Sahalee Way feasibility study approved by Sammamish City Council

City_of_SammamishJan. 14, 2016: The Sammamish City Council approved going forward with a geo-technical feasibility study for the controversial Sahalee Way road project.

The vote was 5-2, with Deputy Mayor Ramiro Valderrama and new Council Member Christie Malchow voting no.

Valderrama said he was in favor of the study but wanted to get a formal presentation from staff on public input from a November open house first. Malchow said she has yet to be convinced the project will actually solve a problem and improve traffic flow rather than only “checking the box” for concurrency.

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Retreat Preview: 36 of 54 Public Works variances granted in last two years

Staff work plans, the Town Center Development, neighborhood connectivity (barricades), the futureCity_of_Sammamish financial cross-over point (going into deficits), and updates of the East Lake Sammamish Trail, what to do with the Mars Hill Church and connecting Big Rock Park with the Lower Sammamish Commons are among the topics that will be discussed at the Sammamish City Council Retreat beginning at 5pm Thursday at the Murano Hotel in Tacoma.

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Retreat Preview: More Town Center project applications expected this year

Note: Tonight at the Sammamish City Council meeting, the awarding of a contract for design of the Sahalee Way road project will be discussed. This was on the agenda last week, but the Council meeting ran to after midnight and the topic was put over to tonight.

Two more development applications for the Town Center are expected to be filed this year, bringing toCity_of_Sammamish five private projects plus the Community Center, according to the briefing packet for the Sammamish City Council Retreat. The retreat begins at 5pm Thursday at the Murano Hotel in Tacoma and contiues to noon Saturday.

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Retreat Preview: Financial crossover point estimated 2020-21; new taxes possible

Sammamish finances are trending toward a 2020-21 “crossover” point when expenses will outpaceCity_of_Sammamish revenues, according to an estimate by the City Staff prepared for the City Council Retreat. (See document page 195 of the City Council briefing packet.)

The Retreat begins at 5pm Thursday and continues through noon Saturday at the Murano Hotel in Tacoma.

This means that based on current data and estimates, Sammamish taxpayers could be looking at new taxes in the form of an increase in property taxes or implementation of a utility or business and occupation (B&O) tax.

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Sammamish City Council Retreat agenda now available

The agenda for the Sammamish City Council Retreat Jan. 14-16 is now available here.

The Retreat begins at 5pm Thursday, the 14th, and continues to noon Saturday, the 16th. It’s at the Murano Hotel in Tacoma, not especially close to Sammamish but not over the Snolqualmie Pass, either. Officials did look into closer locations but these had already been booked. Previous Retreats were held at the Suncadia Lodge in Roslyn.

Sammamish Comment will attend. Look for posts each day.