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ISSUE 34 CITY OF SAMMAMISH NEWSLETTER APRIL 2005
IIIIINSIDENSIDENSIDENSIDENSIDE T T T T THISHISHISHISHIS E E E E EDITIONDITIONDITIONDITIONDITION
Growth metering .................................. 1Critical Areas Ordinance .....................1Mayor’s message ................................ 2East Lake Sammamish Parkway ....... 3244th Avenue ....................................... 3Volunteers needed .............................. 4City officials visit Olympia ................... 5Memorial benches .............................. 5Sammi Awards .................................... 6Rain barrels ......................................... 7City Hall calendar ................................ 7Council committees ............................8City Hall contact information ............... 8
Frequently flooded areas, like this land east of Discovery Elementaryalong SE 24th Street, are considered critical areas.
With the help of two communityvolunteer groups, the city is launchinga review of its development regulationsfor critical areas. The review,mandated by State law, is required ofall cities and counties. Critical areas,among other things, are comprised ofwetlands, streams, buffers, frequentlyflooded areas, and some steep slopes.
Many rural property owners haveobjected to King County’s newlyrevised ordinance, which, among other
things, expands buffers and reducesthe amount of useable land.
“King County’s Critical AreasOrdinance (CAO) review hasgenerated a lot of controversy amongrural property owners,” City ManagerBen Yazici said. “Fortunately, as a city,we won’t have to deal with those ruralissues.”
Critical Areas OrdinanceStStStStState law rate law rate law rate law rate law requirequirequirequirequires res res res res reviewevieweviewevieweview
Nevertheless, Yazici hopes the twovolunteer groups will help ease theprocess. See CAO - pg. 2
ControllingGrowthMetering orMetering orMetering orMetering orMetering ordinancedinancedinancedinancedinancebeing considerbeing considerbeing considerbeing considerbeing considerededededed
After three well-attended stake-holders’ meetings, the Planning Com-mission will be hard at work over thenext few weeks on a “growth-meter-ing” ordinance. The proposed mea-sure, aimed at preventing a suddensurge of new residential growth whenthe city’s development moratorium islifted, will be considered by the CityCouncil after the Planning Commis-sion makes its recommendation.
“We heard from developers, en-vironmentalists, neighborhoods andeveryday citizens,” City Manager BenYazici said. “We were happy to haveso many stakeholders participate.”
One way of stretching growthSee GROWTH - pg. 3
Page 2 April 2005
MayorDon Gerend
MAYOR’S MESSAGE
Sammamishis growing at a rateof nearly 500homes per year, al-most all of whichare in subdivisionsvested by KingCounty before weincorporated in1999. There has
been a moratorium on new subdivisionsthese past six years, while the city hasworked on improving parks and roads.
With continued developmentby private builders, and further capitalprojects planned by the City, there is everincreasing pressure being placed on ourenvironment. Our lakes are threatenedby such by-products of urbanization asincreased phosphorus and coliform bac-teria concentrations. Our streams re-ceive higher volumes of storm waterrunoff which can result in erosion andloss of spawning grounds for Kokaneeand other salmonids.
If we want to maintain healthylakes and protect our streams and sen-sitive areas, we must change the para-digm of business as usual, as we squeezemore people into this beautiful city. Thecitizens around Beaver Lake have al-ready led the way with a lake study and
a management district. The Pine Lakecommunity also expressed concerns andthe city has initiated a lake study for Pinelake as the first step towards protectingthis liquid jewel. We have a program ofbasin studies underway; George DavisCreek study is completed and the Th-ompson Basin study is scheduled fornext year.
Citizens are working with thecity to initiate some creek restorationprojects in the lower reaches of EbrightCreek, Zacusse Creek and other creeksflowing into Lake Sammamish, as wellas a project on the shoreline of LakeSammamish itself. Already projectshave been recognized and added to thepriority list of the regional Chinooksalmon recovery program (go toWRIA8 at www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/wrias/).
