Greenprint 2010 Environmental Agenda and Accomplishments

"The beauty of King County and our great natural resources are only surpassed by the energy and creativity of the people who live here. That gives us hope that we can protect our environment and grow with grace." -Larry Phillips

King County is one of the best places in the nation to live and raise a family. Our spectacular landscapes, abundant recreational opportunities, and ethic of environmental stewardship are legacies that we will pass down to our children and grandchildren.

At the dawn of the 21st Century, we are faced with daunting challenges. It's more critical than ever to continue our commitment to protect the natural environment. As our region's population increases, we must balance vibrant urban communities with the protection of our parks, farms, forestlands, and rural lifestyles. With the reality of climate change, we need to take bold action to reduce carbon emissions and embrace innovative, alternative forms of energy. We must build on the success of light rail arriving in our region to maximize opportunities for green transportation choices and transit-oriented communities. We must protect our waterways and Puget Sound from further degradation while allowing our region to gracefully accommodate growth. These present many opportunities to create family-wage jobs in a clean energy economy. These issues are interlinked--we must address our environmental future with a holistic vision and a commitment to regional cooperation between King County and its 39 cities.

I created this Greenprint for environmental action in 2010 as a framework for a healthier, more sustainable future in King County. In creating it, I drew on the input of environmental organizations, businesses, and individual landowners to make King County the environmental model for the entire nation. And I am proud of our success during the year.

Please take a look at all that we have accomplished!Greenprint 2010 Environmental Agenda

Preserving open space and rural lands

1. Promote using existing revenues to issue a new $50 million farm and forest bond to protect threatened lands.
2. Prioritize bringing into public protection the 40,000 acre White River Forest near Enumclaw, the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area, and the Middle Green River Basin.

 Passed legislation stating Council support for the North Cascades Conservation Council’s plan to increase protection of federal lands near North Cascades National Park. Read more.

3. Build and sustain a toolbox of incentives to promote private investment in conservation. The toolbox will include federal tax incentives, community forest bonds, transfer of development rights, and rewards for landowners who conserve voluntarily.

 Passed legislation encouraging Congress to grant tax-exempt status for Community Forestry Bonds. Read more.

 Requested study of potential for King County to create a Local Conservation Authority—look for the report in March 2011. Read more.

 Worked with Cascade Land Conservancy to promote four new ways we can further expand our open space toolbox. Read more.

Improving air quality

1. Aggressively advocate for cap and invest or cap and trade strategies where polluters pay.
2. Work to make greenhouse gas reductions a requirement of the State Growth Management Act.
3. Measure greenhouse gas emissions in major capital projects and establish benchmarks for reducing emissions.

 Passed legislation requiring greater energy efficiency and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions for county capital improvement projects.

4. Expand the work of King County’s Global Warming Task Force.

 Completed a comprehensive update of the King County Energy Plan, with specific goals for reducing energy use by county buildings and vehicles, as well as to produce or procure renewable energy. The Plan outlines objectives and numerous strategies to achieve reductions in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Read more.

5. Advance King County’s leadership participation in Climate Communities to ensure King County realizes the benefits of federal Climate Change legislation.

Passed legislation encouraging full funding in 2012 of federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants; authorized King County to join the Climate Communities “Energy Block Grants WORK!” campaign. Read more.

Restoring Puget Sound and improving water quality

1. Protect Puget Sound by building on the successful Waterways 2000 model to establish “Waterways 2015,” a 5-year plan to reduce polluted storm water runoff into the rivers, streams, and creeks that flow to Puget Sound. The program will utilize incentives, education, buffers, permeable surfaces, and management of public property.
2. Ban Styrofoam.
3. Ban harmful pesticides.
4. Promote alternatives to plastic bags and bottles.
5. Leverage grants and matching funds to invest in wastewater and storm water infrastructure to improve water quality and accommodate economic growth.

 Passed Council legislation urging the State Legislature to approve the Clean Water Act of 2010, which would have provided additional funding for stormwater pollution cleanup projects. Read more.

6. Protect critical habitat by issuing a “red zone” map of estuaries, salt marshes, beaches, and shorelines that contribute most to the health of Puget Sound, and target those areas for protection and restoration.

 Completed the first major update of King County’s Shoreline Master Plan in 30 years, including designating a critical Maury Island shoreline as “natural.” The Shoreline Master Plan guides development on our county’s shorelines to protect its ecology while providing for recreational opportunities and necessary use. Read more.

