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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1960-10-19 Special Minutes - Valley Industrial Commission VALLEY INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION MINUTES OF MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 26, 1960 The regular meeting was called to order by Don Bell at 8 :05 p.m., who acted as chairman in the absence of Jack Sprenger, The minutes of the previous meeting were read by Noel Bicknell, who was asked to substitute for Don Bell Secretary. At the request of Chairman Bell, the Mayors present were asked to introduce their respective members, Mayor Charles 0. Baker of Tukwila introduced Harold Iverson, Andover In- dustrial Park (Puget Western, Inc.), Drew M. Miller, Milwaukee Railroad, alternate for J. F. Grier, and Fred T:Umball, President of Puget Western, Inc, Mayor Baker announced that he had appointed Fred Ximball to the Commission to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Bill Peters. The mayor also introduced Stan Minkler a member of Tukwila City Council. Mayor J. A. Shaughnessy of Auburn introduced Jack Thompson of Rohr Aircraft and Ray Sonneman of Sunset Laundry and Cleaners. Mayor Alex Thornton introduced Paul Wieser, Industrial Park Peveloper, L. R. McIntyre, McIntyre Construction Co., and Noel Bicknell, Puget Sound Power and Light, Representing Renton were Mr. Schoonover of the Great Northern Railroad and H. B. Batchelder of Puget Power, Chairman Bell announced that the nominating committee had met and proposed the following nominees for office as follows: John Strander, President Jack Thompson, Vice President Noel Bicknell, Secretary Treasurer Upon question from the floor, it was verified that a quorum was present. It was moved by Ha rold Iverson that the recommendation of the nominating committee be accepted. The Commission voted accordingly. Chairman Bell stated that the agenda called for a resume of past activities. Harold Iverson was called upon to report on the progress being made pur- suant to the regulation submitted for making studies on drainage flood control. Iverson said that a letter forthcoming from Warren Gunderson had not yet been received, therefore, he was unable to elaborate at this time„ He informed the Commission that progress is being made, however. M. V. Schoonover was invited to tell of the developments in Renton by Great Northern Railroad, 11r. Schoonover said that da•-a in this regard is being compiled and that he would be able to report on this subject at a later meeting. Valley Industrial Commission (conttd.) Chairman Bell asked Mayor Baker to post the Commission to date on the Free- way development and various interchanges. The mayor explained that the City of Tukwila, and other interested groups had met in November 1959, with W, A, Bugge, Director of Highways, and others, including Mr, Wayne Traeger, who was then Director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Development, State of Washington, with the object of crystalizing the plans. Mayor Baker presented a map showing the proposed interchanges in detail furnished him by W. A. Bugge. He announced that a public hearing relating to these plans is to be held at the Foster High School gymnasium on October 7th, and invited members of the Commission to attend, Mayor Baker explained that Tukwila has made an appeal to Washington State Dept. of Soil Conservation through Gregor M. Hastings, Supervisor of that department, for temporary relief on the river situation. He explained that financial aid for such projects would be on a 60/40% basis, whereby cities bear 60% of the cost and the State 40, The County has agreed to bear one -half of the expenses to Tukwila, he said, provided that the State approves the project. Paul Wieser gave a brief accounting of his industrial development. He said that the Northern Pacific spur line eastward from the main line was in and that the spur westward to serve the Pioneer Gravel Co. site and others was in progress. A report on the Puget Western, Inc. (Andover Development) had been tenta- tively planned for a later meeting. As time of this meeting permitted it, however, Fred Kimball was asked to brief the Commission. He reported that firm arrangements had been made with General Electric Co. for the construction of a large warehouse and distribution center and that arrangements with Parke Davis and Abbott Laboratories, Inc, for sites are being worked on. Mr. Kimball stated that a brochure covering the Puget Western, Inc, In- dustrial development will soon be available. He pointed out that the dis- tribution advantages from this area are unique with respect to accessibility to main highways and the railways, He informed the Commission that 12 in- dustrial sites in California and Texas had been visited by Wells McCurdy, of Puget Western. Mr. Kimball gave an interesting accounting of the mechanics of the ground preparation of the site. Their policy is toward developing 50 acres over a period of 2 years. Roads will be built and services, all underground, will be installed. The total area is 325 