, Deputy Mayor Dwight Thompson, City Councilmember Sandy Koppenol, and City Administrator David Cline were in Council chambers to receive the recognition from Metropolitan King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson.

“Lake Forest Park has created a great community with a strong and active Mayor leading many projects with the help of volunteers from across the city,” said Ferguson, who represents Lake Forest Park on the County Council. “Having been recognized eight times as a ‘Tree City USA Community’ by the Arbor Day Foundation, it has upheld the values it was founded on: preserving the ‘magnificent sweeps of forest green’.”

“I am proud to be Lake Forest Park’s Mayor as it celebrates its 50th birthday,” said Lake Forest Park Mayor Dave Hutchinson. “We appreciate a positive working relationship with King County and thank them for this recognition.”

“Lake Forest Park is a great place to live and call home,” said Lake Forest Park Deputy Mayor Dwight Thompson. “I thank the Council for honoring the first 50 years of Lake Forest Park's and King County's shared history and look forward to the next 50.”

“It is a pleasure to be here to recognize this important milestone for the Lake Forest Park community,” said Lake Forest Park City Councilmember Sandy Koppenol. “Our ongoing commitment to preserving the natural beauty of the area is part of what makes Lake Forest Park such a great place to live.”

Lake Forest Park was designed to preserve the natural beauty of the area. Since its incorporation on June 20, 1961, citizens have continued on the path of preserving its natural aspects by organizing and participating in many projects such as the Urban Forest Task Force, which is made up of citizens who look at the existing tree preservation ordinance and make recommendations for changes.

The anniversary celebration included a weekend of family activities, including a community bonfire, a stargazing event, barbeques, garden tours, Goat Days, concerts at the Lake Forest Park Farmer’s Market, and a birthday cake.

The Peruvian consulate, located in Lake Forest Park, joined the celebration, donating a statue of Admiral Miguel Grau Seminario, a renowned Peruvian naval officer, to the city.

While in Lake Forest Park, citizens and visitors can learn more about the city through the Historic Markers which depict the history of the area before and after incorporation. This was made possible by King County’s 4Culture Heritage Special Project grant in collaboration with the Shoreline Historical Museum.

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Celebrating equality and dignity: County Council proclaims June “Gay Pride Month”

Monday, June 6, 2011

Recognizing the changes that have come in the last 43 years, while acknowledging the challenges that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals still face, the Metropolitan King County Council today declared the month of June “Gay Pride Month” in King County.

Our state and county have seen great steps toward equality, but our march toward full equality under the law continues. Let’s celebrate our successes and reflect on our next steps during Gay Pride Month,” said Councilmember Joe McDermott, the sponsor of the recognition and the first-ever openly gay member of the County Council. “It is an honor to sponsor the Council’s first ever Gay Pride Month proclamation.”
Members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities have contributed immensely to the social, political, and economic fabric of Martin Luther King, Jr. County. It was in that vein in 2008, we took steps to continue the struggle against discrimination towards sexual minorities by amending the King County Charter,” said Council Chair Larry Gossett. “However as Dr. King, our county’s namesake stated: `[c]hange does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.’ By designating June Gay Pride Month, we recommit ourselves to ensure that all people have equality.”
King County and the County Council have worked to end discrimination against sexual minorities. In 2008, the Council sent an amendment to the King County Charter adding gender identity and expression to the anti-discrimination section to voters, who approved it with a 71 percent yes vote.
“King County, as a government and a community, strives for equality for all residents regardless of sexual orientation,” said Councilmember Bob Ferguson. “Today’s recognition of Gay Pride Month helps it get better for the GLBT community in King County.”
Gay Pride Month is celebrated in June in recognition of the June 1968 Stonewall Riots in New York, considered the start of the modern movement for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer citizens. Seattle will celebrate its 37th Gay Pride Parade on June 26. The theme of this year’s Parade is “Be You. Be Proud. Express Yourself!”

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King County Council - what have they been up to this month?

Monday, May 23, 2011

May 16

  • King County has again received high marks from the Big Three global credit rating agencies. Fitch Ratings, Moody’s, and Standard & Poor’s all reaffirmed top credit ratings for the county despite the lingering effects of the Great Recession. The agencies noted King County’s proactive financial management, diverse economic base, and moderate debt levels as factors in the ratings. 
  • Council limited the fee for use of county-owned electric vehicle charging stations to $5.
  • Authorized a 50 year lease for 30 acres of property along Issaquah Creek, to protect salmon habitat. The land owned by the State Department of Natural Resources. This is a transfer, with no cost to the county.

