Kathy Lambert: King County is working hard to be lean but more cuts coming
January 5, 2012
King County is working hard to improve its operations. That was the message County Councilwoman Kathy Lambert shared with North Bend City Council at its Jan. 3 meeting.
She had stopped by to swear in the mayor and council members following the November election. Lambert took the opportunity to give the state of the county to the City Council.
King County ends flood watch for Snoqualmie River
December 29, 2011
King County has closed its Flood Warning Center for Snoqualmie River after rising water levels triggered its opening Wednesday morning. Heavy rains had raised the river’s flow levels above the threshold requiring county staff to monitor the situation.
Clear weather during the night of Dec. 28 and the following morning allowed the water level to subside. The county closed its warning center by 9 a.m. Dec. 29.
King County executive proposes new wetlands process
November 30, 2011
In the near future, builders in rural and unincorporated King County could purchase credits to offset construction-related damage to wetlands.
Under a plan proposed by County Executive Dow Constantine, builders could pay a fee, rather than completing projects in a process called mitigation to compensate for damaged or destroyed wetlands.
The law requires builders to avoid and minimize impacts to wetlands and other sensitive areas as much as possible. Mitigation is required if damage is unavoidable.
King County Noxious Weed Board seeks new members to help battle dangerous invaders
November 28, 2011
The King County Noxious Weed Control Board has two openings. The volunteer citizen board oversees and guides the work of the county’s Noxious Weed Program and sets the noxious weed list priorities for the County
One of the vacancies is for the board’s District 2, which covers Snoqualmie Valley. Noxious weeds are invasive plants that threaten local habitats by displacing native vegetation. They are an ongoing threat to Snoqualmie River’s ecosystem, but they are found everywhere in King County.
Task force created to consider ban on schools built in rural areas
October 4, 2011
King County has delayed a decision on a proposed controversial policy change to prohibit new schools being built in rural areas.
The change would have left the Snoqualmie Valley School District and six other school districts unable to use 15 properties worth about $12 million.
King County proposes no-cuts budget
September 28, 2011
For the first time since 2009, King County’s budget proposal has no cuts in it. Efficiencies and cost savings are to thank, County Executive Dow Constantine said when he presented his 2012 budget proposal to the County Council on Sept. 26.
“My proposed budget is balanced, with no further cuts to services in the General Fund, by working with employees to make this government more efficient,” Constantine said. “Surrounded everywhere by seas of red ink, we have made King County an island of relative stability.”
Constantine’s budget is $5.3 billion, with $648 million in the General Fund.
Proposed redrawing of County Council districts keeps the upper Snoqualmie Valley together
September 28, 2011
Snoqualmie, North Bend and surrounding communities will remain in the same King County Council district under a final plan released last week by the committee responsible for redrawing the local political map.
The proposed map keeps the upper Snoqualmie Valley together in District 3 while rebalancing the county’s population between its nine districts. Read more
Snoqualmie considers costs of Weyerhaeuser mill site annexation
September 19, 2011
Annexing a former Weyerhaeuser mill site will likely generate more tax revenue than costs for Snoqualmie, according to a fiscal impact study released last week by the city. A peer review of the study by an independent consulting firm reached the same conclusion.
City Council members asked for more detailed analysis of the expected costs of annexation, and opponents criticized the study as incomplete.
The City Council is still considering a pre-annexation agreement between the city, DirtFish Rally School and the site’s owners: the Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Development Co. and Snoqualmie Mill Ventures. The owner of Snoqualmie Mill Ventures, Steve Rimmer, also owns DirtFish.
King County executive proposes new system for prioritizing road maintenance work
September 12, 2011
Facing continued steep declines in money to pay for its roads, King County could adopt a strict tiered system prioritizing road maintenance, storm response and snow removal. The system is expected to be part of County Executive Dow Constantine’s proposed budget that will be submitted to County Council on Sept. 26.
Money for the King County Road Fund comes from a property tax levy of $2.25 per thousand of assessed value and gas tax revenue. But the county’s tax base is shrinking as cities annex many of the most densely populated unincorporated areas. Declining property values and declining gas tax revenue have also cut into the fund’s revenue.
In recent years, the fund has dropped from $128 million to $106 million.
Snoqualmie Planning and Parks Committee adopts preliminary timeline for annexation process
August 17, 2011
Snoqualmie’s Planning and Parks Committee has approved a preliminary timeline for moving forward with the city’s proposed annexation of a former Weyerhaeuser mill site. The non-binding timeline will be presented to Snoqualmie City Council at its Aug. 22 meeting. The council can amend the schedule as necessary.
According to the preliminary timeline, the council would not take action on a Pre-annexation Agreement between the city, and the current owners and occupants of the mill site. If the City Council follows the proposed schedule, the annexation would be finished by November.