7. Build a network of protected aquatic reserves in King County.

 Approved funding to acquire a former gravel mine on Maury Island for permanent preservation as public parkland, ending decades of controversy about the use of this shoreline which is critical to habitat and water quality in Puget Sound. Read more.

 Passed Council legislation urging the federal government to strengthen and clarify the federal Clean Water Act’s protections for streams and wetlands. Read more.

8. Strengthen and enforce oil spill prevention programs in coordination with the Sheriff’s Office Marine Division.

Leveraging jobs through mass transit expansion

1. Ensure construction and implementation of Sound Transit 2 projects in order to generate 69,000 jobs in our region as projected.

 The first phase of Sound Transit 2 projects is underway, including final design of the light rail extension to Northgate, preliminary engineering of light rail to Bellevue and Overlake, and expansion of Regional Express bus service.

2. Leverage federal grants to expand and promote use of clean technologies in transit vehicles that minimize impacts to neighborhoods and carbon emissions.

 Passed legislation encouraging timely action by Congress to reauthorize the expired Surface Transportation Act which has brought significant funding to our region for transportation projects and transit service. Read more.

3. Promote sustainable construction practices in transportation capital projects.
4. Ensure future of regional transit by sponsoring a Regional Transit Task Force to look at revenues and service levels and make recommendations.

Task Force was convened and deliberated for several months to produce a unanimous set of recommendations, which the Council in turn has unanimously accepted. Work to implement the recommendations is ongoing. Read more.

Expanding opportunities for green jobs

1. Leverage grant funds to expand King County’s green job training programs.

Received $200,000 grant from EPA to train 75 unemployed or underemployed adults from disadvantaged neighborhoods for green jobs in fields such as hazardous waste response and lead and asbestos abatement.

2. Convene a task force of labor, business, social justice, education advocates, and environmental leaders to ensure diverse participation in the emerging green jobs economy.

Passed legislation stating Council support for the creation of EcoIndustrial Districts—communities of co-located manufacturing and service enterprises that share infrastructure and information to improve environmental and economic performance. Pledged partnership with City of Seattle and other jurisdictions involved in creating these districts. Read more.

3. Advocate for increased financial investment in vocational institutes for green jobs training.

 Successfully advocated that the King County Housing Authority hire weatherization contractors from green training programs, such as South Seattle Community College, that meet high technical standards and provide job training to predominantly low-income and disadvantaged populations.

Promoting green, energy efficient buildings, and homes

1. Work with the building industry to undertake a comprehensive review of King County’s building codes to maximize opportunities for promoting energy efficiency and resource conservation.
2. Promote energy efficiency in new and existing county buildings by using green building standards like LEED, Green Globes and Energy Star ratings.

 Required energy efficient lighting and reduction of light pollution at King County facilities. Read more.

 As a result of previous Council legislation, King County has completed 18 LEED projects & saved millions of taxpayer dollars through energy efficiency projects. Read more.

 Appropriated over $6 million (including federal EECBG funding) to implement specific energy saving capital projects and operating programs.

3. Require disclosure of EPA Energy Star scores for commercial and public buildings to King County and to prospective buyers, lessees, and lenders, with the goal of helping building owners improve energy efficiency.
4. Work with lending institutions to help home and business owners finance energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades.

Advancing a market for electric cars

1. Position King County as one of the first national markets for mass produced electric plug-in vehicles when they become available in 2010 by leveraging the millions of dollars in private and federal funding available for purchasing electric vehicles and building electric refueling stations.

 Received more than $1 million in US Dept of Energy grants and grant funding from Nissan USA and eTec to install numerous charging stations throughout our region. These awards, along with investments by other local jurisdictions, represent the largest public investment in electric vehicle infrastructure in our region to date.

2. Use King County’s fleet replacement purchases to advance the market and technology for electric and alternative fuel cars, trucks, and passenger vans.
3. Expand electric vehicle infrastructure and plug-in stations at King County Park & Rides, parks, and buildings. Work with Sound Transit to include electric vehicle plug-in stations at transit stations.

 Passed legislation to install up to 200 public-use charging stations at Park & Ride lots and other county-owned or leased sites. Read more.

4. Work with other jurisdictions to offer incentives for plug-in vehicle owners such as access to high-occupancy vehicle lanes and parking areas.

