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

Statements from candidates for King Conservation District Board

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Recently we posted an article about the internet election for a position on the King Conservation Board.   To verify your eligibility to vote and get an online PIN for voting, follow this link.  For more information  check this site.
King Conservation District Board of Supervisors Candidate Statements

Bruce Elliott, Kent - I am a life-long resident of King County. I was raised on a Renton dairy, and raised my own family as a farmer in the Lower Green River Agricultural Production District. Our farm is part of the King County Farmland Preservation Program; stewardship and conservation are essential business practices to ensure we can produce cattle, corn and other crops each year – opportunities I hope to preserve for future generations. I put action to my passion for the future of local farming as a board member of the King-Pierce Farm Bureau.

My farm is the kind of place in the county where many conservation district issues meet. Agricultural drainage and flooding are perennial concerns. But water quality and quantity is a concern in urban areas as well. Proper drainage infrastructure and storm water management is essential to our quality of life, viability of our economy, and healthy environment.

The key to approaching conservation issues for a positive outcome is balance. We must seek solutions that are based in sound environmental science, while taking into account private property rights and pursuing first opportunities to work in partnership and cooperation with property owners. The KCD is a great resource to advise and assist property owners in conservation efforts. I hope to apply my knowledge and experience as a lifelong King County farmer and property owner to the conservation district’s mission of improving the natural and working environments in King County in partnership with the citizens who manage our resources on a daily basis.


Teri Herrera, Redmond - It is critical for the King Conservation District to have experienced leaders who are varied in their backgrounds and expertise who can represent both the rural and the urban communities of King County. I have strong skills of budgeting, consensus building, planning, negotiation, marketing, developing communication between individuals and groups, as well as the essential viewpoint of a property owner. In my successful real estate career, I know that property values increase with good stewardship by its owners. I understand the values that farm products, healthy rivers, salmon restoration, and a sustainable environment add to the quality of life in King County and the Puget Sound region.

I currently serve on KCD’s Citizen Advisory Committee and on the Small Cities Subcommittee. My experience has given me a unique perspective which enhances my ability to facilitate dialogue between King County, local jurisdictions, landowners and the KCD. It is my goal to improve the partnership between KCD, its rural landowners, its urban jurisdictions, its other government and non-government stakeholders and the King County Council. I will continue to promote KCD and its services both on the ground and by the Internet so that KCD can strengthen all its partnerships and programs. I have the proven ability to achieve these goals and to expand the awareness of all of the KCD’s programs and grants for the benefit of all who live in King County. I sincerely thank you for your vote.


Eric Nelson, Duvall - I am a candidate for the King Conservation District Board of Supervisors. I currently am a partner in, and manage a dairy farm in Duvall. I am also a King County native and a three generation farmer. I have served on the King County Agriculture Commission as a representative of the dairy industry and was its first Chair. I am currently also serving as a Commissioner of Drainage District #6 and am serving on the King County Agricultural Drainage Assistance Program Advisory Committee.

I have had the opportunity to work with the King CD for many years, both as a user of their farm planning and cost-sharing assistance, and as a partner agency when I worked for King County as Livestock Program Manager and as the County’s Agriculture Program Manager. I have always found their programs to be very helpful and have seen the great job the district does in working with the county’s residents and jurisdictions with resource protection and conservation needs.

I feel my background as a farmer, a former agriculture commissioner, and as a former Agriculture Program Manager for King County, that I am uniquely qualified to serve as a member of the KCD’s Board of Supervisors. I understand the importance of resource conservation for all of our county’s residents, rural and urban alike, and will do my best to see that the conservation needs of all of our residents are met and would appreciate your vote in the upcoming election.


Preston Prudente, Sammamish - Like many people in King County, I care about and do my part to conserve our natural resources as an individual; however, serving on the Board of Supervisors will provide an opportunity for me to make a greater contribution toward safeguarding and improving our water, forests and farmlands.

