News Flash

Bothell’s Downtown has come a long way, and the City of Bothell invites community members to join in planning for the next 20 years of growth by attending the Downtown Subarea Plan Open House. On Wednesday, July 22, from 5:30pm – 7:30pm at City Hall, community members can learn about the draft Downtown Subarea Plan update, explore its recommendations, meet the project team, ask questions, and share feedback before the plan is finalized.

The Downtown Subarea Plan will help guide continued growth by establishing a long-term vision for Downtown, addressing topics such as housing, transportation, parking, economic development, parks and public spaces, art and historic preservation, and natural resources.

The City partnered with the community over the past year to develop this draft through multiple engagement opportunities, including a survey, a series of Downtown walking tours, the Downtown Ambassador Group of 24 community members, and tabling at local events. This July 22 open house is an opportunity to see how community input helped shape the draft plan, review the proposed recommendations, and provide feedback on the future of Downtown.

Whether you’ve participated in the planning process from the beginning or are just learning about the project, everyone is welcome to attend. Community members can stop by anytime between 5:30pm and 7:30pm to view informational displays, speak with City staff and project consultants, and share their thoughts. 

To learn more about the Downtown Subarea Plan and find additional event details, visit the project webpage on EngageBothell.com.

Ensuring sustainable and high quality emergency services remains a top priority for the City, and work has been underway to evaluate whether a regional fire service model could better support our community and the firefighters who serve it. Recently, the City Council adopted a resolution expressing formal interest in adopting this service model by annexing into the Shoreline Fire Department Regional Fire Authority.

Under a regional model, Bothell’s fire department would become part of the larger Regional Fire Authority (RFA), instead of operating as a standalone, smaller fire department. Regional fire service is a common model across the region, with Bothell being one of only eight cities in King and Snohomish Counties that still operate their own fire departments. The Shoreline RFA currently serves the cities of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, and the Town of Woodway. 

When multiple communities are served by a regional fire authority, the provider can pool resources and expand specialized services for member communities. A regional model can also offer expanded training and advancement opportunities for fire personnel, compared to smaller independent departments. 

The Council’s action authorizes staff to begin a detailed review process to evaluate whether joining the Shoreline RFA will provide the desired benefits and outcomes for the community. This review process includes financial analysis, governance and operational planning, and ample opportunities for community input, including a public hearing on July 7, 2026.  Should this process continue to move forward, the decision on whether to join the Shoreline RFA would be ultimately decided by Bothell voters through a ballot measure in the November 3, 2026 general election.

In preparation for the potential ballot measure, the City is seeking individuals interested in serving on Pro/Con Committees to write statements for or against the proposed ballot measure, which will appear in the voters’ pamphlet. You can learn more about serving on a Pro or Con Committee by reading the public notice. 

Additional information and opportunities for public engagement will be shared as the process moves forward. You can learn more and see a list of frequently asked questions on the Fire Study webpage.

The City of Bothell announces Susan “Susie” Disch as the 2026 Fourth of July Parade Grand Marshal. In honor of her ongoing commitment, leadership, and service to the Bothell community, Susie will be featured in the Grand Parade on July 4, 2026. 

Each year, the City of Bothell invites the community to submit nominations for this distinguished honor. Selected by committee, the title of Parade Grand Marshal is presented to an individual or organization whose dedication, service, and character embody the very heart of our community. 

Susie has dedicated most of her life to serving the Bothell community, beginning with delivering dairy products to Bothell homes with her business, Disch’s Darigold Products, in 1979. She and her husband, Jim Disch, have been members of Canyon Hills Community Church in Bothell since 1998 where Susie developed a passion for serving the community through non-profit work.

As Canyon Hill’s Food Bank director, she has been foundational in building a service that provides food, support, and hope to those persevering through challenging times. She has aided in serving more than 230,000 people since the food bank’s opening in 2010.  

“We have seen lives changed,” says Susie. “Those who were lonely were able to build relationships with us. Those that were sick were able to have someone pray for them. Our clients know we care and that when they come in, they will be treated with love and respect.” 

