Council committee approves five‑year lease to keep county service office and Metro access vehicles on Vashon Island

The Budget and Fiscal Management Committee on March 26 gave a unanimous due-pass recommendation to an ordinance that would authorize a county lease at 17141 Vashon Highway Southwest on Vashon Island, allowing the Department of Local Services to continue in‑person office hours and permitting King County Metro's access transportation program to co-locate.

Gene Paul of council staff summarized the item for the committee, saying the proposed ordinance "would authorize the executive to DLS currently occupies with the addition of 3 designated parking spots for metro access vehicles at 17141 Vashon Highway Southwest." He described the current situation: DLS had occupied a small office there under a lease that expired Aug. 31, 2024 and had remained on a month‑to‑month basis; Metro faced a proposed 200% rent increase at its separate location and sought to move to avoid the higher cost.

The ordinance before the committee would authorize a five‑year lease with two five‑year extension options, carry the existing rent rate and add three designated parking stalls for Metro access vehicles. Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda moved the ordinance and a technical amendment correcting annual rent and parking fee language; the committee adopted the amendment and then gave the ordinance a due‑pass recommendation to full council.

The clerk recorded a roll call: Councilmembers Baron, Mosqueda, Quinn, Perry, Zahilay and Chair Dombowski voted in favor; Councilmember Balducci was excused. The clerk reported "6 ayes, 0 nos with Councilmember Balducci excused." The committee directed staff to finalize lease language and return the executed lease through the normal contracting process.