King County’s new Department of Local Services is now officially in business
One year after it was proposed, the King County Department of Local Services is now serving White Center and other incorporated areas. Here’s what the county wants to be sure you know about it:
The second we rang in 2019, the Department of Local Services officially became a standalone department. It comes after nearly a year’s worth of planning and following the Metropolitan King County Council unanimously approving Executive Dow Constantine’s proposal to establish the department.
While King County has always delivered critical services to residents and businesses of the unincorporated areas – who combined would account for the second-largest city in Washington – Local Services now serves as a “virtual city hall” that helps better coordinate and deliver those services.
The department consists of three divisions/programs that are familiar to the unincorporated areas:
· Permitting Division for development permit reviews, code enforcement and subarea planning
· Road Services Division responsible for 1,500 miles of County road and 182 bridges
· Community Service Area program
Contact us
There are several ways for residents and business to connect with Local Services:
· It has created an easy-to-remember email address for anyone with questions or comments: ASKLocalServices@kingcounty.gov
· You can visit the new Local Services webpage: https://kingcounty.gov/local-services
· Follow Local Services on Instagram: @kingcountylocalservices
The divisions will continue to operate out of their existing locations (Permitting is located at 35030 SE Douglas Street, Suite 210 in Snoqualmie; Road Services and the Community Service Area program are located at 201 S. Jackson St. in Seattle).
Residents with Permitting or Roads-specific questions can contact them directly:
· Permitting: 206-296-6600; DPERWebinquiries@kingcounty.gov
· Road Services: : 24/7 Road Helpline: 206-477-8100 or 800-527-6237 (800-KCROADS); maint.roads@kingcounty.gov
Leadership
Led by Director John Taylor, the 500-employee department will now focus solely on serving and communicating with the unincorporated areas.
Taylor previously served as an assistant division director at the King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks. He was instrumental in coordinating a landmark agreement signed last year by Executive Constantine that will simultaneously restore salmon habitat, strengthen the region’s agricultural economy, and reduce flood risks in the Snoqualmie Valley.
“King County has dedicated, hard-working employees who deliver high-quality service to the people of King County every day,” Taylor said. “The Department of Local Services will help better coordinate those services within the unincorporated part of King County, giving residents in those areas a way to see service delivery levels in their community and influence how services are delivered.”
Following his appointment, Taylor announced his leadership team:
· Danielle de Clercq, Deputy Director. Danielle is new to King County but brings with her a 30-year career in operations, management, business development, and consulting in the private and nonprofit sectors.
· Cheryl Binetti, Chief of Staff in the DLS Director’s Office. Over the past 12 years, Cheryl has served a variety of roles in the King County Department of Transportation, and most recently served as the Local Services Initiative Project Manager, playing a key role in the development of the new department. As Chief of Staff, she will ensure that DLS employees have the support and clarity for timely and accurate delivery of services, projects, and programs, and to grow and develop in their careers.
· Jim Chan, Director of the Permitting Division. Jim has served as the Interim Director of the Department of Planning and Environmental Review (DPER) since November 2017. He began his career with King County as a summer intern in 1989. After graduating from the University of Washington, he was hired on as a staff engineer in 1991 and progressed through the ranks to his current appointment as Interim Director of DPER.
· Rick Brater, Director of the Road Services Division. Rick has served in his current position on an interim basis since October. Prior to that he served as the King County Road Engineer and as the Engineering Services Section Manager. During this time, he has managed nearly $900 million worth of road infrastructure projects, including the South Park bridge project.
· Bill Greene, Chief Financial Officer. Bill served as the King County Department of Transportation Chief Financial Officer from 2007-2010, and then returned in the role in 2013 after serving with the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Phone number 206-477-3820.
· Mary Louis, Human Resource Manager. Mary has been on loan to the Department of Transportation as an HR Projects Manager since August 2018, and before that she served as the HR Manager for the Department of Public Defense since January 2017.
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January 6th, 2019 at 3:18 pm
Thanks for posting this information.
One telling lack in this reorganization is that there is no Health and Human Services division component under Local Services leadership. And, it is King County Health that has the priority list that includes (in part) the prescription to “avoid the clustering of legal cannabis businesses through planning and policies related to store licensing and siting; and take measures to prevent negative community impacts” [1].
It is in this long-stated goal that the county has completely failed to realize in White Center/Top Hat and in Skyway/West Hill. These two neighborhoods are the communities of color within what the article describes as the second largest local municipality in the state.
So, it appears that hopes for White Center’s local government to address this issue will continued to be mired in organizational difficulties.
[1] http://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/marijuana-health/legalization.aspx
January 7th, 2019 at 8:35 pm
Well @questiomark like I try to explain before king county has been working with Skyway Solutions
Here is a link to the new health and human services
https://kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/health-human-services-transformation/coo.aspx
Here is a link I posted before on this topic that can help explain . What king county is doing on the topic of human health and services .
Again on the topic of cannabis stores most of the ones in white center have a medical endorsement by the lcb . This most likely is why there allowed to be in what you call clusters . Also to just put it out there some of the crime that has taken place at some these location (robberies and gun shot’s/shooting,theft) have been done by younger people of color . Maybe some one should talk to the younger community of color about why they pick do these crimes . Why can’t they seem to obey laws why haven’t their parents taught them right from wrong . Because their has also been non cannabis location that have gotten rob in white center . Like the 76 gas on 1st ave 114 or 113th got rob a few years back the employee or owner got shot in the neck if I remember correctly . Then there the axe attack at the 7-11 a year or two ago . Some the gas stations on roxbury have been rob over the years .
January 17th, 2019 at 1:42 am
Jimmy, I’m just curious why you are against seeing any marijuana stores on the east side of unincorporated King County? You know, where none have located in the almost five years since marijuana licensing began. Not even one.
Don’t you ever wonder about that … ?? …
January 19th, 2019 at 5:43 pm
@questionmark exactly when did I ever say I was against them . Just by mentioning that some of the locations you have continued to mention in white center have their medical endorsement . These location don’t have to follow some of the same restrictions as just being a retail cannabis shop . I feel you are trying put words in my mouth .
Now if someone want to open one or how many they want that’s fine .
I think the issue are the need for them how much business they bring in to stay open . Then their also law enforcement needing to be some what near by . In some areas law enforcement offices are a little far a part . In a case of a crime such as theft involving a firearm or holds up’s time to get to the location can matter .
Then their also a lot people that grow medically in some of those areas on the east side . That think the store’s are a joke because of price and quality . Not knowing what is exactly in the final product .
My self I like the stores I shop at nimbin they are great . Good people good prices and good products . I have check lone star or something like that across the street and did not like the feel of place . They had loud gangster rap music playing and I herd that word that starts with a N That is very offensive I feel in music it get’s used the wrong way as a filler word to make a profit is not needed to be use in that way or in any way . I have since decided not to go back their .
January 22nd, 2019 at 6:21 am
@questionmark Do you have any legit proof that king county has been denying people’s applications for retail cannabis stores on the east side . Do you know the differences in amounts of rent in white center and skyway compared to the east side . Do you know the differences in the amount of cannabis tourism that comes from sea-tac and tend to shop at stores that are near the sea-tac air port .
If you look back at sales records the first couple of spots to open as recreational stores in white center . Did pretty good I feel that made people thinking of opening a store wanted to be in that same area as those stores . To have a better chance of earning a good profit after taxes . Might be a similar case in skyway .
Also poverty has hit just about every ware to the point even in Bellevue ,WA they are planning and building homeless shelters .