Minutes of the February 16,1998 General Meeting of the
 Vashon-Maury Island Community Council
1

1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30PM, Craig Beles
 presiding.
2. The Treasurer reported balances of $39.78 checking,
$2,488.75 savings.
3. The President recognized guests, including KC Councilman
Greg Nickels.
4. The President announced the Board's decision to re-
 constitute the Transportation Committee, with Gardner Perry and
 Mark Salkind as interim co-chairs. A permanent chair will be
 elected at the Committee's first meeting, Monday, 7:30 PM, at the
 old Kindergarten.
5. The Public Safety Committee reported on the status of North
 End traffic revisions. Street lighting installed by the County
 was excessive and led to complaints from the neighborhood and
 from uphill drivers distracted by the added glare. Revisions are
 in the works, but with no firm timetable. The reconstruction of
 the stairs for the North End parking lot has been allocated
 $242,000 in the 1998 Transportation Needs Report.
6. The Forestry Committee reported that the Forest Practices
 Board has discussed the proposed island-specific logging
 regulations endorsed earlier by Vashon and other communities.
 The FPB will form a special committee to investigate the
 proposals further.
7. The Land Use Committee reported that the County is
continuing its efforts to repeal the majority of the Vashon/Maury
Island Community Plan in order to homogenize our regulations with
the Comprehensive Plan.
8. The President announced formation of an ad-hoc committee to
 study business signs, code enforcement, and community standards,
 as a result of many recent complaints. The President appointed
 David Vogel as interim chair, with the permanent chair to be
 elected at the first meeting of the Committee. David Vogel
 summarized existing regulations and concerns.
 a) The Community Council has repeatedly requested enforcement
 of existing County codes on signs, but with little success.
b) The County Code is not always a good fit with rural
practices, too restrictive in some areas and too liberal in
others.
 c) All signs over 2 square feet require a permit.
 d) Sandwich and A-frame signs, signs on utility and road-sign
 poles, and signs on the public right-of-way are all illegal under
 existing rules.
e) Most business signs must be on the premises of the business,
not along the main highway, under existing rules.
f) Internally-lighted signs are legal in business zoned areas.
Other signs can be at most indirectly illuminated.
g) Anyone having concerns for or against signs is encouraged to
join the Committee as it investigates the application of the Code
to Vashon.
 h) Some members questioned the appointment of David Vogel as
 interim Chair, questioning his objectivity given past involvement
 in signage issues. This is a moot question, as the interim chair
 is appointed only until the first meeting of the Committee.
9. Representatives of the Regional Commission on Airport
 Affairs presented a summary of the many ongoing problems facing
 the Third Runway project, and the efforts to stop the project.
 Anyone interested in receiving more information, contact the RCAA
 at 19900 4th Ave SW, Normandy Park, WA 98166, or see their web
 page at http://www.rcaanews.org/rcaa
10. Sharon Nelson presented an update on the status of the
 proposed expansion of the Lone Star gravel pit operation.
 a) No application has yet been submitted, but DDES has made a
 pre-application site inspection.
b) DDES grading and SEPA representatives will be at the March
VMICC meeting to discuss the process.
11. Sharon Nelson also reported a grant application to obtain
 WSU instruction regarding on-site sewage system care and
 maintenance. The grant would provide 5 public courses on Vashon,
 2 to 4 hours each.
12. Cliff Alton of Vashon Sand & Gravel presented a proposal to
 extend the company's lease on the property recently purchased by
 the County as a park.
 a) This is not the same gravel pit as Lone Star, nor is it the
 same scale of operation.
 b) The County's purchase agreement let the pit continue
 operating for many years on a small part of the total property.
 The proposal would allow the pit to continue operating until the
 current deposit is used up, providing gravel for on-island
 projects.
13. David Vogel moved, and Fred Hansen seconded, that the VMICC
 support extension of the Vashon Sand & Gravel lease through 2027,
 provided that necessary steps are taken to protect the aquifer,
 and that sales be restricted to Vashon/Maury Island projects.
14. A Motion was introduced and seconded that the VMICC
 contribute $500 towards the VIABLE appeal of the Sprint Monopole
 permit.
15. A Motion was introduced and seconded that the VMICC adopt
newly proposed Election and Meeting Policies.
16. Adjourned.