The Area Council held its regular monthly meeting virtually on Monday, November 1. Major topics discussed were: Regional Transportation Planning; Countywide Planning Policies; and Mining Proposals.
Tahoma School District (TSD) Update
TSD Board member, Val Paganelli, provided a summary of recent TSD activities:
•A State District 2 School Directors Meeting—Regional consideration for shared legislative priorities such as Federal COVID Funding, Special Education funding, and apportionment for prototypical model for basic education.
- •A Joint Meeting with the Maple Valley City Council and State District Legislators—Potential priorities for the upcoming State Legislative session.
- •Two-Day TSD Retreat—Tahoma CARES (Climate/Culture; High Expectations; Partnerships; Equity; and Wellness) theme of year one of five-year goals and targets for the district, communications audit review, equity goal work, facilities capacity, budgeting, directors roles for 2022 and redistricting based on 2020 census.
- •Equity Steering Committee Meeting—Established drivers upon which TSD work will be grounded.
Regional Transportation Plan
The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) is the State’s designated Regional Planning Organization (RPO) for the central Puget Sound region, including King County. As the RPO, it is tasked with planning for regional transportation, land use and economic development, under authority embodied in state and federal laws.
In 2010, 2012, and 2014 PSRC developed and refined Transportation 2040 (T-2040), which described how the region will meet transportation needs out to year 2040, addressing both existing needs and expected growth. T-2040 laid out a balanced set of investments and strategies to accommodate growth and meet the region’s transportation needs. The plan included investments in bike and pedestrian facilities, local and regional transit, auto and passenger ferries, city and county roads, and state highways. Originally adopted in 2010, T-2040 was built upon the foundation of VISION 2040 and, thus, was guided by its regional growth strategy and multi-county planning policies. The objectives for T-2040 included reducing congestion and improving mobility for people and freight, within a balanced financial strategy, and while protecting the region’s environment. The plan’s investments were focused on maintaining and preserving the existing system, enhancing safety and security, improving efficiency, and prioritizing investments in strategic capacity.
In 2017 PSRC began to update T-2040 and renamed it the 2018 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). After careful review, in January 2018 a Joint Team of King County Rural Area Unincorporated Area Councils, Associations, and Organizations led by the Area Council submitted Comments to PSRC on the 2018 RTP Update. PSRC adopted the 2018 RTP Update on May 31, 2018.
In 2021 PSRC started to update the RTP through 2050 to be in concert with VISION 2050 (adopted in 2020). The 2022 RTP Update is meant to respond to VISION 2050 priorities and describe how the region will meet future transportation needs. The plan outlines investments the region is making to improve all aspects of the transportation system—from roads, transit, rail, ferry, bicycle and pedestrian systems—and ensure the safe and efficient movement of people and goods. The Area Council again will lead a Joint Team of King County Rural Area Unincorporated Area Councils, Associations, and Organizations in conducting an in-depth review of the PSRC’s Draft RTP, which is due to be released to the Public in January 2022. Detailed Public Comments will be submitted to PSRC early in 2022. Please see: http://gmvuac.org/psrc-rtp/.
Countywide Planning Policies (CPPs) 2021 Update
The CPPs serve as the guiding principles and policies for all Comprehensive Planning for King County and its Cities. The CPPs, which cover Environment, Development Patterns, Housing, Economy, Transportation, and Public Facilities & Services, currently are undergoing an update.
The Area Council has lead a Joint Team of seven Rural Area Unincorporated Area Councils/Associations to review draft policies and to prepare and submit Comments throughout an 18-mo process.
The Joint Team submitted Written Testimony to the King County (KC) Council’s Mobility & Environment (M&E) Committee on August 25 and again on October 27 meetings, which addressed: Siting of Urban Facilities in the Rural Area (AGAINST); Infrastructure Responsibilities of Private Investment (FOR); School Siting in the Rural Area (AGAINST); and the Four-to-One Land-Use Program (FOR).
Public Hearings will be held on November 30 (M&E Committee meeting) and on December 14 (full KC Council meeting). The final-approved (by KC and all its cities) 2021 CPP Update is to be submitted to the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) by the end of the year. Please see: http://gmvuac.org/cpp-update/.
Mining Proposals
The Area Council is concerned King County Code is not being followed for the Erickson Trench-Filling Operation—a former mining site. King County Comprehensive Plan Policy R-688 states:
The periodic review process for mineral extraction and processing operations shall include sufficient public notice and comment opportunities. The purpose of the periodic review process is to provide opportunities for public review and comment on the mineral resource facility’s fulfillment of state and County regulations and implementation of industry-standard best management practices, and for King County to modify, add or remove conditions to address new circumstances and/or unanticipated project-generated impacts. The periodic review process is not intended to re-examine the appropriateness of the mineral resource use, or to consider expansion of operations beyond the scope of existing permitted operations since that review would be accomplished through the County’s permitting process. The periodic review is intended to be a part of King County’s ongoing enforcement and inspections of mineral resource sites, and not to be a part of the County’s permitting process.
This process also is embodied in King County Code 21A.22.50 Periodic review.The Area Council is not aware of any “periodic review process” as “part of the ongoing enforcement and inspections” of the Erickson site. The Area Council is not aware the Public has been provided any review/comment opportunity as part of such a process, nor has been notified of same.
Currently, the Erickson operation, is in the “reclamation” phase (nearly 70 years following the completion of its mining phases). Since such reclamation is part of all mineral extraction mining permits, the Area Council does not see any separation from the original mining operations, but rather sees a continuation. As such, both KCCP Policy R-688 and the underlying KC Code 21A.22.50 Periodic review should apply. A Periodic review is a Type 2 land-use decision made by the director and are discretionary subject to administrative appeal (ref.: KC Code 21A.22.050, Paragraph B.).
The Area Council has begun a dialogue with King County Department of Local Services’ Permitting Division to see whether “Periodic Reviews” on the Erickson site should and would be initiated.
Annual Train Show
The Area Council held its Annual Model Train Show on the weekend of October 16-17 at Gracie Hansen Community Center in Ravensdale. Over 500 visitors attended, with many expressing how good it was the show returned this year after last year’s cancellation due to the pandemic. There were eight displays of operating model trains of various sizes and gauges. A display of historical photographs of the area was provided by the Black Diamond Museum. Please see the Area Council Train Show page: http://gmvuac.org/annual-operating-model-train-show/.
Upcoming Area Council Meetings
The next Area Council monthly meeting will be held Monday, December 6 — another “virtual” meeting via Zoom. Access information will be posted on the Area Council’s website www.gmvuac.org. The Area Council is attempting to secure Dwight Dively as a Guest Speaker to discuss the King County Budget. Mr. Dively reports to King County Executive Dow Constantine and serves as the Director of the Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget.
The Area Council plans to begin holding some in-person meetings, based on State and County COVID guidelines, possibly on a quarterly basis. It was decided the first Monthly Meeting in 2022 on Monday, January 10 will be an in-person meeting to be held at the Hobart Church. More in formation to follow.
Once all meetings are in-person, they again will be held at the Maple Valley Fire Station—SE corner of SE 231st St & SR-169 intersection across from the Police Precinct.
All regular monthly meetings are held on the first Monday of the month (except for Holidays, when they are held on the second Monday), 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. Each meeting begins 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 (i.e., minus the City of Maple Valley). 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 two 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. To join you need to live within the Tahoma School District.
All, even those who do not live within the Tahoma School District, 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, Public Relations, and Train Show Committees.
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. Again, if you have an interest in joining any Area Council committees, please send an e-mail to: info@gmvuac.org. Thank you.
