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About the Greater Maple
Valley Area Council
The
Greater Maple Valley Area Council (GMVAC) is an
all-volunteer, locally elected advisory body to the King
County Council. All members reside in the
unincorporated portion of Tahoma School District # 409
(see
Service Area Map).
The Area Council represents and advocates with King County,
state officials, and other organizations for our
unincorporated area's citizens' interests. Regular
meetings occur on the first Monday of each month.
(Read more ...)
Announcements
February
Monthly Meeting
The Area Council will hold
its regular monthly meeting on Monday,
February 1, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at King
County Police Precinct #3 (NE corner of
intersection of SE 321st St. and SR-169
across from the fire station). All members
of the public are invited to attend. During
an Open Comment period at the start of the
meeting, members of the public are invited
to address the Area Council on local issues
of importance to them.
Area
Council Elections
Election results have now
been tabulated. Dave Fields and Rob Morris
were re-elected to their seats in the Hobart
area, and Lee Dawson and Patrick Seiver were
re-elected to their seats in the River
Heights area. James Callow was elected and
sworn in as a new member to fill an open
position in the Ravensdale Area. Welcome,
James! In internal elections for its
Officers, the Area Council re-elected Steve
Hiester as Chair, Dave Fields as Vice Chair,
Beverly Tonda as Recording Secretary, and
Peter Rimbos as Corresponding Secretary.
Susan Dawson was elected as new Area Council
Treasurer to replace Kevin Daoust, who
decided to retire at the end of 2009.
Area
Council Elections and Citizens' Advisory
Survey
In odd-numbered years, the
Area Council conducts an Advisory Issues
Citizens Survey on topics of importance to
the rural community.
(Please see survey
results here.) In the past, local voters
would fill out their surveys at the polls;
however, with King County using an all-mail
ballot, the Area Council mailed ballots to
all rural unincorporated registered voters
in late October 2009. The Area Council
wishes to thank all citizens who filled out
their surveys; results are being shared with
King County and state elected officials.
Current News
To read the full story
on any item below, click on that item's heading.
Master-Planned Developments in Black Diamond
Two Master-Planned
Developments (MPDs) have been proposed by
Yarrow Bay in and around the City of Black
Diamond. The MPDs total 4,530 single-family
and 1,520 multi-family units for a total of
6,050 dwelling units on 691 acres, and
1,165,000 sq. ft. of commercial and office
space, all on the rural/suburban fringe in
our southeast corner of King County. The
Area Council has serious concerns with the
potential adverse impacts on the greater
Maple Valley area's traffic flow, major
intersections, and additional traffic
impinging upon already existing clogged
major roads and minor arterials. Many
citizens and local groups have requested the
City of Black Diamond delay this rapidly
moving process so that appropriate
government agencies can further study these
proposals and ensure adherence to the King
County Comprehensive Plan and WA State
Growth Management Act. Citizen appeals of
the FEISs, as well as concerns about the
MPDs, will be heard consecutively by a
Hearing Examiner early this year. Concerned
citizens can monitor status on the
City of Black Diamond website.
Issaquah-Hobart
Road Study
King County Dept. of
Transportation is conducting a study of the
Issaquah-Hobart Road to improve safety while
streamlining traffic flow between the
Issaquah city limits and SR-18. The over-all
study area (between Kent, Black Diamond, and
I-90) is much larger in order to assess
effects of and impacts on traffic flow.
Local detailed models that employ area
projected population growth to 2030, as well
as mixed modes of transportation, are being
analyzed to make recommendations on how to
make better use of existing roads. The study
is expected to be completed in July.
Local
Groups
Maple Valley Farmers
Market
The Area Council voted at its
January 2009 regular monthly meeting to
support the establishment of a Maple Valley
Farmers Market to enhance our community,
facilitate strong local ties, and promote
locally owned businesses.
(Visit the Maple Valley Farmers Market
website.)
98051
Voices
A new local community
group, 98051 Voices, has formed to provide an
informed community voice with an increased sense of
responsibility by its residents as a result of their
ability to effect change. Local groups under their
umbrella include the Ravensdale Post Office,
Maple Valley Soccer
Association, Backcountry Horsemen of WA (Tahoma
chapter), Friends of Rock Creek Valley, and Rock
Creek Sports Training Center.
To read the full story
on any item below, click on that item's heading.
On October 27, 2008,
Area Council Environmental Services representative
Susan Dawson attended an important meeting on salmon
recovery. She reported that salmon numbers are down
everywhere except in the Cedar River. However,
sockeye numbers are down in the Cedar River and
consideration is being given to rearing some in
hatcheries for release.
The Landsburg Mine is a
former underground coal mine located just northwest
of Ravensdale. The WA Dept. of Ecology is drafting a
Final Cleanup Action Plan to be available for public
comment some time in the summer of 2009.
An Area Council
recommendation to the Puget Sound Clean Air
Agency has been accepted. The recommendation is
that existing burn ban laws be enforced before
any new restrictions are contemplated.
Major Dave Germani of our SE Sheriff’s
Precinct has initiated a new program to provide
citizens the opportunity to voice issues and
concerns.
Any King County citizen can register as Citizen
Councilor to participate in Countywide Community
Forums. Citizens will meet informally in small
groups a few times each year to consider important
issues, listen to the opinions of other Citizen
Councilors, and provide their anonymous opinions
on issues to King County Council members.
Proposed Plans for Ravensdale Park
The Area Council and local stakeholder
groups have actively participated with
King County Parks to achieve a
neighborhood friendly plan. The group
has successfully designed a park that
maintains a connection to the rural
community while adding two fields and
upgrading others to meet the need of
sports groups with rural players.
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