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Home My WebLink About2024-10 Hazelnut Newsletter - Volume 44 No. 5WHAT'S INSIDE: • Age -friendly certification • Saving trees at Tukwila Park • How grant funding helps the City • Restoring salmon habitat ...and more! SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2024 VOLUME 44, NUMBER 5 Save the dates! Autumn Yard Waste Drop-off Event Saturday, November 9 8:OOAM TO 12:00NooN at Tukwila Community Center Find more information on page 3 Green Tukwila Day - Duwamish Hill Preserve Saturday, November 16 10:OOAm TO 1:OOPM Planting trees, shrubs & flowers Tukwila Comprehensive Plan - Final Public Hearing Monday, November 18 - 7:OOPM Tukwila City Hall Focus on Transportation Element Holiday Closures City Hall will be closed: Monday, November 11 Thursday, November 28 Friday, November29 Wednesday, December25 Wednesday, January 1 (Hours at Tukwila Community Center and Foster Golf Links may vary) TukwilaWA.gov The Hazelnut A City of Tukwila publication for our residential and business communities SHPP-RAjYON Saturday, November 16 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Tukwila Community Center:12424 42nd Ave S, Tukwila, WA 98168 Drive through event. Limit 4 file boxes or bags per vehicle. Documents are securely shredded on site. Paper only (No metal - 3-ring binders, hanging file folders, etc.) Bring a brand new board game or gift card to donate to Tukwila's Spirit of Giving Campaign. Proceeds go to local families in need. This event is made possible in part by support from the King County Solid Waste Division. rfr air IF Tukwila: The City of Opportunity, The Community of Choice MAYOR'S MESSAGE Did someone say Pickleball? Do you know what sport uses the terms "cookie," "dink," "bert," and "kitchen?" It's America's fastest -growing sport, Pickleball - with an estimated 13.6 million players in the United States alone. The number of pickleball enthusiasts has grown at an astonishing pace of over 200% since just 2020. Fitness, competition, community and camaraderie are all represented in this exciting sport with local roots. Pickleball was invented right here in Washington State on Bainbridge Island. A kid complaining to his dad about being bored was challenged to invent a new game and after several tweaks to the court and rules, we now have modern pickleball Despite an oft -told rumor, the sport is not named for the family dog Pickles, who joined the family three years after pickleball's invention. Tukwila has a unique connection to the sport, with the first ever known pickleball tournament being held at the SouthcenterAthletic Club in 1976. Many of the players were either tennis players or Weyerhaeuser workers, who allegedly had a court in their lunchroom. V ot*Wote*VOtE*Vote* ,* I;110 l * Campaign signs are recyclable a* Most campaign signs can be recycled * in your curbside cart! Corrugated 041 *plastic signs are good for recycling as 0 * Long as the metal piece is removed. II: 4r * As for any sign made with all- * i * aluminum, they are recyclable as Long * as they: Are less than 2 feet in any * 8 * direction and weigh less than 35 pounds. ** * ► Contain less than 5%non * C metal components. Vote *VOLE* i]ate *Vote From Bainbridge Island to Tukwila, it's great to see pickleball taking off in the United States and throughout the globe. Recently the City of Tukwila added four new outdoor courts at the Tukwila Community Center, in the area just east of the parking Lot where the skateboard park used to be. (The skateboard park will be relocated elsewhere on the property at a later date.) The four new outdoor courts complement the courts that are also available in the gymnasium. Tukwila's courts, both indoors and outdoors, have been full of action all summer due to the growing community enthusiasm for pickleball The City intends to continue and bolster the fun and fitness by hosting and sponsoring future pickleball tournaments. I hope to see you on our courts as pickleball continues to grow. Mayor, City of Tukwila • frVi • City of Tukwila a Comprehensive Plan progress op. 10\..The 2024-2044 Comprehensive Plan Update process is coming to a close soon. The last Public Hearing on the Plan is scheduled for November 18 (the first hearing was September 23). The November hearing will include the full Plan, but will also focus on the Transportation Element. The Council will Learn more about that element at their October 21 meeting. The Council is scheduled to adopt the Plan at their meeting on December 9. More information about the Plan and the draft elements are available for review on the City's website - TukwilaWA.gov/CompPlan 2 THE HAZELNUT N\ \�1 \\\\\\■.