Council begins discussion of barricades
February 2, 2009
By J.B. Wogan
Hot button issue to have citizen input
Residents disagree with the idea of removing some barriers.Photo by J.B. Wogan
Public Works Director John Cunningham framed the problem with barricades this way: Some people say their neighborhood is unlivable with the barricade, others say it’d be unlivable without.
During the City Council retreat Jan. 23, staff and the council batted around ideas on how to deal with the prickly issue of about 22 barricades and dead ends, mostly inherited from King County, that might warrant removal. The retreat’s discussion focused on developing criteria for deciding which barricades must go, and which ones can stay.The barricade issue is one of the most controversial in Sammamish. In the past, hundreds have come to meetings about the possibility of removing barricades.
Councilwoman Kathy Huckabay questioned whether the Public Works Department, with two hefty road projects slated for 2009, had time to work on the barricades issue.
“Sooner or later, we’re going to have to deal with this thing,” City Manager Ben Yazici said.
Still, staff and the council agreed to limit the work in 2009 to developing criteria for which barricades should stay or go. The actual removal of barricades would not occur until 2010 at the earliest, Cunningham said.
Councilwoman Nancy Whitten pared down her assessment criteria to safety.
“Are they safe? Can they be made safe? If so, what would it take?” she said.
Cunningham said a key component of determining a process for removing the barricades would involve defining safety.
An outside expert could be used to measure the safety of each removal situation, Whitten suggested.
Some citizens are already developing their own criteria, according to Lori Barnett, a citizen activist and organizer of Citizens for Sammamish.
The group held at meeting Jan. 27 to discuss how they would figure out which barricades to remove or which dead ends to open up, Barnett said. Later, it will present its plan to City Manager Ben Yazici and the City Council, she said.
Barnett opposes taking out the barricade by her home on Southeast 32nd Street. Children bike and play on the street, which would become hazardous if the road opened, she said.
But not every barricade would be so controversial, Barnett said. There could be some barricades that wouldn’t present safety risks if opened up, she said.
Mayor Don Gerend suggested that the public play a key role in informing the city’s barricade removal process. The city could hold neighborhood meetings to solicit ideas from residents and possibly send out a survey.
Whitten said when communicating, the city should clarify the conflicting goals of retaining neighborhood character while promoting connectivity.
The city’s comprehensive plan does list both as goals of the city. With regards to the barricades, the benefits of increased circulation will have to be weighed against the unexpected change in feel and safety of the neighborhood, Whitten said.
Huckabay said residents are anxious to know when the council would take action on the barricades, and what kind of action it would take.
“Every time I go for a walk, I get beat up about it,” she said.
Cross also acknowledged the stickiness of taking a position on the barricades. He rephrased the old saw from the other Washington, “If you want a friend, go get a dog.”
Reporter J.B. Wogan can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 247, or jbwogan@isspress.com. To comment on this story, visit www.SammamishReview.com.
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