I recently retired with 25 years experience as an Administrative/Operations Director with two professional service firms (Arthur Andersen LLP and Moss Adams LLP) and two prominent nonprofits (Global Partnerships and Rural Development Institute) after 10 years as a systems consultant with Andersen Consulting. I would value the opportunity to use my skills to contribute to the District's capacity building efforts -- i.e., to strengthen its infrastructure, improve its operational effectiveness and increase its capacity to assist local land managers and other stakeholders. I would consult/work with the KCD staff to streamline processes and explore opportunities to collaborate with other Conservation Districts to share and implement best practices.

I live in Sammamish with my wife of 35 years. We have 2 married children and 5 grandchildren. I was born and raised in Spokane, earned a BA degree in mathematics from Dartmouth College and a MBA degree from the University of Michigan and served as an officer in the US Navy.

Steve Neugebauer, Duvall - Mr. Neugebauer has chosen to withdraw from the election and therefore will not be included on the ballot.

Read more...

County Council recognizes 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote in Washington state

Monday, November 8, 2010

Proclamation declares November 8 Washington Women’s Suffrage Centennial Day in King County

On this day in 1910, the men of Washington State voted nearly two-to-one in favor of granting women the right to vote, ending a 50-year battle for equal rights and marking the start of a century of women’s leadership in Washington. Today, the Metropolitan King County Council recognized this milestone in history by declaring November 8 Washington Women’s Suffrage Centennial Day in King County.

Washington was the fifth state in the union to enact women’s suffrage, nearly ten years before women won the right to vote nationwide with the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920.

King County has had numerous women civic leaders in its history, including King County Freeholders Lois H. North and Virginia K. Gunby, who helped craft the King County Home Rule charter, and King County Councilmembers Bernice Stern, Ruby Chow, Pat Thorpe, Lois North, Audrey Gruger, Cynthia Sullivan, Louise Miller, Jane Hague, Maggi Fimia, Julia Patterson, Carolyn Edmonds, Kathy Lambert, and Jan Drago.

Councilmember Drago presented the proclamation to representatives of the League of Women Voters, a group that was formed to support the ratification of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and continues today to advocate for women’s role in shaping public policy and exercising their right to vote.
“We are very grateful to the King County Council for recognizing this special day,” said Allison Feher, President of the League of Women Voters of Greater Seattle. “We strive to carry on the tradition started by those brave women one hundred years ago, and encourage every eligible woman to exercise her civil rights and vote.”

Read more...

King County Council to consider funding proposal for juvenile justice facility

Friday, June 25, 2010


Sales tax proposal to fund dilapidated Youth Services Center

The Youth Services Center, where over 5,500 juvenile, runaway, child abuse and neglect cases are heard annually, is in serious disrepair. The cost of maintaining the building has become untenable, requiring more than $20 million to repair basic electrical, plumbing and heating problems within the facility. Even if repaired, the undersized facility is not suitable to meet today’s juvenile court needs.

In order to ensure the continued administration of justice services for King County youth and families, legislation was introduced today to address the replacement needs of the 40-year-old facility.
“Delaying the replacement of the youth services facility is not an acceptable option,” said King County Council Chair Bob Ferguson, a co-sponsor of the proposed legislation. “The facility is failing and we must act now to serve the juvenile justice needs in King County.”
“The existing Juvenile Court facility is obsolete, cannot be cost-effectively fixed and urgently needs to be replaced. Councilmembers Ferguson and Gossett’s proposal to use 1/10 of a percent of sales tax increase to fund this critically needed new facility is responsible and fiscally prudent,” said Superior Court Presiding Judge Bruce Hilyer. “The building will be paid off in 5-6 years, minimizing future debt service costs to County taxpayers.”
If the proposed legislation is approved by the County Council, a ballot measure will be sent to the voters asking them to authorize a one-tenth of one percent sales tax increase (one penny on a $10 purchase) to fund the capital and financing costs for replacement of the Youth Services Center. The funds would also assist in paying for the on-going operations at the facility.

If approved by voters, the increase would generate approximately $24 million in revenue for the Youth Services Center in 2011. An additional $16 million in revenue from the levy would be allocated to the 39 cities within King County based on their population. State law requires that cities must spend one-third of the proceeds on criminal justice services.