Supporting alternative energy sources

1. Expand the use of waste-to-energy technology such as the models used at King County’s Cedar Hills Landfill and West Point Wastewater Treatment Facility.
2. Explore opportunities to use solar panel technology at King County facilities.

 Approved Metro Transit’s plan for a demonstration project of two solar trash compactors at RapidRide bus stops; this technology utilizes solar energy to compact trash and notify staff when it is full, significantly reducing the number of trash pickups needed by garbage collection vehicles.

3. Lead efforts to convert to renewable energy sources for heating buildings.

Promoting smart growth and affordable communities

1. Direct new growth to designated growth centers and promote design of compact, mixed use communities oriented towards people, bikes, and transit.

 Passed legislation stating Council support for creating a bike sharing program (like ZipCar for bikes) in King County. Read more.

2. Expand sidewalks and bike lanes in King County communities.
3. Expand the King County Housing Opportunity Fund to promote affordable workforce housing near job centers.
4. Create new community gardens so that more people can grow their own local organic food.

 Requested an implementation plan to create and manage community gardens on already-identified unused county-owned property. Read more.

Supporting transit oriented communities

1. Leverage the billions of dollars our region is investing in a mass transit system to stimulate private development in transit-oriented communities.

Approved funding and agreements to expand the Burien Transit Center and park and ride facility, furthering opportunities for transit-oriented development.

2. Promote “Development-Oriented Transit” by selecting light rail alignments and transit station sites that maximize opportunities for people to live near transit.

 Selected a preliminary preferred East Link light rail alignment that supports new development of housing, job, and retail space in the Bel-Red corridor. Learn more.

3. Work with Sound Transit and local jurisdictions to promote construction plans and zoning decisions that accommodate compact, mixed use and affordable development near transit stations.

 Working with the Capitol Hill community to create a light rail station design and transit-oriented development strategy that will serve as a model of how transit, development, and community space can blend together to promote livability and quality neighborhoods.

4. Expand on successful transit-oriented development throughout the region by seeking public and private partnerships to build affordable housing on Metro Transit property.
5. Secure the Eastside Burlington Northern Transportation Corridor for public commute and recreational use by increasing King County’s participation in the partnership to buy the corridor.

 The Eastside Rail Corridor has been secured in public ownership with King County and Sound Transit committing to partner with the Port of Seattle and others to purchase the right-of-way.

Maintaining and expanding parks and recreation

1. Make King County the “Best Place to Play” by envisioning the ball fields and recreational infrastructure we need for the next 100 years and begin building now for the future.

 Expanded the Public Benefit Rating System to provide tax incentives for landowners who provide public access to their land for connector trails linking regional trails to major points of interest. Read more.

2. Protect and maintain our parks, trails, and open spaces for future generations and commit to renew the Parks Levy to keep recreational lands open, clean, safe, and accessible to all.

 Authorized King County to re-open a historic public access point to the Snoqualmie Valley Trail that had been closed by private interests.

 Adopted the 2010 Open Space Plan to direct the future of King County’s system of 200 parks, 175 miles of regional trails, 26,000 acres of open space, and 145,000 acres of conservation easements. Read more.

 Passed legislation asking Congress to provide full funding for the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund; called for balanced allocations of funding between federal, state, and local projects. Read more.

 Approved agreement with the federal government to reconstruct the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Road, allowing year-round access to this public wilderness.

Rural Lands Initiative

1. Launch a Rural Economic Stimulus Initiative to target ways to boost local demand for goods produced in rural areas, including farm goods and locally grown timber.
2. Invite farmers and foresters to join with large urban institutional consumers to develop ways to expand the local market for local produce and wood products.

 Endorsed a farmer-created FARMS report that includes recommendations for resolving challenges to the future of agriculture in King County.

 Proclaimed September 25-26 as Harvest Celebration Days in King County to promote the 12^th annual tour of rural King County farms. Read more.

 Pledged to “Eat Local for Thanksgiving” and signed a formal Council recognition of the Cascade Harvest Coalition and Puget Sound Fresh’s annual campaign which asks community members to add at least one locally grown food item to their Thanksgiving table. Read more.

 Co-hosted a Farmers Market Roundtable meeting with Seattle Councilmember Sally Clark to discuss ways to help local farmers and farmers markets succeed.