The Canyon Hills Food Bank continues to grow, reaching increasingly more community members each year; serving those residing in Bothell, Lynwood, Kenmore, and Mill Creek. Susie recently opened a second food bank location in South Everett to expand the impact of these services even further. The new food bank location has served more than 5,400 people in just three months. 

In addition to leading food banks, Susie has been involved with Canyon Hill’s Car Care program for the past 25 years and co-founded a caregiver support group. Through these programs, she helps provide free, routine maintenance and oil changes to the vehicles of widows, and support and education services for single-caregiver households.

She finds building relationships and fostering community to be the foundation of what the world is missing and encourages people to get involved in community service and focus on the good that surrounds us. 

“It is my goal in life to make a difference wherever I go,” she said, “I have lived 73 years, and I have found that when I am serving others, I find the most joy.” 

Her continued dedication to service and community exemplifies why Susie Disch was selected as the City of Bothell’s 2026 Fourth of July Parade Grand Marshal. Through her leadership, compassion, and lifelong dedication to service, Susie has made a lasting and meaningful impact on the Bothell community.

All community members are invited to attend the Grand Parade in Downtown Bothell on July 4, 2026, at noon. To learn more about the Fourth of July Parade, visit bothellwa.gov/FourthofJuly.

This personal reflection on AAPI Heritage Month was thoughtfully written and shared with the City of Bothell by Sam Sim, Vice President, Greater Seattle Korean Association. Thank you Sam, for your amazing contributions to the Bothell community!

Formal efforts to acknowledge the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the United States began in the late 1970s, spanning over a decade before establishing a month-long celebration. In 1977, New York Representative Frank Horton proposed House Joint Resolution 540, suggesting the designation of the first 10 days of May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. Concurrently, Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye introduced a similar resolution. Despite initial rejection, Representative Horton reintroduced House Joint Resolution 1007 the following year, urging the president to declare a week in May, starting from 1979, as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week, covering May 7 to 10.

After approval by the House and the Senate, President Jimmy Carter signed it into Public Law 95-419 on October 5, 1978. Subsequently, from 1980 to 1990, each president issued annual proclamations for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. The observance was expanded to a month in 1990 by Congress, and in 1992, May was officially designated as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month under Public Law 102-450 during the George H. W. Bush administration. In 2009, the month was renamed AAPI Heritage Month. (Shim Roth, M., 2023, History Channel)

AAPI Heritage Month celebrates the significant contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across various domains, including science, literature, sports, government, and activism. Notably, the month acknowledges historic milestones such as Kamala Harris becoming the first Asian American Vice President in 2021 and achievements in film, exemplified by South Korean director Bong Joon Ho's "Parasite" winning the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2019 and Marvel's release of "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" in 2021, featuring the studio's first Asian superhero. Despite enduring stereotypes, AAPI individuals have a rich history in the United States, dating back over 15,000 years, with notable immigration waves during the California Gold Rush and the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, among others. Today, AAPI communities are the fastest-growing racial group in the United States, making AAPI Heritage Month a celebration of their diverse journeys, experiences, traditions, and cultures.

In retrospect, what AAPI Heritage Month means to me as the Vice President of Greater Seattle Korean Association, in a profound sense, primarily is “opportunity.” I must look back upon the efforts of the open minds and hearts of our previous national leaders and officials who paved the way and had the foresight to establish recognition and respect for the efforts of Asian Americans which started from the initial waves of immigration to the United States. In this way, I am happy to represent not only the Korean Association but also the greater Puget Sound AAPI community to reciprocate and bless our new home in America with our culture in return, as relationships are always reciprocally and mutually appreciated. This Tuesday, May 7, I along with Mayor Mason Thompson and the Bothell City Council will be announcing the AAPI proclamation at 6pm at Bothell City Hall. Today, I am a proud Korean American and member of the AAPI community, as well as a proud city of Bothell resident.