The Youth Services Center, located near downtown Seattle, is comprised of three buildings and provides juvenile justice services in King County, including the hearing of juvenile, runaway, and child abuse and neglect cases, juvenile detention and rehabilitation, and family support for those navigating the legal system.

The maintenance needs of the facility are costly and numerous:
  • Hot water has been shut off to lower floors due to significant leakage.
  • Cold water lines produce brown water
  • Drainage problems persist with water seeping through exterior walls.
  • Sewer gases at times permeate the lower levels due to plumbing problems.
  • Additionally, the current space at the facility has created safety, privacy and other concerns:
  • The facility is not equipped to address safety concerns arising from cases involving families and children – these highly emotional cases statistically pose the greatest threat for violence of all court case types.
  • Courtrooms and waiting areas are undersized and crowded, resulting in a noisy, hectic, confusing, and stressful environment.
  • Lack of space for attorneys and caseworkers to meet with clients, forcing families to discuss sensitive matters in public hallways.
  • No on-site childcare, resulting in children being exposed to high conflict and inappropriate courtroom scenes.
The Council has until July 26 to decide whether to place the proposal on the November 2 general election ballot.

Read more...

King County AAA credit rating reaffirmed

Wednesday, June 16, 2010


Strong financial management recognized by all 3 major ratings agencies

King County government has preserved AAA credit ratings despite the continued effects of global recession and an ongoing budget deficit. The major credit rating agencies cited strong financial management, a “rainy day” fund, and a willingness to make necessary budget adjustments in a spectrum of economic climates as reasons why King County’s credit outlook remains stable.

“These ratings are confirmation that King County is being responsible and prudent with taxpayer dollars,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “A strong credit rating will allow us to serve the public in the most economical way possible.”

Higher credit ratings allow the county to borrow money for projects at lower interest rates. The reaffirmed ratings mean that King County will be able to achieve an interest rate of at least 0.20 percent less than other comparable government borrowers with a credit rating just one step less and 0.75 percent for the same borrowers with a credit rating that is two steps lower than King County’s.

In the ratings report, Standard and Poore cited “Realistic revenue projections, a willingness to make politically difficult service reductions, and creative efforts to realign programmatic responsibilities with funding sources all contribute to the county's capacity to meet its reserve targets and exceed forecasts.”

Fitch ratings stated that “using multi-year, rather than one-time, solutions to resolve the county's ongoing structural deficit is achieving long-term financial stability.”

Moody’s Investors Service cited “management’s prudent planning efforts, including conservative revenue projections and a built-in structure to promote under-spending its budget,” as a main reason why King County has, “…maintained the county’s satisfactory financial position, thus placing it in a favorable position to weather the budgetary stress resulting from the economic downturn.”

Fitch ratings did caution that “due to ongoing revenue pressures, the county's ability to continue expenditure constraints and/or find alternative sources of funding in order to avoid budget deficits will be critical to retaining the current high ratings.” Fitch continued, “However, the county is now faced with closing a $60 million projected deficit in fiscal 2011 through service reductions if the county council remains reluctant to propose property and/or sales tax increases.”

The ratings were affirmed as the three major credit agencies assigned the highest possible ratings for $60 million in Bond Anticipation Notes (BANs) that the county expects to sell competitively on June 7, 2010. The BANs will be used to provide interim financing for a countywide project that is already underway to transform and unify financial, human resource, and budget systems. 

---From the office of the King County Executive

Read more...

King County wants wheelchair accessible taxis

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

King County has issued a Request for Proposal aimed at interested taxicab driver groups who would like to operate Wheelchair Accessible Taxicabs. After conducting an assessment of current services, the county and the city have determined there is a need for additional wheelchair accessible service to improve response times for disabled customers.
“This Request for Proposal will improve access to the community and to services for many of our residents who depend on public transportation, taxis, and friends and family to be mobile,” said Executive Constantine. “Issuing these 15 licenses will not cost the county more money, and it will make a vast improvement in the quality of life for our disabled residents.”
The 15 new licenses will require the operators to provide services to both passengers using mobility devices and those who don’t need mobility assistance. Drivers will be allowed to pick up passengers in Seattle, unincorporated King County, and cities located in King County that have signed an interlocal agreement with King County for taxicab regulation, including Auburn, Bellevue, Burien, Covington, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kenmore, Kent, Kirkland, Maple Valley, SeaTac, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, and Shoreline.

