Below are a list of current activities, meeting and hearings as advertised on KSER 90.7 FM each Monday morning at 8:45 a.m.  This list is updated every week, so visit this site for the latest information.

Save the Dates

Feast with Friends Fundraiser

Thursday, August 27, 2009
6:30 to 9 p.m.
Angel Arms Works Art Studio
(home of Karen Guzak & Warner Blake)

To benefit Futurewise and Pilchuck Audubon Society.  More details soon.

FREE Livable Snohomish County Summit and Snohomish County Council Candidate Forum

Saturday, October 10, 2009 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with lunch provided, Snohomish County PUD in Everett.

Farmers Markets

For a list of Snohomish County Farmers Markets, visit the website http://http://www.pugetsoundfresh.org/farmers_markets.htm

Smith Island Restoration Project

UPDATE:  Snohomish County Public Works recently issued a Determination of Non-Significance (DNS) for its Smith Island Restoration Project (see below), that will allow for mulitple uses of several hundred acres of land located in the Snohomish River Estuary. 

The DNS for this project was originally issued on May 9, 2009.  Snohomish County Public Works has made the decision to withdraw the DNS follwoing comments received from citizens, organizations and agencies.  A Determination of Significance (DS) will be issued and an Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared to analyze the environmental impacts of several alternative dike alignments in greater depth, including a preferred dike alignment. 

The public is invited to provide written comments to the County regarding areas of discussion, alternatives, and other matters realted to the project no later than July 20, 2009.  Comments received during the prior public comment period for the SEPA environmental checklist are already being considered.

You can send you comments to:

Julie Highton, Senior Environmental Planner
Snohomish County Public Works
Transportation and Engineering Services
3000 Rockefeller Street, M/S 607
Everett, WA  98201

or by email:  julie.highton@snoco.org.

The proposed project site is located on the northeast portion of Smith Island within the Snohomish River estuary near the City of Everett. It is bounded by Union Slough to the east and north, Interstate 5 to the west, and Everett’s wastewater treatment plant to the south. The site consists of approximately 486 acres of publicly and privately owned land.
   
The County is conducting a phased, expanded checklist approach for this project to comply with State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) requirements. The phased approach allows for multiple opportunities for the public and interested stakeholders to communicate their interests and concerns to the County related to any particular component or element of the project, including the different proposed project alternatives.

For additional information, contact Craig Garric - Project Manager, at 425-388-3464.
 
Restoring historic tidal marsh conditions to help salmon recovery will involve constructing a new dike further west on the site and breaching the existing dike along Union Slough.

The fundamental purpose of the Smith Island Restoration Project is to restore estuarine tidal marshlands that provide critical habitat for Chinook and other salmon species in the Snohomish River basin. By constructing a new setback dike further to the west and removing large sections of the existing dike along Union Slough, the restoration project will contribute significantly toward achieving salmon recovery benchmarks identified in the Snohomish River Basin Salmon Conservation Plan.

Additionally, the restoration of several hundred acres of natural tidal marshlands may provide compensatory mitigation for wetland impacts associated with a state highway project, a railroad project, and possibly other construction activities taking place in the Snohomish River estuary.

City of Lake Stevens Southwest UGA Annexation Open Houses

Over the next several weeks, the City of Lake Stevens will be hosting public meetings regarding the Southwest Annexation that will be going to the voters in that area in November.

These meetings will help citizens identify how annexation will affect them and their families and what will not change whether the annexation vote is passed or not.

Currently the city has a population of 14,500 and if the southwest annexation goes through the population will grow to 25,000 people and will include over nine square miles of land.

Meetings will take place on the second Tuesday of each month (except in July) and will be held at 6:30 p.m.

During Aquafest in July you can visit the City Booth for any questions or information you may need regarding the annexation.

August 11 at the Community Center in downtown Lake Stevens.

September 8 at Cavelero Mid High School. The last meeting will take place on Oct. 13, again at Cavelero Mid High School.

City staff and Council Members are available to meet with small groups such as a Home Owners Association meeting. To schedule please call the Community Programs Planner at 425-212-3315 or via email at dswift@ci.lake-stevens.wa.us.

Additional information available online at the City website http://www.ci.lake-stevens.wa.us.

City of Lake Stevens Special Meeting

The City of Lake Stevens city council is having a special meeting and workshop on Monday, June 29th, regarding an Interlocal Agreement with Snohomish County regarding coordination of 20th Street SE improvements.  The meeting is at 7 p.m. in the Lake Stevens School District Educational Services Center (Admin. Bldg.)
12309 22nd Street NE, Lake Stevens

Green Drinks In Everett

The next Green Drinks will be Wednesday, July 8th from 5 to 7 p.m. hosted by Lowell Art Works in the Historic SoLo District of Everett, and sponsored by Everett Shorelines Coalition.

Everett Shorelines Coalition (ESC) would like all to help celebrate nearly 10 years of appeals, negotiations, endless conversations, fundraisers and accomplishments with the adoption of the city's Marshland Sub-Area Plan.

