Dear District 3 friends,

This month, I am excited to celebrate the landscape and natural heritage of District 3 and District 9 with the conservation of 7,000 acres of natural area in the Raging River watershed. King County’s Conservation Futures Fund was combined with state funding to purchase a conservation easement on 4,000 acres of the state-owned property that includes forests, historic sites, lakes, campgrounds, trails and the headwaters of the Raging River. The most efficient and important flood storage system is in all of our forests, which operate as sponges to soak up stormwater. Preserving this corridor and this forest will help limit flooding for future generations. This agreement involved 15 years of work on a partnership agreement by the Mountains to Sound Greenway, the state Department of Natural Resources, the Cascade Land Conservancy and King County. Read more at www.kingcounty.gov/council/news/2009/May/ragingriver.aspx.

Help for building permits

Property owners and builders in unincorporated King County who are struggling with financing during the economic recession will get help with building permits this year. This week, the King County Council adopted a measure that temporarily extends the validity of preliminary approvals for plats and short plats to seven years from the previous five-year limit. The measure also adds an option for a third extension for building permits where substantial work has not yet begun. The extension will allow builders to quickly restart projects as soon as the economy improves, without having to reapply for permits. This option keeps future development costs down, and that translates into savings for homebuyers as well. This is a common-sense, no-cost way for King County to stimulate restoration of construction jobs and production of affordable housing.

In addition, the King County Department of Development and Environmental Services introduced an eReview process last month to help reduce the cost of preparing residential building permit applications. Following a successful pilot project, electronic review of all single-family residential permit applications now is available and replaces the requirement for submitting two paper copies of building plans. More information is available at www.kingcounty.gov/property/permits.

Permit fee amnesty extended through June 30

King County’s Department of Development and Environmental Services is extending a temporary fee amnesty program until June 30 for any unpermitted construction, clearing or grading activity. Property owners can file a retroactive application and engage the permit review process at the same standard permit fee rate, rather than the customary double rate for building activity conducted without a permit. An application must be filed by June 30, 2009, for any unpermitted activity that occurred prior to Oct. 1, 2008, in order to be eligible for the fee amnesty program. More information about the amnesty program is available at www.kingcounty.gov/property/permits.aspx, click on Hot Topics, or call (206) 296-6713.

Green Globe Awards

In honor of Earth Day on April 22, I was pleased to present environmental leadership awards to three Eastside efforts at the 2009 Green Globe Awards from the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks. The Green Globe Award is King County’s highest honor for businesses, organizations and individuals who have participated in one or more of DNRPs programs. Award winners are considered the “best of the best,” and awards are bestowed only every two years. The awards included:

•           Issaquah School District – Leader in Green Schools.

•           City of Issaquah – Leader in Land Preservation.

•           Ducks Unlimited – Leader in Beneficial Use of Reclaimed Water.

 Read more at www.kingcounty.gov/council/news/2009/April/KL_greenglobes.aspx.

Pet license discount for seniors

If you are 65 years of age or older and if your pet is spayed/neutered, you are eligible for a discounted senior citizen pet license, good for the lifetime of your pet. The one-time senior citizen rate is $20 for dogs and $12 for cats. More information is available at www.kingcounty.gov/safety/animalservices/licensing or call (206) 296-PETS.

Energy saving tip

Electronics such as TVs, DVD players, computers, chargers for phones and MP3 players and other appliances with clocks or timers or remote controls draw power even when they’re turned off. This “phantom loading” is responsible for as much as 6 percent of residential electricity consumption. To save energy and money, unplug electronics and chargers when you aren’t using them, or use a power strip to shut them down.

New postal rates

Here is a reminder that new U.S. Postal rates took effect May 11, 2009. The cost of a stamp for first-class mail is now 44 cents, up from 42 cents, for a one-ounce letter. Two-ounce mail now requires 61 cents postage, and postcards are 28 cents. More information about postal rates is available at www.usps.com.

King County Council and committee meetings can be viewed on King County TV, Cable Channel 22, or by online streaming video at www.kingcounty.gov/council where you can also stay informed and get agendas and minutes.

Sincerely,

Kathy Lambert