Minutes of the May 19, 1997 General Meeting of the
 Vashon-Maury Island Community Council
1

 
1. The meeting was called to order at 7:38PM, Craig Beles
 presiding.
2. The Treasurer reported ending balances of $164.52 checking,
$2,444.19 savings.
3. Official guests included Irene Stewart and Sgt. Ray.
4. There were several Announcements of general interest.
 a) The Forest Practices motion was taken to the State Forest
 Practices Board and was well received.
b) The SR-16 Stakeholders Meeting is deciding between a double
decked Narrows Bridge and a second bridge. The Vashon options
are all completely dead.
c) The Safety Committee has again contacted the Ferry System
regarding terminal improvements. Status is unknown and the
System presented no reasonable near-term options.
d) The Land Use committee reported work is still in progress at
the County level on the Charter Review, Comprehensive Plan
Consistency Review, Code Enforcement Task Force, and Telecom Code
revisions.
 i) The revised Telecom Code would make 100-foot tall towers an
 allowed use rather than a permitted use, eliminating all public
 input on such massive structures.
ii) The Sprint monopole appeal is proceeding. Final hearing
June 11, 9:30AM, King County Courthouse.
 e) The Service Center is scheduled to have its Grand Opening on
 May 30.
5. The Motion to endorse the Chautauquah bicycle safety program
 was brought up for debate.
 a) Several people spoke in favor of the program, noting that
 summer is almost here, most children hurt in cycling accidents
 are at fault, and elementary school students are at a perfect age
 for learning to cycle properly, before they learn to drive.
b) The Motion was put to a vote and passed.
 i) Aye 34 Nay 0 Inappropriate 0 Abstain 0
6. The proposed Policies and Procedures and the proposed
 Operating Policy, both submitted to the Council by the Board for
 approval were brought up for discussion.
 a) Several members sought to define the basis for membership
 and voting: should residents alone be allowed to vote, or should
 absentee land owners also be allowed to vote.
b) It was agreed that this question should be a matter of
separate study, since the current standard is part of the Bylaws,
not just the current proposals.
c) Both proposals were put to votes and approved:
 i) Policies & Procedures: Aye 30 Nay 0 Abstain 5
ii) Operating Policy: Aye 32 Nay 0 Abstain 4
7. Representatives of Nextel Communications and the Matthews
 Land Co. presented information and took input on the proposed
 monopole on 99th Ave. in Dockton.
 a) The plans for tests to reduce the impact of the pole on the
 neighbors have not been held.
b) The installation of services to the initial proposed site,
without a permit and before consulting with the neighbors on the
location of the tower, was a mistake.
 c) The companies did not intend to violate their understanding
 with the Community Council and break their public promises to the
 community at large and the Land Use Committee, and will work to
 clear up the situation.
 d) The Land Use Committee will continue to follow the
 development of this site to prevent future conflicts with law and
 policy.
8. The subject of possible off-island business openings on the
 island was brought up for discussion as a committee of the whole.
 (No motion is pending on this subject, nor is any action planned.
 This is a purely informational discussion in the tradition of the
 Community Council.)
 a) Many businesses on the island with national or chain brand
 names are not franchises, chain stores, etc., they are co-op
 members who pay a modest fee for group buying privileges and use
 of the name.
 b) There does not appear to be any standard legal or zoning
 method for excluding chain stores or franchises. Any store that
 meets permit requirements can be built.
 c) Where campaigns against national chain stores have been
 successful, community boycotts have been very important. They
 are also very difficult to conduct if the new stores offer much
 better prices or service than existing stores.
 d) The existing business community may pre-empt the opening of
 new stores by actively seeking out unmet community needs and
 serving them before new companies do.
e) Cooperation between the Community Council and the Chamber of
Commerce to poll consumers and identify new needs may be a
fruitful approach.
9. A new Motion was introduced, to approve the elections
 policies submitted to the Council by the Board.