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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1959-08-05 Special Minutes - Valley Industrial Commission Minutes (First Meeting)THE TOWN OF TUKWILA Office of the Mayor /hi )q3 y Dear Commission Member: It is a pleasure to welcome you to this organizational meeting of the Valley Industrial Commission. The fact that you were chosen for this important post and your willingness to serve on this project are two important factors in your favor. I would like to take this opportunity to give you a few lights on the motives behind my creation of this commission. Tukwila is situated at the head of our potentially important industrial valley. We are at the crossroads. Ever since our incorpor- ation over 51 years ago we have been aware of our responsibility to the people of Washington. Our Mayors have always known that some day Tukwila will take its place of importance in providing jobs and products for the people of our state. Now our dawn is upon us, and we, along with the Officials of Kent, Renton, and Auburn, must move quickly to assume the leadership which must come from us. As you know the Port of Seattle had plans for the development of our valley for some years. They had financed studies, made elaborate plans, and told their story widely. Many people had come to rely upon the Port's proposals, This was to be the way. We in Tukwila were not entirely sold on the Port of Seattle plan. In our opinion it had some serious shortcomings. We thought private industry, investing its own money in an American plan of risk and profit, was the proper method of developing our valley. The Port, 2, however, had the authority and was proceeding along its original line. This would have been to take the land by purchase condemna- tion, developing it, and then leasing it to industry thus taking the land off the tax rolls and depriving the towns of a valuable tax base. All costs would have been borne by the taxpayers. Recently the Port's plans were overthrown by the Washington State Supreme. Court which held that some of the laws pertinent to the Port's scheme were unconstitutional. Once the shadow of condemnation was lifted we moved ahead to put our program into action. I contacted the Mayors of Kent, Renton, and Auburn and asked them to join with me in creating this Valley Indus- trial Commission. I asked that each municipality send six of its best men to meet together to design the plan whereby our valley may develop properly, fully, and quickly. It is our job to do and we must not shirk it. Our Valley Industrial Commission will also serve to dispel the negative thinking generated through certain local news outlets which have been saying that now 23,000 acres of land has been lost to industry and 25,000 potential jobs will never materialize. This type of 'statement is highly incorrect. Whoever develops our valley will pro- vide the maximum number of jobs. Not one single acre of land has been lost it is all here. Industrialization of our valley will come much sooner, now that the shadow of condemnation has been lifted and private industry can go ahead unrestricted with their developments. Now, what can you commissioners do? You will, of course, serve in an advisory capacity to your respective elected Councilmen. Here are some ideas: 1. Select two members from each city's group to comprise a "facilities location and appraisal committee." We must know what we have to offer: size, location, and features of each parcel of industrial property within the four municipalities. Such an overall catalog will be invaluable when we make contact with interested companies. 2. Work towards co- operation in zoning between the four municipalities, particularly in boundary areas. For example we wouldn't want one municipality to establish a 1st residence zone alongside a neighboring town's heavy industry zone. 2. Be eager to work with other outside groups whenever a mutual benefit can be realized. -3- 4. Help publicize our valley and its tremendous potentialities. 5. Help interested new industries to locate within our valley. 6. Help existing industries expand. Sincerely, Charles 0. Baker, Mayor Town of Tukwila SUGGESTED METHOD OF ORGANIZATION The Mayors of the other municipalities have suggested that Mayor Baker of Tukwila preside at this first meeting. This is a suggested method of organization: 1. The commission members from the four cities and towns will caucus separately and elect one person from each municipality to serve on the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will serve as a liaison between the Chairman and the members, and perform other duties usually associated with such a group. 2. The Board of Directors will act as a temporary nominating committee and at the second meeting will bring in the name(s) of a proposed Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Secretary Treasurer. 3. Chairman could appoint: a. Facilities location and appraisal committee (two members from each municipality). b. Press Officer (It was the Mayors' of the four munici- palities express desire that information from this Commission be released through one designated and responsible person, not through various members, Mayors, etc.) 2 Mayor Thornton asked whether Tukwila had a comprehensive plan. Mayor Baker said yes. Mayor Thornton said that this group could help eliminate a hodge -podge in the valley and increase co- operation between the municipalities. Should the Seattle Area Industrial Council and the Puget Sound Industrial Council be notified? Mayor Baker: yes. Mayor Baxter asked how the various planning commissions will work with this commission. Mayor Thornton said he bad put one or more planning commission members on this group. Mayor Baker pointed out that the whole thing is advisory to the various councils. The various councils should co- operate together the way the county co- operates with nearby municipalities. Mayor Baxter said that this group represents quite a few owners and that its makeup is different from that of a planning commission. Mayor Baker said the members of this commission have a