The City Hall and Commonsproject just getting underway acrossfrom Skyline High School has incorpo-rated many environmentally friendly fea-tures, such as wetland restoration, wa-ter-efficient landscaping, and water-per-vious materials in parking areas and theplaza. Other low impact developmenttechniques are planned for the SoundTransit park and ride lot, other publicbuildings, and new road projects. The
goal is to minimize the offsite flow andmaximize the natural treatment of stormwater through such techniques as bioswales and infiltration. We are planningcode changes to encourage this new wayof doing business – Low Impact Devel-opment.
This year a Critical Areas Codeupdate will be working its way throughthe public process (with a citizens advi-sory group), the Planning Commissionand the Council, as we take a closer lookat development regulations in areas nearsteep slopes, wetlands and streams.
While this proactive approachto environmental issues is underway, thecity is also wrestling with the need toend the moratorium on new develop-ments. The goal is to control the rate ofgrowth while staying ahead of the curveon enhancements to our roads, pedes-trian and bicycle facilities, and parks. Welook forward to your input as these pro-grams and actions shape the future ofour community.
“We’re going to draw on the com-mon sense and expertise of our residentsto make this review as fair and sensible aspossible,” Yazici said,. “We’re going tomake sure everyone’s concerns are heard..”
As cities and counties conduct theirreviews, they often receive criticism fromall directions. Property owners frequentlycomplain that the code revisions will re-strict their right to develop land. Environ-mentalists, meanwhile, will often complainthat the restrictions aren’t going far enough.
The city is currently recruiting vol-unteers for both its Citizens’ Advisory
Committee and its Technical AdvisoryGroup. For more information on howto volunteer for thesetwo groups, please goto page 4 of thisnewsletter.
The CAO re-views, aimed at pro-tecting the basichealth of the environ-ment, are required bythe state every sevenyears. Cit ies andcounties must reviewthe latest technical in-
CAO - cont. from pg. 1 formation (Best Available Science), be-fore it revises its code.
CityViews@Sammamish Page 3
CITY OF SAMMAMISH
East LakEast LakEast LakEast LakEast Lake Sammamishe Sammamishe Sammamishe Sammamishe Sammamish
Residents invited toResidents invited toResidents invited toResidents invited toResidents invited toPPPPParararararkwkwkwkwkwaaaaay pry pry pry pry projectojectojectojectoject
April 6th open houseApril 6th open houseApril 6th open houseApril 6th open houseApril 6th open houseThe city is launching a project to construct improve-
ments on East Lake Sammamish Parkway (ELSP) betweenNE Inglewood Hill Road and the northern city limits at187th Avenue NE.
The completed project will improve safety, providecongestion relief with left-turn lanes, and increase bicycleand pedestrian access. The result will be smoother trafficflow, fewer accidents, and a more attractive roadway.
The planning process for this funded project is justbeginning and your input is needed. Come to this meetingto learn more about the project goals and meet the projectteam.
For more information, contact Project Manager JeffBrauns at 425-836-7923 or [email protected].
ELSP Open House Wednesday, April 6, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Inglewood Junior High School Commons24120 NE Eighth Street
244th 244th 244th 244th 244th AAAAAvvvvvenenenenenueueueueueimprimprimprimprimprooooovvvvvementsementsementsementsementsScoping meeting/Open HouseScoping meeting/Open HouseScoping meeting/Open HouseScoping meeting/Open HouseScoping meeting/Open Houseslated for April 7thslated for April 7thslated for April 7thslated for April 7thslated for April 7th
The city is starting a project to improve 244th Avenue fromSE Eighth Street to NE Eighth Street. This project will improveaccess to and from the neighborhood for residents and emer-gency vehicles. Project plans include a tree-lined, two-lane road-way with bicycle lanes, left-turn lanes, and sidewalks.
