Category: Uncategorized

North Highline Unincorporated Council Meeting

The Opportunity to Be Informed, Be Involved and Be Heard!

Where?    North Highline Unincorporated Area Council Meeting

When?     Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 7 pm

HOW:      Join Zoom Meeting
https://kingcounty.zoom.us/j/97919005010

Meeting ID: 979 1900 5010
Passcode: NHUAC2021 (case sensitive)

Dial by your location
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 979 1900 5010
Passcode: 030143620

Good News!  2020 is over and 2021 offers new opportunities to support a healthy community that does not back away from our struggles.  At our last meeting with Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon and Sen. Joe Nguyen, we heard that the White Center Food Bank (WCFB) may soon be displaced from its home near Dick Thurnau Memorial Park. WCFB’s Associate Executive DirectorCarmen Smithwill join our first meeting of 2021 to update us on this essential  community organization.

Because North Highline is an unincorporated area (not part of a city), King County serves as both our regional (county) and local (municipal) governments.  Many of the decisions that will form our future are being made by King County Executive Dow Constantine and the King County Council and implemented by King County Local Services.  King County government is a common denominator for the people of North Highline. Its impact includes:

COVID-19 to public health to economic and ethnic justice to segregation and discrimination to displacement, fair housing and opportunity to schools, parks and open spaces to density and permitting to roads and infrastructure, police, and public safety to fireworks and cannabis shops to taxes and the budget…

That is why NHUAC is pleased that we will also be joined by King County Councilmember Joe McDermottand John Taylor, the Director of the Department of Local Services. 

The King County Sheriff’s Office is another essential part of our community.  This month we will be joined by Major Jeffrey Flohr and Deputy Bill Kennamer.

Knowledge is power.
Learn, share, and help make North Highline a better place.

Thursday, January 7th, 7pm

North Highline Unincorporated Area Council Meeting – Thursday, Dec 3, 7pm

The Opportunity to Be Informed, Be Involved and Be Heard!

                                                        North Highline Unincorporated Area Council Meeting

When?     Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 7 pm

How?        Join Zoom Meeting:  https://kingcounty.zoom.us/j/93688219357

                                                                        Meeting ID:    936 8821 9357
                                                                        Passcode (Case Sensitive):  NHUAC2020!  (please note that there is an  exclamation point (!) after 2020 that you must enter in the passcode)

                   Unable to join via Zoom?      Please Call:    (+1) 253 215 8782 
                                                                      Meeting ID:     936 8821 9357                                                                                                                                                                     Passcode:        4810516954

Good News!  It has been a long time coming, but King County is going to do something about stormwater in North Highline.  Water Planner Jessica Engel will discuss the Green Stormwater Infrastructure strategy and ways it can be used to help improve our community.

Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon and Sen. Joe Nguyen will also be joining NHUAC’s last meeting of 2020.  NHUAC has asked them to think about ways to improve the health, lives, and opportunity for our North Highline community.  In 2018, at the county’s annual Town Hall, NHUAC delivered a Petition to King County Executive Dow Constantine and the King County Council.  It started:

(1)        Opportunity gives people access to what they need to succeed.

(2)        According to a 2011 Opportunity Mapping Analysis, White Center is a “low opportunityneighborhood” with “some of the worst health outcomes in King County… ranking number one for diabetes–related deaths, infant mortality, and heart disease….”  The report also cites “academic achievement and poverty challenges.”  “School poverty has serious implications not just for students, but for districts, communities and the region.”

…

We, the undersigned:   

“Ask King County to conduct a Fair Housing Assessment and Opportunity Analysis of the

 North Highline community as part of White Center’s “community of opportunity” designation.“

Unfortunately, King County has not given any indication that it intends to conduct either analysis. We hope that Sen. Nguyen and Rep. Fitzgibbon can help us around this quandary.

NHUAC is always happy to see White Center Storefront Deputy Bill Kennamer, who will be joined by Major Jeffrey Flohr and Community Engagement Specialist Manny Apostle.

Knowledge is power.   Learn, share, and help make North Highline a better place.

December 3, 2020 at 7 pm – Tell a Neighbor!

North Highline Unincorporated Area Council Meeting – Nov 5th

When     Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 7 pm
How        Join Zoom Meeting: 

https://kingcounty.zoom.us/j/94310110478  Meeting ID:    943 1011 0478
Passcode:        NHUAC2020!

                   Unable to join via Zoom?       
Please Call:    (+1) 253-215-8782
Meeting ID:    943 1011 0478           Passcode:      7581259731

We did it!  NHUAC’s October meeting was different in its format, but still full of important information.  Now that we have our first Zoom meeting under our belt, we want to assure you that you can still be an informed and involved community member despite COVID-19.  Although Zoom allows  more accessibility, it is not your only option. You can call in, too.  Our North Highline community is worth the effort! 

Have you applied for a loan lately or know someone who relies on payday lenders in times of need?  Have you heard of Community Development Financial Institutions or CDFIs?  They go back to the 1970s and the Community Reinvestment Act. The CRA was needed because of the lack of access to responsible and affordable credit and capital in low-income communities.  Does North Highline need access to a CDFI?  Rick Thomas of Credit Union Strategic Planning will join us to discuss this important topic.

David Goodman of King County will update us and gather our feedback on the evolving North Highline Subarea Plan. The plan will guide development in North Highline over the next 20 years.  According to the county’s vision statement:  “North Highline is a diverse, inclusive, and family-friendly community that supports a thriving small business community, enjoys proximity to urban amenities and green space, and provides opportunities for people of all socioeconomic backgrounds to live, work, and thrive.”   The big question is:  How do we get there from here?

NHUAC is always happy to see White Center Storefront Deputy Bill Kennamer, who will update us once again about police activity in our community.

Knowledge is power.   Learn, share, and help make North Highline a better place.

November 5, 2020 at 7 pm – Tell a Neighbor!

North Highline Unincorporated Area Council – October 8th Meeting

2020 has been a year of many challenges and the creation of many new norms.  With that said, NHUAC will not be holding a meeting on the first Thursday of October, and instead will be holding the meeting on the second Thursday, October 8th.

With continued Social Distancing recommendations, the meeting will be held via Zoom.  You will also have the option of calling in on your phone.  We will send out info on how to join the meeting, as well as info on our guest speakers as we get closer to the meeting date.

Please plan on joining us as we will be discussing issues that are very important to the future of our North Highline Community.

So fire up your computers and get ready to Zoom.

Community Matters

Stay Informed, Stay Involved, Be Heard

North Highline Unincorporated Area Council – No July and August meetings:

As in our prior years, the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council (NHUAC) will not be holding July and August meetings. We will resume meetings on Thursday, September 3rd. Wishing everyone a safe, happy, warm, summer –
In the meantime, please see the info below regarding mask and hand sanitizer distribution that the North Highline Fire District in partnership with NHUAC and King County, will be handing out on July 4th.