December 2006 Minutes

Call to Order: 7:00 PM

Pledge of Allegiance

Members Present: Richard Bonewits, Claudia Brisendine, Les Dawson, Susan Dawson, Kevin Daoust, Rob Morris, Eric Harris, Steve Hiester, Warren Iverson, Gordon Moorman, Peter Rimbos, and Patrick Seiver.

Members Absent: Dave Fields, John Huson.

Guests Present: Major Dave Germani, Marissa Alegria, Viet Nguyen.

Review and Approve Agenda: Approved

7:10 PM: Public Comment: Major Germani requested a letter of condolences to the widow and family of Steve Cox who was killed in the line of duty on December 2. The Area Council unanimously agreed to prepare a letter of condolences to be written by Chairman Bonewits and sent on behalf of the council.

7:20 PM: Overview of King County Budgets Process:  Bob Cowan, King County Budget Manager, delivered an overview of the King County budget process, which takes approximately a year to complete. King County government is the second largest provider of government services in the state, with a 2007 budget totaling almost $4.0 billion. The county delivers a broad range of services like public transportation, elections, adult detention, law enforcement, courts, road construction and maintenance, social services, public health, and wastewater treatment. King County must also balance its role as a regional service provider for 1.8 million county residents with its responsibility as the local service provider to over 350,000 residents who live in unincorporated King County. Cowan urged county residents to review the budget website (http://www.metrokc.gov/budget) for all information about the county's budget.

8:25 PM: Appoint 2007 Nominating Committee for Officers; A committee of Warren Iverson, Steve Hiester, Gordon Moorman and Les Dawson will perform that function.

8:30 PM: Review Proposed By-Laws Changes: Peter Rimbos presented recommended changes to by-laws. All recommended changes passed and the new edition of By-Laws was sent later that evening to each member on December 4, 2006 Warren Iverson’s was mailed to him.

8:45 PM: Continuation of Rural vision Statement-tabled

9:10 PM: Committee Assignments and Reports: this list is being updated.

9:20 PM: Announcements: Steve Hiester will chair a committee to make guidelines to donate money from the Train Show. Ad Hoc committee of Dick Bonewits and Les Dawson will plan for development of our Web Page. Rural Home Occupation changes reflect those recommended by our council. Next year they will discuss issues related to junk vehicles. Potential issues for the ensuing year were discussed (jails, request presentations by Regan Dunn and Paul Reitenbach).