Sam Low's eNewsletter
Snohomish County Council
3000 Rockefeller Ave., M/S 609
Everett, Washington 98201
8th floor, Robert J. Drewel Building
Phone: 425-388-3494
E-Mail: Sam.Low@snoco.org
Darcy Cheesman, Legislative Aide
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New Schedule for Council Meetings
This month the council voted to change our weekly meeting dates and times. We voted to condense the meetings into two days to make it easier for the public to come and listen or share their public comment with us. The public can always attend our meeting via Zoom and public comment can be given 24 hours a day via email at contact.council@snoco.org. Below are the days and times of our Council meetings:
Tuesday
- 9:00am Administrative Session
- 10:00am Finance Economic Development Committee
(1st and 3rd Tuesday)
- 10:00am Public Works and Infrastructure Committee
(2nd and 4th Tuesday)
- 11:00am Conservation, Sustainability, and Recreation Committee
(1st and 3rd Tuesday)
- 11:00am Planning and Community Development Committee
(2nd and 4th Tuesday)
- 1:00pm Law and Justice/Human Services Committee
(1st and 3rd Tuesday)
Wednesday
- 9:00am General Legislative Session (GLS)
- 10:30am Public Hearings
ZOOM WEBINAR REMOTE PARTICIPATION INFORMATION
Zoom Webinar link: https://zoom.us/j/94846850772
Dial in: (253) 215 8782 or (301) 715 8592
Meeting ID: 948 4685 0772
Public Comment via email at contact.council@snoco.org.
Clearview Town Hall – August 19th
Clearview Community Association is back with its Annual Town Hall to be held August 18th, starting at 7pm at The View Church on Highway 9 in Clearview. I will be there with additional elected officials including Sheriff Adam Fortney, State Senator John Lovick, State Representative Brandy Donaghey, and State Representative April Berg. There will also be representatives from County Planning and Development, WSDOT, and Regional Fire and Rescue joining us. The Town Hall is a Q & A opportunity to help the community better understand the issues facing this area.
 I was fortunate to be able to have lunch this last month at the Lake Stevens Senior Center. This center provides vital services to our seniors. I asked the center to provide me an update on some of the activities and services they provide – below is just a few of these they shared with my office. It is truly amazing what this center accomplishes daily.
- Meals served (Meals are served twice a week): 2,028 YTD
- Footcare Service (Footcare Specialist comes once a month): 83
- Tech Help began in May of this year and a volunteer from the library comes in every other week to help (2 appointment every other week): 10
- Free zoom class in July.
- Chair massage - averages 10 a month.
- Exercise averages 20 per week
- Yoga averages 2-5 per week.
- Ukulele/Hula averages 15 per week
- Pinochle averages 10-12 per week
- Book Club averages 5-8 per month
- Hooks & Needs averages 5-10 per month
- Hand and foot averages 5-8 per month
- German Conversation group averages 5 per month
- Plan on hosting 2 OPIOID/Narcan training classes this year, (July & October) open to the community, free of charge. Presenters will be from Snohomish Health District and Homage.
- Senior Center loans out its commercial kitchen twice weekly for another licensed nonprofit to prepare meals and serve to the homeless in the Snohomish County area.
- Day Trips average 2 trip per month with the van at capacity generally.
- Membership cost is $25.00 a year. Most all activities are free, with a $1 suggested donation. Lunches are free with a $4 suggested donation.
Lake Stevens Senior Center Mission:
Our mission: To promote the well-being of people over the age of 55 through physical, emotional, intellectual and economic opportunities. (PURPOSE: Our services are intended to provide a place for participation, learning and socializing. We continually strive to offer a variety of programs and services that will enhance the lives of older residents of the greater Lake Stevens Community.)
 Snohomish Conservation District invited me and other councilmembers to a field trip in the Arlington and Darrington region.
 This trip highlighted the work they are doing in three different areas:
Forest Stewardship Program
- Managing forests reduces wildfire risk and contributes to healthier streams and rivers, local green jobs, carbon sequestration, and improved wildlife habitat.
Hay, Cattle, & Conservation
- Farm conservation and stewardship in Snohomish County contribute to the Agricultural Resilience Plan.
Ashton Creek, Darrington
- Keeping waterbodies like Ashton Creek shaded with buffers of native trees and shrubs is critical for salmon.
Information Courtesy of Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers Office
After the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act was passed in 2020, states were required to launch a new hotline number as a parallel system to the 911 emergency line. Starting July 16, 2022, people in a mental health crisis can now text or call 988 to speak to trained counselors. With the previous 11-digit number, authorities were concerned that the number would be too long to remember, especially during a crisis.
