May 2019 Meeting

The Area Council will hold its next regular monthly meeting on Monday, May 6, 2019, from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM at the KCFD #43 (now part of the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority) Maple Valley Fire & Life Safety Station #81 public conference room (22225 SE 231st Street, Maple Valley, WA 98038 — SE corner of intersection of SE 231st St & SR-169 (Renton-Maple Valley-Black Diamond Road SE)).  Click on this link to view the map for MVFLS Station #81.

Dan Von Seggern (Staff Attorney for the Center for Environmental Law & Policy – CELP), Stephanie Potts (WRIA 8 & 9 Streamflow Restoration Implementation Lead for the WaDOE), and from King County we will have Karen Wolf (Sr. Policy Analyst, KC Office of Performance, Strategy, and Budget) and Eric Ferguson (Water Quality Planner and Hydrogeologist, Department of Natural Resources and Parks) as our guests to present information and discuss with us the progress on implementing the legislative fix to the Hirst decision and what it means to each of us in the Rural Area dependent on private exempt wells for our home water supply.  The Department’s Focus on the New Streamflow Restoration Law bulletin may be read here: WaDOE – Focus on New Streamflow Restoration Law – ESSB 6091. Read King County’s “Water Availability and Permitting Study” in response to the Hirst decision here (6 MB pdf): KC-Hirst Comp Plan Action FINAL. View King County’s handout presented at the May 6 meeting: KC – GMVUAC Meeting Handouts_2019-05-06.

The GMVUAC will hear from citizens in attendance and conduct business regarding and relating to current and future issues of concern to area residents.  Keep watch on this space for any special guest speakers and/or new issues to be presented and discussed at this meeting.  All members of the public are invited to attend. During the Public Comment period at the start of each meeting, members of the public can address the Area Council on any local issue.

You are invited to visit our various Committee webpages and read about other topics of interest to you via the dropdown menus along the top of our Home webpage, in the Current Issues box, and in the important notices and information posted directly on our Home webpage.  Get to know the Council by reading a short biography of each current Council member: GMVUAC Member Bios_01 11 2019

Other Information of Interest

The King County Solid Waste Division is inviting residents in the vicinity of the Cedar Hills Landfill to submit an application to be considered for membership on the County’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee.  More information and links are provided here:  KC SWAC Invitation.

View the presentation made by Tahoma School District Superintendent, Tony Giurado, to the GMVUAC at our December 3, 2018, meeting: Tony Giurado-GMVUAC Presentation-Final-12 03 2018 .  Read a summary of the recent joinder of Fire District #43 /  Maple Valley Fire & Life Safety with the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority: FD43_MVFLS_PSRFA_Overview .  In addition, read important information on Burn Bans and contacts: MVFLS_Burn Ban Guidelines .

Farm King County recently launched its Food Systems Data Center, which combines an interactive mapping platform with information and data on local agriculture to tell the story of King County’s farm and food system. Farm King County is a one stop resource for information and assistance for farm operations, and this data will be useful to better understand, analyze, and measure the healthy and viability of our food system. The major components of the data center include the King County Farm and Food System Map and food system indicator progress metrics.  Read KC DNRP’s Local Food blog post about the launch here.

Future Council Meetings and Planned Topics/Guest Speakers:

June 3:  TBD — We initially planned to have as our guest speaker Ivan Miller, King County Comprehensive Planning Manager, to present and discuss with us the 2020 King County Comprehensive Plan Mid-Point Update process.  However, Mr Miller is working with the KC DLS to schedule an expected six (6) Public Open Houses to discuss the 2020 KCCP 4-yr Mid-Point Update Public Review Draft (PRD).  The PRD is set for release on July 1 with a 30-day comment period.  The PRD will consist of (1) a draft Ordinance showing proposed changes to King County Code using a strikethrough format; and (2) the proposed KCCP changes.  The anticipated Open Houses in early July will consist of three (3) in urban unincorporated areas like North Highline, Skyway, etc. and three (3) in Rural Areas: North, East, and South.  The 2 hour format will generally consist of (a) opening meet and greet with KC people at multiple tables with information about the PRD (much like the Annual CSA Meetings at the Hobart Church); (b) presentation by Mr Miller with Q & A; and (c) more time for mingling around the KC tables with more specific questions.

Periodically we will also have representatives from the Department of Ecology return and give us progress reports on the cleanup of the Reserve Silica and Landsburg mine sites.  We plan on having Chief Aaron Tyerman, FD#43/MVF&LS/PSRFA, back to present an update to us regarding fire and life safety services.  We also plan to invite back Tony Giurado, Superintendent of the Tahoma School District, to discuss with us funding issues and other matters of importance to our community.  As guests and topics are confirmed, we will promptly post information here.  At any time, for detailed information on any issue the GMVUAC is involved with at this time, please visit our various webpages listed in the Current Issues Box or in the Committee dropdown menu on our Homepage.