Summary

King County Executive Dow Constantine today proposed the boundaries for seven new Community Service Areas that together cover all of unincorporated King County, as part of his reform measures to strengthen the access of residents to their County government.

Story

Executive proposes boundaries for seven new Community Service Areas for better engagement with residents

New program reforms County’s outreach and engagement for rural and urban unincorporated areas

King County Executive Dow Constantine today proposed the boundaries for seven new Community Service Areas that together cover all of unincorporated King County, as part of his reform measures to strengthen the access of residents to their County government.

“These new Community Service Areas will provide a vehicle and a point of contact for residents to talk to County staff about the things they care about, like public health and public safety,” said Executive Constantine.

The ordinance proposed today to the King County Council calls for creation of seven Community Service Areas that reflect distinct communities of interest, with boundaries that were developed after extensive outreach and engagement with community stakeholders. The seven proposed CSAs take into consideration demographics, natural features, and existing political, administrative and community boundaries:

• Bear Creek/Sammamish – Includes unincorporated areas near Woodinville and in the Sammamish valley.
• Snoqualmie Valley/Northeast King County – Ranges north to the Snohomish County border and entails Agriculture and Forest Production Districts.
• Four Creeks/Tiger Mountain – Bordered on the north by Issaquah and I-90 and to the west by Renton. 
• Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River – Extends from Renton to King County’s eastern border and bracketed by I-90 to the north and the watershed to the south.
• Southeast King County – Bordered to the south by Pierce County, the north by the watershed, and the west by Auburn, Maple Valley and Covington.   
• Vashon/Maury Island – Bounded by and located in Puget Sound.
• West King County – Comprises the remaining urban unincorporated potential annexation areas located throughout West King County, including North Highline, West Hill, East Federal Way, Fairwood, East Renton and Klahanie.  

Under the Executive’s proposed ordinance, the County would host public meetings at least once each year within each of the seven CSAs in collaboration with the County Councilmember representing that area. Interbranch teams would develop an annual work program for each CSA and identify a single point of contact for projects in each CSA.

The reform would harness the work of County employees who already have good connections with residents in the unincorporated areas. County departments are preparing work plans and initiatives specific to each CSA and will share them this fall in a series of community meetings. The first presentation was made on Vashon-Maury Island this spring.

“Community members throughout King County have sought more engagement in the work the County is undertaking,” said Alan Painter, Manager of the Community Services Area Program. “This initiative will help shed more light on the services under way and provide opportunities to have a say in what is coming down the road.”

A companion ordinance also proposed today would amend several sections of the King County Code to change or remove references to the participation of unincorporated area councils on various County advisory bodies – to help ensure representation by unincorporated area residents without limiting it to specific organizations, and to expand the pool of residents who can engage in County volunteer opportunities.

The CSA program will enable the County to engage with community-based organizations and provide regular opportunities for those organizations – and all residents outside of those organizations - to meet with King County elected officials and senior management.

The Executive next week will announce details of an opportunity for community organizations in each CSA to apply for grants up to $5,000 to promote the engagement of local residents in community or civic activities. 

For more information, contact Alan Painter, Community Services Area Program Manager at 206 296-8734 or alan.painter@kingcounty.gov