acres, and the balance of the development will be spread over a 10 to 12 year period and possibly faster he said, Mr. Kimball stated that the motivating reason for the Puget Western, Inc, undertaking is to create employment and thus create demands for expansion of residential areas in the valley and perimeter areas. Chairman Bell stressed the importance of all members of the Commission attending the meetings regularly in order that it may effectively carry out its program. He requested that the membership be reminded of the by- laws in this regard, which states "Any member absent 3 consecutive meetings without just cause shall have his membership automatically terminated and be so notified by the Secretary -2.. Valley Industrial Commission (cont'd,) Chairman Bell requested the mayors to bring their appointments to the Commission up to date, Mr. Sonneman suggested that the mayors list their respective groups, showing tenure of office, and be prepared to submit them at the following meeting, It was also suggested that each group decide on those who are to be their directors for the new organizational year and be prepared to announce the names at the next meeting, Mr. Batchelder agreed to carry this information to Mayor Aliment of Renton, Mayor Baker urged that the new administration follow closely the progress of drainage flood control under the intent of public law number 566, He warned that danger of flooding is eminent and that it behooves us to direct our efforts toward improvements, Chairman Bell requested Mayor Baker to inform John Strander of his election to office, Jack Thompson suggested that thought should be given to building up the Treasury of the Valley Industrial Commission by appealing again to the respective Chambers of Commerce. No action was taken, Harold Iverson reported that he had attended a meeting of the Seattle Area Industrial Council, at which reference was made to the success of the Valley Industrial Commission, in harmoniously uniting the four cities of the valley in working toward the common objectives for developntent. Mr. Schoonover announced that he will have his topic (previously mentioned herein) prepared for the next meeting. Upon the invitation of Mayor Shaughnessy, the next regular meeting will be held at the Auburn City Hall on Monday, October 24, at 8 p.m, There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Acting Secretary and Secretary -elect Noel Bicknell VALLEY INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 26, 1960 MEMBERS, DIRECTORS AND GUESTS PRESENT Charles 0, Baker H. B. Batchelder Don Bell, Jr. Noel Bicknell Harold Iverson Fred Kimball L. R. McIntyre Drew Miller Stan Minkler M.V.Schoonover J. N. Shaughnessy C. B, Sonneman Alex Thornton J. C. Thompson Paul Wieser Mayor, Tukwila Puget Power, Renton Kent Investment Co. Puget Power, Kent Andover Industrial:Park Puget Western, Inc. McIntyre Const. Co., Kent Milwaukee Railroad Co. Tukwila Council Great Northern Ry, Mayor, Auburn Sunset Laundry, Auburn Mayor, Kent Rohr Aircraft, Auburn Kent MEMORANDUM Public Hearing, September 28, 1960, Tukwila Town Hall Re: Vacations of portions of 57th Avenue South and South 162nd Presiding: Mayor Charles G, Baker Attending: Councilmen Minkler Ives Radford Mrs. Newton, Town Clerk Messrs. Hodges, Town Attorney Cysewski, Town Engineer McCurdy Andover and Southcenter Gray John Graham and Company Burzenski John Graham and Company Lamont Dames and Moore Rodgers Bureau of 1 ublic Roads Manning Bureau of Public Roads Kelley Bureau of Public Roads Haley Dept. of Highways Nesbitt Dept. of Highways Bogart Dept, of Highways and approximately 30 unidentified citizens Mayor Baker opened the meeting explaining this is a continuation of the meeting originally opened August 30 and continued to September 14 but subsequently extended to this date, Reference was made to the meeting in the Department of Highways office attended by 28 representatives of the Department of Highways, Bureau of Public Roads, Tukwila and the Andover Southcenter representatives, and that a meeting of the minds was evident at this meeting with details to be worked out. Mayor Baker then read a letter from Paul McKay, District Engineer, dated September 27. It stated in effect that a plan, satisfactory to the Highway Department, was attached showing the elevations of excavation and profile which, if followed by the developers, would be acceptable to the Department. He also stated there would be no objections to the pro- posed excavation provided none was below an indicated grade line and requested that the vacation under consideration include the stipulation that no excavation be below the excavation grade line defined in these plans. Memorandum 2 September 28, 1960 Public Hearing Tukwila Town Hall Mayor Baker then inquired of Roe Rodgers, District Engineer, Bureau of Public Roads, of their feelings. Mr. Rodgers replied that they had informed Mr. William Bugge, Director of Highways, via letter 1) The Bureau of Public Roads approved the plan revision as represented in the Highways presentation, 2) The 162nd Street vacation originally