May 9 - Offender re-entry plan
With an eye on ensuring that offenders do not return into the criminal justice system, the Council adopted a motion accepting the County’s Offender Reentry Plan. The adoption of the plan will allow the County to access millions of Federal funds as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Second Chance Act.
“This plan puts King County in the position to seek federal funding for programs and services aimed at reducing recidivism,” said Councilmember Bob Ferguson, Chair of the Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee. “Setting people up for success after being released from jail improves public safety and improves outcomes for those individuals and their families.”
May 9 - Mental Illness and Drug Treatment Programs
A program funded by the County sales tax is paying dividends, both for taxpayers and individuals receiving the treatment they need to stay out of the criminal justice system. The Metropolitan King County Council today accepted a report on the services supported by the Mental Illness and Drug Dependency (MIDD) sales tax.
“I sponsored the legislation authorizing the MIDD in 2007 because the costs of our jail being a de-facto mental institution were unacceptable and because I knew we could do better,” said Councilmember Bob Ferguson, chair of the Council’s Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee. “It is good to see that our investment is effectively helping individuals break the cycle of involvement with the criminal justice and emergency care systems.”

May 9 - Recycling eWaste
Reducing eWaste: County Council approves legislation on disposal, recycling of electronic equipment. With the adoption of guidelines regarding the disposal of electronic devices such as computers, monitors, keyboards, televisions and cell phones, the focus is on “Responsible Recycling” of old equipment.

May 2 - Reducing paper for council meeting
County councilmembers are conducting a 90 day trial to get their meeting packets online in the form of pdf documents.  The paper added up to 2-3,000 sheets of paper every two weeks. 

May 2 - Economic development
The Council dissolved the King County Economic Enterprise Corporation and will use a portion of the funds for economic development.

In 1990, the state Legislature created the Washington Economic Development Finance Authority, an independent agency within the executive branch of state government, created for the same purpose as King County’s EEC, only performing this function on a statewide basis. The state program will assume issuing industrial revenue bonds on behalf of King County businesses. The EEC issued its last bond in 1998. The dissolution of the EEC will eliminate duplication of efforts and save public resources.

May 2 - Veterans' levy
The Council voted to put the reauthorization of the King County Veterans and Human Services Levy on the August primary ballot.


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King County Council recognizes efforts to protect the environment

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

The Metropolitan King County Council today voiced its support for the local, national and international efforts to protect the environment by proclaiming April 22 Earth Day in King County. The effort started 41 years ago to raise awareness about the environment has grown into a world-wide event, celebrated in 175 countries.

On April 22, 1970, more than 20 million Americans participated in the first Earth Day at college campuses and cities throughout the U.S. Many important laws were passed by Congress in the wake of the 1970 Earth Day, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Superfund, and the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

“Earth Day presents us with an opportunity to examine our County’s environmental sustainability practices,” said Councilmember Bob Ferguson. “I am pleased that the Council continues to work towards making our operations greener as part of the larger goal of ensuring that King County remains a wonderful place to live for many future generations.”

“Our environmental challenges are huge. Doing nothing is not an option,” said Steve Dubiel, Executive Director of Earthcorps. “Back in 2004, EarthCorps expanded Earth Day into Earth Month because one day is simply not enough. Earth Month is all about giving people opportunities to make a difference. EarthCorps is excited to lead 3,500 volunteers on 25 hands-on projects in seven cities during Earth Month. Go to www.earthcorps.org and sign up to volunteer!”

This April 22, King County will host the eighth annual Earth Day Expo at Westlake Plaza in Downtown Seattle. The event will feature a wide range of activities, speakers and vendors geared toward people of all ages. Participants can get information and tips on how to reduce their carbon footprint, “green” their commute and tips on making a green home and garden.

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Regional policy committee approves legislation for ballot proposition to renew the Veterans' and Human Services levy

Thursday, March 10, 2011

The Metropolitan King County Council’s Regional Policy Committee, which consists of County Councilmembers, members of the Seattle City Council and representatives of the Suburban Cities Association, voted unanimously on March 9 to approve legislation that would send a ballot proposal to renew the King County Veterans and Human Services Levy to County voters.

