Upper Bear Creek UAC Meeting Minutes

Date: September 23, 2003
Time: 7:30 – 9:10 PM
Location: Woodinville Library
Board Attendees: Mary Filkins, Geoff Clayton, Nancy Stafford, Kathy Ravensroft.
County Attendees: Sheriff David Reichert, Precinct Commander Robin Fenton, Russ Carlsen (Kathy Lambert)
Community Attendees: David Rockabrand (Four Creeks UAC) Patricia Weston. Jim Sebring, Doug Hogarth, Kim Shoemake, Mike Rioskind, Alan Robbe

Meeting was opened by Geoff Clayton who introduced Sheriff Dave Reichert who was elected King County Sheriff in 1997 and has 32 years of service in law enforcement. He first addressed budget concerns. His dept budget has been cut by $2M each of the last two years and there is a threat of a $3M cut next year. He has managed to trim expenses and retain all his personnel so far, in part by application for and receipt of Federal Grants.
Reichert wants officers who have a spirit of service, “the heart to serve”
The King County’s General Fund stands at about $110M; the sheriff’s office receives 12% of the General Fund. Nearly $53 M is spent in unincorporated King County. Sheriff Reichert believes in partnerships and complete cooperation between municipalities and government offices. A new communication system RAIN is slowly being implemented; it will allow official inquiries to be served directly by a data bank. As it is, one jurisdiction needs to call another jurisdiction to make inquires and information is often incomplete or misleading depending on who you talk to. The sheriff’s office coordinates services to 13 contract cities, Metro, 6 UAC’s, and several private police departments….about 20 separate police departments. They are active in youth programs and provide officers within schools where necessary.
He was questioned about the “Green River” murder cases and the fate of Gary Ridgeway.
By cooperating with law enforcement officers, Mr. Ridgeway hopes to avoid the death penalty; instead he would plead guilty and be sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. This plea bargain is seen as positive. Finding the bodies of his victims helps their families achieve closure, expenses are less than they would be if it goes to trial and it avoids the lengthy and costly process of appeals a death sentence creates. The sheriff expects much more information to be available to the public within 6 to 8 weeks. It’s been an extremely far reaching involved case.
Any of the public who are interested in law enforcement can attend “Citizen Academy” classes given several times each year to help the public be aware of the varied duties of today’s police departments, providing another way of building community.
Robin Fenton suggested Martin Hoyle at 206 205 7867 for a Meth. Lab presentation.
Russ Carlsen, (Kathy Lambert’s aide) encouraged us all to attend the King County Governance Public Hearing in Bellevue on Oct 1st from 6 to 8PM.
Jim Rankin, King County Fire Marshall missed the meeting as did Craig Weaver.
UBCC Board meets Oct 14 at Stafford’s, next public forum at library Oct 28th.