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Also at the beginning of each year, council reevaluates our internal and external committee assignments and adjustments as needed. Here is a list of my committee assignments for the year:
- Chair of the Council’s Finance, Budget, and Administration Committee
- Chair of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
- Chair of Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
- Member of Regional Law & Justice Committee (new for 2023!)Â
- Vice Chair of Puget Sound Regional Partnership (PSRC) Growth Management Policy Board
- Member of Community Development Block Grant Policy Advisory Board
- Member of the County’s Housing Affordability Regional Taskforce (HART)
- Member of Washington State Association of Counties’ Board of Directors and Legislative Steering Committee
- Member of National Association of Counties Energy, Environment, and Land Use Committee
- Alternate for Community Transit Board (new for 2023!), PSRC Economic Development Board, and WSAC Timber Counties
Though my calendar is fairly full with committee assignments, I am always more than happy to make time to speak with constituents or community groups and provide updates on matters in Snohomish County. If your community group would like to set up a time to meet with me or present, please contact my aide, Paula Rhyne, at paula.rhyne@snoco.org and we can set up a time.
Earlier this month I participated in events that honored and celebrated the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I was glad to join a rally and march sponsored by the Snohomish County Black Heritage Committee which started at Memorial Stadium in Everett and then we marched along Colby Avenue ending at the Carl Gipson Community Center. It was inspiring to hear spoken word, musical performances, and powerful speeches from speakers like Demi Chatters, a Snohomish County Human Rights Commissioner, with the reminders that the work towards racial equality continues and we must all work together to achieve Dr. King’s vision. Full video (courtesy of AJ Soto) of the event can be found at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJWpGc_yMKY.
In the spirit of service, I also joined the YMCA Inspiration Breakfast and participated in the Day of Service at the Everett YMCA branch location. I joined dozens of other volunteers to do a litter clean-up near the facility and along the Interurban Trail. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend of Service is always a great reminder of the importance of community and working together to ensure that all people feel safe and welcome and have equal opportunities in life.
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With Demi Chatters and Paula Rhyne at the MLK March |
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With the YMCA Clean Up Crew |
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Quite the haul just from our small group at the clean up event! |
Registration is open for the free, virtual Spring 2023 Parent Leadership Training Institute in both English and Spanish. Classes begin Saturday, February 25, and continue every Thursday from 6 pm to 9 pm and every Saturday from 9 am to noon. Parents learn leadership and public speaking skills and how to understand and navigate systems and work towards developing a community project to benefit their schools or communities.
For more information and to apply, please visit this link: https://plti-spring-2023.eventzilla.net/web/event?eventid=2138570790
Now open at the Schack Art Center in Everett is a powerful exhibit that features art pieces by Ukrainian artists celebrating the commitment to freedom of the Ukranian people. The various images range from images of war to national pride. A special event is planned for February 4 from 2-4:30p and features performances from Ukranian musicians, and co-organized by the Ukrainian Association of Washington State. The exhibit runs until February 18. Â
A great way to get more involved in your community is through a clean up effort to help divert waste from our streams and waterways. The Snohomish County Adopt-A-Road Program forms partnerships between volunteer groups and Snohomish County Public Works to help keep roadsides free of litter and to promote community pride. Volunteer groups must be larger than 10 members and must commit to clean up their road section twice a year for two years. For more information, requirements, and to access a sign-up application form, please see this page.
The Everett Link Extension project team is currently requesting public scoping comments. Before they start work on an environmental impact statement (EIS), they are looking for public feedback to guide the decision-making process. From now until March 10, you can make your voice heard by sharing your feedback on the route, station, and operations and maintenance facility alternatives.
You can submit comments by visiting their website, emailing everettlinkcomments@soundtransit.org, leaving a voicemail at 425-492-7218, or by mail to:
Sound Transit - Everett Link Extension
Attn: Kathy Fendt,Â
401 S. Jackson St.
Seattle, WA 98104
We recently heard an update from representatives from WSU-Snohomish County Extension about the great work they do to keep our waterways and Puget Sound healthy through their Beach Watchers Program. They shared more about their partnership with the county’s Surface Water Management division to deliver pet waste kits to veterinarian clinics. These kits have a roll of dog bags and a rack card with information about the “Poop Problem” in Snohomish County. Our county has 170,000 dogs that live here, and those dogs produce 64 tons of poop a day. That is the same as 10 elephants worth of poop a day! As a rescue dog owner, it was a great reminder that picking up after your dog is important to prevent that raw waste for entering our watershed.
For more information on their programs and ways to become a volunteer beach watcher, please visit their website at https://extension.wsu.edu/snohomish/beach-watchers/.
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My rescue dog, Zoe! |
The Edmonds Center for the Arts’ annual “WE SPEAK” spoken word competition is coming up in March. The competition is open for youth between the ages of 14-21 and the finalists will perform with critically- acclaimed spoken word artist Shane Koyczan. Finalists additionally receive workshop training prior to their stage performance and cash prize. The first prize winner is awarded $1,000 and second and third place student artists are awarded $500 each. The Spoken Word Themes this year include: Belonging, Self-Care, and Healing.
The deadline to submit content is January 30th.
Each year the Snohomish Conservation District hosts a plant sale for people to enhance their gardens. Online sales are now open with a plant order pick-up on March 4 and 5. All plants are native to our area and range in size from small shrubs to towering trees. Check out their website for more details or contact their office (425-335-5634 or scdplantsale@snohomishcd.org) if you have any questions. Happy planting!
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Housing Hope is well known through the area for the amazing work that they do to build affordable housing for people in need. They also have social enterprises that create pathways to self-sufficiency through job training, education, and empowerment of the people who they serve. One of the enterprises is called Ground Works which provides landscaping design and maintenance services, but this season they are also providing floral arrangements for Valentine’s Day. The arrangements use upcycled materials and fresh local flowers, and all proceeds go towards job training in the landscaping field for people who typically experience barriers to employment. See their website for more details and how to order.
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