Minutes of the October 19, 1998 General Meeting of the Vashon-Maury Island Community Council 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM, Craig Beles presiding. 2. There was no Treasurer's Report. 3. The President recognized guests including Greg Nickels, Dow Constantine, Michelle McFadden, and Bong Sto.Domingo. 4. The President noted that, despite weeks of repeated invitations, the Washington State Ferry System had been unable to find a single employee to represent them. Questions should be directed to Paul Green, 515-3404. 5. The Public Safety Committee reported that the School District had briefed them on their emergency preparedness planning. Next meeting, Nov. 11, they will hear from Puget Sound Energy and the Church of Latter Day Saints. 6. The Transportation Committee reported: a) More details are being worked out on North End traffic. b) Speeding complaints have been rising south of Burton, where people often drive 45+ in the 25mph zone, and 60+ in the 45mph zone. c) Additional traffic enforcement has been requested in both locations. 7. The Land Use Committee reported: a) The appeal of county cell tower regulations under the Growth Management Act is proceeding. b) The Portage fill restoration report is back from DNR. c) An application has been filed to build a gas station, minimart, and lube shop north of Puget Sound Energy. 8. The Forest Practices Committee reported that meetings are continuing re: island-specific logging issues and regulations. 9. The Social Services Committee reported its next meeting will be Nov. 10 at the land Trust Building, 6 PM. 10. The Outreach Committee reported on plans for an all-island newsletter to increase input from people who do not regularly attend meetings. 11. The Government and Policy Committee reported that new proposed amendments to the Bylaws have been prepared to deal with budgeting of the funds provided by the County. 12. The Lonestar Gravel Pit Committee reported: a) Background research is continuing on Lonestar's environmental practices at other locations. b) The final scope of the EIS is not wide enough to address many serious concerns, and the timeline is being rushed. c) Funding is needed for study of the EIS, estimated at $25,000 to $50,000. 13. The Signage Committee reported: a) Its second public input meeting was held this month, with a third scheduled soon. b) An island-wide mailing is planned to get broader input on issues for the Community Council, including signs. 14. The Motion to support retention of the BPA Residential Farm Credit was brought up for debate. a) Bob Braukus of Puget Sound Energy explained that the credit gives lower power rates to all ratepayers of private utilities by giving them access to either lower cost BPA energy or credit for the lower cost energy. King County has already endorsed retaining the credit, but BPA is considering putting a cap on the credit amount. b) Stewart Clark of BPA presented BPA's views: i) BPA does not oppose retaining the credit, but is proposing an added access route: BPA would sell the power rather than exchange it. ii) Public utilities get first shot at BPA's actual power production. iii) The proposed changes do not alter the Power Act of 1980, only the rules implementing the Act. iv) The credit is only a small part of what determines a ratepayer's power rates. c) The Motion was put to a vote and passed. i) Aye 32, Nay 0, Abstain 7, Inappropriate 0. 15. Greg Nickels presented information on the new process he has introduced as chairman of the Budget Committee this year, beginning with several public hearings on budget priorities and issues. a) Several ongoing endangered species listings will have a serious budgetary impact. b) No new capital roads projects are proposed on the Island. c) Human services may face cuts of $2 million. d) The County is providing updated budget process information on the World Wide Web. e) There is a link to the County Budget Page from the VMICC web page at http://www.wolfenet.com/~vmicc 16. The Vashon park District is conducting a survey of uses and needs as part of its ongoing long-term planning. a) Surveys will be available at many locations on the Island. b) A public meeting is scheduled for Nov. 14. c) The timeline is uncertain, but will stretch into 1999. 17. Willem Maas and Gardner Perry introduced discussion of the recent difficulties with the Ferry System. a) Dow Constantine reported that the WSFS did not bother telling anyone in advance about the service cutback on the passenger ferry. b) A representative of Metro Transit reported that the WSFS did not bother sending Metro any advance notice of its fall schedule change, a problem that has happened repeatedly. Often, Metro does not get a new schedule until it is printed and released to ferry riders. c) The WSFS did not bother sending any representative to respond to these or other issues. d) If ferry users have concerns or questions, please address them to the Ferry Advisory Committee, not Metro or the WSFS, to enable continued follow-up by the Committee. e) Anyone concerned with State Patrol practices in policing ferry terminals, including reported abusive behavior toward passenger ferry commuters, should call 425/649-4651. 18. A proposed Emergency Motion was introduced to demand restoration of the passenger ferry to a Coast Guard approved capacity of 250 passengers. a) Passengers noted that the WSFS has never posted any signs requesting passengers to remain seated, has never made any public requests that passengers refrain from sitting on the stairs or standing on the back deck, and gave no warning before reducing the capacity of the boat. b) The request for Emergency status was approved in votes by the Board and the Council. i) Board: Aye 7, Nay 0, Abstain 0 ii) Council: voice vote, unanimous with one abstention. c) The Motion was put to a vote and passed: i) Aye 37, Nay 0, Abstain 0, Inappropriate 0 19. A proposed Emergency Motion was introduced endorsing Ferry Advisory Committee efforts to get the ferry system to use existing money approved for Vashon service used to add 2 runs per day to the Kalama's schedule. a) The money was approved for other Vashon service increases that the WSFS has not yet made, and is sitting unused. b) The request for Emergency status was approved in votes by the Board and the Council. i) Board: Aye 7, Nay 0, Abstain 0 ii) Council: voice vote, unanimous with one abstention. c) The Motion was put to a vote and passed: i) Aye 37, Nay 0, Abstain 1, Inappropriate 0 20. A proposed Emergency Motion was introduced to authorize funding an island-wide mailing in time for the November election. a) Many islanders are unaware of current VMICC issues and do not read the Beachcomber, so an island-wide mailing will increase opportunities for participation. b) The request for Emergency status was approved in votes by the Board and the Council. i) Board: Aye 7, Nay 0, Abstain 0 ii) Council: voice vote. c) The Motion was put to a vote and passed: i) Aye 30, Nay 4, Abstain 0. 21. A new Motion was introduced to provide no more than $4100 for an all-island survey mailing. 22. A new Motion was introduced to provide funding from this year's budget for the review of the Lonestar EIS. 23. A new Motion was introduced to adopt amendments to the Bylaws concerning budgeting. 24. Adjourned.