Upper Bear Creek UAC Meeting Minutes

Date: March 25, 2003
Time: 7:30 - 9:10 PM
Location: Woodinville Water District Conference Room
Board Attendees: Mary Filkins, Geoff Clayton, Nancy Stafford, Jerry Hicks, Pat & Bob McCormick
County Attendees: Marissa Algeria, Debra Prins & Bill Dubay, King Co Assessors Office, Kinley Deller, King Co Solid Waste Mgmt.
Community Attendees: Richard Bard, Vashon Isl. UAC, Debra Ridling, Donald Gonzales, Don & Arlene McChesney, Juanita Verschuyl, Terry Lavender, Rick & Kathy Ravenscroft, Craig Weaver, Derek Ihler, Charles McElrath, Nick Lukevich.

Richard Bard presented a Proposed Community Council Resolution on Health Care. He explained that over10% of the residents of King County are without health care insurance and because of that, some people resist having problems treated until they are severe, causing the need for Emergency Room Services which are much more expensive than office calls or preventative measures. Washington State has a system of Basic Health care in place that is being severely reduced because of the financial crisis in Olympia, more people are losing insurance benefits thru layoffs, and the problem is growing. Eighteen other Industrialized countries have Health Care plans, their people live longer and infant mortality rates are significantly lower than those in the US. Terry Lavender suggested a look at Hawaii's Health care plan; she thinks it would be a good model. A vote was taken to sign onto the resolution as read, it did not pass.* see copy of resolution.

Debra Princ gave printouts of sections 71 and 72, representing most of the UBCC area covered on the assessors section map and explained some of the contents. Each parcel of land in the County's 88 geographical areas, (480 thousand plus residential parcels) is assessed physically every 6 years; that assessment is reviewed and adjusted annually by her office, using statistics from the previous 2 years of sales of land and residential properties, allowing for special character of the property (views, waterfront, on sewer or septic, steep slopes etc) within each section. The valuation date for the record is Jan first. An owner has 60 days from receipt of the tax notice to file an appeal, by doing his or her own comparables for presentation to the assessor's office. If the owner doesn't like the response, they have the option of going to the Board of Equalization and making a case there. That Board has the final word. The actual amount of tax levied on property is up to the state legislature, local levies voted on by the public, and jurisdictional expenses. Final words were that "dirt in Seattle and its surrounds is not cheap". Business cards were handed out, web site options discussed and there is help in the assessor's office for those filing appeals.
* See handouts

Kinley Deller gave an update on the possibilities available to business for cutting waste. Recycling on site and re-use of materials was discussed. He told us about the Solid Waste web site that has all the information he had in hard copy with him as well as other material
*see handouts
Meeting closed at 9:15. Next public forum April 22 at the Water District Offices.