The city is beginning an analysis of the environmental im-pacts of this project and would like to hear your input on thescope of the analysis. Your comments will be welcome on theproject options being considered, environmental analysis, andthe project timeline.
For more information, contact Project Manager Jed Ire-land at 425-836-7909 or [email protected].
244th Avenue Scoping Meeting/Open HouseInglewood Junior High School Commons
24120 NE Eighth StreetThursday, April 7
6:30-7 p.m. - Open House7 p.m. - Project presentation
7:45-8:30 p.m. - Review exhibits with staff
out over a period of years is to allo-cate development applications usinga point system. If a development isconnected to water and sewer, for ex-ample, it would receive more pointsthan a development with a septic sys-tem. Developments that enhance thecommunity’s connectivity — throughsidewalks, paths or new street connec-tions — would also earn more points.The point system would allow the cityto give priority to high-scoring propos-als, and limit the total number of yearlydevelopments submitted.
The state’s Growth ManagementAct (GMA) process has assignedSammamish a residential growth tar-get of 3,842 units by the year 2022.Many of those units are already ac-
counted for by approvals obtainedthrough King County before the cityincorporated in 1999. The latest fig-ures indicate the city will have to ap-prove 1,300 units by 2022 to meet itstarget. Although they might not bemetered out evenly over the next 17years, those figures translate intoaround 75 units per year.
The Planning Commission willsift through the large volume of pub-lic input and then hold a public hear-ing (no date set) on their proposed or-dinance. The City Council will thenhold a public hearing of its own. Ifthe City Council decides to pass agrowth-metering ordinance, passagecould come as early as this summer.The current moratorium is scheduledto expire in August.
GROWTH - cont. from pg. 1 Signal lightsSignal lightsSignal lightsSignal lightsSignal lightsfor student safetyfor student safetyfor student safetyfor student safetyfor student safety
Responding to community andschool requests, the city will have afull signal system installed at the in-tersection of Issaquah-Pine LakeRoad and 231st Lane SE.
The goal: ensuring the safety ofschool children coming and goingfrom Pine Lake Middle School.
The work, to be done by KingCounty, will take place while schoolis out. It may begin as early as springbreak in April, and then continue dur-ing summer vacation.
It’s anticipated crossing guardswill use the signals to help studentscross Issaquah-Pine Lake Road safely.
Page 4April 2005
CITY OF SAMMAMISH
Like other countiesand cities, Sammamish willbe updating its Critical (En-vironmentally Sensitive)Areas Code provisions asrequired by state law. Theupdated ordinance will setstandards and criteria fordevelopment in and aroundcritical areas, which in-clude, among other things,wetlands, streams, associ-ated buffers, and frequentlyflooded and geologicallyhazardous areas.
To help in this effort,the city is recruiting resi-dents to serve on two advi-sory groups:
Cit izens’ AdvisoryCommittee. This 13-mem-ber committee will featurea representative cross-sec-tion of community residents. Prop-erty owners, environmentalists,neighborhood representatives andbusiness people will all be repre-sented on the committee. One CityCouncil, Planning Commission, andParks and Recreation Commissionmember will also serve on the com-mittee. Technical credentials areNOT required to apply for this com-mittee.
Technical Advisory Group: Ap-plicants for this 3 to 5 membergroup will need credentials and ex-pertise in wetlands biology, hydrol-
Volunteers needed for two advisory groupson Critical Areas Code update
ogy, geology, soil science, forestry,botany, fisheries, or related fields ofenvironmental study. The volunteermembers of this group will workwith city staff and a project consult-ant, reviewing technical information(Best Available Science) and provid-ing project guidance to the city.
It ’s anticipated the projectschedule will require volunteer avail-ability for meetings through the endof 2005. Interested residents shouldsubmit a resume, letter of interestand a completed questionnaire, mak-ing it clear which group they wouldlike to join. The questionnaire canbe found on the city website(www.ci.sammamish.wa.us).
Critical areas include, among other things, streams, wetlands, buffers, andaquifer recharge areas.