When calling the hotline, the caller will be immediately connected to a counselor to understand the caller’s distress and explain what steps they can take after the phone call. Calls are currently only in English or Spanish, but interpreters can be requested for other languages. Texts and chat are currently English only. All calls remain confidential unless medical attention is required.
Although there is a new number, the service remains the same. Employees and volunteers are working 24/7, always ready to support those that need help. As Crisis Connections and Volunteers of America have hired additional staff, the hotline is now expected to have a 97% answer rate within 30 seconds. But the answer rate may vary, depending on call volumes.
Call 988 when:
- You or someone you know is feeling depressed, lonely, or anxious.
- You or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse.
You or someone you know is contemplating suicide.
I was asked to include an update to the Southwest Urban Growth Area in my next newsletter. Snohomish County Council Analyst Ryan Countryman provided me with the following information.
Councilmember Low introduced Motion 22-090 which directs study and consideration of an expansion of the Southwest Urban Growth Area (UGA) as part of the 2024 Update to the County’s Growth Management Act Comprehensive Plan. The proposed expansion area generally uses the existing Puget Sound Power & Light/Olympic Pipeline utility corridor as an eastern boundary in the area near Mill Creek and Bothell. A majority of the councilmembers supporting study of the proposal, which straddles the boundary between District 5 (Sam Low) and District 4 (Jared Mead).
The department of Planning and Development Services (PDS) is leading the study which will result in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS will identify the significant impacts and potential mitigation for three alternatives for how to update the overall comprehensive plan. Potential changes to the UGA will be part of Alternative 3. After the study is complete, the Planning Commission and County Executive will make recommendations to the County Council. Those recommendations could be to adopt one of the alternatives, or they could recommend to adopting a hybrid that includes parts of the three alternatives. The County Council will then hold a public hearing and decide on a new plan.
Celebrating 113 Years of Fair Fun – August 25-August 30 & Sept 1 – Sept 5, 2022
 How to Save at the Evergreen State Fair!
There is so much happening at this year's Evergreen State Fair August 25-30 and September 1-5! Learn all about tickets, ways to save and must-see events below.
TICKETS
All official fair tickets are purchased either online through E-tix, or in-person at the pass booth. This year we will not be offering Special Admission days, except for Senior Day on August 29. Online ticket sales are open now, or buy in person at the pass booth (open starting August 8).
WAYS TO SAVE
Buy early (before August 25) and save up to $3 on admission and $5 on carnival wristbands! Senior ticket prices are only $12 (62-89 yrs) but on August 29, seniors get in for half price all day. Our military discount is for active military and their dependents (with I.D.). Our Weekday Roundup Package is an amazing deal: 4 weekday gate admission tickets and parking for $50. Check out our ticket page for more info!
 The Show Must Go on and the Evergreen State Fairgrounds Park is ready to welcome all fair goers this month. Information on the Fair can be found at the Evergreen State Fair website. Information regarding tickets, concerts, exhibits, rides, and Speedway events – all can be found at the above listed website. Here is a special event that I would like to highlight:
Morning of Dreams
Tuesday August 30th, 2022. 9:00am-10:30am
Evergreen Morning of Dreams is a special morning event for children and adults of all ability levels to experience the fun of the Fair in a calmer setting. We hope you can join us for a morning at the fair that is easier on your eyes and ears. Click here for more information.
 What's at the Fair this year?
There is a LOT to see and do at the Evergreen State Fair! Check out the free offerings included with gate admission, and don't miss these must-see add-ons.
FREE WITH PRICE OF ADMISSION
- Concerts and performances on our Courtyard Stage.
- Discover one of our roving entertainers around the Fair Park.
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Attractions and Special Displays like the world famous International Lumberjack Show, Brad's World Reptiles, All-Star Stunt Dog Show and Aztec Indian Dancers.
- New this year is Laser Queen (Music by the band Queen) on Monday, August 29 at 8:30 pm.
- Opening night fireworks: 9 pm on August 25.
MUST-SEE EVENTS
For a full list of events check out our Event Calendar!
LAKE STEVENS: There's still time to check out our online open house!
The online open house for stage 3 of the SR9/SR 204 Intersection Improvements project is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until
August 1!
Learn what to expect as four roundabouts will be built to help improve mobility and safety at this busy intersection in Lake Stevens. Be sure to visit the SR 9/SR 204 Intersection Improvements project web page for more information and updates related to this work. The project is set to be complete by fall 2023.
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