“The Veterans and Human Services Levy is dedicated to improving the lives of those who were willing to sacrifice their lives for our safety,” said County Councilmember Bob Ferguson, the prime sponsor of both the proposed renewal and the original legislation that sent the Veterans and Human Services Levy to the ballot in 2005.

“The levy invests in critical services for our veterans and our families in need across all of King County. These investments are needed more than ever during these tough economic times.”

The members of the Regional Policy Committee voted in favor of renewing the levy for an additional six years at the current rate of 5 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. No new taxes are included in the proposal.

“As a veteran of Afghanistan and a reservist, I understand how service for our returning veterans is vital for them and our community,” said Lake Forest Park Deputy Mayor Dwight Thompson. “The Veterans and Human Services Levy helps meet the unique needs of veterans and honors their service in a way that we were not able to do for those returning from Vietnam.”

The approved renewal sets the same rate as the original 6-year Veterans and Human Services Levy which was approved by 58 percent of County voters in 2005. Approximately $14.5 million a year would be generated by the levy. Consistent with the current levy, half of the proceeds would be dedicated exclusively for programs to assist veterans and their families. The other half would support general human service programs available to all King County residents.

In the last 6 years, the Levy has provided funding for veterans’ services, including:
  • Treatment services for veterans and families dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD),
  • Emergency financial assistance for thousands of veterans and military personal to pay for rent, food, utilities, medical needs, and burial costs.
  • Job training and employment assistance for unemployed veterans.
  • New veterans’ housing projects in Bellevue, Renton, and Seattle, and a 45 percent increase in shelter beds for homeless veterans.
  • Reduced recidivism among incarcerated veterans through the Veterans Incarceration Project.

The Levy has also provided funding for general human services programs, including:
  • Improved safety and well-being for children in the dependency system through the Family Treatment Court which provides drug and alcohol treatment access for parents and judicial monitoring of sobriety,
  • Integrated mental health and chemical dependency services with primary care in 22 clinics throughout the county,
  • Education and intensive support for first time, low-income pregnant women and young mothers through expansion of the Nurse Family Partnership.
  • 24/7 emergency transportation, sobering, and intensive case management services for homeless chronic substance abusers in the downtown Seattle area through expansion of the Emergency Service Patrol.

The 2005 Veterans and Human Services Levy will expire on December 31, 2011. In order for the Levy to continue, the County Council must vote to place renewal of the Levy on the ballot in 2011 and a majority of King County voters must support it.

After its adoption by the Regional Policy Committee, the legislation is being sent to the Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee for further consideration.

Information from the County Council Communications office 

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County Council approves reduction in jail fees for cities

Tuesday, October 12, 2010


At its October 11 meeting, the Metropolitan King County Council gave its unanimous support to a one-year reduction in jail fees for two dozen cities that contract with King County for jail services. The adopted legislation is an amendment to the contract extension between cities and King County for jail services adopted by the Council in April.

“I appreciate the tremendous amount of regional cooperation that went into these negotiations,” said Council Chair Bob Ferguson, a co-sponsor of the legislation. “As the County works to address long-term regional jail planning, it is critical that we continue to work with the cities.”





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Donated Metro van for Parks department

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Senior Center van from previous donation
Bob Ferguson, King County Council chair and representative for Shoreline and Lake Forest Park, has secured a retired Metro van for the Shoreline Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department. The van will transport children, teens, and people with disabilities to programs both in Shoreline and around King County.
“The Shoreline Parks Department provides valuable services to the residents of Shoreline, and now even more individuals will benefit from the good work of this agency,” said Ferguson. “This van will provide residents with disabilities and kids with a new way to participate in various community programs or enjoy the great outdoors.”
The city of Shoreline Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department operates 28 parks covering more than 380 acres and a variety of recreational and educational programs for citizens of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park.
“Finding the means to transport participants to our adult programs, summer camps, and field trips to local parks and libraries, can be a challenge,” said Dick Deal, the Director of Shoreline Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services. “This van is a much needed resource.”
The retired vans have been part of Metro Transit’s vanpool fleet for at least six years and have reached the end of their service life. When the vans reach this age, they are considered surplus.

Since 1995, the County Council has been donating retired vans from Metro’s VanPool program to local nonprofit organizations to provide transportation for the disabled, low-income, young adults, and senior citizens. The groups are responsible for licensing, insuring and maintaining the vehicles. Ferguson's office previously secured a donated van for the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center.


