9 Goals for 2009

Services for People and Animals

1. Protect Public Health and Human Services – Public Health programs and Human Services, especially the direct services provided at public health centers and at non-profit organizations, are in jeopardy both in 2009 and 2010. As the Chair of the Board of Health and the Health, Human Services and Housing Committee for the King County Council, I am committed to work with Olympia in creating stable and long term funding options for local government. In addition, I will devise a set of principles to prepare the Council for the 2010 budget, and the tools needed to make wise decisions about cuts to health and human services.

2. Increase Affordable Housing – King County has not been immune to the national housing crisis that threatens foreclosure for millions of Americans. This year, as Chair of Health, Human Services, and Housing, I will develop policy that will expand access to affordable housing in our region, and use King County’s resources to further the goals of the Committee to End Homelessness.

3. Improve Animal Services – The King County Council has engaged in efforts, over the last two years, to improve conditions at the Kent and Bellevue animal shelters. In 2009, I will lead the Council in making decisions about how we can best provide medical treatment, spay/neuter, behavioral training, and adoption opportunities for the animals in our care.

Building Infrastructure

4. Expand SKC trails – Last year, I convened meetings with South King County cities for the purpose of identifying regional trail linkages, and adding new trail miles in Kent, Renton, Tukwila, and Des Moines. Using regional parks levy funds, the County and Cities will work cooperatively to begin building the Lake to Sound trail. This year marks the design phase of the project, as well as fundraising for additional connections. I will submit an application to the PSRC to be considered for funding. I will also work with King County Executive to identify more funding from the regional parks levy.

5. Develop New Ferry Service – In 2007, the King County Council voted to create the King County Ferry District, a separate government with the goal of providing regional passenger only ferry service. There are currently two routes that the ferry district operates: Vashon Island to Seattle, and the Elliott Bay Water Taxi. The district will operate one demonstration route per year from 2010 to 2015. I will work to ensure that at least one south King County route, either Des Moines or Renton, is included in the 2010 rollout and the other close behind.

6. Plan for Regional Jail Capacity - King County is a growing region, and sufficient jail capacity is a concern for both the county and cities. We must move forward as a region, working together to provide the best possible services at the most efficient cost. I will work with South County cities to ensure that we have the capacity that we need while providing rehabilitation services that reduce recidivism.

Protecting our Natural Resources

7. Improve Lake Safety and Health – I am committed to improving the health of our natural bodies of water. I recently learned that lawn fertilizers containing phosphorus stimulate the growth of weeds and algae in lakes, killing plants and animals that are necessary to maintain the health of the ecosystem. Phosphorus is not a necessary ingredient for a healthy lawn, but does great damage when applied to lawns surrounding a lake or river, or the Puget Sound. In 2009, I will draft legislation that will reduce phosphorus in lawn fertilizer used by King County residents and industry.

8. Strengthen Flood Infrastructure – Our region has experienced devastating floods in the last few years, prompting the King County Council to form a new government and taxing authority, the Flood Control District. This special purpose district prioritizes and funds, through partnerships with the federal and state government, the restoration and construction of levees along the most vulnerable stretches of our waterway. Serving on the Flood Control District board and Executive Committee, in 2009 I will oversee the construction of over 75 projects, valued at $39 million along the Cedar, Green, South Fork, Skykomish, Snoqualmie, Sammamish, and White rivers.

Putting it all Together

9. Pass a Balanced Budget – The 2009 budget, with an unprecedented $93 million deficit, proved to be the most challenging I’ve ever encountered as an elected official. Our budget process this fall, in preparation for the 2010 budget, is expected to be another difficult exercise in cuts to health, human services and criminal justice. I serve on the budget leadership team this year, and will work with my colleagues to ensure the process is open to the public, fair in its cuts, and exhaustive in finding efficiencies and cost-saving measures.