DUAL AWAY MEET
SCANDINAVIAN SOLSTICE
Issaquah downs Skyline at Mercer Island — Page 8
Women’s group celebrates St. Lucia’s Day — Page 5
The IssaquahPress
Issaquah’s only locally owned newspaper
www.issaquahpress.com
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Car tab fees, sales taxes could help pay for roadwork
By Tom Corrigan tcorrigan@isspress.com
Funding was a big part of the discussion as the Issaquah City Council took up the roughly $304 million development impact plan proposed by the administration. While developers would cover some of the cost by way of increased impact fees, the city could be on the hook for approximately $191 million. City consultant Randy Young said there are five means by which Issaquah
Mad Scrapper loses lease
could raise the needed dollars: 4a local $50 car tab fee, 4business license fees based on the number of employees, 4a voter-approved road levy, 4bond sales paid for through increased local property taxes, 4a local sales tax of one-tenth of 1 percent. The proposals would raise approximately $206 million. While that is more than what the city needs to cover the proposal, Young said there are other projects and other needs not dealt
with in that proposal. Most of the steps would require voter approval. A local car tab fee and a local sales tax also would require creation by the council of a transportation benefit district. Once that district is in place, that city could impose up to a $20 car tab fee without going to the ballot. But Young suggested the city go before voters in order to collect the maximum $50 fee. Overall, he described the means to raise the needed revenue as “painful.”
“If they were easy, you would have already done them,” Young told the council. Meant to deal with the state’s requirement that cities mitigate impact caused by development, the concurrency plan addresses traffic, recreation, and bike and pedestrian problems created by development envisioned to arrive in Issaquah over the next 15 years. Council members took no action on any of the proposals and reactions among them were mixed. No one came out completely for
or against any of the possible revenue streams. Councilwoman Stacy Goodman said the city would be digging itself into a deeper and deeper hole if officials do nothing. “We have done so little for so long,” she said. In figuring how much the city’s portion of the plan council members might need to raise, Young figured $86 million in grants, $8 million in real estate excise taxes See FEES/TAXES, Page 2
SANTA BRINGS HIS REINDEER TO THE ZOO
By Tom Corrigan tcorrigan@isspress.com After almost 17 years in the same location, the Mad Scrapper in the Meadows Shopping Center on Gilman Boulevard is closing its doors Dec. 21. “It’s very sad,” owner and operator Carolyn Elderkin said. Along with Emerald Smoothies, the Mad Scrapper has lost its lease on the space it occupies in the Meadows, a plaza anchored by a QFC grocery store. Sitting at 1590 Gilman, the storefronts occupied by the Mad Scrapper and Emerald Smoothies will be taken over by an expanded Mud Bay pet store. Mud Bay operates in about half the building. The only other existing business staying put is the Baskin-Robbins location in the corner of the building. Mud Bay’s corporate offices did not respond to a request for comment. As the name indicates, Mad Scrapper is dedicated to the craft of scrapbooking, its shelves filled with paper and scrapbook decorations. Elderkin said she has not decided if she will reopen Mad Scrapper elsewhere. Issaquah commercial lease prices have risen and are getting more expensive, she said. “If I miss it terribly, we’ll see,” she said. At least one customer hopes Elderkin reopens. A woman shopping in the store said she just cannot buy what she needs at the big craft chain stores. While the future of Mad Scrapper is up in the air, Emerald Smoothies will move to another spot in the Meadows, near the Enterprise car rental. Owner Randy Holsvin said he expects to be open in his new location in mid-January. He said he has been in the Meadows plaza for 10 years. To the east of what will be the expanded Mud Bay store, several Meadows storefronts sit vacant. Rob Knowles, a broker for JSH Properties, which operates the Meadows, said he is negotiating with potential businesses for the spots but was not yet in a position to make any announcements. Meanwhile back at the Mad Scrapper, Elderkin said she has no hard feelings against JSH Properties. She understands they had a national client ready to sign a lease and doesn’t blame them for moving ahead. Elderkin said she could have stayed open for a few more weeks. “It’s painful coming in here every day now,” she said.
Photos By Greg Farrar
Above, Santa gives a candy cane to Hayden Scharmer, 2, of Kent, at his Cougar Mountain Zoo cottage Dec. 13 during the annual Reindeer Festival. Hayden was a little too shy to pose with brother Dylan, 6, according to her parents Eric (right) and Kristi, but St. Nick won her over after the picture session. At left, Dancer the reindeer looks through the barn window of Santa’s House looking for apple pieces from Kylia Phillips, 7, of Sammamish.
SLIDESHOW See more photos from Cougar Mountain Zoo’s Reindeer Festival at www.issaquahpress.com.
Merry Christmas Issaquah helps new resident get on her feet By Christina Corrales-Toy newcastle@isspress.com Shannon Winkler has called Issaquah home for only a few weeks, but already, she knows it’s a special place. It’s a place filled with people and nonprofit organizations that take care of their own through good times and bad. And when the bad arrives, Winkler knows all too well how local organizations such as Issaquah Community Services mobilize. “It’s just been a struggle,” the single mom said, “so it was really nice to move to a city where people are so nice, kind, caring,
RIGHTSIZING 101: TIPS & TECHNIQUES FOR SUCCESSFUL DOWNSIZING
MERRY CHRISTMAS ISSAQUAH
2014 FUND DRIVE generous and so willing to help a stranger.” Winkler needed help to pay for rent as she made the move to Issaquah. Housing became available sooner than she thought, though, so she had to
scramble to come up with the money. “My name came up on the housing list pretty quickly and I had to hurry up and move in order to get the place where I’m at,” she said. On top of that, Winkler has severe health problems, making it difficult for her to work. That’s where Issaquah Community Services came in, helping Winkler and her family with the first few months rent. “I actually started crying when they said they could help,” she said. “It means a lot to know See CHRISTMAS, Page 3
Survey seeks opinions about city issues By Tom Corrigan tcorrigan@isspress.com The city of Issaquah administration wants to know how you feel about the city you call home. Beginning early this month and continuing until Jan. 10, the National Research Center, a private Colorado firm contracted to determine local opinions about Issaquah in general, has been contacting residents with a variety of questions. This is the first municipal survey in a few years, Mayor See SURVEY, Page 2
Retirement Living Seminar Tuesday, December 16 at 10:30 am University House Issaquah 22975 SE Black Nugget Rd, Issaquah, WA 98029 RSVP at (425) 200-0331.
eraliving.com 75 cents