The Greater Maple Valley Area Council held its regular monthly meeting on Monday, August 6, with 13 members present, two absent, and one position open. The following items were addressed:

1) King County / Unincorporated Area Council Interaction;

2) 276th Ave SE Road Closure; and

3) Citizen Advisory Survey & Area Council Elections.

The Area Council serves as an all-volunteer, locally elected advisory body to the King County Council and represents all unincorporated area residents living in the Tahoma School District.

King County / Unincorporated Area Council Interaction

Tom Carpenter, member of the 4 Creeks Unincorporated Area Council (UAC), led a good discussion on important growth and planning issues facing the County and rural citizens over the next several years. Tom recounted the 20-year growth targets contained in the state’s 1990 Growth Management Act, the 10-year cycles of the King County Charter Commission, the 4-yr cycles of major revisions of the King County Comprehensive Plan, and how all these provide citizens ways to influence their quality of life.

Tom described the many opportunities afforded citizens through participation on commissions and committees, as well as attending public meetings, to voice their concerns to elected representatives and help shape future policy. The Unincorporated Area Councils - your Area Council and 4 Creeks in this portion of the County - provide one avenue of communication. These rural UACs not only serve as advisory bodies to King County government, but also provide invaluable information to citizens on current and pending legislation, regulations, levies, etc. To better express their voice to elected officials, the UACs believe citizens need a much better understanding of the issues that could impact them. Tom described how the UACs help provide that forum, as well as foster better two-way communication.

To help local citizens stay informed, the Area Council regularly writes articles of interest that are published in the Voice of the Valley. Both the Area Council and the 4 Creeks UAC also have informative web sites to provide citizens with information they could use: www.greatermaplevalleyareacouncil.org and www.FourCreeks.org, respectively. Finally, the Area Council conducts Citizen Advisory Surveys at Election time in odd-numbered years to gage citizens on important local issues (see section below for discussion of this November’s survey). The 4 Creeks UAC also is considering their own Citizen Advisory Survey in future years.

276th Ave SE Road Closure

The deteriorating culvert that carries a tributary to Carey Creek under 276th Ave. SE at SE 197th St. is being replaced to ensure the long-term strength and stability of the roadway above it and open the waterway for fish passage. The county closed 276^th Ave. SE between SE 197th St. and SE 200th St. on July 9 with construction slated to continue through the end of August.

Area Council member Warren Iverson provided an update on the progress of the work after viewing the construction and talking with the County and the construction firm. It appears that because of some soil difficulties encountered during excavation, the work is ~1 to 2 weeks behind schedule. This means that the road closure will probably continue through Labor Day weekend into the 2nd week of September. During construction, traffic is being detoured via SE 216th St, 244th Ave. SE, and SR-18.

Citizen Advisory Survey & Area Council Elections

In November of odd-numbered years rural unincorporated area citizens within the Tahoma School District participate in the Area Council’s Citizen Advisory Survey (click here for the 2005 Survey results).  Responses provide the Area Council information needed to support rural unincorporated voter interests.

The Area Council reviewed a draft of this November’s Survey put together by our Citizen Advisory Survey Committee. New issues under consideration to be included are: the new Rural Economic Strategies for home-based businesses, possible transportation improvements and transit options, and a proposed Executive Department of Rural Affairs.

Citizens can fill out an Advisory Survey at the polls on Election Day. For those citizens who vote by Absentee Ballot, the Advisory Survey can be provided by mail.

Also, as part of the Advisory Survey, citizens will be able to vote for candidates vying for positions on the Area Council. Members serve 4-year terms. Every other year 8 of the 16 Council positions are up for election. Members are volunteers who must be at least 18 years of age and reside in the Tahoma School District. Interested candidates will find contact information published in forthcoming issues of the Voice and on the Area Council’s web site.

Next Meeting

The Area Council meets on the first Monday of each month (except on legal holidays) at the Sheriff’s Precinct # 3 Headquarters located at 231^st St & SR-169 (across from Fire Station). The public is invited to attend. Each meeting begins with an Open Comment period allowing citizens to voice issues of concern.

Our next regular monthly meeting will be held on Monday, September 10, at 7:00 PM (the first Monday being Labor Day). Comments on Area Council business may be submitted to GMVAC, P.O. Box 101, Maple Valley, WA  98038, or to gmvac_chair@hotmail.com.