Summary

King County has an opening on its Conservation Futures Advisory Committee, which helps the County Executive and County Council make decisions on open space acquisition and preservation. Recruitment is open until Sept. 26.

Story

King County is seeking a volunteer to serve on its Conservation Futures Advisory Committee from King County Council District 4, which includes northwest Seattle neighborhoods from Belltown to Bitter Lake. Applicants should be interested in and knowledgeable about open space acquisition and protection.

Committee membership should reflect the racial diversity of the county, and Black and Indigenous people, and all people of color, are encouraged to apply. Recruitment is open until Sept. 26.

The Committee helps direct funds from the King County Conservation Futures levy to purchase or preserve open space lands, including natural areas, passive-use parks, urban greenspaces, wildlife habitat, trails, farms and, forests throughout the county. The program also provides a funding opportunity to help provide open spaces in historically underserved areas where residents experience low incomes, poor health outcomes and a lack of open space.

Committee members review applications for funding and make project funding recommendations.

Here is a map of County Council District 4, which starts at Belltown and goes north to Bitter Lake and stretches from Interstate 5 west to the Puget Sound shoreline.

Committee service is subject to change, and some meetings may be held online, but typically requires:

• Attending six or more mid-week evening committee meetings between January and May, and one or two more meetings for the remainder of the year, typically held on Mercer Island when in person; and
• Attending up to eight field trips to tour applicant sites from late March through April.

Conservation Futures levy funds are used for land acquisition, to buy or conserve parks and open spaces used for low-impact passive recreation, and is the primary funding source for King County’s Land Conservation Initiative.

King County has protected more than 100,000 acres of open space since it began participating in the state-authorized Conservation Futures Program in 1982. However, as a result of actions by the state, the program today is generating about half the revenue originally authorized by voters. As a result, the revenue generated for Conservation Futures has decreased while property values have increased.

In June, the King County Council approved Executive Dow Constantine’s proposal to place a measure on the November ballot that, if approved, would restore the Conservation Futures Program to its original rate. Restoring the rate would cost the owner of a median value home about $2 more per month.

Restoring the local Conservation Futures Program to its original rate would accelerate the Land Conservation Initiative, a regional partnership of communities, cities, farmers, businesses, and environmental leaders to protect 65,000 acres of the highest conservation-value open space.

This funding is provided to governmental agencies and eligible nature conservancy or historic preservation nonprofits. Community groups or individuals can partner on projects with local agencies and eligible nonprofits.

For more information or to apply, send an email to Conservation Futures program coordinator Ingrid Lundin or call 206-477-4578, TTY: 711. Translation and interpreter support, and alternate formats, are available by request.

Relevant links

• Map of King County Council District 4
• King County Conservation Futures
• Land Conservation Initiative

For more information, contact:

Saffa Bardaro, Water and Land Resources Division, 206-477-4610