The Request for Proposal was issued on Thursday, May 27, and will close on Thursday, July 8. A provider will be selected after mid-September, with licenses issued thereafter. 

Information from Dow Constantine's staff

Read more...

Shoreline site no longer studied for a regional municipal jail

Thursday, May 13, 2010


By Susan Will, Shoreline Communications Specialist
 Photos courtesy Friends of Aldercrest

Shoreline’s Ballinger neighborhood – as well as the rest of the City – can let out a sigh of relief as the NEC jail siting process comes to an end. Today King County Executive Dow Constantine announced that King County is offering jail beds to cities through 2020 and plans to form a regional jail planning group. Due to the county’s proposal in concert with new options for contracting jail beds regionally, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn has recommended ending the process of siting a new regional municipal jail.

“King County’s offer for a regional solution and additional beds through 2020 provides our City the confidence to sunset the environmental impact review process,” said Shoreline Mayor Keith McGlashan. “That is truly good news for our community, particularly for our residents in the Ballinger neighborhood now that Shoreline no longer has a site under consideration for a jail.”

Cities in King County originally formed regional groups to address the projected loss of jail bed space after King County’s bed space projections determined there would not be available jail beds for cities after 2012. The north and east cities including Shoreline and Seattle formed the NEC and the southern County cities formed the South Correctional Entity (SCORE). SCORE is building a jail, now under construction in Des Moines and expected to open in 2011, which will have jail beds available for rent to King County cities through 2020.

With the available beds from King County and SCORE, and with the other municipal jail beds available in the region, the NEC believes there will be enough capacity to cover all of its misdemeanant jail bed needs through 2020 without having to build additional capacity.

As a result of these projections, Seattle has recommended and Shoreline and the rest of the NEC cities concur, stopping the current environmental impact review process being conducted on the six potential sites for a regional municipal jail for north and east cities. Stopping the process will remove the Shoreline site, along with the other sites, from further consideration as a possible location for the construction of a regional municipal jail.

For more information, contact City Manager’s Office Management Analyst Eric Bratton at 206-801-2217.

Read more...

Plans for new jail reportedly shelved

Saturday, May 8, 2010

By Diane Hettrick

    King County has dropped plans for a new jail in Shoreline or another north or east King County suburb, according to groups that have been fighting plans for a jail in Shoreline.
    The NoShorelineJail group and a leader from the Friends of Aldercrest say that King County Executive Dow Constantine will make an announcement Thursday that the planning for a new north-end jail has been terminated.  Following a reevaluation of jail capacity needs and tremendous public opposition, the Northeast cities and the County executive have agreed to a solution that eliminates the need for more jail space in the near future.
    NoShorelineJail, whose leadership is from Mountlake Terrace, Lake Forest Park and Shoreline, said on its website that it will now join forces with Friends of Aldercrest to focus on creating a formal park at the Aldercrest location, which has been on the list of sites being considered for a north King county jail.
    When King County originally determined that it needed more jail space, each area in the county was required to submit a site for consideration. A county task force, with representatives from across the county, winnowed the sites down to half a dozen for further consideration.
    Shoreline City staff members chose the Aldercrest site. Council members at the time claimed to have no knowledge until the location had been submitted.
    The site caused an immediate firestorm of protest. The Aldercrest property, the site of the former Kellogg Middle School, belongs to the Shoreline School District, which was not consulted.  The school district, faced with huge budget cuts from the State, had declared the property to be surplus and was planning to sell it and use the money to create an endowment fund.  Once it was chosen as a possible jail site. the District could do nothing with it until the county and cities jail decision.
    The remaining building on the site, the old gym, had been refurbished; it housed school programs from Shoreline, and a regional program with students from the Edmonds School District as well as Shoreline.
    The site is two blocks from the King-Snohomish county line and the city of Mountlake Terrace, whose residents were the first to form the No-Jail group.  Sheridan Beach residents were concerned about the proximity of a jail and prisoner transport along Ballinger Way. They were joined by other Lake Forest Park residents concerned about a jail just a few blocks from Lake Forest Park, as well as Shoreline residents in the area, and formed the Friends of Aldercrest.
    Other neighbors in the area were dismayed at losing the open fields where people had become used to picnicking and kids playing.  Large events had been held in the open field.  Summer concerts and the neighborhood association outdoor movie night had been staged there.
    The Ballinger Neighborhood Association remained neutral and provided opportunities for information to be shared from all sides.
Photo courtesy Friends of Aldercrest