\\\\\\\\\\\\\`1\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Autumn Yard Waste Drop-off Event Saturday, November 9 - from 8:00AM until 12:00 NOON Tukwila Community Center -12424 - 42nd Avenue South ► Limit of one vehicle/truckload of material per household -44 ACCEPTED Halloween pumpkins! Leaves Weeds Grass clippings Branches and limbs (Up to 3 inches in diameter and up to 3 feet long) ► Biobags and paper bags This event is made possible in part by support from the King County Solid Waste Division NOT ACCEPTED Large branches Stumps Sod Dirt Rocks Manure Concrete and construction debris Pallets Plastic bags Trash Residents also have the option to subscribe to Recology's curbside compost collection service. To learn more about curbside rates and accepted items, please call Recology at 206-944-3900 or visit Recology.com/Tukwila. For more information about this event, please contact Colleen Minion at 206-431-2445 or Colleen.Minion@TukwilaWA.gov (COME WORK WITH US ?‘ The City of Tukwila is hiring! We provide an engaging, productive and safe work environment. We are proud to offer excellent benefits and competitive salaries. You can search our listing of current employment opportunities, with job descriptions, qualifications, salary, and other information about the open positions. Check regularly to see what's available at GovernmentJobs.com/Careers/Tukwi IaWA The City of Tukwila is an equal opportunity employer. valuing City employees of all ages Tukwila recently became the first city in the state of Washington to become a Certified Age -Friendly Employer. Designated by the Age -Friendly Institute, this distinction identifies organizations that show commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace, value the contributions of employees of all ages, and a commitment to support candidates aged 50 and above within the workplace. This certification underscores our dedication to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment, reflecting not only our dedication to age diversity, equity and inclusion in our policies and practices, but also champions the professional growth and well- being of our seasoned workforce. SEPT/ OCT 2024 3 COUNCIL CORNER Hello and happy Fall to the Tukwila community. The weather is changing, the leaves are turning, and school is in full swing. My wish for our local students is a successful and productive school year. Take advantage of the opportunities that come your way, stay focused, and keep your bright future always in mind. To the adults in our community, let's work together to keep our kids safe - please be careful driving in school zones. As Council President, I am often asked for city updates, including on the asylum seekers living at Riverton Park United Methodist Church. There is not much to report since the spring. Our staff continues to diligently work with the Church leadership and regional partners - including the County and the State - to find solutions that help our new neighbors in these difficult circumstances. Over the summer, the City Council passed an ordinance setting regulations for Tiny Home Villages. While we have had a couple of these villages operating successfully in our city, there was nothing in the Municipal Code addressing them until now. i am very happy with the way we collaborated as a Council and accepted the Planning Commission's recommendation. We listened to the community as we defined the conditions, including - if codes and conditions allow - permitting up to 45 units per site. Autumn updates: asylum seekers, tiny homes, City budget by Mohamed Abdi, 2024 Council President Because this is an even -numbered year, the Council is deep into the biennial budget process. We are working with City Administration to set the budget for the years 2025 and 2026. This is my second time going through the process. I always enjoy digging into the numbers - there's a lotto learn about how the City runs and be able to explain that to the community. At the end of the process, we must set a budget that reflects the Tukwila community's values and priorities. The best way for us to do that is to hear from you. Staff has been collecting feedback, but it's never to late to contact your Councilmembers. Our phone numbers are available on the back page of this newsletter, so feel free to call. You can email the entire Council at once at CityCouncil@TukwilaWA.gov. Learn more about our work at TukwilaWA.gov/council. Tukwila City Council meetings are aired live on Comcast Channel 21 and are also streamed live from Tukwila's website. RECENT COUNCIL ACTIONS ■ Confirmed appointment of Marty Wine to position of City Administrator ■ Accepted King County Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy funding to support continued programming ■ Amended Zoning: Supplemental Development Standards in the Municipal Code, to ensure Accessory Dwelling Unit regulation compliance with State Law (Ord. 270 ■ Establishing regulations for temporary tiny home villages (Ord. 2732) ■ Authorized Mayor to participate in collection of opioid settlement funds ■ Accepted Association of Washington Cities grant funding for Mental Health Professional Co -Responder program ■ Granted telecommunications franchise to Wholesail Networks, LLC (Ord. 2733) ■ Conducted work sessions on Comprehensive Plan and Public Works Shops Phase 2 City Council meeting minutes and the complete text of all legislative items are available online in the Digital Records Center at TukwilaWA.gov. For additional information about the work of the City Council, please call206-433-8993. 