Category Archives: Regional

Issaquah Reporter slams City’s cybersquatting–but not one word of condemnation from elected officials

Posted on by
1

The Issaquah Reporter, in an editorial, joined the Issaquah Press and Sammamish Review in slamming the City of Issaquah for cybersquatting the website of the Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District.

But there still has not been one word of condemnation from the elected officials of the City of Issaquah. Instead, Mayor Ava Frisinger and City Administrator Bob Harrison defended the action.

In the only contested race in the city elections this year, Councilmen Fred Butler and Joe Forkner dodged. Both said they had no concurrent or advance knowledge of the cybersquatting. Butler expressed frustration at the volume of emails received from people concerned about Issaquah’s plans to inject water into the Lower Reid Infiltration Galley, uphill from an aquifer supplying drinking water to 40%-50% of the Water District, but he didn’t make any statement concerning the city’s action. Forkner declined comment, according to the Sammamish Review.

None of the other council members has made any public statement that we are aware of.

The namby-pambyism of Butler, Forkner and the city council–especially in the face of universal condemnation–is incredulous. Frisinger’s and Harrison’s defense of the action is downright appalling.

No wonder the City of Sammamish has trouble dealing with Issaquah.

No wonder Issaquah can’t be trusted, on a variety of issues, including annexation of Klahanie.

As the newspapers said, Issaquah is lacking ethics and good government.

Issaquah Press slams city for cybersquatting, calls city government unethical

Posted on by
1

The Issaquah Press has slammed the City of Issaquah for its cybersquatting of the Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District’s websites, calling the city government unethical and engaging in “trickery” at taxpayer expense.

The editorial called the practice “wrong at all levels.” It called for the city administration and employees involved to be held accountable. But Mayor Ava Frisinger previously declined to denounce the practice, nor has any member of the city council, including Fred Butler, candidate for mayor to success the retiring Frisinger.

City Administrator Bob Harrison defended the cybersquatting.

The sister publication of the Issaquah Press, the Sammamish Review, published the same editorial.

 

Why Issaquah can’t be trusted, Part 3: City reneged on signed MOU transferring Klahanie PAA to Sammamish

Posted on by
2

I’ve previously written Part 1 and Part 2 about why Issaquah can’t be trusted. Here’s another reason, Part 3: Issaquah reneged on a May 2002 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Sammamish that would have transferred the Klahanie Potential Annexation Area to Sammamish from Issaquah.

Mayor Ava Frisinger signed the MOU on May 6, 2002, attested to by Marcia Conon, the city clerk, and “Approved as to Form” by Wayne Tanaka, the city attorney.

Four months later, in September, Issaquah reneged.

This timeline is outlined in a submission by Sammamish to the Boundary Review Board, which is holding a public meeting tonight on Issaquah’s request to authorize an annexation vote in February.

************************************************************

The Boundary Review Board holds its public hearing Wednesday, September 18, 2013, at 7pm at the Holiday Inn in Issaquah.

************************************************************

Here is a download of the MOU: Klahanie MOU

The MOU’s reasons are clearly stated: with Sammamish, then a newly incorporated city, having better proximity and more contiguous boarders, among other reasons, Frisinger and Sammamish City Manager Ben Yacizi, who signed the MOU for Sammamish, agreed that Klahanie should go to Sammamish.

Sammamish City opposes Issaquah’s annexation of Klahanie in letter to Boundary Review Board; hearing tonight

Posted on by
Reply

The City of Sammamish  opposed the annexation of Klahanie by Issaquah in a formal letter to the Boundary Review Board.

The BRB is holding a formal public hearing tonight (Sept. 18) at 7pm at the Issaquah Holiday Inn.

The full letter is here and speaks for itself: BRB Letter – Klahanie Annexation 9-4-2013

Ask not what Issaquah can do for Klahanie, ask what Issaquah can do to Klahanie: annexation considerations

Posted on by
2

The opinions expressed here are my own.

Issaquah wants Klahanie to annex to the city. A July 9, 2013, memo from the City Administrator, Bob Harrison, to the City Council tells why, and it is all about the benefit to the City it will get from Klahanie. But what are the benefits Klahanie will get from annexing to Issaquah?

That’s a good question.

  • Klahanie residents will be subject to a utility tax.
  • Police service may or may not be improved over that provided to King County. When the police chief was asked at the first public meeting if this would be the case, he equivocated.
  • The so-called Klahanie fire station may close. It’s owned by Sammamish and the station answers more calls to Issaquah than to Sammamish, so Sammamish is thinking about relocating it to better serve its residents.
  • Klahanie gets to assume part of Issaquah’s existing debt.
  • Klahanie will give the city more debt-borrowing capacity, and any new debt will be assumed by Klahanie on a pro rata basis.

Do you have doubts? Read Harrison’s letter for yourself. It’s public record. I’ve reproduced it below. Click image to enlarge.

IssKlahanie Pg1

IssKlah Page 2

The Boundary Review Board holds its public hearing Wednesday, September 18, 2013, at 7pm at the Holiday Inn in Issaquah.