Candidates for Maple Valley City Council tackled a variety of topics at a debate Thursday, Sept. 29 hosted by The Greater Maple Valley-Black Diamond Chamber of Commerce and The Reporter at Rock Creek Elementary.

Among the topics the candidates discussed were economic development, the Four Corners subarea plan, Lake Wilderness Golf Course and if a YMCA in Maple Valley is viable.

The debate began with a lightning round, where both the panel and members of the audience were asked yes or no questions, such as “is the city ever going to do anything with the Legacy Site?”

On many of the questions, the panel and the audience either completely agreed or disagreed.

For example, with the Legacy Site question, the panel said “yes,” while nearly all in the audience replied, “no.”

However, almost everyone concurred the recession was not over and were against any kind of tax increases.

The issue of local business versus outside competition was the first question that was fielded by Sean Kelly and Bill Woodcock, who are both running for position No. 1, currently held by Dana Parnello who chose not to run for re-election.

Woodcock stated there needed to be a balance.

“We don’t want to harm local businesses, but at the same time we need to do what’s best for the city in the long run,” Woodcock said.

Kelly argued zoning needs to be consistent “in the entire city” and to avoid too much “micromanaging.” On transportation and impact fees, Woodcock said the fees need to be restructured.

“Developers need to cover their impacts to the city,” he said. “It’s a matter of doing business. Is it fair? I think we as a city could do a lot better job of monitoring what other cities are charging.”

Kelly, on the other hand, said he supports the park fees to build more ball fields.

“We need more ball fields,” Kelly said. “There is only one baseball park in Maple Valley and half the time it’s a swamp. We have the schools, but, they’re all tied up.”

The lack of ball fields was also discussed by Layne Barnes and Linda Johnson who are both running unopposed.

Johnson explained there have been proposals for a bond issue to pay for several new ball fields, but it would cost $17 million, which she felt is too much to ask of Maple Valley residents at this time.

“In this economy we weren’t at all sure the citizens would support a bond issue,” she said. “We’d like to wait until the economy goes around. But it’s probably not going to happen for a while.”

Barnes expressed similar sentiment, though he said he disagreed with Johnson on whether the residents would support a bond.

“Now obviously, just saying that we can go forward on that basis is not enough,” he said. “There’s going to have to be education.”

Mayor Noel Gerken, who is seeking re-election to position No. 5, and his challenger, Karen Crowe, took on questions about the Northwest Quadrant of the Four Corners subarea plan, which involves existing businesses in that section of the planning area.

“Simply running a business over and saying this is what we’re doing is not the way to do things,” Crowe said. “We need to keep them involved and make sure everything is fair and equitable.”

Gerken said, “I think we need to stick to what we’re doing with the Planning Commission and to go forward and make a good thing happen there in Four Corners. We’re going to have to work together, but, it’s a huge and incredible opportunity for the city. We’re not going to kick anybody out. They’re going to stay there forever.”

Candidates were allowed to ask each other questions and there was a testy exchange when Gerken asked Crowe about her personal bankruptcy which was completed in June.

“A part of your platform is running the city like a business,” he said. “But we saw you had a bankruptcy for $80,000, primarily for giving money to your family and your business.”

Crowe said she had already written a letter to the editor in the newspaper explaining what happened.

“I am shocked that you would bring that up,” she said. “We’ve all been through struggles. It sounds as though you never have. I’m sorry you don’t understand what those challenges are like. I believe the bankruptcy is a personal issue.”

Crowe asked Gerken how he planned to increase revenues to the city “rather than raising taxes.”

Gerken said, “We’ve raised taxes once in years, that was the utility tax. No, we don’t need more taxes…..We’ve got to learn to live within our means, but, certainly no increased taxes.”

Earlier in the evening Gerken also asked Crowe about her supporters who he said were mostly small businesses. “when issues important to these businesses come up to the council, and you’re on the council, will you take a position friendly to them?”

Crowe answered, “In going out and talking to these businesses I made it painfully clear that I won’t always vote in favor with them…. I believe I can be absolutely objective, and keep in mind community.”

Crowe asked Gerken about the recent scuffle between the city and King County concerning a Letter to the Editor published in The Reporter and the Voice of the Valley newspapers supporting Powell Development’s proposal for the Donut Hole property.

The county owns the 156-acre property that is located inside the city limits, but, has not been annexed into the city.

“I understand your angst,” Gerken said. “I think we did the right thing with the letter. So, the thought was let’s lead the discussion…. It would have been fine, but it turned sideways on us. And then it became a political storm. I’m proud of what we did. I’m still talking to these folks. It’s going to turn out in the end better since we stood up.”

Kelly asked Woodcock about his stance on the three percent increase in the utility tax which was used to hire more police officers. Kelly noted he was “a proponent for that because it concerned public safety.”

Woodcock answered, “I support our police department. I believe the process could have had more outreach. We did not do much to pursue other options first. I wished we would have done that.”

Concerning taxes Kelly said that voters should have the opportunity to decide on tax increases to support schools or parks.

Gerken and Crowe did find common ground on supporting the Greater Maple Valley Community Center, whether or not a YMCA is brought into the city.

“It’s one of the greatest assets that we have for our residents in Maple Valley,” Crowe said. “I think it is critical that our city support the community center…I’m not for bringing in a YMCA at this time.”

Gerken said, “It’s important for the city to keep supporting the center. It’s really a good deal for the city. Regarding the YMCA, we should go slowly and look at all the options. I think we could have a YMCA and a community center in the same building.”

Johnson and Barnes also took an audience question about Lake Wilderness Golf Course.

“It’s a tremendous asset,” Barnes said. “But I don’t think the restaurant is a tremendous asset.”

Johnson had some specific ideas about ways to help the course be less of a financial drain on the city.

“When we bought the golf course we were protecting open space that was a golf course,” Johnson said. “I’ve talked many times about giving free rent to a restaurant to get them in there. I’ve never seen the staff come back with any proposals that would go into a solicitation to get business in there…. A time will come when the restaurant will be viable.”

Another audience question was given to Gerken and Crowe about YarrowBay’s development in Black Diamond and its potential impact on traffic on state Route 169.

“As far as what needs to be done, I know that I don’t know all the details,” Crowe said. “But I do know that a certain amount of money was given to Maple Valley…. The transportation piece is a struggle.”

Gerken highlighted his experience on regional transportation issues.

“One of my passions on the council has been transportation and getting more funding,” Gerken said. “One thing we have to keep doing is act regionally to get at the table.”

Kelly and Woodcock were asked about how they plan to curtail growth in Maple Valley until school needs are met.

“I don’t think that’s possible,” Woodcock said. “What we can do as a city is help the school district, work with them, get these bonds approved…Help them by fast tracking their permitting process.”

Kelly had a different approach.

“One area in growth is new business,” Kelly said. “New business means new taxes. I work at one of the schools. It’s massively overcrowded. It’s dangerous sometimes. We need to advocate for the next levy.”

When Barnes and Johnson were asked what legacy they intended to leave behind as council members, both of them said they had never thought of it before.

“Legacy…there is no easy answer to that question for me,” Barnes said. “All I thought about was service. One of the things I provide is service to the community of Maple Valley, to our businesses. What is important is not only short term decisions we make but the long term decisions we make.”

Service is also important to Johnson.

“I got on the council to serve,” Johnson said. “My campaign signs say ‘Working for Maple Valley.’”