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County council meetings, July 19-23

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Monday, July 19
Metropolitan King County Council – 11:00 a.m.
Councilmembers are scheduled to discuss and possibly act on:
  • An ordinance creating a Public Facilities District to acquire, own and operate the Washington State Convention Center (Ordinance 2010-0366).
  • An ordinance that would submit to voters a proposal authorizing an additional two-tenths of one percent sales tax for criminal justice and other general governmental purposes (Ordinance 2010-0367). The Council will consider this ordinance starting at 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 20
Government Accountability and Oversight Committee – 9:30 a.m.
Committee members are scheduled to discuss and possibly recommend to the full council:
  • A motion requesting the executive review and report on cash handling, management and security practices and develop and implement policies, procedures and internal controls for the improvement of cash handling, management and security (Motion 2010-0401).
Briefings:
  • Customer Service and Public Engagement—Community Forums (Briefing No. 2010-B0142).
  • Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Plan 2010 Progress Report (Briefing No. 2010-B0140).
Budget and Fiscal Management Committee – 1:30 p.m.
Committee members are scheduled to discuss and possibly recommend to the full council:
  • An ordinance relating to the annual reconciliation of capital funds and projects and making technical corrections (Ordinance 2010-0370).
Wednesday, July 21
Committee of the Whole – 9:30 a.m.
Agenda TBA

Regional Transit Committee – 3:00 p.m.
Briefings:
  • Service Changes Update: September 2009 and February 2010 Transit Service Restructuring for Link Light Rail Start-up (Briefing 2010-B0144). 
  • SR 530 Urban Partnership: Planned Transit Service Improvements (Briefing 2010-B0145).

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King County Council July 12-16, 2010

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Planned meetings of the King County Council.  Shoreline and LFP are represented by Council Chair Bob Ferguson.  He can be contacted by phone at 206-296-1001 or email.

Monday, July 12
Committee of the Whole – 9:30 a.m.
Discuss and possibly recommend to the full council:
  • An ordinance to send to voters an amendment to the King County Charter: Specifying the timely filing of a statement of campaign receipts and expenditures with the Washington state Public Disclosure Commission (Ordinance 2009-0496).
  • An ordinance adopting the King County Strategic Plan 2010-2014 (Ordinance 2010-0274).
  • County labor policies.
Metropolitan King County Council – 11:00 a.m.
Hear public testimony on:
  • Ordinances that would submit to voters proposals authorizing an additional two-tenths of one percent sales tax for criminal justice and other general governmental purposes (Ordinances 2010-0352 and 2010-0367).
  • An ordinance that would submit to voters a proposal authorizing an additional two-tenths of one percent sales tax for criminal justice and other general governmental purposes along with financing the construction of a new County Youth Services Facility (Ordinance 2010-0365).
King County Flood Control District – Following the 11 a.m. meeting Board members are scheduled to discuss and possibly act on:
  • A resolution adopting the 2010 King County Flood Control District Hazard Mitigation Plan (FCD 2010-34).
  • Briefing on Status of federal issues related to flood control in King County (FCD 10-B01).
Tuesday, July 13
Environment and Transportation Committee – 9:30 a.m.
Committee members are scheduled to discuss and possibly recommend to the full council:
  • An ordinance relating to the Burien Transit Center expansion project; authorizing a funding and cooperation agreement between the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority and King County (Ordinance 2010-0375).
  • Briefing on Sound Transit light rail—northern segments (Briefing No. 2010-B0138).
Discussion only:
  • An ordinance relating to adopting the shoreline master program (Ordinance 2009-0609).
  • An ordinance relating to comprehensive planning and permitting (Ordinance 2010-0163).
King County Forecast Council – 12:00 p.m
Councilmembers are scheduled to discuss and possibly act on:
  • A resolution adopting the 2011 economic forecast for King County (KCFC 2010-11).
  • Briefing:Update on potential Sales Tax Revenue for 2011-12.
Law, Justice and Health and Human Services Committee – 1:30 p.m.
Committee members are scheduled to discuss and possibly recommend:
  • A motion requesting county public safety and public health agencies develop a strategic plan for offender reentry from jail facilities and community corrections programs in King County (Motion 2010-0395).
Briefings:
  • Status of Prosecutor’s Car Theft Initiative (Briefing No. 2010-B0135).
  • Status of Prosecutor’s Repeat Burglary Initiative (Briefing No. 2010-B0136).
  • Prosecutor’s and Sheriff’s Office Gang-Related Crimes Initiative (Briefing No. 2010-B0137).
Wednesday, July 14
Committee of the Whole – 9:30 a.m.
King County Ferry District Executive Committee – 1:30 p.m.
Board members are scheduled to discuss and possibly recommend:
  • A resolution approving the King County Ferry District’s travel and expense reimbursement policy.
Regional Policy Committee – 3:00 p.m.
  • Committee members will recognize veterans of the Korean War on the 60th Anniversary of the “Forgotten War.”
Committee members are scheduled to discuss and possibly recommend:
  • A motion accepting the annual progress report on the implementation of the King County Veterans and Human Services Levy Service Improvement Plan (Motion 2010-0333).
  • Briefing: Farmers Markets: Economic Engines for Rural and Urban King County (Briefing No. 2010-B0126).
Thursday, July 15
Board of Health – 1:30 p.m.
Briefings:
  • Tobacco Policy Progress Report from the BOH Tobacco Ad Hoc Committee (Briefing No. 10-B16).
  • 2009 Health Care for the Homeless Network Annual Report (Briefing No. 10-B17).
To read complete agendas and the full text of legislation, visit the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system.