petitioned without a revised plan of access and egress to and from the freeway would have voided the plan agreed upon by the State and Bureau of Public Roads, 3) The revised plan was felt to be superior to the original plan. Baker inquired of +Wells McCurdy, Puget Western Vice president, of his reactions. McCurdy expressed pleasure with the results of our conference with the Department of Highways and Bureau of Public Roads. Burzenski referred to the morning meeting this same date, The meeting was in the office of the Department of Highways and agreement was reached that an additional 250, 000 cubic yards of dirt in a south area easterly of the freeway location could be excavated below the grades shown on the plan. Mr. Haley, the District Location Engineer from the Department of Highways, agreed that this arrangement was acceptable to the Department. Baker explained temporary Slade Way construction would be completed by the developers, then developers would ballast and surface the street. When the freeway was constructed and Slade Way permanently constructed, the cost difference, between the temporary construction which the developers had expended and the permanent construction, would be paid by the developers to the Town of Tukwila for its subsequent participation with the Department of Highways in completing the final access egress provisions. Mayor Baker read the letter addressed to him, September 28, 1960, signed by Wells ivicCurdy to the same effect. Question was raised as to who would maintain the street for the interim that would transpire between the temporary and permanent construction, Baker replied, seeking counsel from the Town Engineer and Town Attorney, that the street would be accepted by the Town and would be the Town's subsequent obligation to maintain. Mr. Stevens, property owner, inquired as to who would underwrite cost of slides, damage, etc., resulting from the excavation by the developers that would follow the proposed vacation. Baker replied the Town had a bond guaranteeing and holding the Town free from such liabilities and guarantee- ing the developers' liability. Memorandum 3 September 28, 1960 Public 'clearing Tukwila Town Hall A letter from Mr. Don Garen was read which referred to the soils investi- gation by Dr. Twelker. In this letter, quotation was made from Dr. Twelker's report. He advised that there should be no further excavation in this area until consolidation and stabilization of the area had been accomplished. He also held that added excavation would remove the lateral support and without stabilization, additional slippage could occur. Baker inquired of Burzenski of the program that the developers had and what recommendations there were. Burzenski replied they are very much aware of the problems and had retained the firms of Dames and Moore. Mr. Lamont of Dames and Moore replied borings had been taken. It was rather evident the slide was caused by the water condition and that both surface and sub- surface water drainage was necessary. He also indicated that the investigation was not complete and that the program of treatment had not been detailed or determined, nor had the cost of such control been ascertained. Mr. Baker inquired if the Council approve the vacation, would the developer be in position to bear the possible damage cost. McCurdy's reply was that with reference to the fact that the Puget Western had been bonded through the Town and further that they intended to allow no damage to occur since they would stabilize the area, Burzenski brought out a very pertinent point that the slide problem existing here must be faced either now or later with freeway construction and that this could not be avoided. The apprehension was yet expressed by some of the adjacent property owners, who failed to identify themselves, as to possible damage and their being repaid for damage and the extensive costs of possible litigation, etc. Mr. McCurdy replied to this that the bond would insure damage payment but that a bond is unlike an insurance policy. It does not release the bondee from liability and definitely Puget Western has no desire to waste money, Mr. Garen,whose property is most exposed to the slide area, explained that he is in favor of the Slade Way construction but only worried about the additional costs of appraisers, attorneys, etc. He inquired and found from the Town Attorney that in the event of a liability suit, the cost of which he could recover would not include attorney fees. It appears Mr. Garen is making very definite basis for such liability suit if damage occurs. He stated he has had excess of 200 elevation shots taken and tied into a datum. He also indicated that when he had hired Twelker at his expense several months ago, Dr. Twelker had suggested drainage, he had relayed this suggestion, but that no action had been taken. In answer to the inquiry, Lamont stated that he agrees with Dr. Twelker's findings and also advises that no further excavation be taken in the slide vicinity without some stabilization procedures. MVlemorandum 4 September 28, 1960 Public Hearing Tukwila Town Hall