Browse >
Home / Archive: August 2009
New Aug. 22, 11:06 a.m.
For those still aching to prove their mathematic prowess, there is still time.
“I challenge anybody else in the community to take the final exam and send me the answers. I’ll grade them. That would be fun,” Gerend said.
The test is below. E-mail your answers to dgerend@ci.sammamish.wa.us. Read more
By J.B. Wogan
At a time when Sammamish is trying to minimize the cost of fire and police protection services, it looks like fire will cost even a little more.
An Aug. 11 report from Eastside Fire & Rescue noted that due to a mapping correction, Sammamish would have to pay $65,295 more in 2010.
Deputy Chief Wesley Collins explained that District 10 and the city of Issaquah, two other partners in the regional fire agency, had been paying for fire service in a neighborhood whose property tax revenues were going to Sammamish.
The glitch was uncovered when EFR’s Data Analyst Kevin Bryson was reviewing the agency’s computer assisted dispatch drawings, which detail which fire station is closest to an emergency location.
The drawings had Sammamish’s station 83 on the wrong side of the street.
Station 73 was actually the appropriate station to send fire engines to that Sammamish neighborhood, according to Collins.
Eastside Communications, the dispatch center run by the city of Bellevue, was responsible for the original drawings with the incorrect location for station 83, Collins said.
The station had been located on the wrong side of the street since the mid-1990s, preceding the city of Sammamish and EFR, he said.
There are similar changes for all the partners each year, though this might be the most significant cost change for the 2010 budget, Collins said.
He added that the change was unusual in that Sammamish would have to cover some fire protection costs for station 73, which is outside the city limits.
City Manager Ben Yazici said he was having his staff investigate the issue further. He said he didn’t understand yet how the mistake occurred in the first place.
But the $65,295 increase did catch his attention and would warrant further discussion, he said.
“It may not be a big number to some. It is a big number to us,” he said.
Reporter J.B. Wogan can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 247, or jbwogan@isspress.com. To comment on this New Aug. 21, 1:37 p.m.story,
visit www.SammamishReview.com.
New Aug. 21, 1:37 p.m.
At a time when Sammamish is trying to minimize the cost of fire and police protection services, it looks like fire will cost even a little more.
An Aug. 11 report from Eastside Fire & Rescue noted that due to a mapping correction, Sammamish would have to pay $65,295 more in 2010.
Deputy Chief Wesley Collins explained that District 10 and the city of Issaquah, two other partners in the regional fire agency, had been paying for fire service in a neighborhood whose property tax revenues were going to Sammamish.
Station 83 is not quite where EFR thought it was. Photo By J.B. Wogan
Read more
By J.B. Wogan
A financial study of expanding Eastside Fire & Rescue meeting revealed old battle lines still hold true.
Sammamish representatives still predict that an expansion would mean higher taxes with no increase in service. Fire officials still advocate that bigger is better, and expanding EFR would be an improvement in terms of costs, logistics and safety.
EFR has dominion over Issaquah, North Bend, Sammamish, Carnation and parts of unincorporated King County. Fire officials have been pushing to add Fall City into the mix, but Sammamish has resisted.
All members of EFR must approve any expansion, meaning that each city wields a veto. Sammamish has promised to use theirs.
“Nothing of substance has changed,” said Lee Fellinge, one of Sammamish’s two representatives on EFR’s eight-person board.
Some members of the EFR board, plus Fire Chief Lee Soptich, have advocated looking for opportunities to expand the agency. King County Fire District 27, often referred to as Fall City Fire, is interested in joining EFR. But Fellinge and Sammamish’s other representative, Deputy Mayor Jack Barry, have resisted.
None of EFR’s calculations to date have explained how Fall City could afford to join EFR.
EFR requires more firefighters per shift, which means that the Fall City area has a less expensive and lower standard of service. If they were to join EFR, Fall City’s annual costs would go from about $1.5 million to about $2 million, a 30 percent increase.
To make up the gap, Fall City voters would likely have to agree to hike their own taxes.
But even this wouldn’t be enough. Fall City Fire Chief Chris Connor estimates that even then, Fall City would be short about $100,000.
In a past interview, Soptich suggested that Fall City Fire could dip into its reserve fund or request financial assistance from other EFR partners.
But the Aug. 11 meeting skipped answering the financial questions. Deputy Chief Jeff Griffin argued that the addition of Fall City Fire would create a more homogenous coverage area for EFR.
