May 24, 2009

1 Comments

Boundary Review Board Schedules Public Hearings
on Fairwood Incorporation this Week

The Washington State Boundary Review Board is preparing for the next step in the process of determining whether the City of Fairwood will incorporate as a new city.

Public hearings are currently scheduled this week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (if needed). Dates are May 26, 27 and 28 (tentative). Meetings will run for three hours, scheduled from 7-10 pm each night.

Doors will open each evening at 6:30 pm to review exhibits and available materials.

The formal hearings will be conducted by the Boundary Review Board (BRB) at Fairwood Community United Methodist Church, located at 15255 SE Fairwood Boulevard, 98058. For a map of the location, CLICK HERE.

The Boundary Review Board is composed of 11 members, and all 11 may not come each of the three nights. In order to vote on this initiative, however, they must attend at least one meeting. A quorum of six is required to proceed with each public hearing, according to Lenora Blauman of the Boundary Review Board.

None of the members of the Boundary Review Board live or own property in the proposed Fairwood area, according to Blauman.

Final Report

To download the final report the Boundary Review Board has received from the Study Consultants led by Henderson, Young & Company, CLICK HERE or the image above.

Public Hearing Format

According to Blauman, the format of the meetings includes the following for each day:

Tuesday, May 26

- Introduction by the Boundary Review Board

- Presentation by the Study Consultants

- Presentation by Incorporation Sponsor, Fairwood Municipal Initiative

- Presentations by Government Agencies, both pro and con

- Public Testimony, if time allows

Blauman said that no public agencies need to "sign up" to speak, they just show up and sign up on a list to speak, just as the public is invited to do.

"Typically, we hear from agencies such as King County, Fire Districts, Sheriff's Department, and sometimes Library and School Districts," said Blauman. "Another city may come, possibly Renton, but we do not know who and who will not be there."

Blauman noted that because the government list could be long and therefore fill the three-hour period, the first night might not include individual citizen, public testimony. If there is time, citizens who would like to speak must sign up to speak and will then be called in order as listed on the sign up sheet. This is the case also for all subsequent meetings.

Wednesday, May 27

- Introductions & Swearing In

- Presentations by other Public Agencies not present Night One

- Public Testimonies from citizens and citizen groups

Thursday, May 28 (tentative - if needed)

- Introductions & Swearing In

- Presentations by other Public Agencies not present on Tuesday or Wednesday

- Public Testimonies from citizens and citizen groups

Time Limits

Both representatives of organizations/groups and individuals may speak during the public testimony time. Organizations such as homeowners associations will be allowed ten minutes to speak, and individuals will be allowed three minutes. If more than one person intends to speak for an organization, they fall under the group 10-minute limit and will be encouraged not to repeat points already covered by others of the group.

If an individual speaks for more than one "group," they will be asked not to repeat points already covered.

Questions & Answers

Q&A moments are often a part of the sessions and are not included in the three and 10-minute limits. The BRB may ask questions of speakers, and responses will not be a part of that time limit. "This (Q&A) is pretty common at hearings,"said Blauman.

At the end of a speaker's public testimony, speakers may also ask questions they would like answered but they will not asks direct questions to other groups or individuals. "Often, a speaker may say 'Before I close, I would like to ask the Board to get clarification on...'," said Blauman, as an example.

Correspondence

Blauman said approximately 18 letters of correspondence have been received by the Boundary Review Board, and no unusual issues have arisen. "No unusual issues have come up like Indian burial grounds," said Blauman.

According to Blauman, the dominant theme of the correspondence received to date is related to the fiscal viability of a new City of Fairwood.

"Some don't believe, some say 'wow, this is better than we thought it would be,' and some want the area to stay the same. No letters are particularly unusual," said Blauman.

End of the Hearings

When all public testimonies have been completed, the Fairwood Municipal Initiative will present a 10-minute rebuttal. The BRB will then close the public hearing, begin deliberations and come to a preliminary decision of whether to:

- Accept the proposed incorporation work,

- Accept with minor changes, or

- Deny the recommendation.

The public is welcome to be present during this deliberation period but will not be allowed to speak as the public hearings have come to a close, according to Blauman. If the public meeting ends past 9 or 9:15 pm, the BRB will then decided whether to proceed with the deliberation at that time or delay it until the next day.

Next Steps

After the public hearings have been completed and a preliminary decision has been made, the decision will be formalized at a June 18 BRB meeting. Following that meeting, a 30-day appeal period begins. After that period of time passes, an election can proceed.

Check Back with Us

Check back with Fairwood Community News on what happens this week. We do encourage all to participate at the meetings if their schedules allow.