Tag Archives: Sammamish

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.

Sammamish Review to cease operations Feb. 24

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The Sammamish Review and three sister publications ceases operations Feb. 24.

The Sammamish Review will cease operations Feb. 24.

So will the Issaquah Press, SnoValley Star (Snoqualmie) and the Newcastle News. All are part of the Issaquah Press Group, which in turn is owned by The Seattle Times.

The Group made the announcement today.

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Fiscal irresponsibility at Sammamish City Hall

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Commentary

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Mayor Don Gerend

As the Sammamish City Council heads into its retreat tomorrow evening, there is one topic that will get short shrift: the City’s finances.

In Monday’s Sammamish Comment post, I outlined the City’s own 2017-2018 budget that has a 73% decline in its cash balance from the end of 2016 to the end 0f 2018.

The budget has a 30-minute allocation on the retreat agenda. It’s not enough, and the City Council has been ducking the budget ramifications for the last two years.

The City faces being out of cash in 2019 at the current spend rate. (See Operations vs Capital Funds, below.) Action needs to be taken this year. It’s been put off yet again.

There is simply no other way to put it: the City Council and Administration have been irresponsible to not face up to the coming budget realities sooner.

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A big win for citizens, transparency: Sammamish to live stream its retreat

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  • Update: Here’s the City’s email announcement:

Although there may be some technical obstacles to overcome, the city is planning to livestream the City Council retreat this weekend. If everything works, residents will be able to watch the proceedings from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 20, and from 7:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 21.

To watch the livestream, go to www.sammamish.us, click on the “news and events” tab, and then select “TV 21.” The retreat is being held at the Murano Hotel, 1320 Broadway Plaza, in Tacoma.

Sammamish will live stream its retreat in Tacoma this weekend.

Details have yet to be announced, including hours and days. The link will be https://www.sammamish.us, click on the “news and events” tab, and then select “TV 21.”

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Christie Malchow

The retreat begins Thursday night at 6pm with a Council dinner–it’s unclear if this informal session will be part of the live streaming, although Council business will inevitably be discussed.

The meat of the retreat is all day Friday and Saturday morning.

“I think this is a huge win,” said Council Member Christie Malchow, who proposed live streaming.

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