With Fall City still an open question, EFR broached the topic of other possible expansions.
Deputy Chief Wesley Collins reported that the Duvall Fire Department is interested in joining EFR and an initial financial review indicated the partnership would be good for EFR. Soptich also reported that the Mercer Island and Bellevue fire departments have expressed interest in sharing equipment and having joint training sessions.
None of those arguments seemed to sway Fellinge.
“We don’t believe that forming a mega fire department is a good idea. We’ve been part of a mega organization before. It was called King County,” he said.
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.
New Aug. 20, 11:34 a.m.
A financial study of expanding Eastside Fire & Rescue meeting revealed old battle lines still hold true.
Sammamish representatives still predict that an expansion would mean higher taxes with no increase in service. Fire officials still advocate that bigger is better, and expanding EFR would be an improvement in terms of costs, logistics and safety. Read more
By J.B. Wogan
Michelle Kumar saw Rhan Rha, known to her friends as Rhannie, on the day she died. Kumar’s 8-year-old daughter was finishing up a piano lesson Aug. 11 with Rha, a private piano instructor.
“The last thing she told us a joke,” Kumar said. “I like to keep that memory. She’s a very funny person.”
Police found Rha, 39, dead on her boyfriend’s boat off Orcas Island Aug. 12. The Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office said she had been strangled. Rha had been with Albert Beutler, 39, of Bellevue, who fatally shot himself after texting to friends that he had killed his girlfriend, as reported in The Seattle Times.
Rha is survived by her parents, an older brother, two older sisters, and her 9-year-old son, Noah.
“We’ve just been in total shock,” said Michelle Manson, whose son played baseball with Rha’s son.
There are recurring themes when friends talk about Rha. She was bubbly, happy, a loving mother; she had a smile that lit up the room.
“What sticks out in my mind was her continual, enthusiastic attitude,” Manson recalled. “She always had something positive to say.”
Louis Rodriguez, whose son played baseball with Rha’s son, said he would remember Rha’s sense of humor.
“Her laughter was infectious,” he said.
Natalia Mackevicius said Rha used to visit Nordstrom often, never seemed to wear the same outfit twice and loved purple.
“She always looked impeccable when you saw her,” Mackevicius said.
Mackevicius recalled how Rha would send her text messages to cheer her up.
“She had a knack for knowing when you might have been down,” she said.
Before moving to Sammamish, Rha earned a bachelor’s degree in music and an associate degree in fashion coordination from Seoul Woman’s University in Korea.
Friends said she moved into a rented home near Inglewood Hill Road so her son would have a backyard to play in.
The decision reflected an abiding love she had for her son, something repeatedly voiced by those who knew her.
Some days, Rha would go out to Pine Lake Park with her son to play catch.
Rha was also a private piano instructor on the plateau for nine years, having taught classical piano to 28 students.
Kumar said Rha was especially good at working with students with autism.
“She just made them feel good, like nothing was wrong,” Kumar said.
Kumar’s 8-year-old daughter had been working with Rha for one year.
Rodriguez had a similar impression of her.
“Always wanting to help people out any way she can, that’s Rhannie,” he said. “My God, she was beautiful.”
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.
New: August 19, 1:48 p.m.
Michelle Kumar saw Rhan Rha, known to her friends as Rhannie, on the day she died. Kumar’s 8-year-old daughter was finishing up a piano lesson Aug. 11 with Rha, a private piano instructor.
“The last thing she told us a joke,” Kumar said. “I like to keep that memory. She’s a very funny person.”
Rhan Rha,a Sammamish piano teacher, was killed Aug. 11.
Read more
New, Aug. 19, 9:13 a.m.
Early results cast a definite light on the King County Executive primary race, with Susan Hutchison as the clear leader Aug. 18 followed by Dow Constantine.
Mail-in ballots needed to be postmarked by Aug. 18 and the counting will go on for days. Read more
Sammamish Rotary runs a soap box derby for children with disabilities.
The Vedic Cultural center was home to the Kumba Mela festival which celebrates Krishna’s birthday and India’s independence.
Thanks for the story
I want to thank the Sammamish Review for the article featuring the Roving Rabbis as it was an interesting and informative read.
It is so refreshing that our local newspaper has brought awareness to the local Jewish community.
I am so happy to hear that our community has been welcoming to these Rabbis and I wish them all the best in their travels.
