See yourself 40 years in the future
May 25, 2009
New May 25, 11:55 a.m.
People crowded around the small booth at the back of the market, some simply watching and some waiting for their turn to sit on the stool and record a message for the future. Some people talked of their hopes and dreams for the future and some talked about their current life, what Sammamish was like, what their schools and friends were like.
“I thought it would be cool to see ourselves in the future,” Joely Pitzele said. She and two of her friends, Emma Farino and Megan Manson, recorded a video message together for the city’s time capsule project. Read more
Issaquah School District will recall most teachers who received layoff notices
May 24, 2009
New, May 24 — 2:57 p.m.
Issaquah School District Superintendent Steve Rasmussen said today some — and possibly all — of the158 teachers marked for layoffs may be able to keep their jobs.
In a letter posted on the district Web site, Rasmussen said a worst-case scenario projected by the district would not likely come to pass. Instead of $10.5 million in cuts, the district stands to lose $7.3 million in state funding. Read more
Sammamish City Council debates $100,000 clock
May 23, 2009
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. Read more
EFR will examine new fees
May 22, 2009
New May 22 11:09 a.m.
Eastside Fire & Rescue is in the early stages of a study that could lead to charging residents for emergency transportation to area hospitals.
For the policy to be implemented, it would require approval of the EFR board.
“We’re just starting a discussion,” said Deputy Chief Jeff Griffin. “This is more of an economic exercise at this point.” Read more
Tom Vance is running for City Council
May 21, 2009
New May 21, 11:14 a.m.
Tom Vance, chairman of the Sammamish Planning Commission, has announced his run for City Council. Vance said he enjoys the work he has done in city government and wants to ensure that the city continues to be well-governed.
“I also like living in Sammamish,” he said. Read more
Nate Elledge becomes Sammamish police chief
May 20, 2009
New May 20, 6:04 p.m.
Sammamish has a new police chief.
Captain Nate Elledge learned May 14 that City Manager Ben Yazici selected him for the position.
“This is something that I’ve been interested in for awhile,” Elledge said, adding that he had applied for the job once before. Read more
Sammamish Forum May 20
May 20, 2009
Land should be protected
The Review was extraordinarily shortsighted and naive in last week’s editorial denigrating a proposed King County charter amendment to better protect county-owned parks and open space lands from future exploitation.
Far from “protecting land that nobody wants to develop anyway,” this amendment would add much-needed protection to open space lands that are essential to our quality of life and a sustainable ecosystem.
They are, in fact, greatly desired for development. Are you forgetting Issaquah’s attempts to site a huge water reservoir within county wildlife corridor lands on Squak Mountain that ended only after a lengthy, time consuming fight by citizens?
Do you really think developers wouldn’t love to get their hands on Cougar Mountain Wildland Park to cover it in homes like Newport Hills or Talus?
And how might county leaders react if offered $1 billion to sell off this park? Have you missed the battle over the “donut hole” lands in Maple Valley?
The only thing protecting county lands now is political will and public pressure.
In the future, financial or population pressures or the whims of politicians and their contributors who prioritize development and money over parks or the environment (remember Bush’s assault on federal lands?) could cause any of the county lands that we naively think are protected to instead be sold to the highest bidder.
Is that what we want? Do we dare risk that?
That is precisely why this charter amendment is needed; to require any such decision to be subject to a vote of the people.
You need to think toward the long-term future, not just today, and realize that if we hope to ensure the protection of these lands against development, financial or political pressures they may face in 20-50 years then we cannot leave their fate solely in the hands or at the whims of political faces that come and go.
Ken Konigsmark
Issaquah
Council spends too freely
City officials have been saying for months that by 2015 city expenditures would exceed revenues and a decision would have to be made to cut services or raise taxes.
It’s no wonder that the council is creating a fiscal mess. Look at some of their expenditures and proposals.
- $3.5 million to buy a mansion adjacent to City Hall. The mansion is a residence not suitable for government use without extensive modifications costing hundreds of thousands more. After the purchase, the city announced it was looking for a use for the building, which was offered to the council in 2003 for $2.4 million. That council declined to purchase the mansion, as it had no use for a residence.
