Sammamish City Council debates $100,000 clock
May 23, 2009
By J.B. Wogan
New, May 23 — 1:52 p.m.
City Council members debated the merits of building a new clock by City Hall, with the council appearing split on whether to support the project.
The issue came up at the May 18 City Council meeting, when Arts Commissioner Kent Greene came before the council to announce the Arts Commission’s preferred clock.
Robert Massa’s 25-foot steel and concrete illuminated clock, envisioned for the circle of small concrete pyramids south of City Hall, east of the new library, was one of three options the commission considered.
Because of its size, design, low-energy cost and location, the commission preferred Massa’s clock.
“We thought this would be the biggest draw into the plaza,” Green said, adding, “There are a number of different things that we thought would be appealing to all people of all tastes.”
Some council members were not wild about the idea of building a clock at a time when many public agencies in the state are facing budget deficits.
“I like the clock … I like the notion of it. What I don’t like is the timing,” City Councilman Lee Fellinge said. “The idea of spending $100,000 — I think that could be a lightning rod for criticism.”
City Councilwoman Nancy Whitten also questioned the timing, saying that she was concerned that the city hadn’t been diligent enough in finding ways to reduce spending.
Whitten also said that the clock’s ideal location might not be beside City Hall, but down in the lower Sammamish Commons Park, as part of the future Town Center’s “green spine.”
City Councilwoman Michele Pettiti shot back that Sammamish wasn’t in economic trouble and should take advantage of having sufficient revenue.
“I don’t know why we’re doing belt tightening on little things like this,” Petitti said, adding that she believed the city should be enterprising in finding projects to invest in now, while construction costs are low.
“We can get sidewalks at 30 percent discount. We should be bargain shopping here,” Petitti said.
Petitii referenced a May report by the Finance Department, which showed that the city had $5.3 million in a rainy-day fund.
In a later interview, Finance Director Lyman Howard said that the city had not invested in local sculptures like the clock on an annual basis.
“The city really hasn’t done what other public entities have done,” he said, adding that other cities require a percentage of capitol costs to go towards the arts each year.
In 2007, the city spent $75,000 on Confluence, a green glass and steel statue next to City Hall.
The city also holds art galleries within City Hall and exhibitions in the plaza during the Wednesday Farmers Markets.
Howard said that the council would probably vote on the clock by the end of June.
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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“I think that could be a lightning rod for criticism” – more like lightning rod for replacement