On Monday, December 2, the Area Council held its regular monthly meeting at the Maple Valley Fire Station and via Zoom. Major topics discussed were:(1) On-Site Septic Systems and (2) 2024 King County Comprehensive Plan Major Ten-Year Update.
On-Site Septic Systems
Meagan Jackson from Seattle-King County Public Health (SKCPH) discussed new Code revisions for On-Site Septic Systems (OSSs) for 2024. In January 2024 the Washington State Board of Health approved revisions to the statewide OSS rules. As a result, King County is updating septic codes to comply with these recent state code changes. This also provided an opportunity to make changes to improve septic regulations in King County ,with the goals to reduce costs, remove barriers, and simplify language.
SKCPH has a Technical Advisory Committee which includes citizens, such as the Area Council’s OSS Focal, Warren Iverson. It has been holding meetings since February on these changes. Public Community meetings were held from May through October and Surveys sent out to members of the public.
The input from the public and septic professionals has been strong and positive and has guided proposed King County Board of Health Code (https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dph/about-king-county/about-public-health/board-of-health/boh-policies/codes) changes to Title 13: On-Site Sewage that will:
Reduce costs: 13.04.050, 13.60.010, and 13.56.054.
Remove barriers: 13.48.010, 13.28.070, 13.68.010, and 13.60.030.
Align oversight with risk of OSS failure: 13.609.010, 13.08.010, and 13.20.030, .035, and .050.
The King County Board of Health will vote on these Code changes in January-February of 2025 and they will go into effect in April 2025.
For more information, including specific code change text, please see: OSS Code (www.kingcounty.gov/oss/code).
2024 King County Comprehensive Plan Major Ten-Year Update (Update)
The Area Council continues to coordinate a Joint Rural Team of nine Unincorporated Rural Area Councils in participating in the Update—a 3-yr effort. The Joint Rural Team has offered multiple amendments to the Update.
The King County Council’s recent Schedule consisted of the following events:
•Thursday, November 14—Striking Amendment (full draft of the Update) Publicly released.
•Monday, November 18—Proposed Councilmember Line Amendments Publicly released.
•Tuesday, November 19—11:00 AM Council Hearing with opportunity for Public Comment; the Joint Rural Team provided eight Oral Testimonies (http://gmvuac.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Oral-Testimonies-KC-Council-Public-Hrg-11-19-24.pdf)
The King County Council’s remaining Schedule consists of the following events:
•Tuesday, December 3—1:30 PM Council meeting with opportunity for Public Comment.
•Tuesday, December 10—1:30 PM Council meeting with opportunity for Public Comment followed by Council discussion and final vote on approval.
More information can be found at: Update (https://kingcounty.gov/so-so/dept/council/governance-leadership/county-council/useful-links/comprehensive-plan/2024).
All Joint Rural Team work on the Update can be found on the Area Council’s website on its: 2024 KCCP Major Update webpage (http://gmvuac.org/kccp-major-update-2/).
Next Area Council Meeting
The next Area Council monthly meeting will be held Monday, January 6, 2025 from 7 – 9:30 PM at the Maple Valley Fire Station at 22225 SE 231st St (across from the KC Sheriff’s Precinct). Our Guest Speakers will be King County Department of Local Services (DLS) Subarea Planners to discuss the ongoing Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River (GMV/CR) Community Service Area (CSA) Subarea Plan.
Meetings are held on the first Monday of the month (except for Holidays, when they are held on the second Monday). All meeting announcements, agendas, and Zoom information are posted on the Area Council’s Website (www.gmvuac.org) and local NextDoor platforms. You can also find us on our FaceBook page (https://www.facebook.com/GMVUAC/). Each meeting begins with an open Public Comment period where anyone can voice concerns, comments, etc.
Area Council Membership
Your Area Council, founded in 1978, is one of the longest continuously active local councils. It 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 (TSD). The Area Council, in “working to keep the Rural Area rural,” collaborates regionally with other King County Rural Area organizations through both the Joint Team and its Joint Transportation Initiative.
The twelve-seat Area Council has four open seats. If you have an interest in joining, please send an e-mail to: GMVUAC (info@gmvuac.org) or attend (either in-person or virtually) a monthly meeting and express your interest. To be eligible to join the Area Council as a Member you need to live within the TSD.
Residents, even those not living within the TSD, are eligible to become Associate Members who can serve (including as Chair or Vice-Chair) on any Area Council Committee: Environment, Growth Management, Transportation, Public Relations, or Train Show. For information on each of these committees please see the Area Council’s Website (www.gmvuac.org) and use the drop-down menu under Committees.
All Monthly Meeting Summary Articles can be found on our Home page in the 2024/2023 GMVUAC Monthly Meeting Articles box or by using the drop-down menu under Correspondence.
