Council adopts plan to make data available to local innovators, opening County to application development business

King County took new steps today toward having more County information available for developers to use in smartphone applications. The Metropolitan King County Council unanimously adopted legislation requiring the county to publish high value data sets creating the possibility for people and businesses to disseminate data to the public through the use of technology applications on websites and cell phones. Read more...

“RADAR” initiative would develop strategies to track violent offenders and focuses on threats against police

The King County Sheriff’s Office today received the unanimous support of the Metropolitan King County in its efforts to establish a task force to investigate threats against police and elected officials. The Council approved a motion calling for the creation of a Risk Assessment, Deterrence and Referral (RADAR) program. Read more...

Plug and drive: Council adopts policies for electric vehicle charging station program

The number of “Green” vehicles on county roads is growing and the Metropolitan King County Council today gave a boost to electric vehicles with its unanimous adoption of legislation increasing the number of locations where cars can charge up. Read more...

Lakewood Law Enforcement Memorial Act sent to voters

The Washington State Legislature today sent to the voters a referendum to the people to amend the state constitution. If approved by voters in November, the “Lakewood Law Enforcement Memorial Act,” would allow judges the discretion to deny bail to accused offenders who are facing life in prison if there is “clear and convincing evidence of a propensity for violence that creates substantial likelihood of danger to the community.”  Read more...

Enhanced oversight for County’s high-risk capital projects

Increased ability to identify high-risk capital projects, greater scrutiny of major construction projects, and enhanced accountability of government spending are all elements of legislation unanimously adopted by the Metropolitan King County Council.

The legislation addresses concerns about oversight of capital projects raised by the Washington State Auditor in a report released last summer. The State Auditor’s report highlighted that the County had room to improve its safeguards over construction management and management of cash and assets.  Read more...

Council moves swiftly to fund protection of Raging River open space

Conservation easements help preserve 7,000 acres in the largest remaining block of open space in the Mountains to Sound Greenway. The Metropolitan King County Council closed a gap in the region’s “curtain of green” with its unanimous adoption of legislation to keep approximately 4,000 acres along the Raging River in unincorporated King County free from development, as part of a 7,000 acre acquisition by the State. Learn More...

Dunn encourages screening for medical condition that took his mother’s life

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn appeared on the floor of Congress to increase awareness of Deep-Vein Thrombosis (DVT), the condition that took the life of his mother, and to support the work of the Coalition to Prevent DVT. Learn More...