July 2007 Meeting Summary

King County Charter Review

By Peter Rimbos, Corresponding Secretary

The Greater Maple Valley Area Council, at its regular monthly meeting on Monday, July 2, addressed the following items: (1) King County Charter Review Commission and (2)276th Ave. SE Road Closure. The Area Council serves as an all-volunteer, locally elected advisory body to the King County Council and represents all unincorporated area residents living in the Tahoma School District.

Public Comment

Local rural unincorporated area citizens Eileen Webb and Leslie Hostetter addressed the Area Council. They described a problem with the City of Maple Valley’s recent closure of a short city street--233^rd Way SE. This has caused an effective rerouting of heavy construction vehicles over a much longer route to reach a new City of Maple Valley housing development under construction. Ms. Webb and Ms. Hostetter detailed how construction vehicles wind their way back and forth over their neighborhood’s narrow sidewalk-less County rural roads endangering public safety.

The Area Council agreed to help address this issue and ensure it is elevated to King County officials. This issue is of particular concern to the Area Council as it has consistently opposed adjacent urban areas “unloading” their problems, such as facilities, traffic, etc. on the rural unincorporated area where the infrastructure typically is not in place.

King County Charter Review Commission

The King County Charter provides a fundamental, underlying framework of how to govern our region (e.g., a “Constitution”). In January, King County began its fifth review of the Charter as Executive Sims appointed a citizen’s commission. The King County Charter Review Commission has the authority to recommend amendments and revisions to the County Council. If approved by Council, their recommendations will go to the King County voters for approval.

Four-Creeks Unincorporated Area Council (FCUAC) member Tom Carpenter gave a presentation he made to the Charter Commission a few weeks back on FCUAC’s proposed revisions to the Charter (for the full presentation please see: www.FourCreeks.org). Mr. Carpenter made three major proposals.

First, he recommended a Department of Unincorporated/Rural Affairs be established in the King County Executive’s office. It would be responsible for the management of unincorporated King County resources and the maintenance and well being of a vibrant rural economy and lifestyle. The new department would have both policy and service quality authority and responsibilities. The Area Council also has discussed this concept with King County officials.

Mr. Carpenter’s second proposal was to establish comprehensive subarea (i.e., Community) planning. Such planning would take a long-term view and be based on a local vision, specifically recognizing that each subarea has both common and unique characteristics. The Area Council has discussed this concept with King County officials as well. Mr. Carpenter was asked about Councilwoman Lambert’s proposal to the Commission to establish “Rural Townships” that would “annex” all rural areas. Mr. Carpenter did not believe this was a good idea, as it would not support a shared vision for the rural areas.

The third proposal was to modify the organization of the King County Council by creating a Bicameral legislature (akin to Congress’s House and Senate) with one body based on population and the other on land area. Mr. Carpenter believes this would help focus on land as an “asset” to be valued. The objectives would include: fostering a viable rural economy, character, and lifestyle and allowing an orderly balance of rural and urban areas as county population grows.

On Tuesday, July 10, at 6:30-8 PM at the Black Diamond Community Center, 31605 3^rd Ave, the Charter Commission will hold a Public Meeting to gather comments and suggestions from local citizens. More information on the Commission’s work can be found at: www.metrokc.gov/exec/charter/.

276th Ave SE Road Closure

The Area Council discussed the upcoming 276th Ave SE road closure. Local residents may recall that this project was initially scheduled for last summer, but was postponed due to several factors. The deteriorating culvert that carries a tributary to Carey Creek under 276th Ave SE at SE 197th St needs to be replaced to help ensure the long-term strength and stability of the roadway above it and open the waterway for fish passage. In the interim last Fall following last Summer’s postponement, King County made emergency repairs to the culvert.

Because the culvert replacement will require a large excavation, the county will close 276^th Ave SE between SE 197th St and SE 200th St from ~July 9 through the end of August while the work is completed. During construction, traffic will be detoured via SE 216th St, 244th Ave SE, and SR-18.

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 231^st St & SR-169 (across from Fire Station). The public is invited to attend. Each meeting begins with an Open Comment period to allow the public to voice issues of concern.

Our next regular monthly meeting will be held on Monday, August 6, at 7:00 PM. Comments on Area Council business may be submitted to GMVAC, P.O. Box 101, Maple Valley, WA  98038, or to gmvac_chair@hotmail.com. Please visit our new web site at: www.greatermaplevalleyareacouncil.org for more information on the Area Council, its meetings, committees, and work on rural issues.