The Sammamish City Council on Tuesday held a first reading of ordinances to place a $19 million bond measure and accompanying operations levy on the fall ballot. The second reading and decision about whether to send the two propositions to a vote will happen at the council’s next meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the council chambers at City Hall.
The total bond amount for projects would be $18 million; the remaining $1 million will cover bond fees and associated costs. The bond would cost about 14 cents per $1,000 assessed value, or an estimated $84 per year for a $600,000 home. It would be paid off over 20 years and then end.
The levy would collect $310,000 per year. It would cost just less than 4 cents per $1,000 assessed value, or an estimated $24 per year for a $600,000 home. The levy is meant to fund ongoing operating costs for the new parks and facilities, and would continue on after the 20-year bond is paid off.
The bond proposal includes:
• $5 million to purchase the existing King County library building, in order to partner with the Boys & Girls Club on a youth and teen facility. Other programming for preschoolers and seniors would be provided in non-club hours.
• $3 million for Sammamish Landing phase I development. This waterfront park will provide the only city-owned waterfront park on Lake Sammamish. Improvements may include picnic areas, canoe pullouts, habitat restoration, docks, swimming areas and limited parking.
• $1.8 million for East Sammamish Park phase I improvements, including a new spray park, playground upgrades, a new trail to Margaret Mead Elementary School, frontage improvements and a parking lot expansion.
• $2.5 million for Pine Lake Middle School athletic fields, in a partnership with the Issaquah School District. This would convert an existing natural grass field to artificial turf with lights and room for one soccer or lacrosse field, or two overlaid softball or Little League fields.
• $1.7 million for the Beaver Lake Vicinity Trail, a path connecting Beaver Lake Park to Beaver Lake Preserve along West Beaver Lake Drive.
• $4 million for land acquisition, for property in the northeast quadrant of the city, which is not currently served by a community park. Staff members are looking at three potential sites.
