City of Kent – Scene eNewsletter
In this Issue
Gearing Up So You Don’t Spin
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 Mayor Suzette Cooke “While Mother Nature hasn’t yet surprised us with winter snow, we make every effort to reduce the safety threat due to snow and ice on our 556 lane-miles of roadway. The following details the city’s plan and resources to respond to snow on our streets. Be among the first to know about road closures and other traffic details – sign up to recieve eAlerts at DriveKent.com.” De-icing Kent’s Streets The City de-ices the following bridges: - S. 196th St. at Green River King County maintains the following streets: - South 277th St. from Auburn Way S. WSDOT maintains the following highways: - SR 516 from Pacific Hwy. S. to Central Ave. Sanding Priorities Priority 1 – Arterial Roads on Hills - Canyon Drive Priority 2 – Approaches to major intersections on: Entire roadways are not sanded, so drive carefully. Priority 3 – Residential Collector Roads Priority 3 may take up to three days to complete unless medical, police, or fire request help. As always, Kent residents should call 911 in an emergency. The following resources are also available: Downed Power Lines or Power Outages Emergency Preparedness Information Flooding Human Services Needs Icy/Storm-Damaged Sidewalks Non-Emergency Traffic Problems Snow Plow Schedule Street Lights Not Working Traffic Reports and Road Closures Trees, Brush, Garbage in Roadways During non-business hours, call 911 You may also visit KentWA.gov |
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Connect with Kent
253-856-5200
City Contacts:
| General Information | 856-5200 |
| Mayor | 856-5700 |
| City Council | 856-5712 |
| Municipal Court | 856-5730 |
| Chief Administrative Officer | 856-5710 |
| City Clerk | 856-5725 |
| Code Enforcement | 856-5409 |
| Economic & Community Development | 856-5454 |
| Financial Services | 856-5200 |
| Fire/Emergency Services | 856-4300 |
| Graffiti Hotline | 856-4723 |
| Employee Services/HR | 856-5270 |
| Housing & Human Services | 856-5070 |
| Parks, Recreation & Community Services | 856-5100 |
| Permit Center | 856-5300 |
| Public Works | 856-5500 |
| Police | 856-5800 |
| Street/Water/Sewer Maintenance | 856-5600 |
| Utility Billing | 856-5201 |
| EMERGENCY | 911 |
Monday December 5, 2011
Would you like to walk or bike around Kent more?
If there were better connected and safer access, would you walk or bicycle for errands, commute to work or schools, or simply enjoy the exercise instead of using your car or a bus?
With a grant from King County, preliminary planning is underway to make pedestrian and cycling improvements in Kent. Please take a few minutes and tell us about your walking and biking habits —where you go, where you’d like to go, and what keeps you from getting where you’d like to go.
Fill out this short survey, to help us take another step toward a more walkable, bikeable Kent.
Weather Service as our Guide
The City subscribes to a weather service that gives us daily reports on current and upcoming weather concerns. It also has a 24-hour monitoring system that informs us of changing weather patterns that might affect road conditions. Based on these reports, crews can be ready for any upcoming storm within two hours.
Road Crews on Standby
The City has two, 11-person crews available to respond 24-hours a day.
Equipment Inventory
The City has eight snow plows, seven of which have sanding capabilities. We also have two de-icer trucks, two road graders and six message boards to be placed in anticipation of major road closures.
De-icing the Tough Spots
When notified of a pending storm, at 4am, a two-person crew starts applying de-icer to bridge decks, overpasses, and other known problem areas to prevent icy conditions. De-icer does not guarantee that all roads will be free of ice. Drivers still have to be cautious when driving in freezing weather. The City has installed reflectors on the approaches to seven bridges to alert drivers to freezing conditions and to take appropriate actions to avoid accidents. When temperature drops at or below 32 degrees they will turn to a blue reflective color.
Sidewalks—A Property Owner’s Responsibility
Home and business owners are responsible to clear away snow from all sidewalks adjoining their property. The City does not have the manpower to remove snow from any sidewalks. If in the rare event the snow is piled up from plows and graders along parking lots, parking stalls or corners of intersections, the City will remove the snow to another remote location, only after all other services are performed.
Will the garbage truck come if it’s snowing?
Snow season is here! If the white stuff hits – be aware garbage service may be disrupted.
Twice the usual amount of garbage will be picked up on your normal garbage day the following week. To be notified of service disruptions, be sure Allied Waste has a current phone number for you, and, if you’d like to get an email, provide them with your email address. Call them at 206.682.9735, or AlliedWasteKent.com.
2011-2012 SPOTLIGHT SERIES
The Kent Arts Commission is proud to present “Spotlight for Families” holiday performances. See kentarts.com for the full season schedule.
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” with David Benoit
Saturday, December 10, 7:30 p.m.
Kentwood Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $35 general, $30 senior, $20 youth
Sponsored by Kent Civic and Performing Arts
Contemporary jazz piano legend, David Benoit pays tribute to this beloved animated TV special with the classic music of Vince Guaraldi. The heartwarming show also features the young voices of the local Rainier Youth Chorale.