Mayor Baker stated that he believes the vacation should be stipulated on the basis that the slide possibility must be removed and Slade Way must be in operation prior to excavation of the areas petitioned for vacation. Garen requested that a section in the vicinity of 54th be denied until adequate slide protection has been determined and accomplished. Mayor Baker indicated that he thought that this stipulation of the requirement of adequate stabilization was clear and would place the liability and obligation upon the developers and that he did not wish to delay or hinder the development by the developers or the Highway Department but yet of course did not want the private citizen to suffer damage. The vacation was unanimously approved by the Town Council as below: "To grant the petition of Southcenter and Puget Western to vacate and relocate the streets as described in their petition subject to the following conditions: 1. Compliance by Southcenter Corporation and Puget Western with the terms which they agree to in their letter of August 25, 1960, addressed to the Town Council of Tukwila, further: 2. No earth be removed from South 162nd Street until such time as scientific analysis determines that slide conditions will not be further aggravated, further: 3. Excavation by Southcenter and Puget Western shall be in compliance with and restricted to the specifi- cations as outlined in the Washington State Highway Commission letter to the Town of Tukwila, dated September 27, 1960." Meeting adjourned approximately 10:00 p.m. During a post meeting discussion, Rodgers of the Bureau of Public Roads stated he was happy someone else found this problem area and that it was not uncovered during highway construction. Further, he felt that our excavation and resultant drainage in this area was of benefit to the highway construction. G. R. Cysewski VALLEY INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION MINUTES OF MEETING OF OCTOBER 24. 1960 CITY HALL. AUBURN The meeting was called to order by President Strander at 8:07 p.m. It was agreed that the minutes of the previous meeting would be accepted as written. The Secretary reported he had received listings of appointees to the Commission by Mayors Charles 0. Baker and Frank Aliment of Tukwila and Renton, respectively. The appointments are effective September 1, 1960 and are as follows: TUKWILA Drew Miller One year Mario Segale One year Wells B. McCurdy Two years Harold Iverson Two years Fred W. Kimball Three years John B. Strander Three years RENTON Erle E. Barnes One year Shannon (Pat) Hogue One year M. V. Schoonover Two years Maurice Alhadeff Two years B. G. Morrison Three years H. B. Batchelder Three years Mayor J. H. Shaughnessy introduced William Raven to the Commission as a new member from Auburn to succeed Ray Sonnemann. President Strander introduced Pat Hogue. President Strander reviewed the objectives of the Commission as set forth in his letter of October 19th to the members. The matter of flood control and valley drainage was discussed. The effect of the pro- posed flood control work by the County upon surface drainage planning by the four cities, in the event of passage of Proposition No. 1 was questioned and, to an extent, clarified. President Strander requested Harold Iverson to keep abreast of progress relating to the drainage control studies implemented by the four cities. There followed further discussion about the proposed flood control by King County. Upon motion by Jack Thompson, seconded by Bill Raven, the Commission decided to endorse Proposition No. 1, Flood Control Bond issue. President Strander advocated that the Commission should have a comprehensive map indi- cating the respective zoning areas of Tukwila, Renton, Kent and Auburn. He asked Paul Wieser and Mayor Shaughnessy to assist him in securing one. A discussion on highways followed. Mayor Baker informed the Commission that Tukwila officials had worked cooperatively with the State Highway Department and the Bureau of Public Roads in attaining satisfactory arrangements for accesses to and crossing of the proposed freeway. It was a matter of constant application and proving of necessity to achieve this, he said. President Strander requested Wells McCurdy to keep in touch with the highway planning affecting the Valley. President Strander appointed Drew Miller to handle matters for the Commission relating to transportation, and Harry Batchelder on matters pertaining to utilities. Bev Morrison agreed to head up functions in finance. -2- It was suggested by Jack Thompson that the Commission request the Chambers of Commerce representing the Valley cities to again provide financial support in the amount of $25.00 each. The Secretary was requested to pursue this. Les McIntyre voiced the opinion that the Commission should be interested in matters pertaining to air polution, inasmuch as the valley is considered to be susceptable to it. President Strander requested him to follow the developments in this regard. The President also asked Bill Raven to keep the Commission informed of any water polution problems relating to the area. President Strander announced that for the next meeting, he would arrange for a talk on new industries planned for the area. He asked that the committees be prepared to make reports at that meeting. A decision was made to hold the meeting of November 28th at the Renton City Hall, com- mencing at 8 p.m. It will be in the conference room. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:38 p.m. 0-0- 0 -0 0 0 ATTENDANCE FOR MEETING Charles O. Baker Harry Batchelder N. B. Bicknell Shannon (Pat) Hogue Harold Iverson Fred Kimball Wells McCurdy Les McIntyre Drew Miller B. G. Morrison Bill Raven Mario H. Segale J. H. Shaughnessy Jack Sprenger John B. Strander J. C. Thompson Respectfully submitted, N. B. Bicknell Valley Industrial Commission REPRESENTING THE INDUSTRIAL -SITE CENTERS OF THE GREEN RIVER VALLEY Dear Fellow Members REPRESENTING THE MAYORS OF AUBURN KENT RENTON TUKWILA October 19, 1960 At the last meeting of our Commission I was elected Chairman for the ensuing year. I approach the position with divided feelings. First with a deep conviction that we are on the right tract towards spurring on that development which our area and our state desperately needs. Secondly I owe, and we all owe, Past- Chairman Jack Sprenger of Auburn and Past- Secretary Don Bell, Jr, of !Cent an accolade of thanks for the impressive job they did in getting the organization off the ground, The biggest hurdle we faced a year ago was the overall feeling of suspicion between the four municipalities. Jack and Don conquered it and we are in their debt. Helping the Chairman this year is Jack Thompson, Auburn, Vice Chairman; and I7oe1 B. Bicknell, Kent, Secretary. These men will turn in top notch work. The Commission serves as a civic body to help whenever and wherever the need arises. We are advisory only. I donut think it necessary to remind Mayor Charles 0. Baker of Tukwila, Mayor Frank Aliment of Renton, Mayor Alex Thornton of Kent, and Mayor J. N. Shaughnessy of Auburn that we are here only for the purpose of making their jobs easier and their cities more productive. Special thanks are due Puget Sound Power Light Co. for their won- derful help in mimeographing, mailing and otherwise giving freely of themselves in order that we survive and progress. Thank you again. The first report, enclosed, is an opinion by the Chairman of what we are all about and what we should be doing. It is a starting point only. It is merely a piece of lumber to work on and should be cut, added to, smoothed, and turned into a finished platform by the members of the Commission. In the final analysis our most important virtue is our drive to see this gripping project turned from paper reports to actual payrolls within our valley. Sincerely, John B. Strander, Chairman Tukwila, Washington THE PUSH FOR MORE PP YROLLS by John B. Strander Chairman Valley Industrial Commission Report No. 1 October 1960 The Valley Industrial Commission was created during the summer of 1959 by Mayor Charles 0. Baker, Tukwila, for the purpose of stimulating the development of new payrolls in the Green River valley. Mayor Baker conceived the thought that the individual governments of Renton, Kent, Auburn, and Tukwila should co- operate to- gether to get this tremendous project underway. At no time was there any attempt or feeling towards destroying or circumventing home rule. The work of the Commission must not be diluted; we are joined together for one purpose only; and that is to establish as many new jobs in our valley as possible. The Commission consists of six appointed members from each of the four municipali- ties. These six have each caucused and elected from their own ranks two members to comprise the Board of Directors. The "GRID" Taken together in a natural geographic entity the entire potential industrial area can be considered a "district such as Central Manufacturing in Los Angeles, Clear- ing Industrial in Chicago, Fairfax in Kansas City, or Calvert City in T'entucky. Ours, then, becomes The Green River Industrial District. This name is significant in that its initials spell "GRID and like a true grid consisting of a series of steel bars, each interlacing with the others, so do our four municipalities combine to form what will be Washington State's number one industrial development. The name can also be prophetic, I know of no other place in the nation where four similar neighboring cities have gone together voluntarily for such a tremendous project. Tukwila, Renton, I'.ent, and Auburn, each an individual with home rule, will through our Commission interlace their planning, their promotion, and their resulting pride of accomplishment. Nothing will be subtracted from each municipality's home spirit and sense of competition only benefits will be added in the form of greatly ex- panded payrolls and tax bases. THE NEEDS OF OUR STATE Seattle's Mayor Gordon S. Clinton, in his report to the citizens of February 15, 1957 entitled "Seattle's Industrial Future Drift of Direction called attention to both our insufficient industrial development as well as our need for greater