On Monday, April 6, the Area Council held its first “virtual” monthly meeting in light of the coronavirus emergency. The Zoom platform was used to connect Area Council members via video and/or audio. Because the Area Council does all its work through its committees, it was decided to primarily devote this meeting to reports from each of those committees on key issues currently being addressed.
King County
Department of Local Services Director, John Taylor, participated in the Area Council’s meeting and provided a summary of what King County government is doing. Most employees are working remotely. Some road maintenance is continuing, as it is essential. Solid Waste Transfer Stations are open. Permitting Code Enforcement is being done both remotely and some out in the field with proper social distancing. Many King County government meetings, such as the King County Council, are being cancelled, some are being held remotely. Meetings that require a lot of Public input, such as the King County Comprehensive Plan Mid-Point Update, will be delayed, but future meeting dates are TBD at this time.
Tahoma School District
No school through the end of the school year. Looking at distance learning and how to provide help where needed, such as computer equipment. Staff meetings are being held remotely.
Area Council Committee Reports
Environment Committee—The committee meets on the 3rd Monday of the month. This month and, most likely in May, it will meet remotely.
Landsburg Mine Cleanup
The Area Council has been tracking progress on the Washington Department of Ecology’s
(DOE’s) program to clean-up the Landsburg Mine Site south of the Cedar River and generally westerly of the Hobart/Landsburg – Ravensdale Road. The site was a former coal mine that was closed after a collapse, resulting in the formation of a slip trench at the surface. Over the years the trench had deposited therein toxic/hazardous wastes. This site has been monitored and subject to cleanup under the State’s Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA). It was reported that DOE has resolved the major issues of concern. More information can be found at: https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/gsp/Sitepage.aspx?csid=60.
Queen City Farms EPA Superfund Site
On March 16 DLS Permitting Division issued a Notice of Application for Queen City Farm Reclamation Phase III. The permit application (GRDE18-0048) is for Grading and Tributary Relocation (https://kingcounty.gov/depts/local-services/permits/public-notices/special-interest-projects/GRDE18-0048-Queen-City.aspx) and includes: Refill Operations, Erosion Control, Stream Channel Restoration, Plantings, etc.
Queen City Farms is a Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund site and, as such, carries special considerations for any work done on or below the surface. The Area Council is keeping this in mind as it prepares its Public Comments especially focussing on the hydrogeologic aspects of the work planned in the permit application.
Public Comments were due April 9, but the Area Council has requested an extension for all Public comments due to the difficulties in securing all the related documents as King County employees all work remotely during the emergency. Although no formal extension has been granted, the Area Council was told by the DLS Permitting Division Director, Jim Chan, that comments will be accepted and placed in the Public Record during the entire period the application is under review. The Committee is drafting a set of comments for Area Council discussion, finalization, approval, and submittal to King County later this month.
Executive Committee—The committee, which consists of the five Area Council officers, held a “trial run” of a “virtual” meeting using the Zoom platform. Everything worked well. Consequently, it was decided to hold Area Council meetings and all committee meetings in this way until Public Meeting restrictions are lifted by the Governor.
Growth Management Committee
Elk Heights Gravel Operation
This new operation on Lk Francis Rd opposite the Quality Aggregates operation opened in February. The committee has been following this since the original permit application in 2017. The primary concern is extensive new truck traffic and its impacts on narrow, windy Lk Francis Rd—already in poor condition. To committee has held talks with the King County DLS Roads Division Director, Rick Brater, to obtain Haul-Route Agreements negotiated with the owner and operator of the Elk Heights operation, along with the Roads Division’s “Holistic” Study of Lk Francis Rd, in order to truly under- stand future planned impacts.
Countywide Planning Policies
The King County Growth Management Planning Council (GMPC)—a formal body, consisting of elected officials from King County, Seattle, Bellevue, other cities/towns in King County, special purpose districts, and the Port of Seattle—is updating King County’s 2012 (as amended in 2016: https:// www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/depts/executive/performance-strategy-budget/regional-planning/CPPs/2012-CPPsAmended062516withMaps.ashx?la=en) Countywide Planning Policies (CPPs) by the end of this year. The CPPs provide a countywide vision and serve as a framework for all City Comprehensive Plan updates, which must be consistent with the overall vision for the future of King County. Please see: https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/depts/executive/performance-strategy-budget/regionalplanning/GrowthManagement/GMPCMeeting022620/GMPC_022620_CPPs.ashx?la=en.
The CPPs establish Urban growth area boundary; Criteria for revising growth boundary Growth Targets for each jurisdiction; and Criteria for defining urban centers and manufacturing/industrial centers. The GMPC’s CPP review and revision also will include establishing a new set of Growth Targets for each jurisdiction, which will have impacts on transportation infrastructure throughout the County. The GMPC’s current schedule (subject to change) is: Growth Target Methodology (4/22); Urban Growth Capacity (UGC), Countywide Planning Policies (CPPs) Update, & Growth Targets (6/24); and CPP and UGC Public Review Drafts (9/30). Final Actions on both the CPPs and the UGC Report are expected by the end of the year. For more information, please see: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/ executive/performance-strategy-budget/regional-planning/CPPs.aspx.
Public Relations Committee
The committee met “virtually” on Thursday, April 2, and discussed working on the Council web- site. Public Outreach and member recruitment efforts also were discussed. The committee plans to meet regularly on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. This month and, most likely in May, it will meet remotely.
Train Show Committee—Planning will soon begin for the Area Council’s Annual Train Show in October. However, there are concerns about impacts the emergency might have on this schedule. The committee will monitor the situation and provide updates at future Area Council meetings.
Transportation Committee
The committee working through the Joint Transportation Initiative (JTI)—a sub-regional group consisting of the Area Council Transportation Committee and representatives from the Four Creeks UAC and the Green Valley/Lake Holm Association—to identifying Emergent Traffic Corridors, primarily used by daily commuters, in southeast King County. The committee plans to meet remotely in mid- April to discuss several current issues.
Upcoming Area Council Meetings
The next Area Council regular monthly meeting will be held on Monday, May 4, which will be another “virtual” meeting. It is hoped by the Area Council’s June 1 monthly meeting that we can again all meet face-to-face and with Guest Speakers. Please monitor the Area Council’s web site: www.g- mvuac.org.
All regular monthly meetings are held on the first Monday of the month, from 7 – 9:30 PM, at the Maple Valley Fire Station (SE corner of SE 231st St & SR-169 intersection directly across from the Police Precinct). All are welcome with each meeting beginning with an open Public Comment period.
Area Council Membership
Your Area Council serves as an all-volunteer, locally recognized advisory body to King County on behalf of all rural unincorporated area residents living in the Tahoma School District. The Area Council’s Vision Statement is:
“Our community’s Rural Character will be supported by facilitating strong local ties and communication between the public, organizations, and government; promoting locally owned businesses and supporting quality education; protecting the environment, and maintaining landowners’ rights and responsibilities; promoting controlled and well-planned growth with appropriate infrastructure; ensuring proper representation for rural interests and needs; and supporting the health and safety and the privacy of our vibrant community.”
The twelve-seat Area Council currently has open seats. If you have an interest in joining please send an e-mail to: info@gmvuac.org or attend a monthly meeting and express your interest.
Citizens who are not members of the Area Council or do not live within the Tahoma School District still are eligible to join and serve on any of the Area Council’s three major subject-matter Committees: Environment, Growth Management, or Transportation, as well as the Ad Hoc Economic Committee. The Area Council welcomes your participation. For information on each of these committees please see the Area Council’s web site: www.gmvuac.org and use the drop-down menu under Committees. Thank you.
