Bonney Lake City Council Notes: Dec. 14

The Bonney Lake City Council meeting Tuesday night was the last of the year and wrapped up quickly. Most of the agenda was pushed to next year, but council members gave updates on the 2011 budget, commented on the interlocal agreement with Metro Animal Services and determined the Eastown design needs more development before they can push the issue forward.

The meeting started out on a very touching note – Jim Bouchard, a longtime Bonney Lake-area resident and retired military dad, offered a special American flag to the City of Bonney Lake to hang in the new interim justice center on Main Street.

The flag was given to Bouchard's son as official thanks for his service in Iraq; the Task Force Renegade at Camp Anaconda flew it during combat. Both of Bouchard's sons carry on the military traditions in their family – one is currently in Iraq and the other trains special ops in Alabama. Mayor Neil Johnson proudly took the flag, and Bouchard received a standing ovation from all in attendance.

Here's a rundown of items discussed at the city council meeting:

• Council member Laurie Carter recapped conversations from the public safety meeting earlier this month. Items discussed included adding a medicinal marijuana dispensary, weapons permits and how many chickens can be on one person's property at a time. We'll investigate these issues, especially the poultry one, in a future post.
• The City Council and Mayor spoke vehemently about and announced their plans to oppose it, which was decided in their last study session. Mayor Johnson also hinted at the rumor that Pierce County Council member Shawn Bunney has been chosen to lead the Flood Control District plan and brought moans from the city council. "It's almost time to move Bonney Lake out of Pierce County," said deputy mayor Dan Swatman.
• After the in October, it has been decided by the council that the position is funded, but frozen. 
• The council moved forward with a budget for 2011, but it is prepared to revise it if the annexation passes next year. If the unincorporated area of Pierce County near South Prairie goes into effect, a completely new budget must be approved and voted on.
• The council decided not to move forward with design changes for Eastown and killed the plaza idea in future plans. The design standards remain exactly as they were six months ago. This is due to the council's inability to agree on a design standard, which Swatman said was the "biggest stumbling block" to moving forward. "We don't want to create an atmosphere where developers don't want go," said Swatman.
• The council decided not to move forward on discussing a , which would allow multiple rental opportunities in Zone-1 housing. That would include bed-and-breakfasts, a boarding house or accessory dwelling units on private property.
• The council decided to move forward with the 2011 interlocal agreement with , but called the agreement "not perfect." Licensing rates are scheduled to increase next year, and Bonney Lake is hoping for more, not less, support from Metro, even though the shelter is overworked and underfunded. "We have concerns, but want to build the relationship for more coverage, not less, in our area," said councilmember Mark Hamilton.