The offices of Snohomish County Council members will close this afternoon – and the phone lines will be shut down, too – as the council and its staff move from the sixth floor of the old county administration building to their new digs on the eighth floor of the new administration building.
It’s still uncertain when the council will hold its first legislative meeting in its new chambers in downtown Everett.
One hiccup: The wrong chairs for the audience seats in the council’s meeting room were delivered to the new building. The ill-suited seats were sent back because the chairs were built so people could rock back and forth.
Council chief of staff John Chelminiak said it was a minor problem. He said the chairs needed to be replaced because they have springs that would eventually begin to squeak.
Campus, take two: The county is inviting high school jazz bands and other musical groups to play during the open house for the county’s new administration building and campus redevelopment project June 3.
Several musical groups have already volunteered for the daylong event, including the Seattle’s Children’s Chorus and the Fifth-floor Floozies, a group from Bethany Senior Apartments. The Everett Symphony is set for a late afternoon performance.
Groups interested in signing up should contact Mary Woods-Calkins, musical chairwoman for the open house, at 425-388-3327.
Sounds wild: The county’s Animal Advisory Board recently issued its exotic animal report, and the board points out that Washington is one of 15 states in the country that doesn’t have statewide regulations on the importation, ownership or breeding of exotic animals.
Snohomish County doesn’t have rules on exotic animals, which the board report says could make the county an attractive community for exotic animal breeders and buyers. The board is asking the County Council to adopt exotic animal rules as soon as possible.
In the running: Another Democrat has thrown his hat into the ring in hopes of unseating incumbent County Councilman Jeff Sax in November. Steve Hobbs of Lake Stevens has registered as a candidate for the council’s District 5 seat. It’s not Hobbs’ first foray into politics. He ran against state Sen. Val Stevens for a House seat in 1994 and lost.
Hobbs joins former County Council member Dave Somers, a Democrat, in the contest. Somers lost a re-election bid to Sax, a Republican, in 2001.
Claim of the week: A Marysville woman wants the county to pay $799 to fix the paint job on her 2004 Honda Civic. It was damaged after she parked in the underground county garage and a ceiling leak left her hood stained. The claim is the latest in a string from people who have had cars damaged by leaks in the new garage.
Coming up: The county will hold open houses May 17 and 18 so residents can learn about the shoreline management program and how it will be updated to meet new state guidelines.
The program protects water quality and the environment, as well as preserving and enhancing public access and recreational activities along shorelines.
How you can get involved: The first workshop will be May 17 in the main conference room of the new county administration building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett. The second is May 18 in the commons at Arlington High School, 18821 Crown Ridge Blvd., Arlington. Both meetings will run from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Reporter Brian Kelly covers county government for the Herald. He can be reached at 425-339-3422; kelly@heraldnet.com
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