4 THE HAZELNUT Saving trees at Tukwila Park In 2023, the Washington Conservation Corps (WCC), under the Washington Department of Ecology, launched a new program focused on Environmental Justice in South King County. The Environmental Justice Pilot Program provides field crew support on environmental restoration and outdoor recreation enhancement projects that advance the program's goals. This crucial WCC support comes at no cost to the partner organization (City of Tukwila). After applying for a grant waiver. The Green Tukwila Partnership was awarded ten weeks of WCC service for Tukwila Park for 2023/2024. Green Tukwila Partnership (GTP) is a collaboration between environmental nonprofits, businesses, community groups, green training programs, and Tukwila residents. GTP restores and maintains healthy green space and urban forests in the City of Tukwila, The GTP's 20-Year Stewardship Plan, adopted by the City in 2017, identifies 138 acres needing ecological restoration and maintenance. The GTP has activated sites on creeks, streams, the Green=Duwamish River, and within the parks and trail system. This serves as a testament to the City and community's unwavering commitment to environmental conservation. GREEN TUKWILA DAY �� t 171.1\tiamisll Hill Preserve. Nlry16, 10-1 p.m. Saturday, Community Work PARTY! Live Music: The BusKings JOin neighbors fora morning of planting trees. shrubs and native flowers. Light refreshmentstools and training provided. TODAY: www.Ti ukwilaWA.govlgreentukwila GREEN TUKWILA PARTNERSHIP Tukwila Park - the City's oldest park - is a 6.5-acre urban forest teeming with Douglas Firs and Big Leaf Maples. This forest, a vital part of the city's ecosystem, serves as a natural air filter, noise buffer, stormwater processor, and a cooling agent during heat waves. It's a thriving habitat for numerous species, including songbirds, salamanders, owls, woodpeckers, raccoons, and other wildlife. However, for over 50 years, this precious forest has been under threat from English Ivy and other invasive plants, putting the tree canopy and overall ecosystem at risk. In July, Governor Jay Inslee, Mayor McLeod, and the WA Department of Ecology attended a meet -and -greet at Tukwila Park to celebrate the success of the WCC's Environmental Justice Pilot Program and learn more about the work. Governor Jay Inslee's presence and emphasis on the importance of the work being done by the Green Tukwila Partnership and the Washington Conservation Corps are testaments to the value and appreciation for these efforts. The successful collaboration between the Washington Conservation Corps and the Green Tukwila Partnership is a testament to the power of collective action in environmental conservation. This partnership has achieved significant milestones in restoring and maintaining healthy green space in Tukwila Park, a feat that should inspire us all. In June 2024, GTP was notified that the City of Tukwila had been awarded twelve weeks of service with the Washington Conservation Corps for 2024/2025 at Tukwila Park. This news sparked hope and excitement for the park's future and the ongoing restoration efforts. Learn more about the Green Tukwila Partnership, or volunteer for a work party: TukwilaWA.gov/GreenTukwila Washington Conservation Corps: Ecology.wa.gov/about-us/ jobs-at-ecology/washington-conservation-corps SIGN UP SEPT/ OCT 2024 5 A grant is a way the government can fund its ideas and projects to provide public services and stimulate the economy. It's a financial award given by a government entity for a specific purpose, and Tukwila applies for these funding opportunities. Many projects across the City rely on grant funds. Among them: Stormwater Outfalls - $1.8 Million - In July 2024, the Washington Department of Ecology awarded the City's Public Works Department a grant to fund the final design and construction of two stormwater outfalls at Fort Dent Way and East Marginal Way. The goal of the project is to improve the water quality of stormwater runoff to the Duwamish River from city roads. The City and Consulting Team are currently finishing design, and schedule to go to construction in the Spring/Summer of 2026. Landslide Risk Assessment - $150,000 - In 2023, the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) awarded Tukwila a grant to conduct a preliminary Landslide and Steep Slopes Risk Assessment, expanding FEMA's existing Hazard Mitigation Plan. These Phase I grant funds cover compilation of all existing landslide information, forest health, age and condition of utilities in and around landslides, helping to identify hazards and better understand risks within the City. Once complete, the City will apply fora Phase 11 grant to fund additional studies and field work. Local Road Safety Plan - $150,000 - This funding by a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation supports the City's Safe