Translation provided below by the Greater Seattle Korean Association:

미국에 대한 아시아계 미국인과 태평양 제도 주민의 공헌을 인정하는 공식적인 노력은 1970년대 후반에 시작되었으며, 한 달간의 축제를 설립하기 전에 약 10년 동안 이어졌습니다. 1977년, 뉴욕 대표인 프랭크 호튼은 하원 합동결의안 540호를 제안하여 5월의 첫 10일을 아시아/태평양계 미국인 유산 주간으로 지정하는 것을 제안했습니다. 동시에, 하와이 상원의원 다니엘 이노예는 비슷한 결의안을 제안했습니다. 초기 거부에도 불구하고, 호튼 대표는 다음 해에 하원 합동결의안 1007호를 재도입하여 대통령이 1979년부터 5월의 첫 주를 아시아/태평양계 미국인 유산 주간으로 선언하도록 요청했습니다. 5월 7일부터 10일까지.

하원과 상원의 승인 이후, 제임스 카터 대통령은 1978년 10월 5일에 공공법 95-419로 서명하여 이를 법률로 제정했습니다. 그 후로 1980년부터 1990년까지 각 대통령은 매년 아시아/태평양계 미국인 유산 주간을 위한 연설을 발표했습니다. 의회에 의해 1990년에 관찰 주간이 한 달로 확장되었으며, 1992년, 5월이 조지 H. W. 부시 행정부 시기에 공공법 102-450으로 공식적으로 아시아/태평양계 미국인 유산 달로 지정되었습니다. 2009년에는 이 달이 AAPI 유산 달로 명명되었습니다.

AAPI 유산 달은 과학, 문학, 스포츠, 정부 및 사회운동을 포함한 다양한 분야에서 아시아계 미국인과 태평양 제도 주민의 중요한 공헌을 축하합니다. 특히, 이 달은 2021년에 처음으로 아시아계 미국인 부통령이 된 카말라 해리스와 관련된 역사적 이정표와 같은 업적을 인정하며, 한국 감독 봉준호의 "기생충"이 2019년 아카데미 시상식에서 최우수 작품상을 수상하고, 마블의 "상치와 십개군의 전설"이 2021년에 출시되어 스튜디오의 첫 아시아계 슈퍼히어로를 선보인 영화에 대해 언급합니다. 오랜 시간 동안 지속된 편견에도 불구하고, AAPI 개인들은 미국에서 15,000년 이상의 긴 역사를 가지고 있으며, 캘리포니아 골드러시와 1965년 이민 및 국적법 등의 주요 이민 파도가 있었습니다. 오늘날, AAPI 커뮤니티는 미국에서 가장 빠르게 성장하는 인종 집단이며, AAPI 유산 달은 그들의 다양한 여행, 경험, 전통 및 문화를 축하하는 축제입니다.

회고적으로, 나에게 있어서 대 피트 사이드 한인회 부회장으로서, AAPI 유산 달이 의미하는 것은 주로 "기회"입니다. 나는 미국으로의 초기 이민 이후 아시아계 미국인의 노력을 인정하고 존중하기 위해 전 국가 지도자들과 관리자들의 열린 마음과 선견지명을 돌아보며 기뻐합니다. 이렇게 함으로써, 나는 한인회뿐만 아니라 푸젯 사운드 지역의 AAPI 공동체를 대표하여 우리의 문화로 새로운 미국을 축복하는 것이 관계적으로 상호간에 항상 서로에게 감사한 관계임을 나타내고 있습니다. 이번 화요일, 5월 7일에는 저와 메이슨 톰슨 시장 그리고 보텔 시의회가 보텔 시청에서

처음으로 AAPI 선언을 발표할 것입니다. 오늘날, 나는 자랑스러운 한국계 미국인이자 AAPI 공동체의 일원으로서, 그리고 자랑스러운 보텔 시 주민입니다. (샘 심, 대 피트 사이드 한인회 부회장, 2024)

