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July 2007
7:00 PM: Call to Order Pledge of Allegiance led by Edie Jorgensen from the Four Creeks UAC.
Roll Call: Members present: Richard Bonewits, Kevin Daoust, Dave Fields, Warren Iverson, Gordon Moorman, Robert Morris, Peter Rimbos, Patrick Seiver, and Beverly Tonda.
Members absent with proxy: Les Dawson, Susan Dawson, Eric Harris and John Huson.
Members absent without proxy: Claudia Brisendine and Steve Hiester.
June 4, 2007 Committee meeting minutes were discussed. The combining of the Land-Use and Transportation Committees will be reviewed again in August. The minutes were adopted. Review and Approve Agenda: The 8:45 discussions on Advisory Issues for 2007 Election/Steve Hiester was taken off the agenda, and the agenda was approved.
7:15 PM: Public Comments Eileen and Leslie, residents of the Daybreak residential area, expressed their concerns about the road closing of 233rd Street in Maple Valley, a feeder road that was opened to serve the residents of 29 new homes near Daybreak on 243rd street. This road is a direct connection between these new homes and Maple Valley Highway. Cement barricades were placed blocking access to 233rd, and now traffic is being forced down 243rd street through the Daybreak residential area. This residential area is rural and there are no sidewalks for people to walk down. Large semi-trucks and double dump trucks supporting the development of the 29 new homes are being forced through the Daybreak residential area. Examples of letters written by local residents were supplied, where they questioned why the feeder road was closed. Dick recommended that the transportation committee draft a letter on behalf of the residents of Daybreak. The motion was seconded and approved. Gordon Moorman met briefly with Eileen and Leslie, and will follow-up tomorrow.
7:40 PM Presentation of Charter Review Commission by 4.Creeks UAC Member Tom Carpenter. Tom spoke to Citizen’s Participation Initiative (1994) via Executive Order “to enhance opportunities for public involvement and to improve citizen access to the information and services provided by King County government, through recognition of unincorporated area councils, establishment of Community Service Centers to serve incorporated and unincorporated King County and the provision of Community Service Representatives at those Community Service Centers located within unincorporated communities. There are currently 6 UAC’s including Four Creeks, Greater Maple Valley, North Highline, West Hill, Upper Bear Creek, and Vashon-Maury Island. North Highline and West Hill are unincorporated “islands” surrounded by incorporated areas.
Tom emphasized that the UAC’s recognize that change, driven by rapid growth in the area, is inevitable and that the growth is having sometimes devastating effects on unincorporated and rural neighborhoods. He defined the 80-20 rule in terms of land and population, and noted that the unincorporated areas even after annexation would still be the second largest city with greater than the combined populations of the next 2 largest cities behind Seattle.
The proposed King County Charter Revisions are: 1) Modify department structure on the KC Executive side 2) Require comprehensive subarea planning 3) Modify the organization of the KC Council
Tom suggested that there should be a new department on the executive side with policy authority and empowered cross-functionally focused on unincorporated and rural affairs. The department needs to have planning talent and experience with the goals and objectives of the unincorporated areas included in its economic strategies. The subarea planning group will have responsibility for Infrastructure, Economic Development, Transportation, Human Services, Environment, Housing, Parks, Land Use, Community Design, Capital Facilities, and have a shared Vision.
The plan also recommended that one member be added to the council, and that it is split into two five-member houses. One house would be based on land, and the other house has an asset management and subarea focus. The county would be apportioned into five areas of equal acreage. One is mostly urban, one is mostly forest and high-elevation mountains, and the remaining area which will be predominately unincorporated and rural would be divided into three equal sized areas. Representatives are popularly elected from these five areas and have the charter for shared vision, the plans, targets and measures. The objectives are viability, balance, equity, and planning.
Tom will be sharing the plan at the Maple Valley Town Hall on Monday, July 23, at 9:30 AM at the Lake Wilderness Lodge. Dick encouraged all GMVAC members to attend.
9:00 PM Dick discussed the need for someone to participate on the Metro Bus Transportation Committee, and Rob said he had some church members who may be interested. If Rob is unable to find someone from the church, Beverly has a friend who may be interested. The road closure at 276th Avenue SE was discussed, and Warren was asked if he had received the requested flyers at his business. He had not.
9:15 PM Committee Assignments/Reports: Both Gordon and Peter reported on what was discussed at the combined Transportation and Land-Use meeting. The committee is in the process of finalizing questions and a letter will be drafted for Councilmember’s Larry Phillips and Reagan Dunn. The combined committees meet again on Tuesday, July 17 at 6:00 PM at the Hobart Church.
9:30 PM: Adjourn
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