The Area Council held its regular monthly meeting virtually on Monday, September 3. Guest speakers were: King County Parks’ Sarah Brandt and Tahoma School District (TSD) Superintendent, Mike Hanson.
New Area Council Member
New member, Lisa Clair, was sworn in. Lisa resides in the Area Council’s Ravensdale Community Area. Lisa will soon decide on which Area Council Committees she wishes to serve.
Open Space Charter Amendment
King County Parks’ Sarah Brandt discussed the Open Space Charter Amendment, approved by King County voters in 2009. It calls for identifying and providing for enhanced protection those properties considered to possess high-conservation value as open space.
Every 5 years additional high-conservation value properties—that best conserve, protect, or enhance: Passive recreation; Natural resources, critical areas, water quality, timberland; and/or Scenic resources—are reviewed for inclusion in the“High Conservation Value Property Inventory.“An Update is now ongoing.
Approximately 160,000 ac have been acquired to date including those on which conservation easements have been purchased. The Update is recommending ~2,500 ac be added to the system. Of those ~30% (~725 ac) are in King County District 9 including: Shadow Lake Natural Area, Lower Cedar River Natural Area, Taylor Creek Natural Area, Peterson Lake Natural Area, Cedar Creek Park, and Sugar Loaf Mountain Forest.
King County Parks is accepting Public comment on the Update through October 15 at OpenSpaceCharter@kingcounty.gov. A Map of all properties can be found at: https://kingcounty.gov/services/parks-recreation/parks/about/charter-amendment.aspx.
King County Parks will submit a final Update to the King County Council in Fall / Winter 2021. Any questions or comments should be sent to: Sarah Brandt, King County Parks: sbrandt@kingcounty.gov or 206-263-5682.
Tahoma School District (TSD) Update
TSD Superintendent Mike Hanson discussed TSD goals, future-ready skills essential for each student to learn, and preparations for the school year.
There have been five major Goals for 2025 identified for each TSD student: High Expectations with an emphasis on personal growth; Equity to ensure each student has a voice; Climate/Culture to provide a belonging atmosphere; Wellness to provide support; and Partnership to foster collaboration.
Future-ready skills include: creative innovator, collaborative teammate, effective community communicator, self-directed learner, responsible decision-maker, strategic problem solver, conscientious worker, and quality producer.
TSD is following all State COVID mandates. Please see: https://www.tahomasd.us/news/announcements/covid-19_protocols___procedures.
Public Relations Committee
In early August Post Cards were sent to four voting precincts (Matthew, Maple Hills, McDonald, and Arthur) north of the Area Council’s territory (~468 residences) to gauge interest in participating on the Area Council and to better understand issues of import, including the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill, Cedar Grove Compost, and Queen City Farms.
The Area Council’s Bi-Annual Survey is projected to be mailed in November. We currently are looking at the voting rolls (~12,000 people) to determine to whom to send Surveys in the unincorporated area of the Tahoma School District—the territory served by the Area Council. Recipients will be able to either return the survey by mail or go to the GMVUAC website and complete the survey.
Annual Train Show The Area Council’s Annual Model Train Show is scheduled for October 15-17 at Gracie Hansen Community Center in Ravensdale. We are in the process of contacting potential exhibitors to see if there is enough interest to make show a possibility due to COVID protocols. Circumstances relating to COVID could change, affecting whether the show could be held. Please see the Train Show page: http://gmvuac.org/annual-operating-model-train-show/ on the GMVUAC website for updates.
Search and Rescue Facilities
The Joint Team of King County Rural Area Unincorporated Area Councils (UACs) / Unincorporated Area Associations (UAAs) / Organizations [*], Coordinated by the Area Council’s Peter Rimbos, provided Oral Testimony (in line with what the Area Council previously agreed to and voted on) at the King County Council’s August 17 Public Hearing. SCAR President, Jeff Guddat, formally gave the testimony on behalf of the Joint Team. During Council discussions it was clear our concerns resonated with both Councilman Dembowski and Upthegrove.
The Joint Team e-mailed both councilmen (with cc’s to the rest of the Council) and provided more details of its concerns. Councilman Dembowski responded and several messages were exchanged, including two Amendments he proposed. The Joint Team voted to agree with the two amendments, but offered more, including a specific site to be called out near Snoqualmie. Councilman Dembowski decided to introduce only his two Amendments, both of which passed unanimously, as the Council approved the as-amended Ordinance.
The two Amendments: (1) Would limit law enforcement and public emergency responder use of the property to activities relating to search and rescue and (2) Would require applicants to demonstrate the absence of existing search and rescue facilities that are adequate to conduct search and rescue operations in the rural area.
[*] EPCA: Enumclaw Plateau Association; FoSV: Friends of Sammamish Valley; GMVUAC: Greater Maple Valley Area UAC; GV/LHA: Green Valley/Lake Holm Association; HHA: Hollywood Hills Association; SCAR: Soos Creek Area Response; and UBCUAC: Upper Bear Creek UAC.
Upcoming Area Council Meetings
The next Area Council monthly meeting will be held Monday, October 4 — another “virtual” meeting via Zoom. Access information will be posted on the Area Council’s website www.gmvuac.org.
The Area Council might not hold in-person meetings until the first of 2022 and it will be based on State and County COVID guidelines. Once decided, meetings 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 NextDoorplatforms. 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.
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, 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.
