Minutes of the November 17, 1997 General Meeting of the
 Vashon-Maury Island Community Council
1

 
1. The meeting was called to order at 7:35 PM, Craig Beles
 presiding.
2. There was no Treasurer's Report.
3. Karen Ko reported that the Executive's budget proposal
 includes $10,000 for each UAC, though uses of the money will be
 restricted.
4. J.P. Anderson reported on the progress of the Safety
Committee's work on the North End traffic situation.
 a) Traffic revisions are being developed in cooperation with
 the state ferry system and the County so that all issues are
 considered.
 b) The County had proposed controlling traffic with an overhead
 sign bridge controlled by dock workers, but the ferry system will
 not accept this liability, and such a sign may be an unacceptable
 level of urbanization for the community.
 c) The existing VMICC motion called for closure of the downhill
 lane, not part-time closure, and permanent closure would be
 simpler, less expensive, and less confusing.
d) The County has agreed to conversion of the downhill lane
into a holding lane for ferry traffic, ADA compliance for the
north end parking lot, and other improvements.
5. Traci Brewer, WSFS South Sound Terminal Manager, discussed
 overloads on the Vashon-Seattle passenger ferry.
 a) Capacity levels are set by the Legislature, and there isn't
 much the WSFS can do to solve overload problems if the
 Legislature approves inadequate capacity.
 b) The WSFS 20-year plan calls for sustained, all-day one boat
 delays on the Vashon routes, worse at peak hours. There can be
 no improvement beyond this without additional state money, e.g. a
 gas tax increase.
6. Vashon Postmaster Dale Goforth discussed a request for
 preferential loading status for USPS vehicles on island ferry
 runs.
 a) Mail must come over from town by truck before being sorted
 on-island, so a delay means everyone gets on- and off-island mail
 late, and can delay mail leaving the island.
b) The routes involved are the 5:30AM and 7:55AM runs to Vashon
and the 2:20PM and 6:10PM runs to Fauntleroy.
c) A Motion was made and seconded requesting preferential
loading for USPS vehicles on Vashon runs.
 d) Gardner Perry noted that the Ferry Advisory Committee is
 looking at all the rules on priority loading, with a community
 meeting expected in January before the rules go to the
 Transportation Commission in May.
7. Jake Jacobovitch reported on the status of several land use
 issues.
 a) King County has scoped the study questions for the Portage
 salt marsh restoration project and sent the project to KC Natural
 Resources.
b) Louise Miller has proposed revisions to the KC
Telecommunications code that would require pre-application
coordination with communities for tower permits.
c) The County Board of Health has an ongoing proposal to double
fees for applications and appeals relating to sewers.
 d) KC Solid Waste has a special use permit application pending
 for the transfer station.
 e) The local operations manager for Lonestar will be attending
 the December meeting on the proposed expansion of the gravel pit.
8. Jake Jacobovitch's motion to start a process for creation of
 a flag for Vashon-Maury Islands was brought up for debate.
 a) The flag could be used by island businesses and
 organizations.
b) The process could improve outreach and communication with
other island groups.
c) The question was called and the motion passed.
 i) 15 Aye, 1 Nay, 10 Abstain, 0 Inappropriate
9. Fred Hansen proposed, and Mark Salkind seconded, a Motion
 supporting the introduction of firearms safety education in
 island schools.
 a) Many islanders voted in favor of the recent gun control
 initiative, so introducing voluntary safety education makes
 sense.
10. Adjourned.