April 2007

7:00 PM: Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call: Members present: Claudia Brisendine, Les Dawson, Susan Dawson, Dave Fields, Steve Hiester, John Huson, Warren Iverson, Gordon Moorman, Rob Morris, Peter Rimbos, and Patrick Seiver

Members absent: Richard Bonewits, Kevin Daoust, Eric Harris.

Guests present: Marissa Alegria, Sherril Huff Menees, Sam Landucci, Dierdre Landucci, Bev Tonda, Tim Lemon, and Fred Maxwell.

Review and Approve Agenda: Approved.

7:10 PM: Public Comment: None

7:10 PM: King County Elections Plan for 2007/07

Sherril Huff Menees King County Assistant Director of Records, Elections and Licensing Services Division, outlined elections procedures in King County. Her office is responsible for voter registration, election administration, and information distribution about election history, voter lists and immediate election results. Wash-ington can hold up to six elections per year. Ms HuffMenees pointed out that the county experienced approximately 80% mail in vote in the 2006 general election. Seattle has recently held an all mail-in vote in regards to their viaduct situation. She emphasized that voters were contacted to vote by mail. This was seen to be a very successful operation. After the fiasco in 2004 King County has become a point of reference to other jurisdictions wanting to improve their voting procedures. Although there frequently is little time between elections, Ms HuffMenees stressed her office must be ready for each election. King County will soon be an all mail-in type of election.  This will mean that +/- 900,000 ballots will need to be mailed, processed and tabulated in a timely manner. Throughout the county her office will maintain drop off sites for those not wishing to mail their ballots and some regional voting sites for those handicapped. Ms HuffMenees recognized problems such as the length of time voting sites had to be available to the public, hours of operation and the fact they had to be handicapped-accessible. The Area Council asked if the County would be able to accommodate our bi-annual election of member’s ballots and accom- panying citizen advisory survey when the switch to an all-mail election is made. Ms. HuffMenees stated that they would most likely insert our ballot/survey in the envelopes mailed to all greater Maple Valley rural unincorporated registered voters.

8:07 PM:  Report from Olympia by Rep. Jay Rodne: Cancelled

8:10 PM: Fire District #43 Billing Procedures

Fire District Commissioner Fred Maxwell and Chief Tim Lemon outlined current policy for handling those needing transportation to hospitals as a result of Emergency Responses. Critical situations resulted in the district providing transportation but non-critical situations resulted in the use of ambulance companies for transporting those needing this service. Often they have been unavailable for this service. The district interviewed companies seeking involvement in doing this service, found one, but eventually they were unable to provide the service consistently. As a result the fire district decided it could provide the service and bill insurance companies providing service for those in need. This costs the public around $740 as opposed to a cost of around $1100 through private ambulance companies. If a person in uninsured they can seek assistance through the fire district. It is foreseen that no one in need would be denied. This procedure has been in place since November of 2006. Chief Lemon’s response is attached.

9:00 PM: Committee Reports

Communities That Care: Les Dawson reported that CTC is sponsoring a Rachel’s Challenge workshop at the High School on April 23-all day and evening. The public was invited. CTC is also staging its annual Recognition Event May 1. He urged members to nominated youth and adults in categories that befitted them. Also, our group has been asked to provide clean-up help after the event. This would take about 20-30 minutes time. Les will be contacting all.

Transportation Committee: Gordon Moorman reported that the committee has been researching and discussion issues facing transportation in the valley. Currently they are working on a response to problems presented by the expansion of needs made as a result of the expansion of park facility in Ravensdale. Gordon mentioned two important issues: Will the county have to do an Environmental Impact Statement? And Will the County do a traffic study? It seemed as though the local chamber of commerce was under the impression we were against the park project. Gordon pointed out we have taken no stance on the issue, we just wanted information. Gordon remarked that their may be communication gaps/problems between our group and the local chamber of commerce. Consequently Gordon moved that we join the Maple Valley/Black Diamond Chamber of Commerce to facilitate proper, consistent lines of communication. Warren Iverson seconded and the motion was passed unanimously. Gordon will be our representative.

2007 Elections and Advisory Survey: Currently working on survey. Peter will send out 2005 survey to members.

Website: Peter moved for him to write an article for the local papers describing website. Seconded by Les Dawson and passed unanimously. Peter moved we discuss in May’s meeting a gift for the person helping him to customize the website to final needs. Les seconded and it passed unanimously. Peter’s letter to the newspapers is attached.

Announcements:

May 2007 Rural Economic Strategies Report/King County Office of Business Relations and Economic Development—Julia Larson

9:45 PM: Adjournment

Respectively submitted by Les Dawson