Minutes of the January 18, 1999 General Meeting of the Vashon-Maury Island Community Council 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM, Jake Jacobovitch presiding. 2. President Jacobovitch noted the significance of Martin Luther King in the development of modern American society, and also noted that the holding of a General Meeting on an important holiday is far from unusual (next month's meeting is on Presidents' Day, too) because of the difficulty of re-scheduling meetings in such an active community. 3. The Treasurer reported balances of $86.09 Checking, $20.46, with substantial reimbursements pending at the County. 4. The President requested that all members consider donating to the Community Council's own funds that are not restricted by the County, since many historically important functions of the Community Council are outside the scope of the County's funding restrictions, e.g. appeals of land use decisions. 5. The Safety Committee reported discussion of Y2K preparedness. The next meeting, 2/10 at the old Fire Station, will discuss hunting and shooting concerns. 6. The Transportation Committee did not meet. The next meeting will be 1/25 at the Library to discuss the Transportation Needs Report, which contains many projects not wanted or needed by residents, while ignoring higher priority concerns. 7. The Forest Practices Committee will be moving to meeting the second Wednesday of the month at the Land Trust. a) A new White Paper on proposed island-specific logging rules should be in the Library soon. b) The new Community Forest Exchange is on the web, and will have a meeting 1/27 at the Fire Station. 8. Social Services will next meet 1/19. 9. Land Use and Natural Resources reported that the Executive has promised to veto the proposal to allow subdivision from 5 to 2.5 acres, instead supporting a plan that would allow subdivisions only in combination with transfers of development rights, and excluding Vashon from its scope. 10. The Government and Policy Committee will review outstanding policy questions 2/8 at the Library, 7:30PM. 11. The Lonestar EIS Committee reported having arranged for many services within the cutoff of the 1998 budget, including on-site hydrology, geology, and arsenic inspection, marine surveys of the near-shore environment, and the hiring of a general consultant for the EIS review. a) Arsenic levels on-site are well above the industrial cleanup standard, many times the residential standard. 12. The Diversity Committee reported the success of its Martin Luther King event on Sunday. 13. Mary Robinson was appointed interim chair of a new committee on Island agricultural issues. 14. Dr. Plough of the Health Department presented that agency's current position on arsenic contamination on the island. a) The high levels found at the Lonestar site are a surprise, and will require further testing there and elsewhere on Vashon and Maury. b) The County will work with other agencies that have more experience with arsenic and Asarco, including Swinomish and Pierce Counties and the State Dept. of Ecology. c) This will be a long process -- there are no quick answers for anyone, at the Lonestar site or elsewhere. 15. Mark Musick reported on Y2K preparedness for Vashon. a) FEMA suggests preparing as if for a major natural disaster. Despite all efforts to debug things, some serious failures should be expected. b) Prepare as if expecting a 3 to 7 day loss of off-island services. This is a good idea anyway to be prepared for severe winter storms, earthquakes, etc. 16. Gordon Thompson of DDES and Steve Hall of Jones & Stokes presented information on the EIS process for Lonestar's expansion permit. a) The Draft EIS is expected in March or April, to be followed by review and comment from the public and other agencies. b) A Final EIS incorporating the responses to these comments is expected in late summer. c) King County's web site includes information on the Lonestar EIS process, though the site is currently very stale. d) The EIS should be more readable than most, combining related environment and impact issues rather than discussing environment and impact separately. e) The issuance of a grading permit for the expansion of the gravel pit is a separate process after completion of the EIS process. f) Only 150 copies of the Draft EIS are planned, but more can be produced if there is demand for them. g) For more information on the EIS process, contact Gordon Thompson, 296-7286, gordon.thompson@metrokc.gov 17. Maurice Carpenter made, and Sharon Nelson seconded, a Motion to request suspension of Lonestar's permits pending investigation of code violations. 18. Lindy Marcley made, and Gardner Perry seconded, a Motion in support of joining the Joint Council of Unincorporated Area Councils. 19. Adjourned.