For more infomration, visit the Green Drinks website at http://www.greendrinks.org
Let’s raise a toast to the planet while we figure out ways to NOT toast the planet!

Never Heard of GreenDrinks?   
It began in Europe and now sustainability people in over 342 cities all over the globe meet monthly for libations.  It is a lively mixture of people from non-profits, academia, government and business and is a great way of catching up with folks you know and for making new contacts.   Greendrinks is simple, unstructured and rather organic.  People have found jobs, developed new ideas, done deals and had epiphanies at Greendrinks.
 
Check out all the ways to have Greendrinks at
http://www.greendrinks.org. 

And visit their new blog at:
http://greendrinkssnoco.blogspot.com

Snohomish County Unified Development Code Workshops

Snohomish County Planning and Development Service staff will be conducting monthly workshops every first Thursday of the month on the first floor of the County Administration Building at 9 a.m. and then again at 6 p.m. for for presentations and public comments and questions on changes to the Unified Development Code.  The Administration Building is located at 3000 Rockefeller Street in Everett.

The next UDC workshop is Thursday, July 9th.  The topic will be the Stormwater Regulation

Background:

Planning and Development Services and the Department of Public Works will give a briefing at the July 9, 2009, UDC Forum on the proposed update of the County’s stormwater regulations. The briefing will include an overview the status of the Washington State Department of Ecology’s (Ecology) review of proposed updates to the County’s stormwater regulations, tentative project schedules, a review of the stormwater regulations and their impact, and a presentation on several key discretionary code provisions.

The proposed updates to the County’s stormwater regulations are intended to regulate stormwater discharges from all new development and redevelopment to prevent and control adverse impacts of drainage and stormwater on the public health, safety, and general welfare.  They regulate drainage and land-disturbing activities including clearing, grading, filling and excavating. The proposed stormwater regulations also contribute to public safety by reducing soil erosion, slope instability and landslides. They will provide for sound, practical and economical development practices and construction procedures which prevent or minimize impacts to the county's waters and preserve or maintain water quality for aquatic habitats, recreation, and drinking water.

For more background information on this topic, visit the UDC Update Project web pages at http://www.snoco.org. Additional information is linked to the July 9 listing on the 2009 Monthly Public Forums Meeting Schedule.
 

For more information or to sign up for monthly or quarterly e-mail notices and news about specific issues pertaining to the Update Project, visit the UDC Update web page or call the UDC Planning and Development reception at 425-388-3311 ext. 2203 to be directed to a project team member.

Snohomish County Council Public Meetings and Hearings

Wednesday, July 1 is a 10:30 a.m. Public Hearing.  Council will receive public testimony relating to the Snohomish Conservation District Assessment proposal.

Wednesday, July 8 at 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. Public Hearing on Docket XIII, which includes Fully Contained Communities elimination or code changes.

For more information on all of these public hearings, visit the council's long-term calendar website at 
http://http://www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Council/About/Meeting_Calendar/long_term_calendar.htm

NEW!!!!  All County Council meetings and hearings are now available for viewing on the web.  To log on, visit http://www.snoco.org and search for "Council Webcasts."

All Wednesdays starting at 9 a.m. are the Council's General Legislative Session.  There is public comment time during this session.

Snohomish County Planning Commission Public Hearing

All monthly meetings meet on the 4th Tuesday of each month in the First Floor Meeting Room of the County Administration Building East, 3000 Rockefeller Street in Everett.

For more information and to review staff reports and other information, visit http://www.snoco.org
and type in Planning Commission in the Search Box and click on PC web page and then agendas.

Snohomish County Agricultural Board

For more information, contact Tom Niemann at 425-388-3311, ext. 2214.

Snohomish County Ag Sustainability Project Workshop

Does Snohomish County farming have a future?  The public is invited to envision the future of agriculture. The project is a community-based initiative created to enhance and strengthen the County's agricultural economy as well as preserve local farmlands.

For more information, contact Linda Neunzig, Agriculture Project Coordinator, Office of Economic Development, 425-388-7170 or by e-mail at linda.neunzig@co.snohomish.wa.us.

Sustainable Development Task Force of Snohomish County (SDTF) Events

"The Good Taste of Sustainability" is an afternoon event planned for Friday, July 10 from 12:30 to 4 p.m. at the Snoqualmie Gourmet Ice Cream store, located at 21106 86th Avenue in Snohomish.  For directions visit the store's website at http://www.snoqualmiegourmet.com

The agenda includes presentations by Executive aaron Reardon, Puget Sound Partnership and exhibit booths from a variety of organizations and businesses.  There will be live music by May Palmer Queen of Ivory Sould from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and tours of the ice cream store from 2 to 4 p.m., as well as networking opportunities.  On-going demonstrations on pervious concrete, worm bins, solar will also be held.

For more information and directions, visit the SDTF website at http://http://www.sustainablesnohomishcounty.org/

The Sustainable Development Task Force of Snohomish County offers:
•    Professional technical assistance
•    Educational presentations
•    Code/ordinance review
•    Guidance through the permitting process
The Sustainable Development Task Force is available to help you with your green site development or your green building project. We can also help with your technical presentation.

