What’s happening in District Four -- October 2007

New County Office Building Named "The Chinook Building"

10-22-2007
The King County Council chose "The Chinook Building" from 140 entries submitted earlier this year by middle school students throughout King County in a contest to name the new county office building. Read more.

Councilmember Larry Phillips stands beside a King County green fleet electric car.

Councilmember Phillips Participates in Electric Car Demonstration

10-16-2007
Councilmember Phillips is participating in a clean technology demonstration by driving an electric plug-in vehicle from the county's fleet. King County recently developed a Green Fleet Initiative, pledging to bring more climate-friendly vehicles to King County. Read more.

Councilmember Larry Phillips Hosts Annual Cedar River Raft Trip

10-13-2007 & 10-14-2007
Councilmember Larry Phillips hosted his annual raft trip on the Cedar River. The participants are individuals who "purchased" their trip with a charitable donation at local auctions. The raft trip featured spawning salmon and explanations of King County habitat improvements along the Cedar.

Councilmember Phillips Finds New Homes for "Retired" County Vans

10-9-2007

Councilmember Phillips provides a pep-talk to participants before they embark on their journey down the Cedar River.

The King County Council donated retired vanpool vans to nonprofit groups for low-income, elderly, disabled, and young people throughout the county. Read more.

Council Addresses Animal Shelter Reforms

10-8-2007
The King County Council called on the County Executive to enact immediate reforms to protect the animals in the custody of King County's two animal shelters. Read more.

Councilmember Larry Phillips Volunteers for NW Harvest

10-5-2007
Councilmember Larry Phillips and his staff spent a day volunteering for NW Harvest, Washington's independent, community-supported, statewide hunger relief agency. Phillips and staff helped pack 850 lbs. of dried beans which is enough to feed 283 families. Learn More.

Council Ensures Accountability in Voter-approved Parks Expansion Levy Funds

10-1-2007
The King County Council put in motion a public process to ensure that new parks projects, funded by voters, will be fairly distributed, in an accountable manner and in coordination with other county programs. The motion requests that the County Executive establish a transparent process by which projects will be developed, reviewed and recommended to the Council for final approval. Read more.

Council Approves Plan to Optimize Public Health Spending

10-1-2007
The King County Council adopted a strategic and operational plan to guide the county in making decisions about public health and the prioritization of funding. The Public Health Operational Master Plan seeks to increase the healthy years lived by King County citizens and eliminate disparities in health. Read more.

Phillips Calls for Better Management of Puget Sound Cruise Ship Waste

10-1-2007
The King County Council called for further cooperation between King County, Washington State, the Port of Seattle, and the cruise ship industry to improve the management of solids residuals generated by the cruise ships visiting Puget Sound. Advocates encourage a heightened level of awareness regarding waste discharges, especially in light of the federal listing of the Chinook salmon as a threatened species and the resident killer whale population as an endangered species. Read more.