Upper Bear Creek UAC Meeting Minutes

Date: April 22, 2003
Time: 7:30 - 9:00 PM
Location: Woodinville Water District Offices
Board Attendees: Geoff Clayton, Nancy Stafford, Jerry Hicks, Mary Filkins, Rick and Kathy Ravenscroft
County Attendees: Marissa Algeria, Terri Flaherty of K C Budget Office
Community Attendees: Debra Ridling, Ann Cochez-Lind

19501 189th Pl NE
Woodinville 98072
425 788 2117 lindcochez@attbi.com)

Pres. Geoff Clayton called the Upper Bear Creek Community Council meeting to order and gave a few comments on the Brightwater Project. He'd attended the City of Woodinville meeting on the Parks levy and reported that the City would like the term "regional" defined (would it include "60 Acers and Cottage Lake Park as regional because of their wide spread use by urban and rural persons?), and they agree that parks should run on dedicated funds. Geoff is working on a letter of support that shows UBCC in concert with the City Of Woodinville on Parks.

Speaker for the evening was Terri Flaherty of King County Budget Office working on special projects, currently how the county collects revenue and spends money. She explained the different levels and sources of taxes and, how taxes are collected and apportioned between rural and urban areas under Regional Finance and Governance guidance. She identified the restricted funds as separate from CX (current expense) funds. She asked us to define Rural Services since rural areas do not generate the funds needed for top-notch services. Terri reminded us that rural monies are diverted when annexation takes place. A proposal of a Utility Tax to be collected only in unincorporated King County is being discussed. Rural residents spend money (sales tax) in urban areas because of the Growth Management Act restrictions. In King County, there are 356 thousand urban and 156 thousand rural residents. Unincorporated King County is the second most populated "city" in the state! Terri would like to meet with us again to get our ideas on basic services (human and others) that are expected by rural residents.
See handout "Urban Subsidy"

If UBCC wants to use the Woodinville Water District meeting rooms in future, we need to get another commissioner to host us or go before their board and ask for special permission to bypass their rules of having a staff member at our meetings. Bob Bandara has "had the course!"

The meeting closed at 9:00. Next public Forum May 27, 2003.Woodinville Library