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King County Council, June 28-July 2, 2010

Sunday, June 27, 2010

This week at the County Council: Meeting highlights

Monday, June 28
King County Flood Control District Executive Committee – 9:30 a.m.

Executive Committee members are scheduled to discuss and possibly recommend to the full Board of Supervisors:
  • Resolution to approve 2010 Hazard Mitigation Plan
Briefing:
  • Vegetation Management on Levies – Next Steps

Metropolitan King County Council – 11:00 a.m.
  • Councilmembers will recognize the O'Dea High School Baseball Team for winning the 3A State Championship
  • Councilmembers will recognize the Renton/Skyway Boys and Girls Club for winning the 2010 Honor Award for their MicroSociety program

Councilmembers are scheduled to discuss and possibly act on:
  • A motion requesting the United States Congress to allocate one of three space shuttles the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is taking out of service next year to the Museum of Flight
Note: Former astronaut Dr. Bonnie Dunbar will attend

Tuesday, June 29
Environment and Transportation Committee – 9:30 a.m.
Committee members are scheduled to discuss and possibly recommend to the full council:
  • A motion expressing support for development of a bike sharing program in King County

Budget and Fiscal Management Committee – 2:00 p.m. ***Special Meeting***
Committee members are scheduled to discuss and possibly recommend to the full council:

  • An ordinance directing the submission to the qualified voters of King County at a special election on November 2, 2010, a proposition authorizing an additional sales and use tax of two-tenths of one percent for criminal justice, fire protection and other general governmental purposes subject to certain property tax levy limitations with proceeds split sixty percent county and forty percent for cities; limiting the use of county tax proceeds to criminal justice purposes; limiting collection to a maximum of three years (Ordinance 2010-0352).
  • An ordinance directing the submission to the qualified voters of King County at a special election on November 2, 2010, a proposition authorizing an additional sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent for criminal justice, fire protection and other general governmental purposes with proceeds split sixty percent county and forty percent for cities; limiting the use of county tax proceeds to capital and financing costs for new facilities at the King County Youth Services Center, as well as costs to maintain and operate current and new facilities at the King County Youth Services Center (Ordinance 2010-0365).
  • An ordinance directing the submission to the qualified voters of King County at a special election on November 2, 2010, a proposition authorizing an additional sales and use tax of two-tenths of one percent for criminal justice, fire protection and other general governmental purposes, with proceeds split between the county (sixty percent) and cities (forty percent), subject to a requirement to appropriate certain unincorporated area property tax revenues for criminal justice purposes; limiting the use of county tax proceeds to criminal justice purposes; limiting collection to a maximum of three years (2010-0367)

Environment and Transportation Committee – 6:30 p.m. *** Special Meeting: McMurray Middle School, 9329 Cemetery Road, Vashon, WA 98070 ***

Committee members are scheduled to hold a public workshop and discuss:
  • An ordinance relating to adopting the shoreline master program (Ordinance 2009-0609).
  • An ordinance relating to comprehensive planning and permitting (Ordinance 2010-0163).
  • An ordinance relating to development processes and requirements (Ordinance 2010-0164).

The public will have an opportunity to provide testimony.

Wednesday, June 30
Committee of the Whole – 9:30 a.m.
Agenda TBA

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