Prepare for holiday ferry travel
Nearly 300,000 people are expected to board a state ferry between Wednesday, Nov. 27 and Sunday, Dec. 1, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and ferry riders should prepare for long lines and waits.
The busiest sailings for vehicles will likely be westbound (or onto an island) Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 27-28, then eastbound (or off island) Friday and Saturday, Nov. 29-30, according to WSDOT. To reduce or eliminate waiting, riders may consider taking an early-morning or late-night sailing or using transit to walk or bike onto the ferry if possible.
WSDOT has also upgraded terminal infrastructure to better handle cold temperatures, the agency said, and portable toilets are on standby in case restrooms go out of service.
Minimum wage rises in January
Starting January 1, 2025, the minimum hourly wage in unincorporated King County (including Vashon) is going up to $20.29 — except for many small to medium sized businesses, for which the county outlined the following “temporary” exemptions:
• For employers with 15 or fewer employees and an annual gross revenue of less than $2 million, the minimum wage will be $17.29.
• For employers with 15 or fewer employees and an annual gross revenue of $2 million or greater, the minimum wage will be $18.29.
• For employers with more than 15 employees but fewer than 500 employees, the minimum wage will also be $18.29.
The minimum wage rate will be adjusted every year on January 1.
Apply for windstorm relief
Did you suffer any significant property tax from the “bomb cyclone” windstorm this month? If so, you could be eligible for property tax relief from the King County Department of Assessments.
State law allows taxpayers to apply for property tax relief if their property was damaged or destroyed by recent windstorms, according to the Assessor’s Office. Property damaged or destroyed by something beyond the property owner’s control is eligible for a reduction of assessed value, resulting in lower property taxes.
Information on the criteria for a claim and how to file online, if you own property in King County, can be found at kingcounty.gov/depts/assessor/TaxRelief/DamagedProperty.
Women Hold the Key survey
Vashon’s community center for women, Women Hold the Key (WHTK) is currently conducting its first survey to expand its awareness of individual and group needs on Vashon; gather demographic information and collect data required to qualify for grants, sponsorships, and other sources of funding; and develop future programming based on islanders’ feedback.
WHTK is a small nonprofit focused on building community for women, including non-binary and trans folks who are comfortable in women’s spaces. The group offers an array of classes, discussions, events and community days at its Synergy Center at 9822 SW Gorsuch Rd.
Take the survey and find out more at womenholdthekey.org.
Public meetings
The following taxing districts, government bodies, utility providers and citizen groups have civic meetings coming up concerning islanders.
• Metropolitan King County Council: The council is expected to vote on the overall 2024 Comprehensive Plan package at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at King County Council Chambers, located at the King County Courthouse, 516 3rd Avenue, Room 1001, Seattle. For more information, visit kingcounty.gov/CouncilCompPlan.
• Vashon Island School District: The school board will next meet from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 19 at Chautauqua Elementary School, Room 302, 9309 SW Cemetery Road. This is the last regularly scheduled meeting before the end of the year. Visit vashonsd.org for more information.
• The next Vashon Ferry Advisory Committee meeting takes place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at the Vashon Land Trust building, 10014 S.W. Bank Road, as well as virtually on Zoom.