Naarah N. Hastings
Sammamish
Where is our
community center?
During a recent trip through Utah, we stayed in Vernal to visit Dinosaur National Monument. While looking for other activities we came across their state-of-the-art recreational facility and community center.
It boasts a lap/competitive pool, a leisure pool with two slides and play features, three party rooms, two full-sized gymnasiums, an indoor track, a 36-foot tall climbing wall, an on-site child care, locker rooms, an aerobics and dance studio, a strength room, a cardio equipment balcony, an indoor slide to the first floor, and programs/classrooms for use.
Visit http://www.uintahrecreation.org/ for more information.
I had my socks blown off when I visited the amazing facility. You can purchase affordable memberships or spend the day for under $3.
I asked the front desk person how they managed to locate such a beautiful facility in Vernal. She said that the city realized that their residents needed someplace to go for wholesome activity and they worked with the county to make it happen.
Did I mention that Vernal has a population of 7,900?
So someone please tell me again why Sammamish, with its 40,000 residents still doesn’t have a public recreational facility for its residents?
No, $45 million worth of sidewalks and planters on a ‘beautified’ East Lake Sammamish Parkway don’t count.
Michael J. O’Connell
Sammamish
The problem is
too little growth
The 2009 population and growth statistics are out for Washington state cities from the State Office of Financial Management.
Based on percentage of change since 2000, Sammamish ranks 70th, with 19 percent growth. Based on actual population change, Sammamish ranks 25th, with an increase of 6,566. Compare Sammamish to Issaquah (15,678), Marysville (12,215) Snoqualmie (8,099) Mill Creek (6,955), Redmond (6,634).
Sammamish’s current population is 40,670. The city encompasses 21.18 square miles. This is a population density of 1,920 per square mile, or 3 persons per acre.
Mercer island, a comparable bedroom city, has 3,664 persons per square mile. This is 5.7 people per acre. At nearly twice the density of Sammamish, Mercer Island is a highly desirable location that holds its housing values and quality of life.
To achieve Mercer Island-like density (5.7 person/acre) Sammamish needs a population of 77,600.
With town center build-out by 2020 or 2030 or never, Sammamish may add 3, 307 people. Studies indicate that remaining land capacity in Sammamish can accommodate an additional 2,000 single-family homes.
At three persons per household that is a population increase of 6,000. Population increase at build-out is 9,307. In comparative terms that is 27,626 less than Mercer Island’s current density of 5.7 persons an acre.
But the market for single-family homes has changed dramatically. Single-family home construction is unlikely to achieve build-out given that housing prices are depreciating and experts predict that the era of rapid equity increases that allowed homeowners to sell and buy up and younger homeowners to enter the market, well, those days are over.
Based on the facts, growth is not a problem.
Stagnation and economic decline is. Sammamish may become an Eastside “white elephant.”
John Galvin
Sammamish
Club, meet bikes
Does anybody who belongs to the Inglewood Beach Club, and is complaining about the city cutting off access to them, not own a bicycle and a tiny bit of self accountability?
Sure, this road construction is a nuisance to us all, and its relevance will show to be effective or not.
But, check this out: If you can ride a bike, and find your way to the bottom of Thompson Hill Road, you will gain full unobstructed access to your “Inglewood Beach Club” in no more than 8 minutes.
Peter Ogden
Sammamish
Thanks for the story
I want to thank the Sammamish Review for the article featuring the Roving Rabbis as it was an interesting and informative read.
It is so refreshing that our local newspaper has brought awareness to the local Jewish community.
I am so happy to hear that our community has been welcoming to these Rabbis and I wish them all the best in their travels.
Naarah N. Hastings
Sammamish
Where is our community center?
During a recent trip through Utah, we stayed in Vernal to visit Dinosaur National Monument. While looking for other activities we came across their state-of-the-art recreational facility and community center.
It boasts a lap/competitive pool, a leisure pool with two slides and play features, three party rooms, two full-sized gymnasiums, an indoor track, a 36-foot tall climbing wall, an on-site child care, locker rooms, an aerobics and dance studio, a strength room, a cardio equipment balcony, an indoor slide to the first floor, and programs/classrooms for use.
Visit http://www.uintahrecreation.org/ for more information.
I had my socks blown off when I visited the amazing facility. You can purchase affordable memberships or spend the day for under $3.