Please submit materials to:City Clerk Melonie Anderson,
City of Sammamish,486 228th Ave. N.E.
Sammamish, WA 98074.
Applications may also besubmitted via email [email protected] more information, please call425-836-7904.
The deadline for applica-tions is the close of business onApril 7. Interviews with the CityCouncil will be held April 12.The members of both groups willbe selected by the City Council.
CityViews@Sammamish Page 5
CITY OF SAMMAMISH
After hearing loud and clear from a 5-mem-ber city delegation, state legislators are very muchup to speed on issues affecting Sammamish resi-dents.
The city team, comprised of Mayor DonGerend, Deputy Mayor Michele Petitti,Councilmember Jack Barry, City Manager BenYazici and Communications Manager Tim Larson,briefed lawmakers on a variety of important top-ics, including tax revenue for cities, court services,and the funding of vital regional transportationprojects.
“We had very good conversations,” City Man-ager Ben Yazici said of the February trip. “Theseefforts have been effective in the past, and we’reconfident our message got through this time aswell.”
In a series of breakfast, lunch and dinner meet-ings, along with visits to legislative offices, city offi-cials met with, among others, Senator Bill Finkbeinerand State Representatives Glenn Anderson, JayRodne, Toby Nixon, and Larry Springer.
From left: Councilmember Jack Barry, Deputy MayorMichele Petitti, State Representative Jay Rodne, CityManager Ben Yazici, State Representative GlennAnderson, Mayor Don Gerend.
City officials take message to Olympia
A few years ago, the Planning Advi-sory Board was searching for ways tomake Sammamish a special place with itsown sense of identity. Board memberLee Fellinge suggested a memorial parkbench program similar to the one he hadseen in Sunriver, Oregon, which featuredbenches in memory of a lost friend orloved one.
Some time later, Fellinge was calledby a friend whose family had experienceda tragic loss. Beaver Lake Park was a spe-cial place to them, and the idea of a me-morial bench seemed very fitting.
After receiving positive feedbackfrom parks committee and commission,Fellinge worked with Parks Director JeffWatling to craft a plan that would serve
not only the needs ofthis one family, butother families orgroups in the com-munity as well.
Parks Mainte-nance ManagerKevin Husemanncoordinated installa-tion of the first me-morial bench in Bea-ver Lake Park, withintent to be able to
Memorial bench program ready to go!duplicate it as an ongoing program. Thisprogram is now ready to go.
“I am excited [that] we can now en-hance the walkability of our city, and pro-vide the opportunity for citizens to remem-ber and honor a loved one while makinga permanent contribution to our commu-nity,” Fellinge said. “This provides some-thing special to help create a soul for ourcity.”
To participate, an individual orgroup contributes $1,000 to the city. Lo-cation of the bench is agreed upon be-tween city and donor. The bench typewill be determined by the city to ensure aconsistent look and allow for more effi-cient maintenance of the benches in thepark and path system.
Interested residents should contactKevin Husemann at 425-531-1275, [email protected].
Page 6 April 2005
CITY OF SAMMAMISH
A standing room only crowd filledthe Skyline High School auditorium March5 for the 2005 Sammi Awards. This year’sceremony focused on the teens ofSammamish, who did a fantastic job inall aspects of the ceremony, from plan-ning to performing. Congratulations tothe 2005 Award Winners:
Arts -- Connie WalsworthBusiness -- Kais FaddahCourage -- Elionel Martinez
Learning Promotion -- RickJohnson
Spirit of Sammamish -- MaryTrask
Teen Challenge -- WhitneyPeterson
Trevor Price Award -- MegKrivanec
Unsung Hero -- Cheri GorderYouth Advocate -- Jaynee Cadrez
Photos © Scott H Bisch
Sammi winners walk the red carpetInterested in helping out with the
2006 Sammi’s?Come to an open house Tues-
day, April 12, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., atthe Knolls Apartments clubhouse,22626 N.E. Inglewood Hill Road.
