King County public health presents Auburn-focused heat adaptation model; community group prioritizes cool kits, energy assistance

Public Health—Seattle & King County officials presented the Climate and Health Adaptation Modeling Project (CHAMP) findings to the Auburn City Council study session on June 23, outlining community‑driven solutions to rising extreme heat in South King County.

The project convened 15 Auburn residents and local service providers over six half‑day workshops from July through April to map heat vulnerabilities and prioritize interventions, Public Health Project Manager Kat Hartbell said. The work group identified cooling support for people experiencing homelessness, energy assistance for low‑income households and extended cooling‑center hours among its top recommendations.

Why it matters: King County temperature projections show the Puget Sound region could warm roughly 5.5°F by mid‑century, Public Health officials said, raising health risks in places with limited air conditioning and high nighttime temperatures. The CHAMP effort paired heat‑island mapping with local knowledge to shape place‑specific responses the county is offering to share with Auburn.

Project approach and findings Public Health used a participatory group model‑building method to help the community work group map local drivers of heat exposure and health impacts, Bradley Kramer, manager of the Climate and Health Equity Initiative, said. Workshops included community health workers, social service providers, an Auburn Food Bank representative, older adults, youth and tribal and planning representatives.

Work group members prioritized several solutions. Presenters listed the top items as: cool kits for people experiencing homelessness (water, cooling towels, sunscreen and sun‑protective clothing); expanded energy‑assistance programs to reduce barriers to using cooling equipment; extended cooling‑center hours outside of normal 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. schedules; workplace heat education about risks and worker rights; expanded community navigator programs; community gardens and increased green space; and “opportunity circles” — community conversations hosted by government, community or faith organizations.

Public Health and community participants also discussed operational details: the King County Regional Homeless Authority currently distributes cool kits in parts of the county; staff noted opportunities to partner with local nonprofits such as the YWCA and Auburn’s food bank for local distribution. Hartbell said a county executive office fund had supported an initial round of cool‑kit distribution and that future application rounds open periodically.

Questions from council and follow up suggested by presenters Council members asked about pets at cooling sites, how to make cooling centers welcoming (wraparound services), language access and outreach to underserved populations. Hartbell said some jurisdictions allow pets in cooling spaces, and noted it can be a barrier to use if pets are excluded. She said the team is planning translated materials and multiple media formats; a domestic‑violence comic that ties heat to other social risks is being translated into 12 languages and prepared for print and digital distribution.

Council members also asked about structural measures, such as heat‑pump or building code changes to increase air conditioning access, and about longer‑term mitigation such as green corridors and reflective roofing. Presenters acknowledged affordability concerns: portable and central cooling can raise electricity bills and retrofits or heat‑pump installations can be costly, and energy assistance ranked highly in the group’s priorities for that reason.

Next steps and resources Public Health staff said they are finishing a final report and suggested they will return to Auburn with the report and supporting materials that communities and nonprofits can use in grant applications. Kramer said the CHAMP results align with actions in King County’s draft Strategic Climate Action Plan (2025) and the county’s extreme‑heat mitigation strategy and that the county will share technical writeups and outreach materials for local use. He said the work group members are interested in continuing with implementation support and that Public Health has begun preliminary grant writing with the city.

Ending Councilmembers thanked the presenters and community members for their work; Mayor Nancy Backus and council members Pat Bailey and Dana Hinman were noted by presenters as local project partners who helped bring CHAMP to Auburn. Public Health officials said they will follow up with the council and community with the final report and suggested implementation materials that Auburn staff and partners can use to pursue funding and local programs.