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Skyline wins KingCo tri-meet — Page 9
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The IssaquahPress
Issaquah’s only locally owned newspaper
www.issaquahpress.com
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Sammamish gets closer to vote on Klahanie annexation plan By Neil Pierson npierson@sammamishreview.com If everything goes according to plan, the city of Sammamish could set a date for a special election on the Klahanie-area annexation by the end of the year. Plans to add the roughly 2-square-mile area onto Sammamish’s southeast corner have progressed since February, when
Klahanie-area residents voted not to join the city of Issaquah. In April, the two cities announced a deal to transfer the unincorporated area, which includes about 11,000 residents, to Sammamish’s potential annexation area. Sammamish officials provided an update on annexation efforts at the Oct. 7 Sammamish City Council meeting. Sammamish City Manager Ben Yazici said
the annexation has become one of the city’s top priorities, and another hurdle was cleared last week when Issaquah removed the Klahanie area from its potential annexation area. There is still feedback to gather and steps to take before the annexation proposal could be placed on a special-election ballot in 2015. Sammamish has scheduled a third open house Oct. 15 at Sammamish City Hall,
where the public can learn about the plan, and a second public hearing is on the docket at the council’s Nov. 18 meeting. No one spoke at last week’s public hearing. If the council approves the annexation, Yazici said, Sammamish could then begin working in early December with the King County Boundary Review Board, a regulatory group that deals with municipal boundary
changes. Setting up a special election with the county would need to be done at least 13 weeks in advance, Yazici said. He added that he was told the county would provide fewer special-election dates in 2015, something the council should be aware of. Jeffrey Thomas, Sammamish’s See KLAHANIE, Page 10
Mayor’s budget proposes increase in B&O taxes By Christina Corrales-Toy newcastle@isspress.com Issaquah businesses could be paying more taxes in 2015 as Issaquah Mayor Fred Butler unveiled his proposed budget, calling for an increase to the city’s business and occupation tax rate, at the Oct. 6 Issaquah City Council meeting. The proposal would increase B&O taxes for manufacturing, wholesale and retail companies from 0.0008 to 0.0015 effective April 1, 2015, and 0.002 effective Jan. 1, 2017. B&O taxes for printing/publishing, retail services and services/ other would go from 0.001 to 0.0012 effective April 1, 2015. Under the proposal, more than 30 percent of those who do business in Issaquah (with gross incomes of $100,000 or less) would be exempt, which creates
tangible efficiencies, Butler told the council. The current exemption is set at $20,000. “Meanwhile, larger companies would pay a higher rate for the first time since the tax was created in 2004,” he said. The proposed increase will account for the volatility of one of the city’s major revenue sources — sales and use taxes — which is heavily dependent on consumer spending, Butler said. Butler’s budget also calls for a state-allowed 1 percent increase in property taxes. Based on current assessed values, it would mean an additional $4.19 a year for a homeowner of a $420,000 house. “This won’t generate significant revenues for the city in the short term,” Butler told the council. “Next year, it would add up See BUDGET, Page 11
Car crash closes I-90 for four hours
At 2:11 p.m. Oct. 9, midday commuter traffic was snarled in both directions of Interstate 90 near Preston after a multicar accident. Joshua M. Harris, 28, of North Bend, was traveling eastbound in a 2007 Jeep Compass and crossed the center grass median, causing a four-car chain reaction accident, according to the Washington State Patrol. That caused Brett A. Smith, 20, of Snoqualmie, to lose control of his 2009 Ford Ranger and roll over. He was transported to Overlake Medical Center for his injuries. Harris then continued into the
westbound lanes, striking a 2003 Toyota Camry head on, causing it to strike a fourth vehicle, a 2001 GMC Yukon. The Toyota Camry, driven by Mary E. Ferner, 19, of Snoqualmie, was engulfed in flames, according to the Washington State Patrol. Ferner was taken to Overlake for her injuries. Harris was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for his injuries. The Yukon driver, Matthew F. Davis, age unavailable, of Bellevue, was uninjured. All westbound lanes of Interstate 90 reopened at 6:30 p.m. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
By Greg Farrar
Marnie Maraldo, Issaquah School District School Board president, cuts the ceremonial ribbon as other board members, Superintendent Ron Thiele, Principal Josh Almy and others applaud and smile, as the completion of the final phase of the school remodel is celebrated Oct. 10 during a community open house.
PATRIOTS
District unveils remodeled Liberty High School SLIDESHOW See more photos from the unveiling of the newly remodeled Liberty High School at www.issaquahpress.com.
GET THEIR
PALACE
By Christina Corrales-Toy newcastle@isspress.com The new Liberty High School building is sleek, modern and almost industrial in its appearance. Past Liberty students would hardly recognize it as the same school, but some internal touches, most importantly a can’tmiss banner inscribed with the words “Proud to be a Patriot,” bring familiarity and warmth to the newly remodeled campus. The Issaquah Chamber of Commerce and Issaquah School District partnered to unveil the new Liberty at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 10. “It’s an honor to be a part of this community. It’s an honor to send my children here,” said Wright Noel, a Liberty parent, coach and a member of both the Issaquah chamber and Volunteers for Issaquah Schools, a group that championed the bond package paying for the
upgrades. The project included the replacement of the old 500wing of classrooms, upgrades to existing science labs and modernization of classrooms in the career and technology building. One of the more remarkable changes is the addition of the Performing Arts Center featuring the Landback Auditorium, a theater that seats about 700 and provides ample room for the award-winning Patriot Players to hone their craft. The library is a marvel, too, with large windows filtering in loads of natural light, comfortable chairs, clean desks and high ceilings making the room feel bigger than it already is. The project also added more science labs, a culinary arts kitchen, an expanded commons area, a new auxiliary gym and an impressive weight room with See LIBERTY, Page 5
Talus tree tussle won’t change city approach By Peter Clark
Washington State Patrol
Two of the vehicles involved in a four-car accident Oct. 9 sit on the side of Interstate 90. The crash caused the freeway to be closed for four hours.
Not all 16 trees were saved in the Talus Residential Board’s decision, but even though the matter caused quite a stir among residents, city officials will not change their approach to tree removal. “We conducted our typical review for this type of work, and the city did not need to issue permits or approve a new landscaping plan,” City Communications Manager Autumn Monahan said. “Instead, we encouraged Talus homeowners to address their concerns within their homeowners’ association
framework, rather than through a governmental enforcement action. “The HOA is a democratically elected body, with an appeals process for aggrieved property owners.” A month after a contentious Talus Residential Association public hearing, the board decided Sept. 29 to cut down 10 of the originally petitioned 16 trees. Six homeowners said the trees blocked their views of the landscape and lowered property values. Janet Irons, the attorney who filed the subsequent appeal from residents that led to the residen-
tial association board’s re-evaluation, said her clients were still determining how to proceed. The board rejected the appeal, but promised to address privacy and safety concerns by lowering the number of trees removed and issuing a revised replanting plan for the area in question. Monahan said city officials would evaluate any further tree removal and any complications that might arise. “We will continue to monitor this work, and any future proposals, to ensure consistency with the Talus development agreement,” she said.
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