Tag Archives: Klahanie annexation

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.

Why Issaquah can’t be trusted, Part 2: Klahanie annexation

Posted on by
2

The opinions expressed are my own.

Why Issaquah can’t be trusted, Part 1: Mayor admits to cybersquatting.

After summer doldrums, events are picking up with the prospective annexation of Klahanie into Issaquah.

While this is known as the Klahanie Potential Annexation Area (PAA), in reality there are several adjacent neighborhoods to Klahanie that are also subject to the February vote the Issaquah City Council has set. The Issaquah Reporter has a very good story outlining the issues facing Klahanie voters. The map below is from this story and shows the adjacent neighborhoods.

But there are other issues voters need to consider, and top of the list is whether Issaquah, its city council and city administration are the best choices to become their new leaders. And this is quite questionable.

Map Source: Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter, Sept. 12, 2013.

Continue reading →

Why Klahanie annexation, water fight matter to Sammamish

Posted on by
Reply

This is the “Sammamish Comment.” So why am I spending so much time on a water fight between Issaquah and the Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District and the proposed annexation by Issaquah of Klahanie?

Because of the impacts on Sammamish, which could be profound.

The water fight and the annexation are the crescendo of long-running disputes between Sammamish and Issaquah, in which Issaquah has basically stiff-armed Sammamish at nearly every turn–most notably years-long efforts to adjust the financial contributions of the many partners in the Eastside Fire and Rescue (EFR) service.

Sammamish, by assessed value of the homes and land, pays the largest share into EFR. But Issaquah generates more calls. By Sammamish’s analysis, Issaquah should be paying about $500,000 a year more than it is based on the actual calls.

Issaquah refuses to adjust. Relations between Sammamish and Issaquah have reached a breaking point. Sammamish will decide soon whether to withdraw from EFR and form its own fire department or possibly even an alliance with Redmond.

Sammamish might close “Klahanie” fire station

Sammamish has warned that if Klahanie annexes to Issaquah, Station 83, more commonly known as the Klahanie fire station–which is owned by Sammamish and located at SE 32nd and Issaquah-Pine Lake Road–may be closed. Issaquah, according to our information from Sammamish, has already told our leaders it won’t buy the station.

This didn’t stop the Issaquah police chief from telling Klahanie residents that he could co-locate a police sub-station at the Klahanie fire station, a comment that came as a surprise to Sammamish officials.

Issaquah’s arrogance over EFR matters–and the continued unfair financial burden Sammamish taxpayers have because of Issaquah–is an issue unto itself but it’s also tied to the Klahanie annexation.

Continue reading →