Weekly Report – January 14, 2022

City Council Organization Approved

At its January 11th meeting, the City Council made its regional committee assignments. Regional committees are important to the city because they help us come together with our neighbors, find common ground, identify opportunities and challenges, advocate, and work for the benefit of the community. In many cases, the city has entered into an interlocal agreement that defines the scope of the committee.

I wanted to take this opportunity to give you more insight into each of these groups and let you know who has been appointed to be the representative for Normandy Park.

Highline Forum – The Highline Forum provides Southwest King County municipalities, educational governing bodies, and the Port of Seattle with the opportunity to come together and share information, and work in partnership on initiatives that benefit the residents of Southwest King County. The city’s representative to the Highline Forum is Councilmember Michelle Sipes-Marvin. The alternate is Mayor Sue-Ann Hohimer.

• Metro Solid Waste Management Advisory Committee (MSWMAC) – King County Code 10.25.110 established the MSWMAC. The MSWMAC advises the King County Executive, the Regional Policy Committee, and the King County Council in all matters relating to solid waste management. The city’s representative to the MSWMAC is Councilmember Earnest Thompson.
• Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) – PSRC develops policies and coordinates decisions about regional growth, transportation, and economic development planning within King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap counties. PSRC is composed of nearly 100 members, including the four counties, cities and towns, ports, state and local transportation agencies, and Tribal governments within the region. The city’s representative to PSRC is Councilmember Earnest Thompson. The alternate is Mayor Sue-Ann Hohimer.
• Sound Cities Association Public Issues Committee (SCA PIC) – The Sound Cities Association (SCA) is a regional committee comprising of 38 cities here in King County. The SCA Public Issues Committee (PIC) was established as a standing committee by SCA to review and evaluate policy positions and recommend to the Board what, if any, action should be taken on such policy positions. The city’s representative to the SCA Public Issues Committee is Mayor Sue-Ann Hohimer. The alternate is Councilmember Eric Zimmerman.
• South King County Transportation Board (SCATBd) – This group was initially formed in the late 1980s to identify and promote transportation improvements in South King County. Originally consisting of four member cities and King County, this formation expanded in 1992 to include 14 cities. Since 1992, SCATBd has provided valuable input to the development of the King County Metro Transit Six-Year Plan and elements of the Regional Transit Authority (RTA). The city’s representative to SCATBd is City Manager Amy Arrington.
• South King Housing and Homelessness Partners (SKKHHP) – SKHHP is a joint board formed by an interlocal agreement between the jurisdictions of Auburn, Burien, Covington, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Normandy Park, Renton, Tukwila, and King County. Through SKHHP, South King County jurisdictions can take a coordinated and comprehensive approach to increase housing stability and produce and preserve quality affordable housing in South King County. Representation to SKKHHP will be shared by Councilmember Earnest Thompson and Councilmember Eric Zimmerman.
• Southside Alliance – The Soundside Alliance for Economic Development is a partnership of five Seattle area cities (Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, SeaTac, and Tukwila), the Port of Seattle, Highline College, and the Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce. As a collective, the group works to promote Southwest King County as a singular destination for businesses of all shapes and sizes, for economic growth, and prosperity. Representation to the Southside Alliance will be shared by Deputy Mayor Susan West and Councilmember Eric Zimmerman. The alternate is Mayor Sue-Ann Hohimer.
• Water Resource Inventory Area 9 (WRIA 9) – Seventeen local jurisdictions in the Green/Duwamish and Central Puget Sound Watershed or Water Resource Inventory Area 9 (WRIA 9) are partnering through an Interlocal Agreement to coordinate the implementation of the Salmon Habitat Plan(WRIA 9 Plan). The city’s representative to WRIA 9 is Councilmember Earnest Thompson.
• K4C – King County-Cities Climate Collaboration, or the K4C, is a partnership of local governments of all sizes working together to accelerate climate action. Knowledge, resources, and advocacy power are combined to shape policy and programs that cut harmful greenhouse gas emissions to our region. The city’s representative to K4C is Mayor Sue-Ann Hohimer.
• Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) – The CFAC is a Highline School District Committee that develops recommendations for a long-term capital facilities plan. The CFAC will study facilities’ needs, review data and develop a plan designed to meet the needs of students over the next 20 years. The city’s representative to CFAC is Councilmember Michelle Sipes-Marvin.

If you want to learn more about any of these groups, they all have websites that provide additional information.

2020 Census

We want to continue sharing more data with you from the 2020 Census data release. Click this link to read about this week’s topic: Normandy Park’s employment rate.

Review Census data

Join the Tilth Alliance’s Soil and Water Stewardship program.

The Soil and Water Stewardship program offers comprehensive, nine-month training in sustainable food production and environmental stewardship for King County residents. Participants apply what they learn in their own community through hands-on projects like building garden beds, installing rain gardens, and creating habitats for wildlife and pollinators. Soil and Water Stewards meet one weekend a month. In 2022, this includes both virtual training through Zoom and outdoor, hands-on volunteer projects, following public health safety guidelines. These projects will take place at the Rainier Beach Farm in Seattle, McAuliffe Park in Kirkland, and many other community sites in King County.  If interested, click this link for more information.

If you have any questions about these or other topics, please contact me at aarington@normandyparkwa.gov.  Have a great week!

“Review information regarding Normandy Park’s employment rate”