Those in favor of Sammamish’s Proposition 1 — the non-binding advisory vote regarding citizen interest in the development of a $30 million Community and Aquatic Center — appear to be on their way to victory.
After Wednesday’s count, 53.18 percent of voters (11,716) were in favor, to 46.82 percent (10,314).
“I’m very pleased that the majority of Sammamish voters have backed the new community center, and the numbers are getting better every day,” said Hank Klein, Sammamish Parks Commissioner and co-author of the voter’s guide ‘pro’ statement. “More than 11,000 voters have said they want the city to move forward on this project. I anticipate that it will be wildly successful.”
The margin, which was only separated by 292 votes in favor after initial Election Night results, Nov. 6, has increased to a 1,402-vote difference.
Final counts won’t be verified until Nov. 27, but with 84 percent of Sammamish voters accounted for, it’s unlikely there will be a large shift to the ‘no’ side.
The proposed 60,000-square-foot Community Center, which would be operated by the YMCA, would include a leisure pool, lap pool, family spa, full size gymnasium, small gymnasium, a two-lane walk/jog track among several other attributes.
The city would provide the already-owned site near City Hall and $25 million in construction funding — $14 million of which will come from the Parks Capital Fund. The YMCA would contribute $5 million towards the construction of the facility and an additional $1 million for equipment and furnishings.
Sammamish Mayor Tom Odell said last week that operation and construction agreements for the Community Center weren’t yet completed, meaning it could take some time before the council’s final decision. He said a vote would most likely take place at the end of January.
Odell also noted that he doesn’t believe there’s a definitive number of pro votes that need to be reached for the council to give the Community Center the go-ahead.
“I think if it ends up being one vote positive, people want the Community Center, if it’s one vote against, we’ll seriously have to evaluate things,” he said.
Klein said he looks forward to the possibilities. “I think that the new community center will be a tremendous asset for the city of Sammamish,” he said. “It will be a gathering place that will meet the individual and collective needs of everyone in the community — from toddlers to seniors.”
