VASHON-MAURY ISLAND COMMUNITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 19, 2005 DRAFT MINUTES Minutes: Aug 15 draft approved Announcements Jenny Hodgson, League of Women Voters: * Workshop on taxing districts, Bill Ameling, Sept 29, 7, Library * Meet the Candidates Night, Oct 26, 7, Courthouse Square Jim English: Critical Areas Ordinance open house with King County staff, Sept 29, 6-8:30, High School Bill Ameling requests writing assistance for his committee’s taxing district work. Please contact Jim English or Jean Bosch. Election: VMICC Board candidate Mark Meyer elected by acclamation. Committee Reports Governance and Policy presented 13 by-laws amendments to be debated at the October meeting. Revisions to the by-laws are considered twice a year, submit in January for consideration in spring. Please contact Robin Hess with questions. Sustainable Practices chair to step down, new chair needed. Jack will stay on the committee. Last meeting was a follow-up discussion on the Cascadia Conference. Land Use and Natural Resources will host a round-table discussion on affordable housing Sept 21, 7, Land Trust Building. Susie Kalhorn will facilitate. They will also adopt a vision statement at the meeting. Public Safety committee is inactive. This committee is charged with roads safety: crosswalks, shoulder overgrowth, deer, bicycles, equestrians. Has acted as a liaison for hunting policy. Jim English will act as interim chair to address deer on roads and Tramp Harbor shoulder overgrowth. Transportation: working on overcrowding on N. end parking lot, road rumble spots, bus service to compensate for reduced ferry service. Next meeting Sept 26 at McMurray Library with Matt Bergman to hear passenger-only ferry comments. No October meeting. Mike Sudduth, non-voting member of Governor’s Task Force for Passenger-Only Ferry Service: This group has until the end of November to make recommendations to the governor, two meetings to date, informational and background. Working on funding issues, scheduling to come later. Heavy Metals reported a successful trial to use non-native ferns to remove arsenic from the soil. Dept of Ecology will fund an expanded study. Next meeting first Friday in December. Septic Solutions has been having good turnout and lively discussions about legal questions, procedure issues, permitting, budgets. Mark Salkind will attend the next meeting to talk about Beulah Park Sept 28 at IERE. They meet every other Wednesday. Disaster Preparedness will be applying for funding for medical supplies, CERT training, website updating, etc. Estimate 400-700 off-Islanders could be stranded here in the event of disaster. Communications reports Voice of Vashon cable tv contracts nearly signed. They need two people to assist with content. Restrooms Committee inactive, needs someone to bring the previous work to completion. Spokespeople did not meet last month, but County is repairing road patches. Three emails about child safety. Local Taxing District needs a writer. Next meeting is Sept 29. Economics: New chair Ron Leaders reported that this committee is reviewing policies now in effect, esp the Town Plan, to have a letter to King Co planning staff immediately. County initial report on Rural Economic Strategies will circulate Oct 5. Ad Hoc Property Right Committee Motion to create ad hoc Property Rights Committee read into the record by maker Armen Yousoufian: Whereas, The Vashon Maury Island Community Council ("vmicc") has policies indicating that the vmicc is to represent a diversity of viewpoints, promote a vibrant business climate on the island, and other similar lofty and noble objectives; and There is a perception among many on Vashon and Maury Islands that the vmicc offers little opportunity for the veiws of real property owners to be heard even as property rights are under attack by such fiascos as King County's Critical Areas Ordinance and proposed moratoria on new home construction under the Vashon Watershed Plan's first draft; and The existing land use committee appears overly pro-environment in its slant, and scarcely considers the impact on business and job retention, let alone creation, rising real property taxes. Surface Water Management fees, and other economic impacts, and Real property rights appear to be under assault in King County, and There are widespread reports of abuse of property owners property rights and civil rights by DDES inspectors in rural King County, with several extremely serious, life threatening incidents involving firearms, and There is no offical means to give voice to a robust defense of property rights on Vashon and Maury Islands at this critical time, and The sensible solution to this situation is to create a new committee under the vmicc that will specifically deal with property rights issues, and all matters that impact property rights must pass through that committee for consideration and recommendations before going to the full vmicc Now therefore, the undersigned maker of this motion makes the following motion: MOVE to create an ad hoc Property Rights Committee under the vmicc.. 1. Motion to postpone vote until October defeated 28-25. 2. Motion to adopt only the final sentence defeated 36-14. 3. Motion to adopt the resolution as it was presented defeated 42-4 Urgent Motion Motion opposing Initiative 912    Whereas: The state Legislature has approved a long range transportation plan based on a nine-and-one-half-cent increase in the gasoline tax to be phased in over a period of four years; Whereas the transportation infrastructure of the state of Washington has not received significant investment in ten years; Whereas there are urgent infrastructure and transportation needs, including the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the 520 Floating Bridge; Whereas the transportation plan also provides funding for Interstate 405, rail and transit projects which benefit directly or indirectly the citizens of Washington by reducing traffic congestion; Whereas Washington State Ferries will also be dependent on the gas tax plan for 185 million dollars of needed capital improvements; Whereas the failure to provide for needed transportation improvements would negatively affect business, commerce and economic growth in the state of Washington; Whereas needed improvements to the transportation infrastructure will provide good jobs for thousands of people; Be it resolved: The Vashon Maury Island Community Council is opposed to the proposal of Initiative 912 which would repeal the taxes necessary to move forward with the Washington State transportation plan. Motion made by Marilyn Omey and Vickie Mercer Jim checked with King Co staff as to whether this is an appropriate action for VMICC. OK since it does not support a particular candidate, and shows the pulse of the community. 1. VMICC Board voted to approve, 6-0 2. Motion passed 42-14. Meeting adjourned 9:30 Respectfully submitted, Jean Bosch