I asked the front desk person how they managed to locate such a beautiful facility in Vernal. She said that the city realized that their residents needed someplace to go for wholesome activity and they worked with the county to make it happen.
Did I mention that Vernal has a population of 7,900?
So someone please tell me again why Sammamish, with its 40,000 residents still doesn’t have a public recreational facility for its residents?
No, $45 million worth of sidewalks and planters on a ‘beautified’ East Lake Sammamish Parkway don’t count.
Michael J. O’Connell
Sammamish
The problem is too little growth
The 2009 population and growth statistics are out for Washington state cities from the State Office of Financial Management.
Based on percentage of change since 2000, Sammamish ranks 70th, with 19 percent growth. Based on actual population change, Sammamish ranks 25th, with an increase of 6,566. Compare Sammamish to Issaquah (15,678), Marysville (12,215) Snoqualmie (8,099) Mill Creek (6,955), Redmond (6,634).
Sammamish’s current population is 40,670. The city encompasses 21.18 square miles. This is a population density of 1,920 per square mile, or 3 persons per acre.
Mercer island, a comparable bedroom city, has 3,664 persons per square mile. This is 5.7 people per acre. At nearly twice the density of Sammamish, Mercer Island is a highly desirable location that holds its housing values and quality of life.
To achieve Mercer Island-like density (5.7 person/acre) Sammamish needs a population of 77,600.
With town center build-out by 2020 or 2030 or never, Sammamish may add 3, 307 people. Studies indicate that remaining land capacity in Sammamish can accommodate an additional 2,000 single-family homes.
At three persons per household that is a population increase of 6,000. Population increase at build-out is 9,307. In comparative terms that is 27,626 less than Mercer Island’s current density of 5.7 persons an acre.
But the market for single-family homes has changed dramatically. Single-family home construction is unlikely to achieve build-out given that housing prices are depreciating and experts predict that the era of rapid equity increases that allowed homeowners to sell and buy up and younger homeowners to enter the market, well, those days are over.
Based on the facts, growth is not a problem.
Stagnation and economic decline is. Sammamish may become an Eastside “white elephant.”
John Galvin
Sammamish
Club, meet bikes
Does anybody who belongs to the Inglewood Beach Club, and is complaining about the city cutting off access to them, not own a bicycle and a tiny bit of self accountability?
Sure, this road construction is a nuisance to us all, and its relevance will show to be effective or not.
But, check this out: If you can ride a bike, and find your way to the bottom of Thompson Hill Road, you will gain full unobstructed access to your “Inglewood Beach Club” in no more than 8 minutes.
Peter Ogden
Sammamish
There is still plenty of fun to come this summer!
The Sammamish Farmers Market continues every Wednesday 4-8 p.m. at Sammamish Commons through September. In addition to a lot of farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs and more, there is live entertainment (jazz tonight, folk/country next week) and special events — including zucchini races tonight!
If you haven’t been to a free concert at Pine Lake Park yet this summer, there are still two more to come, both at 6:30 p.m. The August 20 evening weather is expected to be nearly perfect for our very own Sammamish Symphony as they serenade the night with their amazing array of music. The following Thursday, Aug. 27, boots and hat are optional to match the bluegrass tunes by Back Burner. Don’t forget to bring your picnic supper!
And coming up is the city’s big celebration for its 10th birthday on Aug. 29. Kids, sign up now for the kids’ parade, beginning at 10 a.m. All 10-year-olds get celebrity status in the parade. Find parade applications on the city’s Web site.
A birthday party wouldn’t be complete without birthday cake and punch. The time capsule will be sealed until the city’s 50th anniversary, and winners of the art, essay and math competitions will be announced. And there will be music and entertainment, too!
Sammamish Nights will appeal more to the community’s adults looking for a way to celebrate the occasion without the kids. Wine tastings, good food and smooth jazz will set the stage for the inaugural year of this new event at Sammamish Commons. Get your tickets at www.sammmishchamber.org.
Looking for something a little less structured? Bring your frisbee, your fishing pole, your swim suit, or just your walking shoes to a city park. Enjoy the summer while you can!
There is still plenty of fun to come this summer!
The Sammamish Farmers Market continues every Wednesday 4-8 p.m. at Sammamish Commons through September. In addition to a lot of farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs and more, there is live entertainment (jazz tonight, folk/country next week) and special events — including zucchini races tonight!
Read more« Previous Page — Next Page »