For tickets, visit kentarts.com or call 253-856-5051.
Presented by Kent Arts Commission and Kent Parks, Recreation & Community Services.
Kent Downtown Carousel open for Holiday Run!
Kent’s downtown carousel is open for the holidays! Its familiar home is Town Square Plaza on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Harrison Street, next to the Rotary Centennial Sphere and the fountains.
Public hours are:
Fridays, 4 – 8 p.m.
Saturdays, noon – 8 p.m. Sundays, 1 – 5 p.m.
“Bonus Days”
December 19-23, 4 – 8 p.m.
Christmas Eve, noon – 8 p.m.
Hours are subject to change during inclement weather.
The City of Kent is partnering with Kent-Meridian High School’s Filipino-American and the Volleyball Boosters Clubs. Proceeds raised from the suggested $1.00 donation per ride will support the organizations’ missions and programs. Musical performances are planned to make the carousel both a destination and a continuing family tradition.
The Venetian-style carousel has 19 beautifully painted, carved horses and three special seats, designed by the famous Bertazzon Carousel Company of Italy. It is fully accessible. In 2006, the Kent Parks Foundation invited the public to purchase the “naming rights” for individual carousel horses. These funds, along with donations from other sources, helped the Foundation purchase the carousel, which was then given to the City of Kent.
Sliding-Scale Scholarship Program Available for Recreation Programs
The City of Kent, with the help of the Kent Parks Foundation, has launched a sliding-scale scholarship program for qualifying families and youth who wish to participate in city recreation programs.
The ability to participate in healthy, safe and engaging activities should not be limited to only those who can pay the fees.
We celebrate the following businesses and individuals for partnering with us by pledging their support:
· Catalyst Travel, Inc.
· Curran Law Firm
· Hanis Irvine Prothero, PLLC
· Marti Reeder – John L Scott Real Estate
· Rotary Club of Kent – Sunrise
· Soroptimist International of Kent
· Thunderbirds Community Sports Foundation
· John and Kandace Hodgson
· Jeff and Renee Watling
To learn more about scholarships, or if you are interested helping someone benefit from all Kent Parks has to offer, please call 253.856.5110 or the Kent Parks Foundation at 253.856.5099.
Kent TV21 presents Kent Today: Taking Care of Kent’s Most Needy
Many people in our community are out of work and suffering through some very tough times. With winter upon us, Kent’s homeless families face a crisis situation. How can you help? How can you get help? Tune in to this episode to learn about the programs and resources available to local residents in need.
The show airs twice daily starting Thursday, December 8 at 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 21 within the Kent viewing area. The program can be also be viewed online at KentTV21.com
For more information, call Kent’s Housing and Human Services Program at 253.856.5070. To donate food, your time or to get assistance at the Kent Food Bank, call 253.520.3550.
Applus Technologies named
2011 Green Business of the Year
Congratulations to Applus Technologies! While they develop solutions that help their customers address environmental challenges, they’re also “walking the talk.”
According to Kristine Schmidt, recycle team leader for Applus Technologies, waste prevention is one of the company’s top goals with a number of strategies implemented to protect the environment and reduce the bottom line. “Our organization has a strong environmental employee team that focuses on earth-friendly practices that include waste reduction, recycling, and using recycled-content products,” Schmidt said.
Applus assists the Washington State Department of Ecology in meeting the Environmental Protection Agency’s guidelines on air quality control. They oversee 16 vehicle emissions testing centers throughout the state.
“Naughty or Nice” Recycling Tips
The holidays present challenges to even the most diligent recyclers! What is recyclable? The “nice” list includes gift boxes, holiday cards, envelopes, paper gift bags and most wrapping paper,excluding tissue or foil-type. On the “Naughty” list? Bubble wrap, foam peanuts, ribbons, bows, sticky gift labels and gift bags that are plastic coated.
What about that turkey or that delicious fruit cake that everybody raves about? Don’t forget, those leftovers, including the turkey carcass, go into the green yard and food waste bin. Want to get rid of the oil from your last deep-frying experience? Pour it into a securely closed one-gallon plastic jug, limit of 2 gallons per month per residence. Be sure to add your name and address on the side of the jug and place it next to your recycling cart for pickup the next time it’s your recycling collection day.
Christmas trees are recyclable at the curb on your regularly scheduled garbage day during the week of January 9-13. Cut and bundle them with twine (no plastic) in sections no longer than four feet. Tinsel, lights, bells, and ornaments are not recyclable.
If you’d like get rid of your tree sooner, place it at the curb by 8 a.m. on Saturday, January 7. Local Boy Scout troops will come through neighborhoods to collect trees for a $5 donation.
Trees can also be dropped off the same day at the Service Club Ball Fields, 14608 SE 288 St. for a $5 donation to the Scouts.
For more information, visit KentRecycles.com.
