Issaquahpress081315

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BATTLE AT THE BEACH

ONE-WHEELIN’

Lake Sammamish welcomes Olympic champ — Page 9

Unicyclists take on local mountain bike trails — Page 6

The IssaquahPress

Issaquah’s only locally owned newspaper

www.issaquahpress.com

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Winterstein, Ramos top council vote getters in August primary By Tom Corrigan tcorrigan@isspress.com Incumbent City Council President Paul Winterstein has the largest number of votes of any candidate in the Aug. 4 council primary. Hoping to earn a second term on the council, Winterstein will face challenger Christopher Reh for council Position 6. For council Position 4, Bill Ramos came out on top of a

crowded field of four candidates. The current head of the city’s Human Services Commission, Ramos will face newcomer Tim Flood in November. Paul Winterstein According to unofficial results from King County Elections, as of Aug. 10, Winterstein was leading the Posi-

Christopher Reh

Bill Ramos

tion 6 race with 2,450 votes, or nearly 59 percent of the votes. Reh earned 1,423 ballots, or 34

percent. Trailing both and out of the running for the November general elections, candidate Gregg Leinweber finished a distant third earning only 276 votes or 6 percent. Tim Flood Speaking before the primary, Winterstein said, “there has been an awakening in the city.”

“That’s an exciting challenge and I want to return to the council so I can work with others who share my passion to go all in for Issaquah,” Winterstein said. Reh said he realizes he has some ground to make up to catch Winterstein, but was pleased with how well he did in the primary. “I’m pretty excited,” he said, See TOP

VOTES, Page 5

Citizen committee to study tax issue for transit projects Goal is to find ways to raise up to $96 million for November ballot By Tom Corrigan tcorrigan@isspress.com By November, city administrators plan to form a resident advisory committee to study and propose a ballot issue to raise up to $96 million for Issaquah transportation projects. The city could go to voters with various options, including a bond sale or a local sales tax. Of the several options presented, a .2 percent sales tax would rake in the most, about $75 million, according to information presented by city Finance Director Diane Marcotte. City officials hope to have something on the ballot by November 2016. The advisory committee, which Mayor Fred Butler will choose, will begin meeting either late this year or in early 2016. Butler expects a recommendation to present to council by mid-2016. Officials have not determined how many people will serve on the committee, said Emily Moon, deputy city administrator. City Council members will have the last say on any ballot issue and will need to reach a consensus for any public ballot measures. Earlier this year, the council put the final touches on a massive $304 million plan to deal with traffic related to growth in Issaquah. Officials identified outside funding sources amounting to about $208 million, leaving

INSIDE 4Not even formally proposed, Third Avenue bridge idea draws a crowd. See story, Page 5.

approximately $96 million for the city to raise on its own. Just a few examples of traffic projects that might receive funding are: 4A new right turn lane at Dogwood and Front Street 4Widening State Route 900 to three lanes between Maple and Newport 4Widening the SR 900 ramp to eastbound Interstate 90. As the freeway leading to Issaquah’s doorstep, I-90 seems likely to receive a lot of attention. Councilman Joshua Schaer said the city should reject any plan that does not involve addressing the I-90 interchange at Front Street. The so-called concurrency plan also includes money for walking and biking trails, and similar projects. But concurrency projects named earlier this year might not be the only ones funded. By definition, concurrency projects are linked to local development, meant to handle traffic added by development. But Issaquah has traffic problems not directly related to development or related to development happening outside the city, said City Administrator Bob Harrison. See TAXES, Page 5

By Greg Farrar

Homewood Suites by Hilton has opened for business in Issaquah, bringing 123 new extended-stay suites to the Eastside with their eight-story hotel developed and owned by Rowley Properties Inc. at 1484 Hyla Ave. N.W., on the west end of Northwest Gilman Boulevard near Interstate 90 and state Route 900. For more photos of the interior of the Homewood Suites By Hilton, go to www.issaquahpress.com.

FIRST LOOK Take of tour of just opened Homewood Suites by Hilton

Photos by Greg Farrar

Above, Homewood Suites by Hilton guests can enjoy a 15-by-30 foot saltwater pool and whirlpool bath. At right is the complimentary breakfast and evening social area.

Small crowd hears more details on Salmon Days unveils city’s plans following fatal accident

2015 festival logo

Salmon Days is going to be “so flippin’ fun” in 2015. The city unveiled this year’s theme in a playful video littered with censor beeps replacing the “flippin’” part of the sentence. Issaquah Mayor Fred Butler and Autumn Monahan, assistant to the city administrator, were among the “naughty”-mouthed participants who appeared in the 30-second video. Salmon Days returns for its 46th year Oct. 3-4. Last year, more than 185,000 people descended on Issaquah for the homegrown event celebrating the autumn return of local salmon from the Pacific Ocean to Issaquah Creek. The popular festival, featuring

a parade, food, games, vendors and live music, is consistently honored for excellence on both the state and international level. In July, Salmon Days organizers announced that the Snoqualmie Tribe would return as the festival’s Title Spawnsor for the second straight year. Learn more at www.salmondays.org.

By Tom Corrigan tcorrigan@isspress.com There is a “likelihood” some changes may take place along Newport Way Northwest prior to 2016, Emily Moon, deputy city administrator, told a dozen or so residents gathered again to discuss safety issues on the street. Moon was talking to those who came together the evening of Aug. 5 for a meeting of the Issaquah City Council’s Infrastructure Committee. Moon was responding to requests from the audience that some safety measures be taken on the street immediately. In the wake of a fatal accident involving 4-year-old Haochen Xu in late June, Mayor Fred Butler has promised a study of cross-

walks and intersections around the city, including the intersection of Newport Way Northwest and Northwest Oakcrest Drive where a driver struck Haochen. He said he would recommend a lowering of the speed limit even prior to the completion of the complete crosswalk study, due at the end of September. Moon said what changes, and when they take place, depends somewhat on consultant Transportation Solutions Inc., hired by the city to complete the crosswalks study. While the format of the city’s July 27 open house came under fire from some residents as too restrictive and not supplying adequate answers, during the recent committee meeting, Sheldon Lynne, city public works

INSIDE 4Residents want answers on major Newport Way housing project See story, Page 3. 4City releases list of crosswalks to be included in safety study. See story. Page 3.

engineering director, said Issaquah officials obtained some worthwhile information, all of which was passed on to Transportation Solutions Inc. “We got some really good feedback,” he said. See ACCIDENT, Page 5

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