diversification. Said the Maycr 's committee: "Increasingly the city is becoming a one industry town. Apart from the aircraft manufacturing industry we are ex- periencing insufficient industrial growth to support even our natural increase in population This opinion is borne out in reports put out by the Employment Security Department of the State of Washington. For example in their 1959 report on the labor force in the Seattle area ("ing and Snohomish Counties) it points out the area has 120,200 jobs available in manufacturing. Of this total 66,200 (over half) are in the air- craft industry. A similar chart shows the state as a whole to have 223,900 jobs available in manu- facturing. Of this total 67,000 are in aircraft and another 45,600 are in lumber and wood products. These two classifications make up a little over one-half the total jobs available in manufacturing in our state. A lack of diversification results, according to Edwin Beachler of the Pittsburgh Press, in a "boom or bust" industrial area. A proper balance including everything from "toothpaste to tractors" is the ideal. In Cleveland, for example, no one industry shoulders more than one -fifth of the total production. Quoting Mr. Beachler again: "Machinery leads with 21 followed by primary metals 14%, transportation equipment 12%, fabricated metals 12 paint- chemicals-petroleum 10 electrical machinery 8.5%, printing publishing 5%, food products 5%, and others 7%. Furthermore the largest single employer in the area -2- (General Motors) has only 7% of the total industrial employment. This healt balance provides a "cushion against recession" according to Mr. Louis B. Seltzer, Scripps Howard Cleveland Press. B altimore is another example of diversification: Transportation equipment 19% primary metals 18%, food products 11%, machinery 10 apparel products 9%, fabri- cated metals 8%, chemicals 5 and others 9%. WE MUST HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL To sum up the situation we must have "sites, zoning, and promotion We must have something to sell to the people who are to provide our new payrolls if we are to expect them to invest in our district. The first is information about ourselves- our state. Fortunately the research has already been done to a large extent. I call your attention to three excellent reports: "MANUAL OF FACTS FOR INDUSTRIAL EEVELOPKINT, KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON" by Arthur D. Little, Inc. sponsored by Puget Sound Power Light Company. "HANDBOOK FOR THE SEATTLE PUGET SOUND AREA AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST" by the Seattle Area Industrial Council "WASHINGTON STATE INDUSTRIAL HANDBOOI{" by the Washington State Department of Commerce and Economic Development Above and beyond these survey reports we need a grass roots study in depth about our own "4 -city GRID We need to know specifics about ordinances, attitudes, traffic bottlenecks, acre -by -acre zoning, and all the thousand -and -one minute facts a potential industry wants before "signing the papers We must know what is good about our state and our region: about our low power rates, good schools, ample water, Port of Seattle, recreation, etc. etc. Also, we must know about all existing facilities, in our district, which are not now being used to full capacity. An example is the Auburn Depot consisting of 600 acres and 3 million square feet of warehouse space. Each mumicipality should pro- vide the Commission with as complete a record of immediately available facilities as possible, -3.. THE JOB TO BE DONE I would like to break this up into three major phases: (1) Fitting the land to encourage more payrolls, (2) Attitude, and (3) Promotion, Under the first of these broad phases, which is fitting the land to its best use, we can list the following specifics as a start: a. Zoning. I think we should have someone draft a base map of our district- the GRID. It should cover the area from the southerly limits of Auburn to the northerly limits of Renton and Tukwila. On this map we should draw a heavy black line outlining the entire potential industrial area. We should ignore the surrouniing hill portion, which will probably develop residentially. Next we should acquire current zoning maps from each of the four municipalities and transfer the zoning to our overall map especially the potential industrial district. We should color the general classes of zoning as follows: heavy industry, blue; light in- dustry and industrial parks, green; commercial, yellow; apartment and multiple housing, orange; single residence, red. It will immediately become clear where work needs to be done. I would like Paul Wieser, of Rent, to head up this committee. b. Drainage Program. This is one of the major problems, it was brought to my attention by our Vice-President, Mr. Jack Thompson. After the flooding of the Green- Duwamish River has been controlled by the Howard Hanson Dam, the local pond ing must also be taken care of Work is now progressing on a co- operative basis between all governments involved. c. Roads. Continual work must be carried on to even keep up