What’s happening in District Four -- April 2008

Light Rail Expansion Plans Advance

The Sound Transit Board is looking for public input on plans to reshape the commute in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. Citizens will have a chance to comment on the trade offs between two smaller, lower-cost 12-year plans or the larger 20-year transit expansion package included in last year’s Proposition 1. The expansion package, called Sound Transit 2 (ST2) would build 18 to 50 miles of light rail, increase Sounder’s standing-room only commuter rail service, expand express bus service, build a First Hill Link Connector, and construct several transit access improvement projects. Read more.

Read Councilmember Phillips' guest column in The Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Learn more about ST2.

Council Acts to Improve Conditions at Animal Shelters

New cat cages, dog runs and more staffing are among the immediate upgrades at King County animal shelters that will be funded by nearly $1 million in one-time funds approved by the King County Council. These changes are part of the council's efforts to improve conditions and reduce crowding and the spread of disease at the shelters in Kent and Bellevue that house approximately 13,000 stray, abandoned and neglected animals each year. Read more.

Learn more about the council's actions on animal care.

Council Expands Program for Affordable Housing

The King County Council provided the immediate extension of credit to projects that preserve living-wage and low-income housing throughout the county. By doubling the authority of the county’s Credit Enhancement Program, at no cost to taxpayers, the Council provides immediate backing for the purchase and preservation of the Wonderland Estates mobile home park near Renton, the Springwood Apartments in Kent, the Lora Lake Apartments in Burien, and other potential projects. Read more.

Council to Study Public Campaign Financing

Recognizing that in today’s political environment, running for office can mean spending more time dialing for dollars than focusing on the issues, the King County Council approved legislation to study the possibility of bringing public campaign financing to King County races. Under state law, any plan the County Council develops for campaign financing would require approval by the voters. Read more.

Councilmember Phillips Named Co-Chair of National Climate Communities Coalition

As co-chair of Climate Communities, Councilmember Phillips joined local leaders from across the country for a Local Government Climate Change Summit. Climate Communities is a national coalition of cities and counties that is educating federal policymakers about the essential role of local governments in addressing climate change and promoting a strong local-federal partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Learn more about Climate Communities.

Council Approves Projects to Preserve Open Space in King County

The King County Council approved Conservation Futures Funds for projects ranging from urban parks in two of Seattle's densest neighborhoods to the acquisition of a camp in Federal Way. The Conservation Futures Fund program is dedicated to the purchase of open space, greenbelts, wildlife habitat and trails. Read more.