Minutes of the July 21, 1997 General Meeting of the Vashon-Maury Island Community Council 1 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:37PM, Jake Jacobovitch presiding. 2. The Treasurer reported ending balances of $105.38 checking, $2,454.01 savings. 3. There were several announcements of general interest. a) Fred Hansen announced a new database for bringing together land owners with excess deer and local hunters. b) Sen. Mike Heavey will make a presentation next month on the question of obtaining fill for Sea-Tac's third runway. 4. The Safety Committee has formed a new subcommittee on north end ferry traffic problems and solutions. The Committee has also discussed the Fire Dept's concern with traffic during festival, and discussed the status of the Monument Road traffic revision, which is waiting for funding. 5. The Land Use Committee reported that both the Tahlequah Y monopole permit appeal and the County's proposed repeal of the Vashon Community Plan are still pending. 6. Anne Woodward was selected by the Board to replace Sharon Lee Nicholson, but her confirmation will be delayed until she is able to attend next month's meeting. 7. Shelley Carbery's motion to request Equestrian Community designation for Vashon/Maury Islands was brought forward for debate. a) The designation has not yet been adopted anywhere in the County, so its exact implications are not certain. It is intended to preserve horse access and the acceptability of horse- related land uses in the face of urbanization pressures. b) A key concern would be the preservation of un-paved road shoulders unless alternative access is provided. Some locations might also get lower speed limits and trailhead signs. c) Considerable concern was expressed over the use of the term "tolerated trespass" to describe existing trail access, since no posting is legally required to prevent trespassing under Washington law. d) Would the recognition of informal trails trigger the 500- foot firearms-discharge buffer from trails in KC 12.68.030? This is not certain, but if so it would close much of the most popular hunting land on the island. e) The current horse population on Vashon is uncertain, but was around 1,200 three years ago. f) The question was called and the Motion passed. i) Aye 76 Nay 19 Inappropriate 4 Abstain 9 8. The Safety Committee's motion to make Vashon Island Highway one-way southbound from the ferry dock to 112th St., with the present downhill lane becoming an official holding lane for ferry traffic, was brought forward for debate. a) This traffic pattern is already suggested by signs at several locations along the hill, but the signs are widely ignored. Even the Metro Bus can sometimes be seen driving northbound in the southbound lanes or straddling the double yellow line, and near misses are common. b) Residents along the stretch of highway have expressed support for the proposal and do not mind having to drive around the loop down the parking lot hill. c) The question was called and the Motion passed. i) Aye 90 Nay 6 Inappropriate 4 Abstain 6 9. The Land Use Committee's motion to support the requested vacation of a portion of SW 240th St. on Maury Island was brought forward for debate. a) The right of way in question has never been developed: it was one of two routes available to the county, and the County developed the other one. b) The land owner declined to appear to support the proposed vacation. c) Nearby residents questioned whether the vacation would facilitate logging, subdivision of the property, or further development. d) Others questioned the idea that the right of way was unusable, noting that an undeveloped public right of way is an excellent starting point for a public trail. e) The question was called and the Motion failed. i) Aye 18 Nay 43 Inappropriate 6 Abstain 17 10. Mark Buscher of KC Solid Waste gave a presentation on the updating of the County-wide solid waste plan. The Plan was last updated in 1992-94, and the growth of private contract haulers and vertically-integrated waste companies has presented many changes in costs. a) The County's Summary of Major Issues, Potential Impacts, and Existing Conditions will be available at the library, and updated information will be provided on the County's page on the World Wide Web. 11. Jake Jacobovitch introduced Lauren Reinelt to discuss the possible benefits and impact of restoring tide flow through the Portage fill. a) The existing salt marsh has significant environmental value as fish spawning territory, which led to the original proposal to improve tidal flow to the marsh. Flow to both the inner harbor and Tramp Harbor would be even better. b) Possible benefits include improved Inner Harbor water quality, reduced red tide in Quartermaster Harbor, reduced flooding of Quartermaster Drive, reduced sedimentation of the Inner Harbor, and a better marsh environment. c) Several questions must be answered to determine feasibility. i) Probable benefits must be quantified. ii) Design alternatives must be evaluated: depth and width of culvert? Type of construction? iii) Possible impacts elsewhere must be studied, e.g. erosion at KVI beach? iv) Maintenance needs must be evaluated and costs estimated. 12. Bruce Dierking presented information on the new driving range project at the Vashon Golf & Country Club. a) This has been a long-term goal of the Club, which considered many proposed locations over the years before deciding on this one. b) The land will not be irrigated or sprayed with pesticides. c) Balls should stay on the range, not impact neighboring properties or the road. 13. Bruce Dierking introduced a new Motion to support the driving range proposal. 14. Jake Jacobovitch introduced a new Motion requesting the Ferry System to restore and continue direct telephone service to the ferry dock. 15. Jake Jacobovitch introduced a new Motion to support evaluation of the restoration of tide flows at Portage. 16. Jake Jacobovitch introduced a new Motion requesting a waiver of land use appeal fees for appeals filed by the Community Council. 17. Adjourned.