March 2008 Meeting Summary

March Meeting Highlights

By Peter Rimbos, Corresponding Secretary

The Greater Maple Valley Area Council held its regular monthly meeting on Monday, March 3, with 10 members present, 5 absent (3 provided proxies), and 1 position open. The following items were addressed:

1) Proposed Burn Ban Policy

2) Community Support

3) Covington Notch

4) Flood Control.

The Area Council serves as an all-volunteer, locally elected advisory body to the King County Council and represents all rural unincorporated area residents living in the Tahoma School District.

Proposed Burn Ban Policy

On February 28 the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) adopted a permanent ban on land-clearing burning in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties beginning July 1. Land-clearing burning applies to fires to clear land for development, such as building a new structure or subdivision. However, PSCAA deferred a decision to prohibit residential yard waste burning in rural unincorporated areas until October, pending further analysis of available alternatives. Residential yard waste burning means outdoor burning by a property owner of leaves, clippings and yard debris from his or her own property.

PSCAA’s decision was preceded by a public hearing, during which several people testified in favor of a total burn ban, but many owners of large properties pointed out that alternatives to burning such as curbside pick-up, chipping on-site or hauling yard debris to drop-off sites were not reasonably and economically viable.

The Area Council will invite a PSCAA representative to an upcoming meeting to explore the burn ban and proposed alternatives. A Meeting Announcement will be published in the Voice.

Community Support

Each year the Area Council contributes to local organizations usually using any profits earned from the Annual Model Train Show. For 2008 two very deserving local organizations--the Greater Maple Valley Community Center (GMVCC) and the Maple Valley Food Bank--were selected to receive $500 each. Fifty percent of the donation for the GMVCC will be designated for the new “Den Youth Center” which opened in January.

Covington Notch

The Area Council discussed a proposed movement of the Urban Growth Boundary (UBG) to develop rural property near Covington. Where SR-18 comes through Covington there is a large rectangular shaped area that was retained as rural land. Originally this was done because Jenkins Creek and one of our larger remaining local wetlands dominate the area.

The specific proposal deals with 272 acres on the north side of SR-18, where Jenkins Creek goes through that part of the land in a large meandering U-shape. A formal docket item to move the UGB in the 2008 major update of the King County Comprehensive Plan was previously submitted. It was submitted for the purpose of developing this property. Last year the Area Council submitted formal comments to King County officials opposing this proposal.

Past Area Council Citizen’s Advisory Surveys have shown strong local opposition to annexation of rural areas by adjoining cities. The Area Council strongly opposes annexation of rural areas and will continue to voice its concerns to King County about this proposal.

Regarding the 2008 update to the King County Comprehensive Plan, the King County Council’s Growth Management & Natural Resources (GM&NR) Committee will hold five special meetings to initiate review of the existing Comprehensive Plan and Executive Sims’ proposed changes submitted March 1. The public can testify at these special meetings or visit their online site to submit testimony. Each of the special meetings will begin with an Open house at 6:00 PM followed by the meeting itself between 6:30 to 8:30 PM including public testimony limited to 3 minutes per speaker. Two of the special meetings will be held in south King County:

Ravensdale: Thursday, April 3 at Tahoma Junior High Commons, 25600 Summit Landsburg Rd;

Renton: Tuesday, April 22, at Northwood Middle School Commons, 17007 SE 184th St.

The GM&NR Committee is scheduled to complete its recommendations by August 5. Hearings before the full King County Council are scheduled for late September, with fial adoption of the 2008 update to the King County  Comprehensive Plan by October 6.

Flood Control

The King County  Stormwater Management program currently is being updated for compliance with the national Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Ph I Municipal Stormwater permit issued by the Department of Ecology. The county also has a flood control advisory committee for the King County Flood Control District. This district is authorized by the state.

To study this overall topic, assess current status of policies, and discuss changes in fees, the Area Council created a new Flood Control/Surface Water Management Committee. Members of the new committee are: Dave Fields (Hobart), Beverly  Tonda (Francis), and Don Butler (River Heights). As the committee delves into these items, more information will be forthcoming.

Next Meeting

The Area Council meets on the first Monday of each month (except on legal holidays) at the Sheriff's Precinct #3 Headquarters located at 231st St. & SR-169 across from the fire station. The public is invited to attend. Each meeting begins with an Open Comment period, allowing citizens to voice issues of concern. Our next regular monthly meeting will be held on Monday, April 7, 2008, at 7:00 PM.

Comments on Area Council business may be submitted by email or to GMVAC, PO Box 101, Maple Valley, Wa 98038.