great interest in the valley; they represent the railroads, land owners, real estate interests, recreation, Boeing, bankers,' attorneys, etc. We are not here tonight to take the Port apart. I have respect for them, I think they have a job to do on the waterfront. We are here to industrialize the valley as best we can with what we have. If we don't do the job, the Port will come back and do it for us. Can't you gentlemen do the job without taxation? With the Port's plan the tax base was lost, the school revenue was lost. We are all hard pressed for finances, we need that tax base. Boeing, Andover, Southcenter, the railroads are all developing without tax money. Mr. McCurdy said we can make use of help from professional planners already employed by various groups. Mr. Batchelder pointed out that 2 years ago Puget Power hired planners to cover this area, including the valley. These facts are available. We should use facts already available. Mayor Baker read the prepared statement on suggested method of organization. Mr. Boyd suggested that there should be two Directors from each municipality. Approved. 3 Mayor Denise said we should wait until next meeting to bring out nominations for permanent officers. Will press Officer take the place of the press wishing to attend various meetings? Mayor Baker: No. There was discussion on best night to meet, thought 4th Monday best for now. There was general discussion on source of revenue to operate the commission. Mayor Baxter volunteered to make up first batch of letterheads. Mr. McCurdy said he thought private enterprise could help. Suggestion that various Chambers of Commerce help. Suggestion certain municipal funds could be used. Mayor Baker called for a caucus of the various groups in order that Directors may be elected. This was done with results attached. After a short further discussion the meeting was adjourned at 10:00 P. M. Respectfully submitted, JOHN B. STRANDER NOTICE: Next meeting: 24th of August (4th Monday) at the Renton City Hall. $:00 P. M. VALLEY INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION Directors and members as of 5 August 1959 Directors: TUKWILA Charles 0. Baker, Mayor bus: MA 3 -7236 14715'57th Ave. So., Tukwila home: CH 2 -4259 Harold R. Iverson, White Bollard, Seattle. bus: MA 2-4711 residence: 5014 -116th S.E., Bellevue home: GL 4 -1128 John B. Strander, Box 181, 'Tukwila Members: Mario A. Ssgale, 18010 57th So., Kent Wells B. McCurdy, The Northgate Co., Seattle bus: residence: 8650 N.E. 10th St., Bellevue home: Joseph Y. Grier, Milwaukee Railroad bus residence: 2151- 104th P1 S.E., Bellevue home: 3.1l Peters, Container Corp. of America 7000 So. 143rd, Renton Directors: KENT Alex Thornton, Mayor Noel B. Bicknell, Puget Power, 418 W. Meeker bus: UL 2 -3510 home: TR 8 3508 Paul Wiser Members: Andrew Gigli Peoples National Bank, Kent Les McIntyre, 614 Hazel Ave., Kent Don Bell, Jr. CH 2 -1253 bus: AL 5 5723 home: AL 5 -1678 EM 2-4777 GL 4 -4855 MA 3 -6800 GL 4 4461 bus: AL 5 -1551 UL 2 -0350 UL 2 -1234 bus: UL 2 -0440 home: UL 2 -1897 Directors: BE710N Joe Baxter, Mayor H. B. Batchelder, Puget Power, Renton B. G. Morrison, Peoples National Bank, Renton residence: Kennydale Members Erle E. Barnes, Boeing Airplane Co. residence: 9080 N. E. 17th Pl., Bellevue R. M. Boyd, Great Northern Ry. Co., Seattle residence: 836 84th N. E., Bellevue Morie Alhadeff, Longacres Race Track Washington Jockey Club residence: 6006 Lake Shore Dr., Seattle Gerald Shellan, Attorney, Renton residence: 402 Thomas Directors: AUBURN Jack Denise, Mayor bus: TE 3 -0510 1200 "H" St. S.E., Auburn home: TE 3 -5678 C. P. Aspinwall, 230 "N" St. S. E. Jack Thompson, Members: Ed. R. Cavanaugh, 2 Cedar Lane N., Auburn L. C. Roberts, 10 Cedar Lane N., Auburn C. R. Sonnemann, 325 "A" St. N. E., Auburn Jack Sprenger, 115 "I" St. S. E., Auburn AL 5 -3464 res: AL 5 -7714 bus: AL 5-2464 home: AT 2 -3656 bus: AL 5 -4545 home: AL 5 -7317 bus: CE 7 -3613 home: GL 4 -9373 bus: MA 4 -1900 ex 224 or 225 home: GL 4 -1203 bus: MA 4 -2455 bus: AL 5 -8678 home: AL 5 -5319 bus: TE 3 -2300 home: TE 3 -2452 bus: TE 3 -3345 home: TE 3 -1008 bus: TE 3 -0430 home: TE 3 -2979 bus: TE 3 -3636 home: TE 3 -4731 bus: TE 3-2345 home: TE 3 -1137 VALLEY INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION MINUTES OF. THE MEETING OF 5 AUGUST 1959, held in the Kent City Hall, 8:00 P. M. Mayor Alex Thornton of Kent opened the meeting and read off all the names of the appointees to the commission. There are to be six members appointed from each of the four municipalities: Kent, Tukwila, Auburn, and Renton. Mayor Thornton introduced Mayor Baker of Tukwila, Mayor Denise of Auburn, and Mayor Baxter of Renton. Mayor Thornton explained that this was to be an organizational meeting and that he and Mayor Baxter and Mayor Denise had agreed to have Mayor Baker serve as temporary chairman. Mayor Thornton asked. John B. Strander to serve as temporary recording secretary. Mayor Baker read a letter from the Seattle Area Industrial Council pledging co- operation with our efforts. Mayor Baker stated that this was a get together to explain the purposes of the commission, which originated in Tukwila, and to organize. He then handed out prepared statements covering the background and purposes of the organization. He read this statement. Mayor Denise asked how will we straighten the river and industrialize the valley. Mayor Baker spoke on the Port of Seattle's program and its effect on the municipalities: 1. Would destroy the tax base through taking the land off the tax rolls. 2. Would destroy home rule. Be also said that there had been no requests from private industry for waterway sights. The Army Engineers would have to put up the $10 million for the job and they were not eager for the project at this time. Mayor Thornton asked what has been the effect of the State Supreme Court's action? Has it been beneficial? Mayor Baker said yes, it had been beneficial. Mr. Iverson had lost clients because of threat of condemnation. Within 24 hours after the announcement of the founding of this Commission two requests for land had come to Mayor Baker.