Washington RealEstateRama
County council approves Clark County Stormwater and Manual update
The Board of County Councilors unanimously approved the county’s stormwater and code manual update today during a scheduled consent agenda meeting.
Water quality panel offers volunteer opportunity
Acting County Manager Mark McCauley is seeking volunteers to serve on the county’s Clean Water Commission. Two positions are available, and terms run from January 2016 through January 2019.
Residents encouraged to comment on Bellevue’s draft water plan
The City of Bellevue invites residents to an open house on Nov. 19 to give input on the Draft Water System Plan, which describes how the city plans to meet water needs for the next 20 years. The open house will be held from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 450 110th Ave. NE, in Room 1E-113.
Cantwell Applauds Funding to Combat Homelessness Among Veterans
In Seattle, homeless veterans in urgent need of housing will be identified in partnership with the Veterans Administration for placement in ten designated VASH project-based voucher apartments at the Low Income Housing Institute’s McDermott Place, which currently serves 28 veterans.
Larsen Announces Grant To Address Homelessness Among Local Veterans
HASCO was established in 1971 to increase affordable housing in Snohomish County. HASCO is a long-time recipient of HUD-VASH grants, including a grant to house 12 veterans experiencing homelessness earlier this year. The 20 housing units funded with this new grant brings HASCO’s total number of HUD-VASH vouchers to 219.
Regional water supply conditions improve
The three cities thank their customers for helping the region stretch its water supplies to meet the needs of people and fish in this unprecedented year.
“As we move from the voluntary to advisory stage of our drought response plan, I want to acknowledge and thank the customers of Everett’s water system for meeting and exceeding the 10 percent reduction goal,” said Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson.
Murray praises passage of landmark housing legislation
“With this vote today, Seattle neighborhoods will become more sustainable, socially inclusive and economically diverse. For the first time, private developers will build or contribute to affordable housing with every new apartment building or office building
City Receives National Digital Inclusion Best Practices Award
Over the past 18 years, the Technology Matching Fund program has enabled 153 community organizations to build their capacity to provide technology and internet access, digital skills training, and electronic civic engagement. The majority of City funding for the program has been allocated from cable franchise fees, and has reinvested over $3.9 million in community based projects.
Cantwell Applauds Disaster Declaration for Washington Wildfires
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) issued the following statement after President Barack Obama announced a Major Disaster Declaration for the record-breaking wildland fires that affected communities across Washington state.
Contaminated soil spilled on ground at Duwamish Waterway facility
The penalty also cites the company for attempting to handle the shipment without proper planning or preparation. Soil in stormwater is a pollutant. The particles can harm habitat and injure the delicate breathing tissues in fish gills
Kilmer Calls on Key Federal Agencies to Use Innovative Building Materials at Construction Sites
U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) called on key agencies to increase their use of innovative building materials at federal construction sites. In a letter to the Secretaries of the Defense and Agriculture Departments, Kilmer asked for an update on report language he authored in an appropriations bill this year that directed the two agencies to work together to use materials such as Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) more frequently.
Inslee announces new path on water quality rule, continues work on broader toxics reduction...
Gov. Jay Inslee today announced he’s directing the state Department of Ecology to draft a new clean water rule that will preserve the state’s decision-making control over how to meet federal requirements. The Clean Water Act requires states to establish standards for how clean our waters need to be and to control pollution limits for businesses and municipalities that are permitted to discharge wastewater
Marion Street closure between Post Avenue and Western Avenue for water main replacement
Marion Street will be closed to through traffic between Post Avenue and Western Avenue from Saturday, October 10 at 6:00 a.m. to Monday, October 12 at 5:00 a.m. Work will occur 24 hours per day over the weekend. Local access will be provided. Detours are available eastbound at Spring Street and westbound at Yesler Way. Traffic may be stopped or detoured intermittently to accommodate the work.
Court cancels water right permit for city of Yelm
The Washington Supreme Court has reversed Ecology’s decision to issue a water right permit to the city of Yelm to meet community water needs anticipated from future growth. In a 6-3 decision issued today in Foster vs. Ecology the court determined Ecology erred in approving the permit because it will impair minimum stream flows in the Deschutes and Nisqually basins.
Region continues to meet 10 percent water reduction goal
Fall has arrived, but consistent fall rains have not. Everett, Seattle and Tacoma remain in the second stage of their drought response plans. The water systems rely on fall rains to fill the reservoirs so there is enough water for people and fish. Customers in the region have reduced their use over the past eight weeks by a total of 14 percent. The cities are asking their customers to continue to reduce their water use
Lynden, Washington Landowner to Restore Wetlands to Settle Clean Water Act Violation
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Justice have reached an agreement with Suellyn Rader Blymyer and Uptrail Group, LLC, for violations of the Clean Water Act in Whatcom County, Washington.
Murray proposes increased funding for body cameras, new office for integrated planning, homelessness prevention
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray today presented to the City Council a proposed budget for 2016 that increases City investments to improve city planning and manage construction impacts, funds a mobile City Hall to bring services to more residents, reprioritizes human services to address homelessness, and provides funding for body-worn cameras for every police officer on patrol.
Murray praises expansion of Multifamily Tax Exemption
Mayor Ed Murray issued the following statement following the Seattle City Council’s passage of affordable housing legislation (CB 118505) that renews and expands the Multifamily Tax Exemption program:
Walla Walla approved to store drinking water underground
The city of Walla Walla is ensuring its community has a secure public water supply and fish are protected by storing drinking water in nearby basalt aquifers for later use. The city is reducing its need to take surface water from Mill Creek during critical summer months when fish need cool, clean water for survival.
Burgess Statement on Council Vote to Approve Local Control for Rental Housing
Council voted today to support efforts by the State Legislature to allow local governments to increase the supply of rent-restricted units and protect tenants from sudden and dramatic rent increases, without causing a negative impact on the quality or quantity of housing supply
