Local Services is checking in with some of the recipients of King County's first Participatory Budgeting funds to see how those funds—provided through a community vote held in 2022—have helped.

Grant winner: Shop Skyway

Amount: $25,000

Project: Free consulting services and technical assistance to modernize Skyway businesses. Includes educational workshops, webinars, and consultations on how a business can operate and succeed.

The funds allowed consultants to work with business owners without charging them anything. "That is not something that typically happens in a business ecosystem,” said Principal Business Consultant Jawan Harris. “We were able to work with each business without worrying about their capital constraints." Harris said his group spent about 10 hours with each business, which was enough to make a difference for those businesses.

Learn more and see a video about the program on the King County Local Blog

Businesses in unincorporated King County can apply for funding to repair damage caused by vandalism or break-ins that have occurred since March 2020.

The Local Services Storefront Repair Program is intended to address vandalism and enhance security in business districts that are inside King County and outside city limits. The program serves small businesses (10 employees or less) by providing a one-time grant up to $5,000 to repair damage inflicted to the street side (frontage) of commercial buildings that are occupied by an operating business. Retail, grocery, food service, and personal, professional or medical services are eligible to apply.

Eligible expenses include repair or replacement of windows, doors, exterior lighting, signs or awnings; replacement of security screens or bars; graffiti removal, security cameras; and insurance claim deductibles. 

Find out if your business is eligible and/or apply for a grant. If you have questions or need assistance with an application, send email to [email protected].

Applications will be accepted through December 31, 2023, or until the funds are used up.

Fall may have arrived with the recent rains, but there's one road construction project that just got rolling: the installation of a traffic-calming roundabout at the intersection of Redmond Ridge Drive NE and NE Alder Crest Drive. This project, which kicked off in September and will extend through late fall, aims to enhance traffic flow and safety in the Redmond Ridge community.

Drivers can expect some lane restrictions through the intersection from 7 am to 4 pm on weekdays, and a two-week full intersection closure at the end of the month. (Emergency vehicles will still have access during this period.) Please plan for possible delays and adjust your trips accordingly. 

Visit the project website to learn more.

Property taxes are due October 31

Do you pay your property taxes directly, instead of through a mortgage lender? The deadline for the second half payment is Monday, October 31. Late fees will apply after that date. To review current amounts due, please use our safe and secure online eCommerce System.

There are several options available to make your payment.

► Pay online using our eCommerce system. While there, you can also sign up to receive text or email reminders about tax due dates.

► Pay by mail: King County Treasury Operations, 201 S. Jackson Street, Suite 710, Seattle, WA 98104.

► Pay in person: King County Customer Service Center, 201 S. Jackson Street, Second Floor (East Lobby), Seattle, WA 98104. Open 8:30 am – 4:30 pm weekdays.

► Pay via secure drop box, 201 S. Jackson Street, Seattle, WA 98104. Corner of Second Avenue nearer to S. Jackson Street, inside the security gates. Open 8:30 am – 4:30 pm weekdays. As a reminder, never leave cash in the drop box. 

Reminder: does your pet have “collar ID”?

A pet license tag from Regional Animal Services of King County provides identification that protects pets 24/7 if they get lost. It also helps fund King County's animal care and control program and supports the protection of people and pets in your community.

And it's the law—cats and dogs are legally required to be licensed in King County. RASKC (Regional Animal Services of King County) licenses pets in unincorporated areas of King County as well as 24 contracting cities.

Get your pet's Collar ID today at kingcounty.gov/LicenseMyPet or stop by any of the dozens of pet license partner locations throughout King County.

You're invited to a work party at Cemetery Pond on Saturday, October 28, from 9 am to 1 pm. Join the King County project team and other volunteers to remove invasive weeds and clean up part of this 13-acre wetland area. You can also get answers to some not-so-scary questions, like...

...How did Cemetery Pond wetland get its name?
...How does King County plan to improve water quality and water retention and restore habitat for the Cemetery Pond wetland and provide amenities?

Follow the King County event signs to the gathering spot at SE 128th St and 165th Avenue SE in Renton (see map).

Learn more about King County's project to restore and protect Cemetery Pond

Flooding is the most common natural disaster in King County. Even minor flooding can close roads and require costly cleanup and repairs. Here’s how you can prepare and keep yourself and your property safe this flood season.

► Learn your flood risk for where you live, work, or commute by entering any address at gov/FloodMap.

► Buy flood insurance. Standard homeowners or renters insurance doesn’t cover flood damage. Contact floodplain managers Laura Hendrix or Ken Zweig at 206-477-4727 with questions or visit floodsmart.gov to learn more and find an insurance agent.

► Build an emergency kit. Include a flashlight, radio, water, medical necessities, and supplies for children or pets.

► Move hazardous chemicals out of flood-prone areas or dispose of them at one of the County’s hazardous waste sites. This keeps chemicals that can harm people and the environment out of floodwater.

Clear storm drains and gutters of fallen leaves and other debris to prevent flooding.

► Before you build or make a repair in a flood-prone area, make sure you have the required permits. Getting the right permits makes our flood-prone areas less dangerous for people who live and work there.

Learn more about how you can prepare on the Keeping King County Green blog.

All plants burn, but some are more hazardous than others. Noxious weeds in King County contribute to fire danger. Plants that accumulate a lot of dry matter, have more oils, or climb into trees are all examples of what to watch for when trying to make your living space safer against fires.⁠

⁠Learn which species to watch for and more actions you can take to be fire wise around your home in this blog post.

Be prepared, not scared

For many of us, October is “spooky season” as we celebrate the start of autumn and look forward to Halloween. But did you know that October is also Earthquake Readiness and Flood Preparedness month in King County? While these potential hazards are very different, you prepare for either by taking some basic steps:

► Make an emergency plan with your family that includes how you will communicate and what you will do if you need to evacuate.

► Build an emergency kit to ensure that you have some essential supplies on hand, no matter what happens.

► Stay informed. Sign up for emergency alerts with Alert King County by visiting gov/alert.

For earthquake readiness, practice responding to an earthquake. Register to participate in the world’s biggest earthquake drill at ShakeOut.org/Washington and Drop, Cover, and Hold On at 10:19 a.m. on October 19.  

For flood preparedness, get to know your flood risk and learn how you can be ready for flood season at kingcounty.gov/FloodServices.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing behavioral health challenges or is in crisis.

Primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people, the course introduces common mental health challenges for youths, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.

Please note: Participants must complete a two-hour self-paced online training at least 48 hours before this instructor-led training. The link will be shared several days before the training via email.

When: Saturday, Oct. 21, 9 am - 3:30 pm

Where: Fall City Fire Department Community Room, 4301 334th Place SE, Fall City

Learn more and register

The Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council will hold its 25th Annual Model Train Show at Gracie Hansen Community Center in Ravensdale on Saturday and Sunday, October 21-22 from 10 am to 4 pm. Suggested donation (sorry, no credit cards) is: Adults—$5.00 and Children (age 3-11)—$2.00. There will be operating model trains, trains, and more trains featuring creative operating layouts in most gauges! Attendees can bring their own trains (Lionel / HO / other) to run on all our tracks (with approval of participating clubs).

The show is held in a full-sized gymnasium filled with many operating model trains and train-related items. Model train clubs from the Pacific Northwest make this a family-fun and very memorable event for all. Attendees can enjoy trains of most scales, including an entire village and trains made entirely of Legos. Wander around and enjoy the trains at your own pace. There also will be displays from the Black Diamond Museum depicting various aspects of our regional history.

—Submitted by Peter Rimbos, Corresponding Secretary, Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council