This week, the Bothell City Council proclaimed November as Native American Heritage Month, honoring the invaluable contributions of Indigenous people who have inhabited this land since pre-colonization and incorporation. Dr. Victor Begay, an assistant professor of American Indian and Indigenous Studies at Cascadia College and the Tribal Liaison for the college, graciously accepted the proclamation. In his comments, Dr. Begay acknowledged the complex emotions many Indigenous individuals experience regarding Native American Heritage Month. He also shared his aspirations for the City to foster stronger relationships with the local Indigenous communities here in Bothell. To read the full proclamation and Dr. Begay's remarks, you can access the recording of the ⁠November 14th, 2023 City Council Meeting.

At the September 19th Council Meeting, City Council proclaimed September 15th through October 15th Hispanic & Latino Heritage Month! Hispanic Heritage Month offers us the opportunity to recognize the invaluable ways that Hispanic and Latino Americans who live, work, learn, and visit throughout Bothell influence and enrich our community. Very special thanks to Faraon Torres Lazo, Mariana Acuna, and Jessica Flores who accepted the proclamation on behalf of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. 

To learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month, check out NPR's Hispanic Heritage Month Collection for thought-provoking stories from Latin American Indigenous communities, legends of La Llorona, and interviews from contemporary Latin American and Latino communities. 

Bothell Police and the Internal Revenue Service want you to be aware of imposter scams that may involve texts or emails from people who fraudulently claim to work for the IRS. 

How can you tell if communication is really from the IRS?  

The IRS does NOT:

• Send direct messages or take payments through social media.
• Accept gift cards or prepaid debit cards as payment.
• Call with automated messages that threaten or direct you to websites that aren’t IRS.gov.
• Threaten to call law enforcement or immigration officials.
• Take your citizenship status, driver's license or business license.
• Mail tax debt resolution advertisements.

Be Scam Aware:  Learn More

Don't trust links sent to you by strangers.  Visit the IRS official website: https://www.irs.gov/help/tax-scams

Report Financial Crimes

If you have been a victim of a scam, fraud or other financial crime - please report it.  If you live in Bothell, call the Bothell Police non-emergency dispatch number: 425-577-5656.

Online scams are becoming more sophisticated—and more personal. One of the fastest-growing fraud schemes in the world is called “Pig Butchering.” 

It’s a multi-billion-dollar scam designed to win your trust first, and empty your bank account later.

How It Starts

Scammers make their first contact through text messages, social media, or dating apps.

Random text messages:

• “Hey, it’s Barb—can you pick me up from the airport tomorrow at 10 a.m.?”
• “Sue, it’s Jasmine. Can you call people and cancel the 8 a.m. yoga class?”

Be aware:  These texts seem like simple wrong-number mistakes, but they’re really trying to start a conversation. 

Social media:

The scammer might follow you, like your posts, or comment on something you’ve shared to get your attention. Soon after, they’ll send a friendly message to strike up a conversation.

Dating apps:

Scammers create fake profiles that look and sound like your ideal match—sharing your hobbies, values, and goals—to quickly build trust.

What Happens Next

Once you respond—even just to correct a “wrong number” or say thanks for a comment—the scammer keeps the conversation going. Over days, weeks, or even months, they’ll flatter you, share personal stories, and slowly introduce the idea of investing or “learning how they made their money.”

Unlike the old-fashioned “foreign prince” scams asking for a few thousand dollars, Pig Butchering scams aim to take everything— your savings, retirement, and sometimes even money borrowed through loans.

How to Protect Yourself

• Don’t respond to texts or messages from unknown numbers or accounts.
• Be skeptical of new social media followers or online “friends” who show unusual interest right away.
• Never send money, cryptocurrency, or personal financial information to someone you’ve only met online.
• If something seems “too good to be true,” it probably is.

Stay Informed

Bothell Police regularly hosts Anti-Scam Awareness classes to help community members recognize and avoid these evolving fraud schemes.

For more information, or to attend an upcoming session, please contact Detective Sergeant Erik Martin