March 2007 Meeting Minutes

7:00 PM: Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

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

Members absent: Dave Fields, John Huson.

Guests present: Major Dave Germani, Marissa Alegria, Jessie Israel, Bonnie Scott, Sandi Sutton, Monica Clarke, Bev & Mike Tonda, Greg Brown, Tony Davis, T J Davis, Sujata Goel, Harry Reinert.

Review and Approve Agenda: Approved.

7:10 PM: Public Comment: None

7:10 PM: Shoreline Master Plan

Harry Reinert, of King County DDES talked about the state mandated review of Shoreline Master Plan. The county is in its first stages of the update of its policies regulating the management of shorelines in King County. Shoreline management has not had significant changes since its inception in 1978. Washington Department of Ecology must approve any changes to the Shoreline Master Plan. Goals are to improve water quality, species habitat, shoreline-dependent economy, and public access. Not many changes are anticipated in this update.

7:40 PM: Proposed Ravensdale Sports Complex

Sujata Goel of King County Department of Natural Resources talked of a proposal to bring more playing fields to the rural county. Several groups-KC Parks, city of Maple Valley, city of Black Diamond, Tahoma School District No. 409, Friends of Rock Creek Valley, Maple Valley/Black Diamond Chamber of Commerce, King County BRED, Tahoma Sports Council, Development Partners, and User Groups-are working to develop the total 40 acre at Ravensdale Park. At the same time the city of Maple Valley is developing a sports complex of 22.5 acres at their Summit Pit site. These developments would yield 8-12 sports fields.

Ms Goel stressed that these plans were in a preliminary phase and that further plans would include as many members of the community as necessary to get complete input. She also pointed out that King County has dedicated $1.3 million dollars for this project. Others pointed out that the county traditionally leverages the money to cover remaining costs. This park development is necessary as all current parks are being utilized and more are needed to meet demands. The $1.3 million would only pay for improvements to the current all weather soccer field at Ravensdale. GMVAC expressed concerns that the current roads would be inadequate for this development. Environmental and traffic studies have not yet been done on this project. It was vague as to what the city of Black Diamond would add to the project. Plans were vague as to maintenance and operation of these facilities. Information was vague as to who coordinated the use of the facilities-would residents of the city use the county park facility and would county residents use the city facility. GMVAC was also very concerned about seeming lack of notification to the public of future meetings.

8:50 PM: Internal Discussion of Advisory Issues

Every odd year GMVAC has run an Advisory Survey of the residents of our Area. Members of our council filled out a preliminary survey in preparation for this year’s survey. A subcommittee consisting of Susan Dawson, Patrick Seiver, Rob Morris, Gordon Moorman, and Eric Harris will assume the responsibility for developing this year’s survey. This year’s election Advisory Survey will be led by Vice Chairman Steve Hiester.

9:10 PM: Website Status

Peter Rimbos, Dick Bonewits, and Les Dawson: Peter Rimbos reported that the website will soon be handed off for our use.  Email contacts will be removed to be added in some form later. It was decided to give a scholarship check in the amount of $200.00 to Zach Johnson for his work in developing our web site and a gift certificate of $100.00 to Crystal Monteiro for her help. The voting on this expenditure was 9 Yes, 0 No and 1 Abstention.

9:15 PM: Transportation Committee

Chairman Bonewits reported that he sent a letter to Councilmen Phillips and Dunn and Paul Reitenbach of King County DDES expressing our concerns transportation issues. He reported they are supportive of our concerns. Chairman Bonewits asked the Transportation Committee to develop reactions to the standards by May, 2007.

9:20 PM: Development of Rural Vision Statement

Peter Rimbos presented the printed responses of members to the draft set of Underlying Objectives and Policy Elements that support the Rural Vision statement reminding members that we had decided to take an up or down vote at this time. As always this kind of document is seen as a living thing and may be changed in the future. Voting on this issue to accept these Underlying Objectives was 7 Yes and 4 Opposed.

Announcements

April 2007 King County Elections Plan for 2007 and 2008; King County Superintendent of Elections—Sherril Huff-Mens

May 2007 Rural Economic Strategies Report/King County Office of Business Relations and Economic Development—Julia Larson

Respectively submitted by Les Dawson