The Area Council held its first regular monthly meeting of the new year on Monday, January 4. Major topics discussed were: (1) Tahoma School District Board Update; (2) Countywide Planning Policies Update; (3) Issues/Questions for State Legislature; (4) Cedar Hills Regional Landfill; and (5) Upcoming Area Council Major Tasks.
Area Council Officer Elections
At its first monthly meeting of the year the Area Council conducts internal elections for its Officers. The positions and duties are: Chair: Maintain Council operations and interfaces and preside at all meetings; Vice-Chair: Serve in the absence of the Chair and Chair the Public Relations Committee which manages Area Council member elections; Recording Secretary: Prepare and distribute Council meeting minutes; Corresponding Secretary: Prepare and transmit all Council correspondence, author articles on activities, and control web site content; and Treasurer: Receive and be accountable for all Council funds, maintain accounts, and pay all obligations.
For 2021 the Area Council elected Steve Hiester as Chair; Andy McDonald as Vice-Chair; Luke Hansen as Recording Secretary; Peter Rimbos as Corresponding Secretary; and Sue Neuner as Treasurer. All officers immediately assumed their positions and duties for the new year.
Tahoma School District (TSD) Update
TSD Board member, Val Paganelli, summarized discussions tonight’s special Board meeting:
1. 1. Five-year goals and targets effort – This work had been tabled in the spring of 2020 due to COVID-19 demands. The district compiled survey results from parents, students and staff regarding areas deemed important for student success and areas where district improvements are needed. Preparations are being made for a Community Café on February 3, 2021, at 6:00 PM to discuss the Top 4 areas of student-centered consideration: mental health supports, cultural understanding, climate and culture, and high academic expectations. Other topics of school board transparency and college/career readiness will be discussed outside of the Community Café.
2. 2. Athletics and activities—Board approved moving forward (again) with opening athletic and activities to students per updated State guidance on required safe practices in doing so.
3. 3. In-person learning—Based on an updated decision tree established by the State and Department of Public Health, the Board approved moving forward (again) with extending options for hybrid AM/PM in-person learning starting as early as late January for kindergarten through third grades, with an option for families to remain in 100% remote learning model, if preferred. This hybrid learning model will be extended later to additional grade levels as favorable conditions emerge.
Countywide Planning Policies (CPPs) Update
The CPPs currently are undergoing an Update. The CPPs serve as the guiding principles and policies for all Comprehensive Planning in King County (County, City, and Special-Purpose District), as well as County and City Zoning Codes. The CPPs tie in to all the work the Area Council previously has done on KCCP Updates, PSRC’s VISION 2050, and city Comprehensive Plans.
The CPPs are worked though the King County Growth Management Planning Council (GMPC) https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/executive/performance-strategy-budget/regional-planning/Growth-Management/GMPC.aspx. The GMPC consists of elected officials from King County, Cities and Towns, Special Purpose Districts, and the Port of Seattle. It is chaired by the King County Executive. It is a deliberative body whereby recommendations are made through a process that requires 30% of the participants representing 70% of the population.
The Schedule for the CPP Update is as follows:
Draft CPP Chapter “Strategies” released December 2, 2020.
Draft CPP Policies to be released on January 27.
Draft CPP Chapters to be released on February 24.
Public Review Draft of the CPP Update to be released in April/May 2021.
GMPC adoption of the CPP Update by June 30.
City approvals/comments by September 30.
Final submittal of the CPP Update to the Puget Sound Regional Council by December 31.
The Area Council is leading an effort of all the Rural Area UACs/UAAs to review and prepare/submit detailed Comments to King County. The first set of those comments—proposed Policy changes deal with: Environment, Development Patterns, Housing, Economy, Transportation, and Public Facilities & Services. These comments are meant to inform the January 27 decision above.
The Area Council reviewed, discussed, and approved a final set of recommended CPP Policy Changes the Rural Area UACs/UAAs will jointly submit to King County on January 11. For further information please see: http://gmvuac.org/countywide-planning-policies/, which also will include the Rural Area UAC/UAA recommended CPP Policy Changes following their January 11 submittal.
Issues/Questions for State Legislature
In response to a request State Representative, Bill Ramos, the Area Council on December 21, 2020, submitted a list of issues and questions to District #5 State Legislators for the 2021 session. The letter can be found at: http://gmvuac.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Letter-to-Representative-Ramos.pdf.
The Area Council discussed additional issues and questions to submit to our District #5 State Legislators. When complete, that letter also will be posted on the Area Council’s website.
Cedar Hills Regional Landfill (CHRLF)
The Area Council’s Environment Committee discussed a draft Presentation for an upcoming Maple Valley City Council meeting on the future of the CHRLF. This would fulfill a request by the city following its receipt of the Area Council’s comments on the King County’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the CHRLF Site Development Plan submitted to King County in October 2020.
The Presentation soon will be finalized and posted on the Area Council’s website. A presentation date before the Maple Valley City Council is TBD.
Upcoming Major Tasks
The Area Council discussed three major tasks on which it will be working in the new year.
Countywide Planning Policies (CPP) Update: [see discussion above]
Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP) Update: On August 20 the King County Executive submitted his Draft Plan to the King County Council, which assigned it to its Mobility and Environment Committee. The Area Council is leading an effort of all the Rural Area UACs/UAAs to review and prepare/submit detailed Comments to King County and to participate in Public Hearings possibly in March/April 2021.
Cedar Hills Regional Landfill (CHRLF) 2020 Site Development Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS): The Area Council’s Environment Committee (http://gmvuac.org/environment) will review and prepare Comments on the FEIS as a followup to its detailed Comments on the Draft EIS submitted to King County in October (see: http://gmvuac.org/cedar-hills-regional-landfill/).
Upcoming Area Council Meetings
The next Area Council regular monthly meeting will be held on Monday, February 1, 2021, which will be another “virtual” meeting via Zoom—access information will be posted on the Area Council’s website www.gmvuac.org. Our Guest Speaker will be Tim O’Connor, Hydrogeologist with the State Department of Ecology’s Solid Waste Management Program. Mr. O’Connor will provide an update on the Reserve Silica Reclamation Site in Ravensdale.
All regular monthly meetings are held on the first Monday of the month, from 7 – 9:30 PM. Meeting announcements are published in the Voice of the Valley, the Area Council’s website (www.gmvuac.org) and local NextDoor platforms. You can also find us on Facebook. All are welcome with each meeting beginning with an open Public Comment period. [When State restrictions are lifted, the Area Council will again meet face-to-face with members of the Public invited to attend and continue to invite Guest Speakers on topics of key local and regional interest. Meetings will be held at the Maple Valley Fire Station—SE corner of SE 231st St & SR-169 intersection directly across from the Police Precinct.]
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 three 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, Public Relations Committee, and Train Show 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.
