Weekly Report – November 17, 2023

City Council Meeting Roundup

On Tuesday, November 14^th, the City Council had its regular monthly meeting. Here are the meeting highlights.

• Senator Karen Keiser gave the City Council a pre-session legislative update. We heard about Senator Keiser’s priorities, and the City Council had the opportunity to discuss the upcoming legislative session.
• Normandy Park Preschool Director Diane Brissenden gave a presentation regarding the preschool program.
• The City Council set the property tax levy for 2024. The new rate will be 1.56748 vs the 1.6000 rate used in 2023. What does this rate mean? For every $1,000 of assessed value of your home, you will pay $1.57. Remember to use the assessed value established by the King County Assessor’s Office and not market value (i.e., Zillow, Redfin) when calculating your property taxes.
• First reading was held on an ordinance that will amend the 2023-2024 budget. Budgets are financial plans, and there will always be certain transactions unknown at the time when the budget was adopted. Because of this, local governments are required to review and amend the budget as needed every year. Most of our current changes are standard and do not create any significant fiscal impacts. This ordinance’s second and final reading will be held on December 12^th.
• Resident Raymond Street was reappointed to the Arts Commission.
• The City Council ratified the King County Countywide Planning Policies (CPPs). For background, CPPs are the shared and consistent framework for growth management planning for all jurisdictions in King County (RCW 36.70A.215.) They inform how local comprehensive plans are to be developed and implement a methodology to increase housing. Amendments to the CPPs become effective when ratified by at least 30% of the city and county governments representing at least 70% of the population of King County.
• Normandy Park’s 2024 Legislative Agenda was adopted by the City Council. Working with other legislative bodies and expressing the city’s priorities helps move the city’s goals forward. Therefore, the City Council approves a Legislative Agenda each year to define its priorities for the upcoming year. The focus of the 2024 legislative Agenda is on Public Safety, Behavioral Health Resources, the Environment, Transportation, and revision of the Property Tax Cap.

If you want to learn more about these items, I encourage you to watch the meeting recording.

Toys for Tots

This year, the Police Department and City Staff are participating in the United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots toy drive. Collections of new unwrapped toys will be collected at City Hall until Thursday, November 30^th. A great way to ensure kids in King County have a Happy Holidays!

Holiday Decoration Swap

Waste Management, the Friends of Normandy Park Foundation, and the City of Normandy Park present the Holiday Decoration Swap! Bring new or gently used holiday decorations to City Hall before Winterfest (Saturday, December 2) or to Waste Management’s booth during Winterfest on the 2nd.

At Waste Management’s booth, you can take a decoration, leave a decoration, and get answers to all your recycling and composting questions!

If you have any questions, please get in touch with me at aarrington@normandyparkwa.gov. Have a great week!

“This year, the Police Department and City Staff are participating in the United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots toy drive. Collections of new unwrapped toys…”