King County Names New Manager of the Community Service Areas

King County Executive Dow Constantine named Alan Painter as Manager of the Community Service Areas (CSA) program for unincorporated King County, last week.

“This reform will harness the work of County employees who already have good connections with residents in the unincorporated areas, so that residents can have a single staff link to specific projects in parks, roads, land use, public health and public safety,” said Constantine.

Previously the county had Unincorporated Area Councils, or UACs. Woodinville neighbors might best know the Upper Bear Creek Community Council for the summer Music in the Park concert series it puts on each year. (Click here for related story.)

, which were allotted $10,000 a year, by adopting a new model of interaction between county government and the 285,000 people living outside the boundaries of the county’s 39 cities. Upper Bear Creek Community Council is the youngest of them, with just under 15 years of service. The UACs represented about 96,110 people, or 33 percent of the residents in unincorporated King County.

Under the new program, community organizations in each CSA can apply for grants of up to $5,000 to promote the engagement of local residents in community or civic activities.

“I look forward to listening to residents, solving problems, and help them to play an active role in shaping the future of their communities,” said Painter, who reports to the Executive’s office.

Painter previously advised the Executive on human services, health, and housing policy, and is a former director of the Department of Human Services for the city of Seattle.

Painter said the interdepartmental teams will hold public meetings at least once a year in each CSA, in close collaboration with the King County Councilmember for that district and with other countywide elected officials. In contrast, the Upper Bear Creek Community Council met monthly in Woodinville.

The first open house for the new program is set for the Vashon-Maury Island CSA on Tuesday, April 10, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at the McMurray Middle School Multi-Purpose Room, 9323 Cemetery Road, Vashon Island. No meetings are planned for Woodinville yet.

Painter can be reached at 206-296-8734 or alan.painter@kingcounty.gov.