Upper Bear Creek UAC Meeting Minutes

Date: February 26, 2001
Time: 7:35 - 9:00 PM
Location: Woodinville Water District, Woodinville, WA
Board Attendees: Geoff Clayton, Nancy Stafford, Mary Filkins, and Peter Lamanna
King County Attendees: Marissa Alegria
Community Attendees: Catherine Taylor, Terry Lavender, Maxine Kiesling, Leon ?, Debra ?, Nancy Kestick

Nancy began the meeting asking if anyone was new and reminded everyone to sign in. Debbie Cleveland introduced herself. She is contemplating purchasing property in our area and wanting to learn more.

Nancy then presented correspondences:

1. Letter from Woodinville Water District office reminding us that they will be remodeling next month. We will have to move our meeting to the Woodinville Library.
2. Notice from the Department of Ecology reclassifying and removing the former Bear Creek Motors as a hazardous waste site.
3. King County DNR announcing a native plant salvage.

Geoff then provided an update on the salmon recovery. Chinook were listed as threatened a couple of years ago. The Near Term action agenda outlines how to help improve habitat for threatened Chinook. Its steering committee will be holding hearings. They will also have open houses in our area. Geoff had a handout on the Bear Creek section of it. The complete document has a total of 161 pages. Geoff went on to say that we have quite a few Chinook in the basin. Bear Creek had about 700 adults that returned. Next year is projected to be better because the fish stay in the ocean typically 4 years. The return we just had was for 3-year olds. Bear Creek, Issaquah, and ? are the main areas that support spawning. You will have an opportunity to comment at the forums, open houses, and steering committee hearings. Geoff read from his handout the major factors affecting recovery. He also mentioned that there are projects and action alternatives. There will be recommendations that will make it harder to clear land. Geoff then asked for feedback. He wanted to hear:

a. Where do we want to go?
b. Do people see or feel we need better enforcement?

Geoff then introduced Randy Sandin of DDES who spoke about the Sensitive Areas Ordinance, Permitting, code enforcement, and some commentary on the Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS). Ted Sullivan was not available to talk about PBRS and the tax benefits it offers. The following was the dialogue that accompanied Randy's presentation.

1. You must be with the program for 17 years. In November 1990, King County adopted the sensitive areas ordinance. In order to get a permit it will depend on the nature of the work and where it will occur. The basic threshold is 5000 sq ft can be logged unless it is in a sensitive area or there are clearing restrictions. Bear Creek is an area though where you can not do any clearing without a permit. You can maintain your lawn area, noxious weeds, and ?. You can grade up to 100 cubic yards of soil without a permit unless you are in a sensitive area. If a permit is required, the standards of the sensitive areas ordinance or the community plan overlay will govern. There are certain types of work that are allowed in buffers i.e. utility, surface water, trails. If you want to develop property in a sensitive area there are rules and exceptions that were tightened up in 2000. You can request a variance if the alternation does not exceed 10% of the lot. It is almost impossible to get a permit without a site visit. The web site has a lot of information that will let you know if you are going to be in a permit condition. DDES will come out for a fee and identify if you are in a sensitive area. You can call 206-296-5679 to get information. Clearing means removing any vegetation that grows above the surface. There are a number of regulations being drafted for county wide standards. The bar in the county will be brought up to the Bear Creek Basin standards.
2. Nancy asked how enforcement is currently going. Randy said that it is directly tied to funding. In 1991 the enforcement program was reorganized. They now have 5 people dedicated to it. Catherine asked if someone could buy 5 acres and raise chickens and horses or would it be impossible. Randy said it depends on how sensitive the land is. You can clear up to 35% without drainage analysis or 60% with it. An attendee paid $132 for Bruce Engle to come out and look at 5 trees out of 70 on a 7 acre parcel. The contractors who bid on the job laughed that he gone and got a permit. Bruce had to come out again to verify the tree removal and the total county bill was over $500.
3. Terry said that when Water Tenders did a plant restoration on Cold Creek in which they mowed blackberries they were required to get a permit. The permit cost was $565. Water Tenders was denied a fee waver even though they were a volunteer group. The fee was 10% of their budget for the planting. Terry went on to say Reach B of Bear Creek is where most the spawning occurs. County has spent funds for acquisitions and people have put property into public benefit. She knows of a case where someone with two one acre lots has put in for variances. She did not understand why the variances were granted for a 3000 sq ft home. Terry said that the Near Term action agenda does not address this type of thing. Both of these lots are undeveloped. Randy said the county is looking at revising variance and reasonable use. It may be a month or two before the draft is available for public review. Nancy asked Randy if the council could be on their distribution list.
4. Maxine Kiesling asked what the average cost of drainage analysis is and any required runoff control facility. Randy said it varies based on site conditions. If you have a site that drains you will not need to do float control. It is hard to put a number on it. Maxine then asked why pastures are bad if they properly drain. Her pasture drains. Geoff replied that trees absorbed and transpire 2/3 of the water that falls. Maxine replied that clearing can actually help recharge the aquifer. Geoff agreed but it can actually overcharge it and increase stream scouring. Maxine then asked why do want large woody debris in the streams. Randy said we need to compensate for the current lack of it. Maxine said that there are cases where the debris can cause erosion problems and what is the channel migration zone. Leon then brought up Bostick who is actively doing things on Bear Creek. This has been going on for over 8 years. Nancy said Paula Adams gave us 1-888-437-4771, the environmental hotline. Randy said that when you call in it helps to have the parcel number. One attendee said if you have the address you can get the parcel number from the web site. Another attendee asked about Sammamish tributary 95b, the intermittent stream along 124th. She said it looks ridiculous and they have never seen any water in it. Randy said they are waiting for the banks to re-vegetate. Debra asked what to do if someone is trying to change the variance on a sensitive area in order to develop the property. The maps currently do not show it as a sensitive area. Randy said you would want to contact the division handling the permitting.
5. Nancy then asked Geoff if this would be a good time to ask about visioning. Terry has held a meeting at her home concerning this. Catherine knows there is a strong equestrian community. Mary Filkins is concerned about native growth easements. Catherine said we need to work harder to protect the buffer with manure removal and smaller holding areas. We also need help with manure removal. Keeping horses out the buffers is easy. She also advocated the Public Benefit Rating System. How can we cooperate and work together. Nancy Kestick wanted to hear more about PBRS but Ted Sullivan could not make it. Catherine's group got the trail system added to it. Leon said we are all a little bit more enlightened in our area as compared to Redmond due to the Water Tenders' model, council support and education. Another attendee said that the county may understand the 65% clearing regulation now but we need better enforcement.

Next board meeting will be Tuesday, March 12, 2002, 7:30 PM at Norm's house on Cottage Lake. Our next public meeting will be Monday, March 25, 2002, 7:30 PM, at the Woodinville Library. The topic will be traffic concurrency.