By CARRIE WOOD
cwood@kirklandreporter.com
With less than a week to prepare for a last-minute push in Olympia, several Eastside residents are scrambling to organize a petition against a measure that takes aim at the community councils.
The bill moving through the Legislature would allow voters in the entire City of Bellevue to vote on whether or not to continue the existence of the East Bellevue Community Council as it would for Kirkland voters to vote on the Houghton Community Council.
But many residents are angry that the measure has barreled through the session without any public awareness or opportunity for public input.
Ken Seal, the longest-standing member of the East Bellevue Community Council (EBCC), testified before the Senate Committee in Olympia on Tuesday. He said HB 1812’s provisions are “irrelevant, unnecessary and expensive.”
“When the election comes up, the election (would) involve the whole city, not only for your continuation, but also for who is going to represent your district to the city,” said Seal. “This seems to be ridiculous. I mean this is completely out of order.”
He said the EBCC has been a “great benefit” to the City of Bellevue. The councils have effectively collaborated on the 148th Avenue and 140th Avenue projects, as well as the city’s Growth Management Act regulations, to name a few.
Steve Kasner, EBCC chair, also disagrees with extending the vote on EBCC’s continued existence to the entire city. He cited the now-defunct Sammamish Community Council, which was voted out of existence by its own district in 2005.
“Current legislation is sufficient to handle the needs of the district,” he said.
He likened the bill’s provision to a theme he sees in his classroom.
“I’m a social studies teacher, that doesn’t make sense and to continue the war of 1812 theme – it’s participation without representation.”
SB 1812, which is sponsored by Reps. Steve Kirby (Tacoma), Ruth Kagi (Lake Forest Park) and Jim Moeller (Vancouver), was introduced on Feb. 3 and passed the House unanimously on Feb. 26. Reps. Deb Eddy and Ross Hunter, both of the 48th District, which includes Bellevue, voted for the bill.
The bill would change provisions relating to community municipal corporations. If passed, no new community councils could be created after Jan. 1 2012.
In addition, voters in the entire city could vote for the community council members and decide to approve or disapprove extending a community council’s existence every four years.
Kirkland Reporter Editor Carrie Wood can be reached at editor@kirklandreporter.com or 425.822.9166 ext 5050.
