September 2009 Meeting Summary

September Meeting Highlights

By Peter Rimbos, Corresponding Secretary

On Monday, September 14, the Greater Maple Valley Area Council held its regular monthly meeting. Three major topics were on the agenda: 1) Maple Valley Sheriff's Precinct Major Dave Germani conducted his Quarterly Community Forum; 2) Ravensdale resident Susan Harvey described the new local group, 98051 Voices; and 3) the Area Council made final plans for our Biannual Member Elections and Citizens Advisory Survey for this November.

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

Sheriff's Precinct-Level Community Involvement Program

Major Dave Germani, Commander of the Sheriff’s Southeast Precinct #3, held his Quarterly Forum to both listen to issues from the public and provide feedback. At tonight’s discussion, Major Germani provided a status of prisoner Early Release and Supervision programs. On hand was Community Corrections Officer John Conaty with the WA Sate Department of Corrections (DOC).

Corrections Officer Conaty provided a good overview of recent early release programs necessitated by budgetary problems at the state level (see ESSB 5288 / ESSB 6162) which modified Community Custody Serious Violent Offenses, RCW Chapter 9. Although all offenders sentenced to jail or prison are given a 1/3 of their time off for good behavior (this was not changed), under the new statutes, DOC will not be supervising those offenders considered a lower risk to the community. This has resulted in the removal of approximately 7,600 offenders statewide from supervision leaving the (approx.) 21,000 most dangerous and violent offenders statewide under DOC supervision. According to Mr. Conaty, typical supervision includes such things as checking on residence, denying permission to leave the county (if necessary), receiving notification of change of address or employment, conducting random urinalysis, etc.

Regarding juvenile offenders, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has eliminated its "enhanced parole," which will result in about 500 offenders being discharged annually from juvenile institutions and group homes. Their discharge without parole also terminates any transitional supervision and services. To mitigate the elimination of such services and support, DSHS’s Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration is developing pre-release re-entry services that will provide offending juveniles and their families basic assistance in establishing needed treatment, preparing for schooling, getting ready to find employment and housing, and crisis assistance contacts.

Mr. Conaty can be contacted at (425) 432-3276. Area residents can contact the Sheriff’s Southeast Precinct #3 at (206) 296-3883.

98051 Voices

Local Ravensdale resident Susan Harvey described the new group that has been formed in the Ravensdale area to serve as an umbrella group to help focus local community concerns. Their mission statement is: “Provide an informed community voice on behalf of the 98051area, with an increased sense of responsibility by its residents as a result of their ability to effect change.”

Ms. Harvey listed several local groups under this umbrella: Ravensdale Post Office, Citizens for a Rural Ravensdale, Maple Valley Soccer Association, Backcountry Horsemen of WA (Tahoma Chapter), Friends of Rock Creek Valley, and RMD Community Sports Association. 98051 Voices are open to other local groups who share concern for the community.

Ms. Harvey, in addition to introducing 98051 Voices to the Area Council, requested that a link be placed on our website to help keep the greater community informed. The Area Council reacted positively to this request. but decided to review its process first for adding links to a variety of organizations. A final decision will be made at our October regular monthly meeting.

Area Council Elections and Citizens’ Advisory Survey

During off-year elections (odd-numbered years), the Area Council conducts its member elections and an advisory survey. In the past, the Area Council primarily has conducted these at polling places throughout the community. With King County’s switch to all-mail ballots, the Area Council decided to also conduct an all-mail ballot, which will be separate from ballots registered voters receive for the November general elections.

Each of our 16 members serves a four-year term. Registered rural-unincorporated area citizens living in the Tahoma School District are eligible to vote on our membership. Eight of our 16 member positions will be contested this November, as we stagger four-year terms every off-year election. Ballots for this year’s election will be mailed to households with registered voters sometime in October.

The Area Council also conducts a Citizen’s Advisory Survey during these off-year elections to gauge opinions on a wide variety of subjects of interest to area residents. This year’s advisory survey ballot was discussed and final changes will be made soon so that the survey can be included in the ballot mailings in October. (Click here for past advisory survey results.)

The Area Council is trying to make this election as easy as possible for area citizens: Short ballot, clear and concise advisory survey, simple folding instructions, and prepaid postage. The Area Council thanks all eligible citizens in advance for your participation.