with the burgeon- ing automobile and truck load our local highway system is expected to carry. This is also a controversial question full of politics. Regardless of how you ap- proach the problem it still remains that Icing County is the leading industrial county in the state here is where the jobs are now located and where they will continue to grow. Yet the people who work in the factories cannot get around with- out ensnaring themselves in an almost continual traffic jam. Jack Thompson also -4- brought this problem to our attention as one of our most pressing. d. Railroads, Truck Lines, Air Transportation. A11 of these forms of trans- portation need a continual streamlining and increased efficiency. The owners are as interested in doing the very best job they can as are the members of the Commission in having it done, We should work with each and help each in every way they request. e, Utilities, Electric power, sewers, gas and water mains. These again must be honeycombed throughout the district as soon as demand warrants. We must stand ready to help whenever we are asked, The second major phase is attitude, There's no doubt but that each of our four Mayors and their Councils are highly desirous of gaining new payrolls for their respective municipalities. The same desire is shared by a great majority of the citizens. Very few people can be against having new jobs added to their area, Sometimes, however, there may be an unconscious stumbling block such as a tra- ditional attitude, or a local situation which may be holding back development, None comes to mind at present. I think it perfectly within the bounds of this Commission to foster a general posi- tive feeling, wherever possible, towards the rapid development of our district through private taxpaying enterprise. The last of the major phases is promotion. One of the specifics under this heading was brought out by Mr. Jerry Zubrod of the Renton Chronicle. He said we should strive towards better communications between the four municipalities. If each knows what the other three are doing at all times towards attracting new payrolls the result will be less duplication, a better exchange of ideas, and less suspicion, This is a wonderful suggestion on which we should get started at once. We have to face the cold, bitter fact that our finances do not a -tend much beyond paper and stamps. The situation is not likely to change within the foreseeable future. This is not a particular handicap. Here are some examples of how other districts pay for promotion: In the Chicago area Commonwealth Edison Co. has been carrying on a heavy pro- gram of promotion for many years. (Estimated at $500,000.00 per year) In Cnsas City the Chamber of Commerce is tine sparkplug. In North Kansas City the "Dynamic Triangle" is promoted by the private landowners. In Cleveland, the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co., along with railroads, bankers, civic groups, public officials, and the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce is doing the job. In Baltimore, the new 4200 acre Marley Neck development is promoted by the Baltimore Association of Commerce, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and the Consoli- dated Gas Electric Light and Power Co. In Newark, there is a combination of forces at work, both public and private, spearheaded by the Public Service Electric Gas Co. In our own district we have the state public officials, the SAIC, private land owners, railroads, and utilities doing the heavy promotion. Our job can be to produce and encourage the production of timely news stories about current happenings in our district as well as putting together more elaborate pic- torial reports on rapidly moving "hot Spots An example is the Andover Development owned by Puget Sound Power Light. They have just published a beautiful promo- tional folder on their own. Other private interests may come to ask us for help, both for advice on techniques of publicity as well as actual promotion. From among our members we should be prepared to render a competent service or be able to send the party to the proper source. Finally, we should leave the glamour of new creation long enough to set up a committee to help those industries expand who are already here. What can we do, as a Commission, to help an already going concern in our midst to provide addi- tional payrolls for our citizens? Shall we set up personal interviews, or care fully composed questionaires, or perhaps something else? What are these folks -6- problems, how can we help solve them? We cannot overlook the field of agribusiness. The day of the traditional farmer is coming to a close, at least in our valley. The new operator is as different as night is from day. He employs new techniques, new chemicals, new machinery an entirely new concept. In closing, I would like to assure our members that there is no particular shortage of specific projects. Let us all dig in for our own benefit. What particular phase do you like? Will you please volunteer. (If you don't volunteer we may assign you to something you like less;)