Government Notes: Sammamish & Issaquah

Following are upcoming government and civic events and briefs from the cities of Sammamish and Issaquah for the week of May 7-12.

The NE 42nd Street Opticom Gate is back in place in Sammamish after being damaged by an allegedly impaired driver. The repairs have been completed and crews were able to restore the emergency response function.The gate has been down awaiting repairs ever since a Sammamish woman drove through it on Tuesday, April 17.

The city opened bids for upcoming work to replace the stairs at Evans Pond. The city received four bids, and the apparent low bidder was Thornberg Construction, of Issaquah, with a big of $99,299. Thornberg has performed other work for the city, including renovations to the Beaver Lake Lodge.

Upcoming meetings: 

Monday, May 7

: Monday, May 7, 7:00 pm, , 1851 228th Ave NE, Sammamish. Several subjects are on the agenda for this civic activist group, says Harry Shedd. Watershed Management will be looked at by Bob Brady, an update on Environmentally Critical Areas will be addressed by Bob Sorenson, and Shedd will update the latest City Budget figures and discuss “what is just ahead”? "Bring a friend or neighbor…some big issues confront us," Shedd says.

Tuesday, May 8

/Planning Commission Joint Study Session: Tuesday, May 8, 6:30 pm, , 801 228th Ave SE, Sammamish. The city will hold its meeting jointly for an Environmentally Critical Areas review process. The city will also study the transportation comprehensive plan amendment and transportation impact fees, and the King County Metro Alternative Service Plan. See the full packet here.

Wednesday, May 9

: Wednesday, May 9, 6:30 pm, , 801 228th Ave SE, 

Tour of the Beaver Lake Management District: Wednesday, May 9, 6-8 p.m. The members of the Beaver Lake Management District Board will be taking a tour of the Beaver Lake Managment District

The city of Issaquah is funding a study this year to evaluate providing utility service to parts of the city that currently are served by outside agencies, such as South Cove, which is served by the City of Bellevue, and North Issaquah (everything north of Interstate 90, except for the Issaquah Highlands and Pickering Place/Costco), which is served by the Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District (SPWSD).

In a press release, the city said state law encourages municipalities to assume utility services in neighborhoods that are located within their boundaries. Assumption of utility services in South Cove and North Issaquah could improve customer service, make utility service more efficient and enable Issaquah to manage all of the water resources within its boundaries.

The study, which is scheduled to be completed this year, will cover the potential costs of assuming both neighborhoods; capital facility and staffing needs; and rate impacts.

Meanwhile, SPWSD is currently working on plans to assess one neighborhood in Issaquah, called Overdale, for certain improvements and connection charges. The City’s study should have no influence on this assessment process. Even if Issaquah were to someday assume utility service in Overdale, property owners would still be responsible to pay the assessment.

Upcoming meetings:

Monday, May 7

 Meeting: Monday, May 7, 7:30 pm, 135 E Sunset Way, Issaquah, WA. The council will be discussion the expenditure of fund from the proceeds of the Sale of Parcel D, Issaquah Highlands. See the full meeting packet here.

Tuesday, May 8

: Tuesday, May 8, 6:00 pm, 135 E Sunset Way, Issaquah, WA, The Land and Shore Committee will get an update on the Lakeside Development Agreement, the Central Issaquah Plan, and expects to take action on the Forest Heights Preliminary Plat & Cluster Housing Agreement and on Funding Strategies for the Central Issaquah Plan. Learn more here.

Wednesday, May 9

Issaquah School Board meeting: Wed., May 9, 7:00 PM, 565 NW Holly Street Issaquah. Agendas are posted here before the meeting, but the May 9 agenda was not available at press time.

Thursday, May 10

, Thursday, May 10, 6:00 pm, 960 Newport Way NW, Issaquah, WA. The Resource Conservation Office continues its Sustainability Film Series at the . The Office of Sustainability is showing “Happy Mobility in a Livable City - How You Can Have It, Inform It, and Use It”. Also, rather than holding its regular meeting this same day, the Planning Policy Commission will be in attendance at the film.

, Thursday, May 10, 5:00 pm, 1775 12th Ave NW, Issaquah, WA. The Committee will be reviewing and prioritizing the 2013-2018 Capital Improvement Plan requests, and will get an update on the stoplight project at 15th and Park Drive. Until the signal can be sinstalled this summer, temporary stop signs have been installed at the intersection. The signs are needed to ensure drivers located on 15th Avenue South can safely turn left onto Northeast Park Drive. Issaquah Police have noted backups at the new stop signs last week, but said traffic was orderly.