The Area Council held its regular monthly meeting—in-person for the first time since February 2020—at the Hobart Church on Monday, April 4. This was a hybrid meeting that also provided the opportunity for members of the Public to attend either in-person or virtually via Zoom. Major topics discussed were: King County Comprehensive Plan, Cedar Hills Regional Landfill; On-Site-Sewage Technical Advisory Committee; Town Hall Meetings; and Grants. The Area Council decided to continue to hold monthly hybrid meetings.
Tahoma School District (TSD) Update
The Area Council’s School Affairs Focal, Warren Iverson, provided a brief summary on recent TSD Board meetings including the Board discussions with prospective new members. As our Focal, Warren is authorized to speak for the Area Council at TSD Board meetings.
At the next TSD Board meeting (April 5) Warren will voice the Area Council’s strong support for and thank you to former Board member, Val Paganelli, who attended Area Council meetings for the last 3+ years representing the Board. Val served as an excellent liaison between the Area Council and Board. Warren also will request another Board member be assigned to act as liaison with the Area Council.
King County Comprehensive Plan (KCCP) Update
In January King County (KC) called for Scoping Items to help inform its “Major 8-Year KCCP Update (Update).” The Area Council, again, coordinated a Joint Team consisting of nine KC Rural Area Unincorporated Area Councils (UACs) / Unincorporated Area Associations (UAAs) / Organizations (EPCA, FCUAC, FofSV, GRC, GV/LHA, HHA, SCAR, UBCUAC) to prepare and submit a set of set eleven KCCP 2024 Major Update–Scoping Items on February 13.
On March 28 the KC Executive’s Office Staff responded to proposed Scoping Items we submitted. Only two our eleven items were accepted to be included in the Executive’s Scope. On March 31 the KC Executive transmitted his proposed Scope to the King County Council, which will decide on the final Scope to be used for the Update by June 15. Through-out the rest of the Update process, which goes through 2024, the Joint Team will continue to push, with both KC Executive’s Office Staff and the KC Council, those items that are important for Rural Area residents.
For more information on the schedule and the process, please see: KCCP 2024 Major Update.
Annual Docket Items (D.I.s)
In 2021 the Area Council coordinated the Joint Team to prepare and submit two D.I. requests for consideration in the annual KCCP Update. During Annual KCCP Updates a Docket Item process is used whereby relatively “minor” changes can be proposed.
The Joint Team’s first D.I. request, “Materials Processing Facilities,” was submitted on April 6, 2021 (see: KCCP Docket–Request–KC Code 21A.06.742). It sought changes to KC Code 21A.06.742 Materials Processing Facility, which currently allows facilities engaged in: “… preparing earth materials, … & is not final disposal site” on Rural Area-zoned parcels. Specifically, the D.I. request called for such “facilities” to process only “organic materials” and called for the elimination of “facilities” that are “industrial in scale” and that process “earth materials” (e.g., mining materials) or “construction and demolition materials.”
The Joint Team’s second D.I., “Mining Site Periodic Reviews,” was submitted December 7, 2021. It sought changes to KC Code 21A22.050 [DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS – MINERAL EXTRACTION] Periodic Review, as well as changes to KCCP Policy R-688 on mine site “periodic reviews” (see: http://gmvuac.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/KCCP-Docket-Request-Periodic-Reviews.pdf). Specifically, this D.I. request called for KC Code to also address “all reclamation activities prior to final closure of the operation” and for the KCCP to state that the periodic review process include “reclamation operations.” Another concern, not addressed in this D.I. Request, is that DLS-P, due to staffing shortages, no longer conducts required Periodic Reviews of mineral extraction sites, thus depriving the Public from the benefits of oversight of these sites and their activities and the opportunity to comment. This is a KC budget, staffing, and priority issue that the Joint team will continue to pursue.
On March 31 KC Staff and members of the Joint Team held a Zoom Meeting (at KC’s request) to discuss the above two D.I. requests. On the first, KC Code 21A.06.742 Materials Processing Facility, the KC Executive’s Office has recommended to the KC Council it be included in the “Major 8-Year KCCP Update. This is a positive response showing the issue is important enough to pursue in depth in the Update process. On the second, KC Code 21A22.050 [DEV’T STDS – MINERAL EXTRACTION] Periodic review, the KC Executive’s Office has decided not to pursue it further, but suggested the Joint Team consider seeking changes through the KC Council to strengthen “requirements” in KC Code for various “mineral extraction phases”—Mining, Movement of Materials, Reclamation, etc. Although this is not the desired outcome of this D.I. Request, it does provide a potential path forward tom address this issue. The KC Council makes final decisions on all D.I. Requests and approves those to be included in the KC Code and/or KCCP Policies.
