It’s Thursday, and Day 3 of election returns for the unexpectedly tight results of the proposed annexation of the Klahanie area to Issaquah. The results today:
| For Annexation: 1,471 | 49.51 |
| Against Annexation: 1,500 | 50.49 |
Voting results on the day after the Klahanie annexation election showed a tightening from the six vote margin on election night in favor of annexation to just one vote.
The day two results:
1,365 for annexation
1,364 against annexation.
The Issaquah Reporter has the reaction of Issaquah Mayor Fred Butler, who says the city faces a policy decision whether to annex Klahanie without having the area assume a portion of the city’s debt, should annexation pass. His comments affirm our report from last night that this election isn’t over yet.
A recount is almost certain.
A last minute breakthrough in funding arrangement for the Eastside Fire and Rescue changed the recommendation from Ben Yacizi, city manager of Sammamish, from “get out” to “stay in.”
But Issaquah has to sign off on the funding agreement, as do other members of EF&R, and it ratified by January 17 or Sammamish could still bolt.
The Sammamish Review has an extensive write-up.
Sammamish City Manager Ben Yacizi is supposed to give his recommendation whether to leave the Eastside Fire and Rescue consortium tonight at the city council meeting. He is expected to endorse forming Sammamish’s own fire department.
But there is a new twist.
The Eastside Professional Fire Fighters last week offered to pay up to $10,000 for a professional mediator for Sammamish and Issaquah to resolve differences over the funding and other issues. Although EF&R is made up of five entities, Issaquah is the leader in opposing a funding change that Sammamish wants, in order to save our taxpayers $440,000 a year.
I’ve learned that EPFF has received some positive response from Issaquah to the prospect of a mediator, which was my suggestion to Sammamish at its council meeting last week, and which EPFF acted upon.
There is also some movement on the part of EF&R members to adjust the funding formula, which could render moot the need for a mediator or for Sammamish to leave EF&R.
What impact these developments will have on Yacizi’s recommendation remains to be seen. The City Council plans to make a decision November 12.
The fire issue is the last damn thing on the agenda tonight.
The Council meeting begins at 6:30pm and is televised on Comcast Channel 21. It is streamed live on the city website as well.
Issaquah issued this statement on Tuesday saying it wants Sammamish to stay in EF&R.
The Eastside Firefighters association made an offer today to Issaquah and Sammamish to pay for a professional mediator to resolve the differences between the two cities over the entire Eastside Fire & Rescue dispute.
I suggested use of a mediator or arbitration when I appeared before the Sammamish City Council Tuesday.
The association’s letter to the Councils is here.
Meantime, Sammamish told Save Our Fire Department that its signs erected along streets in the city are illegal and need to be taken down or moved to private locations. Sammamish claims they don’t qualify as political signs under the city’s sign ordinance. Save Our Fire Department takes the position that the signs are political and qualify for their public right of way locations. I agree with the Save Our Fire Department group on this one.
Sammamish Comment 