Click Here for more information, or to contact the Task Force at their website.

Rural Lands Planning Project

For more information, call Mary Hurner at 425-388-3258 or
Click Here to visit the county's website.

Green Ribbon Climate Task Force Monthly Meetings

The final report of recommendations is now available on line.  To access the report, click here. 

Community Transit

For more information, contact Community Transit at:

(425) 353-RIDE (7433)
(800) 562-1375
TTY Relay: Dial 711
riders@commtrans.org

Community Transit operates 33 local bus routes, 31 commuter routes and DART paratransit service throughout Snohomish County. It also offers carpool matching, one of the nation’s largest vanpool programs and offers transit instruction to disabled and senior citizens. Call Community Transit at (425) 353-RIDE or (800) 562-1375 for bus information, or (888) 814-1300 for carpool or vanpool information, or go to http://www.communitytransit.org.
Transit’s next Citizens’ Advisory Committee meetings are held every third Wednesday of the month in different locations in the Community Transit service areas.  These meetings provide information to the public about what is going on with Community Transit and for the public to talk about the issues as well. 
 

Community Transit Rapid Bus Service Information Meeting

Community Transit will begin service on Swift - the Puget Sound region's first Bus Rapid Transit line - in late 2009. Construction on the 24 Swift stations will begin soon along Hwy. 99 - Evergreen - Rucker - Pacific Ave.

Everett Transit is working to design a new terminal at Everett Station to serve the Swift Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. The first Swift route will provide BRT service on Highway 99 between Everett Station and the Aurora Village Transit Center.

The website has a new video to view the construction, and you can Click Here for the link.

Learn How to Ride the Bus

Community Transit offers classes and free ride tickets

Snohomish County, Wash. – With gas prices constantly reaching record highs and traffic a major concern in the region, now is a great time to begin exploring new ways to get around.

Community Transit strives to help Puget Sound commuters think transit first. With 64 local and commuter bus routes and one of the nation’s largest vanpool programs, the agency is a leader in finding new ways to make alternative transportation an attractive option. Call Community Transit at (425) 353-RIDE or (800) 562-1375 for bus information, or (888) 814-1300 for carpool or vanpool information, or go to http://www.communitytransit.org.

The Puget Sound Partnership has released their draft action plan for cleaning up Puget Sound

To review the plan, click on their website at http://www.psp.wa.gov

Snohomish Conservation District

For more information, contact Lois Ruskell at 425-335-5634, ext.108 before Friday, February 27.

Pilchuck Audubon Society

Snohomish Program Director for Futurewise is also Smart Growth Director for Pilchuck Audubon Society serving Snohomish County and Camano Island.  In the monthly newsletter, The Profile, you will find the Director's Smart Growth Report, as well as other information going on at PAS.  You can view The Profile by

Clicking Here.

River Network Partners Summer Volunteer Program

Summer is here, and what could be better time to fire up the barbeque, get your canoe in the water and step up your volunteer recruitment efforts!  With school out and 10% percent of us on the unemployment rolls, there are volunteers-to-be around every corner.  River Network wants to connect these idle hands with your organizations, and all you have to do is send us your volunteer position descriptions to be posted on our website.

Simply follow this link, http://www.rivernetwork.org/forms/submit-job-opening, enter the relevant information and presto… you’ll be connected to the idle masses.

In case you aren’t excited yet, there’s more.  President Obama will soon be announcing a Summer of Service campaign which offers a new and exciting opportunity to help you build up your roster of volunteers and raise awareness about volunteer monitoring and watershed stewardship. This week the President will be encouraging nonprofit organizations with a need for volunteers to register at www.serve.gov. On June 22, the President and his Cabinet will officially launch the Summer of Service and encourage Americans to volunteer for their communities. The President will direct potential volunteers to www.serve.gov to find local opportunities for service.

EPA is using this opportunity to promote volunteer monitoring and watershed stewardship. It is our hope that this Presidential initiative will encourage many more people to work to protect their watersheds.

Please consider registering your program at www.serve.gov.  You may get contacted by a number of volunteers eager to help your organization.  Think through what opportunities you might have for this summer, including monitoring workshops and events, debris cleanups, riparian restoration, community education, storm drain marking and other activities. If you want to sign up, you should do so as soon as possible, as a surge of web traffic is expected starting this week by both organizations and individuals looking to get involved in volunteering this summer.  However, if you’re not quite prepared for a whole new cadre of volunteers, or for reporting the results of your summer volunteer activities at www.serve.gov, you may not want to sign up at this time. One of the goals of this effort will be sustainable volunteerism, so if you’re not ready to sign up this summer, you can always do so later on.

If you have specific questions about this initiative, feel free to contact Alice Mayio at mayio.alice@epa.gov.
 

Island County

WEAN (Whidbey Environmental Action Network) has filed an appeal on the Oak Harbor urban growth area expansion plan which includes farmland in the headwaters of Swantown Lake.  If you would like more information, call them at 360-579-4272.