The Metropolitan King County Council has approved the members of a committee that will review the county’s procedures and costs of building and land-use permit fees.

The panel includes two people with Maple Valley ties:

• Larry Rude, an assistant chief of Maple Valley Fire and Life, represents fire-safety interests.

• Gordon Moorman, representing citizens in urban, unincorporated areas of the county, is a member of the Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council and a contractor.

The creation of the Technical Advisory Committee was included in legislation sponsored by County Council members Reagan Dunn and Kathy Lambert and adopted by the council last November. Dunn said the goal is to make the county’s land-use permit rules fairer and “find ways to improve the financial bottom line for families who are building or improving their homes.”

The legislation, part of a reform package for the Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES), was in response to a class-action court case against the county by property owners who were overcharged for building permits from 2000 to 2007.

Other committee membrs include:

• Roni Strupat, a real estate broker from Federal Way specializing in equestrian and farm property.

• Tim Trohimovich, planning director of Futurewise (formerly 1000 Friends of Washington),

• Stephanie Warden, director of DDES.

• Dan Bruner, a forester from Buckley. He’ll represent agriculture and forestry interests.

• Gwendolyn High, a member of the Four Creeks Unincorporated Area Council. She representings unincorporated rural areas.

• David Spohr, the county’s senior deputy ombudsman for rural affairs. He investigates citizens’ complaints about county government.

The committee is required to report to the council by Sept. 15 with recommendations relating to DDES financial policies, fees for DDES services, fee waivers and caps, an administrative appeals process for fee disputes, funding options other than fee-for-service, and project management procedures.

Dunn said acquiring permits “is often a long, complex process that is challenging for working-class families. Making our rules more transparent will lead to faster, more efficient permitting and reduce costs for everyone.”

Dunn’s council district includes Maple Valley and Covington.