May 2007

7:00 PM:  Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call: Members present: Richard Bonewits, Les Dawson, Susan Dawson, Kevin Daoust, Dave Fields, Eric Harris, Steve Hiester, John Huson, Warren Iverson, Gordon Moorman, Rob Morris, and Peter Rimbos.

Members absent: Claudia Brisendine, Patrick Seiver.

Guests present: No list

Review and Approve Agenda: approved

7:10 PM: Public Comment

Chairman Bonewits requested that since it is a problem for our legislators to come to us each member of our council inform our State Representatives and Senators about issues we would like them to cover. Additionally the chair expressed concern that our Fire District acquires personal information about people when it makes it calls. This is just one more time when private information is given out to public officials. The issue gets down to how secure this information is.

7:20 PM:  Rural Economic Strategies Report/Julia Larson-KC Office of Business Relations and Economic Development

Ms Larson outlined BRED’s 2006 Annual Report. She stressed that residents can now get assistance through the Rural Business Circuit Rider Project. To schedule help call (206) 464-6133, ext. 4953 or (253) 333-4953. People may also check the website at: www.greenriver.edu/businesscenter/default.htm.People may also get help with the permitting process through the newly hired Rural Permit Coordinator-Joelyn Higgins at (206) 296-7159. Her location is at the DDES Offices in Renton; email is: joelyn.higgins@metrokc.gov.

Ms Larson mentioned her office is working to update the Rural Legacy and Natural Resource Lands section for the 2008 update of the King County Comprehensive Plan.

Council members expressed concern over the expansion of Ravensdale Park. Concern was felt that many urban residents would take advantage of the park without paying taxes to support it and other necessary services. Council members felt needs assessments, environmental impact statements and costs versus benefits studies should be made prior to commitment to this project. Also, concerns were expressed about the home-based business ordinances passed this past year. It seems these ordinances now allow unlimited square footage for outlying buildings to conduct business.  In the past outlying buildings used to support a business had a footprint limitation and could only be used for storage. Ms. Larson took note of these issues and will provide feedback to the Area Council in the coming months.

8:10 PM: Proposed Commercial Development in Rural Area on SE256th

Greg Wingard-Mr. Wingard was not here, but Chairman Bonewits led a discussion about 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 by development company BranBar deals with 200+ acres on the north side of SR-18, where Jenkins Creek goes through that part of the land in a large meandering U-shape. BranBar has submitted a formal docket item to move the UGB to the 2008 major update of the King County Comprehensive Plan.

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 members voiced concerns about the proposed movement of the UGB in this instance and its most likely result: annexation of this large acreage by the adjoining City of Covington.

A formal Area Council letter will be forthcoming opposing this proposed change to the King County Comprehensive Plan.

8:20 PM: Beverly Tonda

Submitted her resume expressing interest in becoming a member of GMVAC.

8:30 King County Charter Review Commission

2008 brings with it a periodic review of the King County Charter. Chairman Bonewits began a discussion around Charter issues we felt were important to the unincorporated area. As a minority in the county, unincorporated area residents have expressed concern that county government tends to ignore us, we (unincorporated residents) have a lack of connectedness to the County. Various concerns were expressed: over a lack of infrastructure between urban areas and unincorporated areas; county was not motivated to deal with growth; not enough jobs were developed in growth areas; traffic in unincorporated areas was horrendous; because of growth in rural cities traffic is horrendous therefore people drive around the cities making residential traffic horrible; the county seems helpless to act; it seems the county reacts to special interest groups, but not to “regular” residents; affordable housing in unincorporated areas is becoming non-existent. We were left with questions like: How can we (GMVAC) become more a part of the powers of government? How do we make the County listen to us?

Respectfully submitted by: Les Dawson