For more information, contactDawn Sanders 425-868-3484, or visitthe Sammi Awards website,www.sammiawards.org.
CITY OF SAMMAMISH
CityViews@Sammamish Page 7
NOTE: Times, dates and locations are subjectto change. Please consult the city website forthe most current information.
The Sammamish Plateau Water & SewerDistrict is located at 1510 228th Avenue NE.
To encourage efficient water use, theCity of Sammamish is again offering citi-zens a discount on a limited number ofRaincatcher rain barrels.
Order forms can be picked up atCity Hall, or downloaded fromwww.ci.sammamish.wa.us. To order a rainbarrel, simply send a completed orderform to with non-refundable payment of$24 to Dynamex Inc., in Tukwila.
Dynamex will ship the rain barreldirectly to your door. There is a limit ofone rain barrel per household, and all rainbarrels must be delivered to a Sammamishresidential address.
The recycled, green plasticRaincatcher holds up to 55 gallons ofwater collected through a home’s down-spouts. A spigot allows the connectionof a hose to fill watering cans.
For more information about the
City’s rain barrel program, visitwww.ci.sammamish.wa.us, or contactLaura Shaughnessy at 425-836-7916.
Rain Barrels for sale
APRILMonday, 4 Apr 2005• Community Development Committee Meeting,5 pm - 6 pmSammamish City Hall• Neighborhood Connections, 6:30 pm - 8 pmSahalee Fire Station #82Tuesday, 5 Apr 2005• Parks, Trails, and Natural Resources CommitteeMeeting, 5 pm - 6 pmSammamish City Hall• City Council Meeting, 6:30 pm - 10 pmSammamish Plateau Water & Sewer DistrictWednesday, 6 Apr 2005• East Lake Sammamish Pkwy Project OpenHouse, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pmInglewood Junior High SchoolThursday, 7 Apr 2005• NE 244th Project EIS Scoping Meeting / OpenHouse, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pmInglewood Junior High School• Planning Commission Meeting, 7 pm - 10 pmSammamish Plateau Water & Sewer DistrictTuesday, 12 Apr 2005• Joint Meeting City Council and PlanningCommission, 6:30 pm - 10 pmSammamish Plateau Water & Sewer DistrictMonday, 18 Apr 2005• Arts Commission Meeting, 7 pm - 8:30 pmSammamish City HallTuesday, 19 Apr 2005• Finance Committee Meeting, 11:30 am - 12:30p mSammamish City Hall• Public Works Committee Meeting, 5 pm - 6 pmSammamish Plateau Water & Sewer District
Sammamish City Council will hold apublic hearing to consider a ban on
fireworks within the city limits:April 5, 2005 at 6:30 pm
Sammamish Plateau Water & SewerDistrict
1510 228th Avenue SEFor further information contact:
Melonie AndersonCity Clerk
Public HearingPublic HearingPublic HearingPublic HearingPublic Hearingon Firon Firon Firon Firon Fireeeeewwwwworororororksksksksks
CITY HALL CALENDARCITY HALL CALENDARRain barrel installed at local site
• City Council Meeting, 6:30 pm - 10 pmSammamish Plateau Water & Sewer DistrictThursday, 21 Apr 2005• Planning Commission Meeting, 7 pm - 9 pmSammamish Plateau Water & Sewer DistrictMonday, 25 Apr 2005• Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting, 6:30pm - 9 pmSammamish Plateau Water & Sewer DistrictTuesday, 26 Apr 2005• Public Safety Committee Meeting, 5 pm - 6 pmSammamish Plateau Water & Sewer District• City Council Study Session, 6:30 pm - 10 pmSammamish Plateau Water & Sewer DistrictThursday, 28 Apr 2005• Sammamish Youth Board Meeting, 6 pm - 7:30p mSammamish Library
