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Local Services
Members of the public are invited to meet with King County planners in the Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River area
The Department of Local Services is hosting a series of community conversations to help develop the Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River Subarea Plan. Residents and other community members can come to any or all of these in-person Wednesday meetings, which will be held at the Hobart Community Church from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the dates below.
► February 19 – Equity, vision, and principles
► March 5 – Environment, parks, open space, and cultural resources
► March 19 – Economic development, housing, and human services
► April 2 – Land use, zoning, services, and utilities
► April 16 – Transportation
Learn more about this subarea planning process on the Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River Subarea Plan community engagement site.
Road Services
Will your route be clear if it snows?
When snow falls in King County, Road Services crews swing into action, working hard to plow and salt county roads. But with 583 miles of designated snow routes to maintain, they have to make choices about where to clear first.
Their main goal during snow and ice events is to keep the most vital roads in unincorporated King County open and safe for everyone. These include major roads and arterials, bus routes, roads that serve densely populated areas or connect communities, and roads that serve hospitals, fire stations, and emergency services. It may take three days or more just to plow all of these priority areas, depending on the weather and conditions—so if your route includes lower-priority roads, you might want to stay home and avoid driving for a few days during a big snowstorm.
You can view or download a map of snow routes to see the different priority categorizations of various roads, or visit the winter weather website for interactive maps, videos, and information on how to prepare for bad weather.
Emergency road plowing: If you have an urgent emergency and your road hasn't been cleared, call 9-1-1. Road Services works with first responders to clear roads outside the usual priority routes when needed.
As always, if you see a problem on a King County road, contact the Road Services 24/7 Helpline at 206-477-8100.
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Natural Resources and Parks
There's still time to share your thoughts on the future Skyway Community Center
If you missed the January 27 meeting with King County Parks about the planning and design of a new community center for Skyway-West Hill, you can still visit the project website to learn more—and provide input by taking the survey linked below.
► Visit the website
► Take the survey (open until February 10)
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Emergency preparedness
Financial assistance is available for those severely impacted by the November bomb cyclone
 High winds caused severe damage throughout the Puget Sound Region last November.
Through its Individual Assistance program, Washington State is offering financial assistance to eligible individuals and families severely impacted by the November bomb cyclone and windstorm. If your primary home had major damage or was destroyed, you may qualify for financial assistance if your household earns below the 80% median income for the area. The program can provide reimbursement for extended sheltering, home repairs, and certain other unmet needs caused by the disaster.
If your home or business was damaged between November 17 and 25 due to the storm, you may qualify for a U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience low-interest loan. These loans cover disaster losses not fully covered by insurance or other sources. Residents, businesses, or private nonprofits with damages can get additional disaster assistance information and apply directly online at SBA.gov/disaster.
Get more information about various resources for those impacted by storm damage, including about property tax relief if your property was damaged, on King County’s Emergency News blog.
Public Health
Schedule mobile health services with Care-a-Van
Did you know that organizations can request free mobile health services with the Washington State Department of Health’s Care-a-Van? Care-a-Van serves people across the state and offers COVID-19, flu, and mpox vaccines as well as childhood vaccines, blood pressure screenings, blood glucose screenings, naloxone, and community-based care coordination.
Care-a-Van has availability beginning in February. Organizations can submit a request or visit the Washington State Department of Health website to learn more.
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Public Health food safety rating system is expanding
Public Health’s food rating system—the (mostly) green emojis you might have noticed in restaurant windows—is expanding to include more food businesses. Starting this year, mobile food vendors (like food trucks and carts), bakeries, meat and fish vendors, and catering companies will receive food rating system signs. These businesses already are inspected to make sure they’re following food safety rules, but before now have not received signs to post.
Public Health made this change so people in King County can more easily get food safety information about local businesses. This also makes it easier to recognize if a vendor has a food business permit from Public Health. You will see temporary signs at businesses until each business has its first inspection in 2025 and receives its regular sign.
Learn more on the Public Health Insider blog
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Animal services
Pet Food Pantry event set for February 22; more donations needed
Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) will host a series of staffed Pet Food Pantry events on the last Saturday of each month. The first will be on February 22, from 9 a.m. to noon at the RASKC shelter (21615 64th Avenue S in Kent).
A $7,500 grant from QFC will help stock the shelter’s pet food pantry for each event with a consistent and predictable supply of dog and cat food for pet owners needing assistance. If you have pet food you would like to donate, please drop it off at the shelter Monday-Friday between noon and 6 p.m. or Saturday-Sunday between noon and 5 p.m.
If the Kent shelter isn’t convenient for you, you can donate or find wish lists on the RASKC website. Or you can contact RASKC Pet Licensing at [email protected] or 206‑296‑2712.
