Upper Bear Creek UAC Meeting Minutes

Date: April 23, 2002
Time: 7:30 - 9:15 PM
Location: Woodinville Library
Board Attendees: Nancy Stafford, Mary Filkins, Geoff Clayton, and Peter Lamanna
King County Attendees: Ted Sullivan, R.J. Wilcox, Marissa Alegria, Russ Carlson and Matt Pruitt from Kathy Lambert's office, Officer Bobbie Wilcox, King Co Sheriff Dept.
Community Attendees: Debra Ridling, Fred Juhos, Heather Poe, Jerry A Hicks, Mike Tanksley, Judy Willman, Tim Kelly.

Nancy presented an updated agenda.

Nancy introduced Deputy Bobbie Wilcox from the Cottage Lake Community Police Station at the Woodinville Service Center. Bobbie is at the station Monday through Friday. She commutes from Port Angeles and if you cannot reach her by phone, you can leave a voice message. She can provide help in the following ways:
· Block watch
· Neighborhood watch
· Speeding problems (radar guns and trailers)

New business:
· Lisa Holman from the King County Arts commission has given us a grant for $2000 this year. Parks and the Woodinville Library are co-sponsoring Music in the Park with us.
· We have been asked to host the Joint UAC Meeting in September.
· Mike Tanksley from the Hollywood Hills Association then spoke. He explained that the association was formed to address and has been active in land issues in our area for some time now. The association is concerned about land use along our arterials, especially Redmond/Woodinville Road. In the past couple years they have seen an increase in the visual clutter of signage reflecting development pressures. This is impacting the rural character of our area. Many of these signs are illegally placed. The City of Woodinville and King County laws are very similar with regard to signage. Mr. Garnet has been their KC contact on this issue.
· Heather Poe from Water Tenders reported that they are almost done with their report on fresh water mussels in Bear Creek. They had received a $5000 grant for the study. Contact Heather if you want to be on their mailing list.

Old business:
· 501C papers are still in process.
· Nancy solicited help on the web site.

Correspondence:
· The council's insurance will not be renewed by MacLean unless we contract for Directors/Officers insurance. Nancy will look else where for insurance.

Report: · Mary Filkins reported on the Woodinville Water District program at Woodmore School and Water Tenders meeting she attended.

Presentation: Ted Sullivan, King County Department of Natural Resources, Taxes and Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS)
· State law, ch.84.33 and 84.34 direct every county to offer tax incentives for preservation.
· Presently there are 300,0000 acres in forest land program. Most of this is in the eastern part of the county.
· The farm land program has about 28,000 acres. A lot of that is in the valleys i.e. Snoqualmie.
· The PBRS program looks at many different types of public benefits i.e. archeological, equestrian. The program is ten years old and now has about 4700 acres in the program.
· Although state law says that you will offer protection to historical, natural, or archeological lands but not precisely what and how to do it
. · Annually the state places a value on lands in the program. For example, forest land is valued somewhere between $1 to $252 per acre and farm land between $25 and $450 per acre.
· PBRS valuation is done differently. It depends on the program you enroll in and how many categories you qualify for.
· You can see tax reductions between 50 and 90%. Not many qualify for 95% though.
· There is no lot size minimum. It depends on your qualifications.
· Once you are in the program you are in forever. There is no renewal required.
· So far, 650 people have enrolled.
· If you leave the program you will have to pay back the savings you accrued during the previous years. For example, if you leave the program after 10 years, you will retain the savings from the first three years but will be required to pay for the subsequent 7 years with interest. The interest rate is 1% per month and there is a withdrawal penalty. You must also give 2 years notice prior to withdrawing.
· The application fee is $250.
· They have received 46 application so far this year.
· A land survey is not required to apply. You do want to be as accurate as possible with your site map though.
· For a $200 fee Ted will do a site visit to evaluate your qualifications.
· The annual application deadline is December 31st. If you apply today, they will not process your application until next year though and your savings would next begin until the 2004 tax year.
· Ted has "ortho" photos to help him verify sites and compliance. Compliance is enforced primarily through his ability to collect back taxes.

Update: Geoff presented on current status of Parks in King County
· There are budget problems for the Parks department.
· All parks will be closed in November.
· Ron Sims is looking into forming a Metropolitan Park District as a possible means of funding parks.
· Last weeks focus group wanted government to continue to commit to parks.
· Our area does not have a lot of parks. We only have the Northshore Baseball Complex and Cottage Lake Park.
· Geoff referenced a 1980 article which stated that 20 acres is needed for ball fields.
· He also mentioned that in 1985 the Cold Creek Area was purchased for active recreation but was later deemed inappropriate and went natural and passive as did Mary Cash Farm.
· He also cited that in a 1994 study we were found to be deficient in parks.
· We do have a strong salmon commitment though.
· The parks director has left to go work for the City of Lynnwood.
· There is a new parks model today. Other regions of the country are building park complexes with pools and other water activities. They not only have ball fields but restaurants.
· Geoff feels that the cities will not be receptive to non-residents using their facilities which are already limited.
· Ron's task force will have a report out in about 6 weeks on funding alternatives.
· Funds that were designated for acquisition are being directed to maintenance.
· The focus group emphasized the importance of the small local park. Geoff mentioned that the regional facilities have economy of scale but the convenience of the local park is important to people.
· Approximately 180 of the 240 staff at Parks are expected to be laid off in the coming months.
· Park maintenance is done by union labor. Union labor has caused problems in the past for groups wanting to do projects or maintenance in the parks. It is now preventing groups from adopting parks and performing maintenance so that they will not be closed.
· Geoff feels that Ron's plan is to mothball the parks until the Metropolitan Parks District is approved.
· Matt Pruitt has the latest list of park closures from Monica Clarke. He will send it to Nancy.

Next meeting will be Tuesday, May 14, 2002, 7:30 PM at Norm's House on Cottage Lake.