MAYMonday, 2 May 2005• Community Development Committee Meeting,5 pm - 6 pmSammamish City HallTuesday, 3 May 2005• Parks, Trails, and Natural Resources CommitteeMeeting, 5 pm - 6 pmSammamish City Hall• City Council Meeting, 6:30 pm - 10 pmSammamish Plateau Water & Sewer DistrictThursday, 5 May 2005• Planning Commission Meeting, 7 pm - 9 pmSammamish Plateau Water & Sewer DistrictTuesday, 10 May 2005• City Council Study Session, 6:30 pm - 10 pmSammamish Plateau Water & Sewer District
Monday, 16 May 2005• Arts Commission Meeting, 7 pm - 8:30 pmSammamish City HallTuesday, 17 May 2005• Finance Committee Meeting, 11:30 am - 12:30p mSammamish City Hall• Public Works Committee Meeting, 5 pm - 6 pmSammamish Plateau Water & Sewer District• City Council Meeting, 6:30 pm - 10 pmSammamish Plateau Water & Sewer DistrictThursday, 19 May 2005• Planning Commission Meeting, 7 pm - 9 pmSammamish Plateau Water & Sewer DistrictMonday, 23 May 2005• Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting, 6:30pm - 9 pmSammamish Plateau Water & Sewer DistrictTuesday, 24 May 2005• Public Safety Committee Meeting, 5 pm - 6 pmSammamish Plateau Water & Sewer District• City Council Study Session, 6:30 pm - 10 pmSammamish Plateau Water & Sewer DistrictThursday, 26 May 2005• Sammamish Youth Board Meeting, 6 pm - 7:30p mSammamish Library
ECRWSS
POSTAL CUSTOMER
486 - 228th Avenue NESammamish, WA 98074
PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE PAID
REDMOND, WAPERMIT NO. 312
SAMMAMISH CITY COUNCIL
Council Committees
Don GerendMayor
Nancy WhittenCouncilmember
Michele PetittiDeputy Mayor
Lee FellingeCouncilmember
Mark CrossCouncilmember
Jack BarryCouncilmember
www.ci.sammamish.wa.us
Don Gerend, [email protected]
Michele Petitti, Deputy [email protected]
Jack Barry, [email protected]
Mark Cross, [email protected]
Lee Fellinge, [email protected]
Kathleen Huckabay, [email protected]
Nancy Whitten, [email protected]
City of Sammamish Offices486 228th Ave. NE, Sammamish, WA 98074Phone: 425-898-0660 • Fax: 425-898-0669
Ben Yazici ............................ City ManagerPete Butkus ......... Assistant City ManagerDelora Kerber ......... Public Works DirectorBob Horne .......... Community Dev DirectorLyman Howard ... Financial Svcs DirectorJeff Watling ............. Parks & Rec DirectorMike Sauerwein ...... Admin Svcs DirectorSteve Hartwig ....................... City EngineerBruce Disend ........................ City AttorneyMelonie Anderson ...................... City ClerkRichard Baranzini .................. Police ChiefJohn Murphy ............................... Fire ChiefTim Larson ....... Communications Manager
Kathleen HuckabayCouncilmember
Parks, Trails, and NaturalResourcesMeets 1st Tuesday, 5 pmNancy Whitten, ChairMichele PetittiKathleen Huckabay
Community DevelopmentMeets 1st Monday, 5 pmMark Cross, ChairMichele PetittiKathleen Huckabay
Public WorksMeets 3rd Tuesday, 5 pmJack Barry, ChairMark CrossNancy Whitten
FinanceMeets 3rd Tuesday,11:30 amLee Fellinge, ChairJack BarryNancy Whitten
Public SafetyMeets 4th Tuesday, 5 pmKathleen Huckabay, ChairMark Cross,Lee Fellinge
LegislativeMeets as neededMichele Petitti, ChairDon Gerend and a thirdmember depending on issue.
Human ServicesMeets as neededMichele Petitti, Lee Fellinge
