Tenth Annual Maple Valley Operating Model Train Show

Plans were finalized for the Annual Maple Valley Operating Model Train Show. It will be held on Saturday and Sunday, October 20 and 21 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Gracie Hansen Community Center at 27132 SE Ravensdale Way in Ravensdale. It is one of the largest model train shows in the Pacific Northwest. There will be several new exhibitors. Adults and children alike will share an exciting time. Please click here for more details.

Sheriff’s Precinct-Level Community Involvement Program

Major Dave Germani of our SE Sheriff’s Precinct discussed a new program to provide citizens the opportunity to voice issues and concerns. Last year a Blue-Ribbon Commission created by King County Executive Sims recommended Citizen Advisory Groups be established to discuss current community problems or issues relating to policing and public safety.

Since Major Germani’s area of responsibility is all of SE King County, he is tasking different entities with helping meet the Blue-Ribbon Commission’s recommendations. In our area he has requested the Area Council appoint an internal committee to serve as a Citizen Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee includes: Area Council members Susan Dawson, Beverly Tonda, Rob Morris, and Warren Iverson. Area Council Chairman Richard Bonewits will chair the Advisory Committee.

The full Area Council will provide a forum once each quarter to hear and discuss current community problems identified by members of the public related to policing and public safety and to provide input to the Precinct Commander. All persons present may: listen, question and comment on citizen concerns, comments and suggestions. The intent is to ensure understanding of the subject and the Commander’s responses regarding applicable policies, procedures, and citizen’s rights with respect to the Sheriff’s Department, as well as any steps to be taken to resolve the issue, request, comment, or suggestion that has been identified.

The Advisory Committee will offer input to ensure that issues, concerns, suggested and responses are understood. As the first item on the Area Council’s agenda for the month following the public presentation, Major Germani will provide status of disposition/resolution of the issue, concern, or suggestion. The Area Council will announce special forums in the Voice and post them on our website.

Proposed Changes to King County Comprehensive Plan

The King County Comprehensive Plan is the guiding policy document for all land-use and development in unincorporated King County. It is updated each year. Every fourth year major revisions are proposed for adoption. This was last done in 2004. The next major update, 2008, is being prepared.

Paul Reitenbach, King County Department of Development & Environmental Services (DDES) Senior Policy Planner, summarized proposed changes for the 2008 update. They appear in a Public Review Draft (the Draft) released on September 28. Citizens can provide comments on the Draft up until December 28. Comments then will be compiled by DDES. King County Executive Sims will submit the recommended 2008 King County Comprehensive Plan update to the King County Council on March 1, 2008, for review. The process, which started about a year ago, culminates in final approval by the King County Council late next year. Citizens can review information on the Comprehensive Plan, the update process, and the Draft itself.

Mr. Reitenbach discussed some specifics in the Draft of interest to our area. He mentioned several proposed land-use “hot spots” where rural lands would be converted to urban designation: the Maple Valley “Donut Hole” (see Area Zoning Item AZ-125 in the Public Review Draft) and the “Jenkins Creek Notch”--272 acres bounded by SR-18, 180^th Ave SE, and SE Wax Rd. (see AZ-83; note this proposed change has been denied by DDES, but is written up in the Draft for information.

Each of these could be annexed by nearby cities: the former by Maple Valley and the latter by Covington. Mr. Reitenbach also mentioned there is talk of moving the “Donut Hole’s” gravel pit to another rural location along Kent-Kangley Rd. near Ravensdale.

Several Policy Issues in the Draft were identified: Shoreline Master Program--last updated in 1979 (Chapter 5); Climate Change and Carbon Emissions; Public Health; Rural Economic Strategies (Chapter 9); and Transportation/Traffic Concurrency (see Section T). Many Rural Area issues can be found in the newly rewritten Chapter 3--Rural Area and Natural Resource Lands.

Mr. Reitenbach stated that some citizen proposed changes came in too late to appear in the Draft, but will be addressed before the public comment period closes December 28. These include two items of local interest: the John Henry Mine property (400+ acres) east of Black Diamond and the Silica Mine property near Ravensdale.

Any citizen can propose changes to the Plan using the process and forms located at: http://www.metrokc.gov/ddes/compplan/docket/index.htm. Public comments also can be sent via e-mail to: compplan@kingcounty.gov or by regular mail to: Dept. of Development & Environmental Services; ATTN: Paul Reitenbach; 900 Oakesdale Ave. SW; Renton, WA 98057-5212.

November Citizen Advisory Survey

In November of odd-numbered years rural unincorporated area citizens within the Tahoma School District participate in the Area Council’s Citizen Advisory Survey The Area Council finalized this year’s ballot questions on key issues of local import. Rural unincorporated area citizens can fill out an Advisory Survey at the polls on Election Day.

Survey responses have traditionally provided the Area Council key information needed to understand and support rural unincorporated voter interests. Please click Citizen Surveys in the left menu of this page to see 2005 survey results. Also, watch for a future issue of the Voice that will contain our current Advisory Survey and provide information needed to vote in the Area Council Election. The survey will also be posted here on the website.

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 allowing citizens to voice issues of concern.

Our next regular monthly meeting will be held on Monday, November 5, at 7:00 PM.