Streets 4 All (SS4A) program. Tukwila's SS4A program allocates funds to projects that significantly reduce or eliminate roadway fatalities and serious injuries, through development of a safety action plan and implementation focused on all users. New traffic signal on Southcenter Boulevard - $782,000 - The Transportation Improvement Board recently awarded the City a grant award to fund the construction of a signal at 65th Avenue South and Southcenter Boulevard. This improvement will provide safer crossing for pedestrians utilizing the King County Metro bus stop, improve intersection flow, control speeds, and provide gaps in traffic for cars turning onto Southcenter Boulevard from side streets and driveways. Grant funding helps Tukwila pay for improvements to our community Intramural -type sports program - $100,000 - In July 2024, funding was awarded to the City by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks through its Youth Amateur Sports Grant program. Parks and Recreation will utilize these grant funds to support a program for Tukwila youth throughout the Tukwila School District. Energy audits at City facilities - $21,680 - The Washington State Department of Commerce awarded this grant to the City via its Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant program. Parks and Recreation is partnering with the Public Works Department to utilize these funds for energy audits at the Tukwila Community Center, Foster Golf Links Clubhouse, Parks/Golf Maintenance Shops, and Tukwila City Hall. Services and Programming - $229,500 - In May 2024, Tukwila Parks and Recreation was awarded grant funds from the King County Department of Community and Human Services through the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy. This funding will support senior services, programming and events through the end of Fiscal Year 2026. Roadway improvements and overlays - $10.2 Million - The Washington State Department of Transportation awarded grants to Tukwila in early 2024, for pavement and associated repairs, and overlay of Interurban Avenue South, the Boeing Access Road, and Orillia Road South. These grants allow the City to restore the roads to a safer and more efficient condition for all users. 6 THE HAZELNUT Tukwila's habitat restoration aids in Chinook Salmon recovery In the way that Rachel Carson's Silent Spring awoke the nation to dangers of DDT, the Federal listing of Puget Sound Chinook Salmon as a threatened species in 1999 began a new era of protection for the iconic Northwest species. With the listing, the State created an oversight organization for every major watershed in the state. WRIA 9 (Watershed Resource Inventory Area) oversees salmon recovery in the Green/Duwamish and Central Puget Sound watersheds. Tukwila is one of 17 jurisdictions that supports this organization, and in return, receives planning, technical and funding assistance to carry out salmon recovery projects. The critical need for salmon is during their juvenile life stage, when they migrate downstream from their spawning grounds in the middle Green River below Howard Hanson Dam. As they migrate downstream, juvenile salmon are looking for shallow, low -velocity waters with wood and vegetation that provide the food sources and protection they need to grow. The habitat they seek had been here once and had existed for millennia, but land use development and the accompanying flood protection mechanisms put in place to protect it, removed or degraded virtually all of that habitat in the lower Green and Duwamish Rivers, leading to population decline and the eventual protections under the Endangered Species Act. With Chinook decline, came the decline of the iconic Southern Resident Killer Whale (or Orca), which had begun to rebound from the days of live capture and shooting, only to resume decline as their preferred food source, Chinook salmon, declined. Orca were listed in 2005. Since then, the City has been working with its regional partners to help restore rearing habitat in the lower Green and Duwamish Rivers. The City completed its first off -channel habitat project, the award -winning Duwamish Gardens, in 2017, working with granting partners to purchase the former farmland, and construct a two -acre public park with one acre of off -channel habitat, a public trail, gathering space, art work and water access. The site was used by the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe in their first canoe -blessing in the Duwamish, symbolizing a return and reconnection with indigenous traditional lands and fishing places. In 2022, the City completed the Riverton Creek Flapgate Removal Project, removing the pipes and flapgates that restricted fish access into Riverton Creek for more than 50 years. In addition to removing the fish passage barrier, the project also included the restoration of two acres of native vegetation and in -water wood placement within the backwater habitat a quarter mile upstream of the flapgate. Visitors can cross the new bridge on the River Trail to see the project, see