August 2009 Meeting Summary

Rural Initiative

      By Peter Rimbos, Corresponding Secretary

On Monday, August 3, the Greater Maple Valley Area Council held its regular monthly meeting. Our major topics of discussion were: 1) rural Initiative Coordination with Lauren Smith of King County's Dept. of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP) Regional Policy Unit, and 2) Rural Economic Strategies with Julia Larson from King County's Office of Strategic Planning (OSP).

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.

Rural Initiative Coordination

Lauren Smith of DNRP's Regional Policy Unit described several ongoing initiatives to better coordinate King County departments with rural area citizens.

An Unincorporated Area Newsletter was initiated several months ago to provide timely information to the public. The newsletter includes announcements of public workshops; road closures, etc; King County outreach and training opportunities; community news; and news from King County's six Unincorporated Area Councils. Lauren asked for feedback on how to make the newsletter even better. Area Council members suggested the UACs be afforded  more space to discuss important issues in their rspective areas and to inclue a monthly calendar of events with links for more details. Lauren felt these were good suggestions. The newsletter can also be accessed from the Area Council website.

The Rural Services Directory is being revised and updated (last published in July 2007). The directory is a reference guide of services King County provides to rural residents, such as maintaining roads and bridges, providing flood protection, preserving working farms and forests, operating a home business, etc. There also is a Rural Resources website that includes all of the information found in the directory. Lauren asked for feedback on the directory and Area Council members stated that it provides good information and needs wider distribution such as at libraries, post officers, farmers' markets, etc.

Lauren described a unique community agreement between the Four Creeks Unincorporated Area Council, local residents, and King County. This partnership agreement in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will benefit the local community by making improvements to a community park and a wetland that also helps control stormwater in the local area. The MOU includes stormwater and drainage management at Cemetery Pond, native vegetation planting in the adjoining wetlands, control of illegal dumping (note: King County's Illegal Dumping Hotline is (206) 296-SITE), vision for Coalfield Park and the planned Cedar River to Lake Sammamish Trail. Area Council members expressed enthusiasm for such community agreement snad the potential for similar agreements in Ravensdale.

Rural Economic Strategies (RES)

Julia Larson, OSP & Dept. of Business Relations & Economic Development, provided details on a public review DRAFT of the RES Mission, Goals and Strategies, and responded to Area Council comments made so far. In general, Julia felt Area Council member comments concerning better tax incentives, process improvements, and clearer communications were very good. Area Council members also requested more information on proposed implementation plans. Julia stated they continue to review public comments and encouraged Area Council members to provide suggestions for implementation plans. Once these are all compiled by the end of August, the public will once again have a chance to comment on the entire package before it is finalized.

Julia also discussed a set of proposed Dept. of Development and Environmental Services (DDES) process improvements published on July 24. These included: simplified processes to approve boundary line adjustments; improved pre-application conferences; streamlined permit timelines; permitted use changes, including bed & breakfasts, wineries, etc; and extension of Temporary Use permits to one year with renewals each year for up to five years. Area Council members expressed support for many of these proposed improvements.

Area Council Elections and Advisory Issues Survey

In odd-numbered years, the Area Council conducts elections for half of its 16 members (members serve staggered four-year terms) and an Advisory Issues Survey to gauge area residents' opinions on topics of importance to the rural community. These surveys have helped the Area Council to understand the sentiments of rural area residents and to accurately convey them to local and state elected officials.

With King County now using an all-mail ballot, the Area Council is looking into directly mailing ballots to local area registered voters. In the past, local voters would fill out the Area Council Election Ballots and Survey at the polls (with some voters requesting mail ballots). A final decision will be made soon and detailed in upcoming Area Council articles.