- Tens of millions for “improvements” to East Lake Sammamish Parkway, changes the public made clear to the council that they didn’t want. Councilwoman Michele Petitti cited the “mob mentality” of the citizens voicing opposition to the project, which does little to improve traffic congestion on the parkway.
- $100,000 for a clock at City Hall.
- $5.4 million budgeted for an 18,820 square foot operations and maintenance facility. That’s to store equipment, make signs, store materials, give the crews locker room space and do minor repairs. I’m sure a fully functional, well-built structure could be constructed for millions less.
- 10,000 square feet of unused space at City Hall.
- Hundreds of thousands of dollars budgeted to move the Freed House to the City Hall site and refurbish the “historic” house, which has set rotting and vacant for more than 20 years. The house is a shambles not worth saving.
The list goes on and on. And remember, the government seldom comes in under budget.
It seems our current City Council is on a spending spree during tough economic times, while all the while patting themselves on the back for fiscal responsibility. Four seats are up for election this November. It’s time for a change, a sweeping change.
Ken Kilroy
The writer is a former Sammamish City Councilman
Have some patience
One of the reasons I moved to Sammamish was the kid-friendly atmosphere. But some readers should be reminded that the important parts of the phrase “kid-friendly” are “kid” and “friendly.”
My 6-year-old son is autistic, and requires special school services in Redmond. Each day, the proverbial “short bus” (I’m not ashamed to use that term; it is what it is) picks him up in front of our house, which faces a somewhat busy street near three elementary schools.
The specially equipped bus requires parents to assist with seatbelt fastening, which includes a special screw-on device that prevents mentally disabled children from removing the seatbelt. This process adds about 30 seconds to the bus stop, which — like all school bus stops everywhere — temporarily stops both lanes of traffic during the entire boarding process.
Recently, as my wife exited the bus, she was confronted in the middle of the street by an irate driver. A parent himself, he had actually left his car — engine running, toddler child still strapped into a car seat — in order to confront my wife. The stranger angrily demanded to know if the bus stop, and the extra 30 seconds of delay, had been caused by my wife’s need to “say an extra-long goodbye” to our son.
My wife responded that the delay was caused by the need for additional seatbelt assistance. The stranger turned on his heel and left in a huff.
Both my wife and the bus driver were astonished; the bus driver reported the incident to district staff.
My immediate urge is to stop every car I see, in search of the stranger. I can’t do that, of course; that’s an inappropriate reaction. But if I were to find him (and I know I won’t), I’d just like to ask:
Did you really not see that it’s the short bus? Did you really not know what its purpose is? Are you really in that much of a hurry? Seriously? Because this is me, waving an extra long goodbye. To you. Only I’m not using all five fingers.
Frank Rogan
Sammamish
Enjoy Memorial Day with a staycation
May 20, 2009
There’s a new buzz word in the air, and it couldn’t be more relevant than at the start of Memorial Day weekend when we make the mental shift toward summer. That word? Staycation.
Stay home or nearby, but make it a vacation. You don’t even have to leave the Eastside for fun!
Go fishing at Pine Lake or Beaver Lake. Take that walk or bike ride along the East Sammamish Trail that you’ve been meaning to do. Take a picnic and go watch the paragliders on the west side of Tiger Mountain. Have a block party or plan a garage sale. Read more
Have your say on Beaver Lake Park
May 19, 2009
Residents can weigh in on possible design options for Beaver Lake Park at 6:30 p.m. June 3 at the Beaver Lake Lodge.
Acquired from King County in 2003, the park is 83 acres, located on the southeast corner of the city, with three ball fields, a pavilion, a picnic shelter, a lake, forested trails and a fenced-in, off-leash dog area.
The city’s Parks and Recreation Department is drafting a comprehensive overview of what it plans to change about the park in the future. Read more
City Council candidate forums likely at City Hall
May 19, 2009
Sammamish City Council candidates will likely have a chance to participate in a forum and to have that forum broadcast on Channel 21.
With elections coming up this year, the City Council is developing a policy governing how such forums will be permitted to continue.
The current draft guidelines call for the city government to have a minimal say in the way they are administered. Read more
