The Snohomish County Council is considering allowing mobile homes as accessory dwellings on larger lots in rural parts of the county. Current rules prevent mobile homes from being used as an extra apartment on properties.
The rule change would be limited to properties of 5 acres or larger, and located outside urban growth areas. A public hearing on the proposal is set for March 31.
"I think it’s a good thing," said Councilman John Koster, chairman of the council’s planning committee. "People who have a piece of ground that size can have their kids live on the property or their parents."
New aides: Two familiar faces have joined the County Council’s crew on the sixth floor of the administration building.
Jennifer Holder has taken over as the new legislative aide for Councilman Jeff Sax, and Carri Schlade is the new legislative aide for Councilman Kirke Sievers.
Holder is the former campaign manager for county executive candidate Betty Neighbors, and was also Councilman Gary Nelson’s campaign manager last year. She was a staff member of former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson and press aide for the New Mexico House of Representatives. Sax’s former aide, Susan Banel, left to pursue other opportunities.
Schlade has worked for Snohomish County since 1996, first in human services and later in planning and development. She was a legislative aide for former Councilman Mike Ashley in 2000 before returning to the planning department. Siever’s prior legislative aide, Robin Hazen, passed away in December from cancer.
Fish log: Volunteers in the county’s Salmon Watch program spotted 3,402 salmon in county streams over the past year.
About 60 people participate in the project, not counting school groups, looking for fish twice a week in 26 streams from October through December.
The most sighted salmon of the season were pinks, with 1,815 reports, followed by coho, with 1,483 sightings. There are more salmon in the county’s creeks than the total number suggests, given the snapshot nature of the reports.
But county officials use the numbers to improve fish habitat and remove things that may be blocking salmon from moving upstream.
Snoop dog and 50 cent: No, the County Council won’t be talking about rap later this month. Instead, it’s all about fees for dog and cat licenses, which may go up higher than expected.
A proposal is in the works to raise most license fees by $6, rather than the $5 hike originally suggested last year.
County staff say raising fees by $5 will create problems because some people will get a 50 percent reduction for having a pet with a microchip, and some license applications will have to be sent back because those checks will be short 50 cents.
Dealing with all that extra jingle will also be a hassle for the people who process pet licenses.
Claim of the week: A Lake Stevens man wants $86 from the county because he did not get his wallet, three lighters and a Swiss military-style watch back when he was released from the county jail.
Next week: Councilman Sax’s controversial move to reduce the powers of Snohomish County Tomorrow will have a public hearing.
Snohomish County Tomorrow is an advisory group on local growth-management issues made up of city and county officials. Sax’s proposed policy changes have been labeled a "power grab" by critics.
How you can get involved: Public hearing is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Jackson Hearing Room, sixth floor of County Administration Building.
Reporter Brian Kelly covers county government for the Herald. He can be reached at 425-339-3422; kelly@heraldnet.com.
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