Cedar Hills Regional Landfill (CHRLF)On March 22, the KC Dept. of Natural Resources–Solid Waste Division issued a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on its Cedar Hills Regional Landfill 2020 Site Development Plan and Facilities Relocation. The FEIS includes changes to the September 2020 Draft EIS (DEIS) based on new information learned, and comments received, as well as responses to comments submitted on the draft EIS. The Area Council submitted Draft EIS Comments on October 30, 2020, to King County’s Solid Waste Division.
As part of State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requirements, the FEIS contains a Responsiveness Summary (Appendix M), which provides the public with responses from the Solid Waste Division (SWD) to all the questions and comments that were received during the public comment period for the Draft EIS. The Area Council’s Environment Committee is reviewing all SWD responses, especially those directly related to the Area Council’s DEIS October 2020 comments. At its May 2 monthly meeting the Environment Committee will present any recommendations for an Area Council letter to the KC Council on the next steps for the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill 2020 Site Development Plan and Facilities Relocation. It is expected the KC Council will make any final decisions by June.
On-Site-Sewage (OSS) Technical Advisory Committee
On March 31 the OSS Technical Advisory Committee held its first meeting. The Area Council’s OSS Focal, Warren Iverson, was appointed to the committee and serves a 2-yr term. At this first meeting OSS repair policies—including permitting, inspections, and reporting—were discussed. The Committee also will not be recommending any establishment of OSS fees. For further information on this Department of Public Health—Seattle and KC effort please see: OSS Program.
Town Hall Meeting
The Area Council falls within the territory of the Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River (GMV/CR) Community Service Area (CSAs) King County held our GMV/CR CSA Town Hall Meeting on Monday, March 21 via Zoom. One of the purposes of the CSA Town Hall Meetings is to help King County prioritize each Community’s Needs List (CNL) by April, which will inform department biennial budgets. Prior to the Town Hall the Area Council submitted its seven Guiding Principles as its initial CNL.
The Town Hall, conducted virtually, was moderated by KC Councilman Reagan Dunn and KC Department of Local Services (DLS) Director, JohnTaylor. There was a total of ~66 participants including ~10 KC people and 8 Area Council members and/or non-members who serve on our many committees.
KC DLS-Permitting (DLS-P) Division Director, Jim Chan provided an update on the proposed Asphalt Facility to be sited in the Rural Area along the Cedar River on SR-169 between the cities of Maple Valley and Renton. He stated DLS-P has two separate Permit Applications still under review, as well as its review under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). He stated DLS-P decided Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) were not necessary. The Area Council took issue with this at the Town Hall (and has in the past on several occasions—see our Asphalt Facility webpage and our Detailed Comments on the Permit Applications and SEPA Review). He closed by stating there is nothing at this time for the Public to review and there is no timetable.
Most of the Town Hall was devoted to discussions on the issues of crime, law enforcement, homelessness, and drug abuse.
KC DLS Director, JohnTaylor, conducted live on-line polling of participants during the Town Hall on several CNL issues. The following shows the total percentage of participants who consider an issue either a high or medium priority:
Siting Asphalt Facility in the Rural Area—93%
Maintaining Rural Character—100%
Transportation—Public Transit—76%; Widening of Roads—66%
Cedar Hills Regional Landfill (CHRLF)—Do not Expand—90%; Close—76%; Build Waste-to-Energy Facility (no location assumed)—80%
Law Enforcement—Enforce Speed Limits—72%; Increase Police Presence—93%; Increase Police Funding—90%.
King County Grants
In late 2021 the Area Council applied for three grants through King County and was awarded a total of $3,500 for two for 2022: Annual Train Show ($2,000) and Community Outreach ($1,500).
Next Area Council Meeting
The next Area Council monthly meeting will be held Monday, May 2 at the Hobart Church. It again will be a hybrid meeting where people could attend either in-person or virtually via Zoom.
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 our Facebook page. Each meeting begins with an open Public Comment period where anyone can voice concerns, comments, etc.
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 (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 Tahoma School District.
Anyone—even those who do not live within the Tahoma School District—are eligible to serve on any Area Council committee: Environment, Growth Management, Transportation, Ad Hoc Economic, Public Relations, or Train Show.
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.