interpretive signage and artwork by Sarah Kavage. The other habitat restoration sites in Tukwila include Codiga Park (US Army Corps of Engineers), Cecil Moses Park (King County) and Chinook Wind (King County). Together, these sites are helping to restore salmon as juvenile Chinook and other species have been found occupying each of these new habitats. With the Howard Hanson Dam slated to create fish passage through the darn by 2030, and with more projects in the pipeline by the City and its partners, there is hope on the horizon for our treasured Chinook salmon. DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY 11111 State of Washington Loan programs available for septic help A septic system problem is usually a costly and urgent situation for homeowners. Failing septic systems can result in sewage backing up in the home or entering local waterways and groundwater supplies, posing a public health threat. The Washington Department of Ecology has a Septic System Loan Program for repairs to septic systems when homeowners don't have the resources to fully manage the cost of a repair. Partnering with nonprofit community lender partner Craft3, the DOE offers Clean Water Loans to help homeowners with septic system expenses. The Clean Water Loans cover all eligible permitting, design, and installation costs. These loans have lower rates for lower - income borrowers, and they are designed to be accessible to borrowers who may not have perfect credit. For more information, or to apply for a loan: Craft3 Phone: 888-231-2170 Email: CleanWater@Craft3.org Craft3.org/homeowner-loans/clean-water/washington SEPT/ OCT 2024 7 THE HAZELNUT City of Tukwila 6200 Southcenter Blvd. Tukwila, WA 98188 MIX Paper l supporting r"SC responsible forestry FSC® CO13252 PRESORT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SEATTLE, WA PERMIT NO. 12698 Paint collection event was a success! On Saturday, September 21, almost 600 vehicles dropped off paint to be recycled by GreenSheen in Tukwila's first paint collection event. The intake at this event was a staggering 102,364 gross pounds of latex paint and 8,598 gross pounds of oil -based paint collected - one of GreenSheen's highest grossing intakes of paint at a recycling event! GreenSheen has a manufacturing process that transforms old or unwanted paint into high -quality recycled paint that is then re -sold to be reused. It's a great way to close the loop and prohibits harmful chemicals from entering our landfills. If you missed the event, you can drop off up to 10 gallons of paint per day for free at the following locations through the Washington PaintCare program. Please contact the location to confirm their hours and availability before dropping off paint. Mallory Paint Store 339 Tukwila Parkway 206-708-6231 Habitat Restore Southcenter 1185 Andover Park West 206-957-6914 Sherwin-Williams 16650 West Valley Highway 425-251-6684 TUKWILA CITY HALL 6200 Southcenter Boulevard City Hall campus in -person hours: Monday/Wednesday/Thursday, 8:30AM-4:00PM Phone: 206-433-1800 Fax: 206-433-1833 Email: Tukwila@TukwilaWA.gov Website: TukwilaWA.gov MAYOR Thomas McLeod 206-433-1850 Mayor's Office Administration Offices 206-433-1850 Marty Wine, City Administrator206-433-1851 Brandon Miles, Dir,Stratlnit/Gov Re[ 206-431-3684 City Clerk's Office 206-433-1800 Community Engagement 206-454-7564 Economic Development 206-433-1832 Human Resources- Personnel 206-433-1831 Human Services 206-433-7181 M i n di Mattson, Emergency Mgr206-971-8750 Technology Services 206-454-7575 Community Development Dept. Nora Gierloff, Director 206-431-3670 Code Enforcement 206-431-3682 Finance Department Aaron BeMiller, Director 206-433-1835 Parks/Recreation Department Kris Kelly, Interim Director 206-767-2342 Police Deportment Eric Dreyer, Chief 206-433-7175 Public Works Department Pete Mayer, Int Dir/Dep City Adm .206-433-0179 Emergency - Fire, Police 911 MUNICIPAL COURT 15005 Tukwila International Blvd.206-433-1840 TUKWILA COMMUNITY CENTER 12424 - 42nd Avenue South Recreation Division 206-768-2822 Senior Center/Services 206-767-2321 Facility Rentals 206-767-2323 FOSTER GOLF LINKS 13500 lnterurban Avenue South Pro Shop 206-242-4221 PUGET SOUND REGIONAL FIRE AUTHORITY All fire -related services 253-856-4300 PugetSoundFire.org 2024 TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL Mohamed Abdi, Council President 2023 Council President 206-798-4872 Mahamed.Abdi@TukwilaWA.gov De'Sean Quinn 206-331-5939 Desean.Quinn@Tukwila WA.gav Tosh Sharp 206 507-6440 Tosh.Sharp@Tukwil aWA.gov Armen Papyan 206-888-3380 Arm a n. Pa pyan @Tu k wi l a WA. goy Jovita McConnell 206-600-3533 Jovita. McConnell@Tukwila WA.gov Dennis Martinez 206-960-1607 Dennis. Martinez@TukwilaWAgov Hannah Hedrick 206-580-8123 Hannah. Hed rick@Tukwil aWAgov To email the entire Council at once: CityCouncil@Tukwila WA.gov Laurel Humphrey, Analyst 206-433-8993 CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS 7:00PM in Council Chambers Regular Meetings lst/3rd Mondays Committee of the Whole 2nd/4th Mondays