April 2011 Meeting Highlights

On Monday, April 4, the Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council (GMVUAC) held its regular monthly meeting. The following topics were discussed: Future of Unincorporated Area Council (UACs), Black Diamond Master Planned Developments; Area Council Vacant Positions; Area Council Focal Points and Committees; and Local Community Involvement. Your Area Council serves as an all-volunteer, locally elected advisory body to the King County Council representing all rural unincorporated area residents living in the Tahoma School District.

Public Comment
Susan Harvey of Ravensdale discussed impacts on the Issaquah-Hobart-Ravensdale-Black Diamond Road that will be caused by the Master Planned Developments (MPDs) in Black Diamond. Ms. Harvey requested Area Council members sign a Letter of Petition to recommend this important "bypass" be included in any Traffic Modeling conducted to assess the impacts of the MPDs. In addition to each Area Council member, Chair Steve Hiester signed the petition on behalf of the full Area Council.

Due to continuing concerns with impacts on the Rural Area and its residents, the Area Council also voted to send a letter to the Black Diamond City Council. The letter will request the Issaquah-Hobart-Ravensdale-Black Diamond Road be added to the Traffic Demand Model currently being developed by Parametrix under contract to the City of Black Diamond.

UAC Future
Funding of UACs remains an issue. King County is contemplating a new non-contractual relationship with the all-volunteer UACs. Currently, King County provides each of the six UACs up to $10,000 funding per year which is primarily used to cover insurance and elections. Generally, the Area Council spends less than half that amount each year.

The Area Council discussed various financial structures, such as a 501c3, to remain viable at a lower or no level of King County funding. Area Council Chair Steve Hiester will be attending an All-UAC with King County representatives on Monday, April 11, in Skyway to discuss future King County-UAC funding-relationship structures.

Black Diamond Master Planned Developments (MPDs)
The Area Council continues to be concerned with the major impacts on Rural Area citizens associated with the Yarrow Bay-proposed MPDs (6,050 homes and 1.15 million sq ft of commercial/business space) in the City of Black Diamond. These impacts include: massive amounts of Traffic, at least three new Schools, and major Stormwater Detention Facilities all in the Rural Area.

An update was given on the recent decisions by the Growth Management Hearings Board (GMHB). The GMHB has given the City of Black Diamond 105 days to develop a new “legislative” process whereby open dialogue is the rule in Public Hearings held by the City’s Planning Commission, then by the City Council. The ruling stipulates that this process is to be complete by May 27. The Area Council again plans to provide testimony related to Rural Area impacts.

However, the City of Black Diamond continues to accept Preliminary Plat Applications from Yarrow Bay. The City also expects to commence Public Hearings on the Development Agreements submitted by Yarrow Bay and approved by the City Staff. These documents provide the long-term plan (~15 - 20 years) for MPD design, development, and build-out. Development Agreement Hearings are now expected to start in late May. The Area Council also will testify at these Hearings regarding Rural Area impacts. Members of the Public can orally testify at these upcoming Hearings or submit written comments to the Hearing Examiner.
A Citizens’ team has been holding meetings with members of the Black Diamond City Council to discuss recommended revisions (or new) Conditions to the MPD Approval Ordinances passed last September. Topics of import include: Transportation, Environment, Stormwater, and Fiscal Impacts.

Information on all upcoming Public Hearings will be posted on the City of Black Diamond MPD page . The Yarrow Bay DRAFT Development Agreements currently are posted, along with many other MPD documents.

Area Council Membership Vacancies
Vice-Chair Dave Fields announced his decision to retire from the Area Council for health reasons. Dave, an original founding member, has served for over 22 years on the Area Council and will be sorely missed. Warren Iverson, another original founding member, described Dave’s many contributions to the community including fighting the imposition of tolls on SR-18 following its renovation. Dave received a strong applauds of thanks from his fellow Area Council members and all attendees.

Consequently, the Area Council now has 5 vacancies to fill. Three vacancies are in the Francis Community Area comprised of voting precincts: Atkinson, Francis, Dorre Don, Shadow Lake, Sweeney, and portions of Lake Youngs. One vacancy is in the Hobart Community Area comprised of voting precincts: Arthur, Hobart, McCoy, Tahoma, and portions of Cedar River, Preston, Hutchinson, and Rattlesnake. Finally, one vacancy is in the Ravensdale Community Area comprised of voting precincts: Bitterroot, Kangley, Lund, Ravensdale, Selleck and portions of Pipeline, Crow, Falcon, Phoebe, and Plains.

Rural Area citizens interested in applying to join the Area Council can contact the Area Council by mailing a brief letter of interest including the Community Area position you wish to fill (listed above by voting precinct) to: GMVUAC, P.O. Box 101, Maple Valley WA 98038.

Focal Points and Committees
As part of its organization structure, the Area Council maintains a variety of key Focal Points and Committees to perform a variety of functions.

There are several Activities for which the Area Council has designated Focal Points: Environmental Services,--Susan Dawson, Governance and Legislative Affairs--Steve Hiester, Parks and Recreation--Gordon Moorman, Public Safety--Dave Fields, School District Affairs--Warren Iverson, and Social Services--Dave Fields.

Since Dave Fields served as Focal Point for two of these Activities, new Focal Points were discussed. Warren Iverson will replace Dave Fields as the Public Safety Focal Point. Joe Cruikshank will replace Dave Fields as the Social Services Focal Point. The Area Council also discussed possibly adding a Fundraising Focal Point depending upon what final relationship structure is established between King County and UACs.

The following Committees are active (Chairs in parentheses): Executive (Steve Hiester), By-Laws (Rob Morris), Train Show (Steve Hiester), Flood Control and Surface Water Management (Dave Fields), Sheriff’s Community Involvement (Steve Hiester), Transportation (Gordon Moorman), and Growth Management (Peter Rimbos). Area Council Committee meetings are open to any member of the public to participate.

The Flood Control and Surface Water Management Committee will vote for a new Chair with current Committee chair Dave Fields retiring. Susan Dawson is leaving the Transportation Committee and will join the Growth Management Committee. To replace Susan Dawson the Transportation Committee will add Patrick Seiver. In addition to Susan Dawson the Growth Management Committee will add Joe Cruikshank. All three of these Committees deal directly with major King County Departments, as well as participate in periodic planning such as the King County Comprehensive Plan.

Reserve Silica
Reserve Silica met with King County DDES recently to extend their dumping operating hours to 24/7. DDES has yet to act on the Reserve Silica application. Another meeting scheduled for the week of April 18. In addition, Reserve Silica has requested to up-zone from Minerals zoning to RA-10 as part of the 2012 Comprehensive Plan update.

Local Community Involvement
Les Dawson and Rob Morris announced that three local Churches are sponsoring and is now serving free Community Dinners from 5:00 to 7:00 PM three evenings a week: Mondays at The Hobart Community Church (27524 SE 200th St); Wednesdays at the High Roads Church (25610 Lawson St) in Black Diamond; and Fridays at the Cedar Creek Covenant Church (23220 Maple Valley/Black Diamond Rd--SR-169) in Maple Valley. These free meals are available to everyone. Les and Rob ask that you please join them.

Next Regular Monthly Meeting:
Date/Time -- May 2, 2011, at 7:00 - 9:30 PM.
Location -- Sheriff’s Precinct #3 Headquarters, 231st St & SR-169 (across from Fire Station).

Area Council Information
Your Area Council meets on the first Monday of each month (except on legal holidays). Each meeting begins with a Public Comment period to provide local citizens with the opportunity to voice issues of concern to Area Council members and King County or State of Washington officials in attendance.