Read more...

County Executive to review circumstances of Sunday’s disturbance at King County Jail

Monday, March 29, 2010

From the office of the King County Executive

Department conducting administrative review; Executive thanks Sheriff and Seattle Police for quick response

King County Executive Dow Constantine today said his office will review the findings of an administrative review that is now being conducted by the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention into Sunday’s disturbance at the King County Jail in downtown Seattle.

“Corrections Officers on duty in the jail acted quickly to contain the situation without injury to inmates or themselves, and I appreciate their work,” said Executive Constantine. “I also thank both the King County Sheriff’s Office and Seattle Police for playing an important role in assisting and securing the scene.”

“Our preliminary review indicates the Corrections Officers on duty acted in an appropriate manner in collaboration with the responding police agencies,” said Acting Deputy Director Herb Myers. “Our focus turns now to the standard administrative review that follows a disturbance such as this.”

Myers said inmates are being questioned to determine the circumstances surrounding the disturbance and whether any underlying situations need to be addressed.

Myers said there was no significant threat of escape due to the many layers of security at the facility. He said there is no information to suggest the incident involved any attempt to escape from the secure facility.

The final report from the department will be sent to the County Executive for his review.

“I will be looking closely at how this incident occurred and whether any further internal security measures need to be put in place,” said Executive Constantine.

Read more...

Need a passport? No appointment needed at Kent on Saturday

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

From the office of the King County Executive
King County opens for second annual “Passport Day in the U.S.A.”

Residents planning to travel out of the country should consider applying for a U.S. passport now before application fees significantly increase later this year. 


This Saturday, March 27, the King County Licensing Office in the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for residents who want to apply for a passport. No appointment is necessary. During this event, both options of routine processing and expedited processing for an additional fee of $60 dollars are available.

Saturday, March 27, 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. 

Licensing Office at the Maleng Regional Justice Center
401 4th Ave N., #1A
Kent, WA 98032
(206) 205-7330
(Accessible via the parking garage breezeway)

Currently, US Passport Books cost $100 for first-time adult applicants and $85 for all minor applicants under 16. However, a proposed rule for new passport fees will make first-time adult passport applicants pay $135 for a passport book and $105 for all minor applications. The proposed rule is currently in a public comment period. To view the proposed rule and submit your comment, please visit the 2010 Proposed Passport Fees webpage.

In addition to the US Passport Book, the U.S. Passport card is a wallet-size travel document which can be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry. It cannot be used for air travel. Fee increases have been proposed for this document as well.

Last March, the U.S. Department of State held the first “Passport Day in the U.S.A” in response to the new travel guidelines implemented in June 2009. U.S. citizens are now required to present a passport book, passport card, or other travel document approved by the U.S. government to enter the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land borders and sea ports of entry. In 2009, passport agencies and facilities accepted over 59,000 passport applications.

For more information, please visit travel.state.gov. Questions can also be directed to the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 or the King County Community Service Center Licensing office at 206-205-7330

Read more...
ShorelineAreaNews.com
Facebook: Shoreline Area News
Twitter: @ShorelineArea
Daily Email edition (don't forget to respond to the Follow.it email)

  © Blogger template The Professional Template II by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009

Back to TOP