Category Archives: City Politics

Sammamish to hold finance retreat, town hall for likelihood of new taxes

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Sammamish Retreat 2017

A special retreat on Sammamish will be scheduled in July focusing on city finances, the looming operating deficit in 2020 and how to fund road and stormwater projects. New taxes and new debt will be key points at the retreat.

Council Member Tom Odell essentially floated the idea of a 2% utility tax, which would raise $2m, by asking how much this amount would support in new bonds. This will be one of the points to be discussed at a finance retreat.

Member Ramiro Valderrama asked that franchise fees on the two water districts serving Sammamish and potentially contracting out stormwater management (presumably to the water districts) be included.

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Council is the root cause of marathon public comment

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Sammamish Retreat 2017

The Sammamish City Council yesterday created an ad hoc committee to come up with ideas to reduce the number of marathon public comment sessions.

However, in the discussion, not one Council Member or staff put their finger on the root problem. It is the Sammamish City Council’s own fault.

The following is my public comment given this morning on the topic.–Scott Hamilton.

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Sammamish Council struggles with public comment

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Sammamish Retreat 2017

The Sammamish City Council Friday split over how much public comment is allowed at regular meetings and study sessions.

It’s a balance between giving the public as much latitude as possible while managing the Council’s time. Recent Council meetings had public comment sessions that have gone two hours or more. The resulted in Council meetings going past midnight vs a 10pm target.

Public comment sessions are limited today to three minutes for an individual and five minutes for a recognized group.

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Retirements change Sammamish Council election dynamics

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Don Gerend

The decisions by Mayor Don Gerend and Deputy Mayor Bob Keller to retire at the end of their present terms represents a dramatic shift in the political landscape in Sammamish.

Gerend will finish his 18th year in office when the current term ends Dec. 31. He was one of the original Council members when the City was incorporated in 1999.

Keller is finishing his first term. His wife, Shannon, retired from her job and Keller wants to join her in retirement. Keller served on the Planning Advisory Board, which wrote the City’s first Comprehensive Plan, and the Planning Commission, which among other things wrote the Town Center Plan.

Both distinguished themselves with their public service.

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Gerend, Keller won’t run for reelection

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In a dying gasp, The Sammamish Review reported that Mayor Don Gerend and Deputy Mayor Bob Keller won’t run for reelection.

The story is here.

They announced the same day The Review’s parent company said it will cease operations Feb. 24.