Learn more about...
► RASKC pet assistance program
► Ways to donate
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Washington State University Extension
Upcoming learning opportunities for King County forest and woodland owners
Puget Sound Forest Owners Winter School – March 8 in Auburn. Designed to let you attend multiple forest stewardship workshops all on the same day, the Winter School will help you address challenges on your property, restore healthy forest conditions, and achieve your goals. Whether you are new to forest stewardship or your family has owned land for generations, there is something new for everyone to learn. Cost: $20 per individual or $30 per couple. Pre-registration is required.
Vashon Forest Stewardship Coached Planning course – starts April 14. Learn everything you need to know about caring for your forest, including how to write your own personalized forest stewardship plan that could help otherwise qualifying landowners save money on property taxes through King County's PBRS program. Participants will receive a site visit to their property by a service forester. Cost: $175. Pre-registration is required.
Reminders
Rural Area news
Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River Subarea Plan
On January 22 the Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council subject matter committees (Environment, Growth Management, and Transportation) held meetings to discuss preparation for various chapters of the Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River Community Service Area Subarea Plan. King County Local Services Planners provided key expertise, maps, data, etc. On February 3, the council’s Economic Development Committee will meet (just before the council's February Monthly Meeting), also with support from county planners.
—Submitted by Peter Rimbos, Coordinator, Joint Rural Team
:: Community Alliance to Reach Out and Engage
Lord of Life Lutheran Church
12819 160th Avenue SE, Renton
See blog for the latest information and to confirm meetings.
:: Enumclaw Plateau Community Association
Third Tuesdays at 6 p.m.
Muckleshoot Library (King County Library branch)
39917 Auburn Enumclaw Road SE, Auburn
Monthly board meetings are open to the public, and often feature guest speakers in addition to community reports and information from a variety of local organizations. For more information email Nancy Merrill.
:: Fall City Community Association
First Tuesdays – Hybrid meeting (virtual and in-person, 7-8:30 p.m.)
Fall City Fire Department meeting room
4301 334th Place SE, Fall City
The Fall City Community Association promotes building of community, proactively communicates on local issues, and takes action on selected issues that affect the Fall City community. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month, and are open to the public. For more information, visit fallcity.org or email send email.
:: Four Creeks Unincorporated Area Council
Second Tuesdays – Virtual meeting via Zoom
Visit the website for the latest information and to confirm meeting dates and locations.
:: Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council
Monday, February 3, 7-9:30 p.m. – in person or via Zoom
Maple Valley Fire Station
22225 SE 231st Street (across from King County Sheriff’s Precinct #3)
Guest speaker will be Terry Lavender to discuss the Critical Area Ordinance update, part of the 2024 King County Comprehensive Plan Major Update. Visit the website for meeting agendas and Zoom information, which are posted a few days before each meeting.
:: Green Valley/Lake Holm Association
The Green Valley/Lake Holm Association advocates for those who live in unincorporated southeast King County. Primary goals are to maintain the community’s unique historic, agricultural, and rural character; protect the environment; and sustain quality of life in the area. They engage regularly with local government agencies to address concerns and influence policies on topics of mutual interest, such as growth and development, transportation, public safety, and flood control. Stay connected by visiting their Facebook page.
:: North Highline Unincorporated Area Council
Monthly board meetings are open to the public and often feature guest speakers in addition to community reports and information from local organizations. For more information, email Liz Giba.
:: Skyway Business Collective
The Skyway Business Collective aims to drive economic growth for entrepreneurs and small business owners living or working in Skyway, and to create a supportive and inclusive space for small businesses to grow, connect, and thrive through free professional services tailored to the business's needs. Learn more at www.skywaybusinesscollective.org
:: Skyway Coalition
See the coalition's website.
:: Upper Bear Creek Community Council
For information about the council, email Patricia Gustafson or visit the Facebook page and/or website. (Note: both the Facebook page and the website are currently being updated.)
:: Vashon Chamber of Commerce
Send email or visit the website.
:: Vashon-Maury Community Council
Meetings are open to all and are held on the third Thursday of each month, both online and in-person. Topics include affordable housing, ferries, election candidates, transportation, aviation noise, and more. The council sets up committees and passes resolutions to King County and other organizations as needed. Voting membership is free and open to residents 18 and older. To learn more, visit the website.
:: West Hill Community Association
Meetings are in person or via Zoom
Skyway Fire District 20 Admin Building
12424 76th Avenue S, Seattle
Monthly board meetings are open to the public, and often feature guest speakers in addition to community reports and information from a variety of local organizations. For more information, send email or visit the website.
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