With a 4-3 vote, the Sammamish City Council narrowly approved adoption of design guidance for the Southeast 4th Street improvement project from 218th Avenue Southeast to 228th Avenue Southeast at its July 19 meeting.

The project would see expanded roadway to include sidewalks, planting strips, bike lanes, two driving lanes and a center median planter bed. Several roundabouts would link the roadway’s intersections.

Deputy Mayor Ramiro Valderrama and Councilmembers Tom Hornish and Christie Malchow served as the dissenting votes, citing concerns with the city’s communication process.

A particular point of concern was the city’s use of different newspapers to notify residents about the project’s public meetings.

In January, a notice was published in the Reporter for the project’s first open house. A notice for another open house was published in the Sammamish Review in June.

“We’ve kind of used a hodgepodge with this project in particular, which I fear has made it somewhat challenging for some of our citizens to know when to be at an open house to make a public comment,” Malchow said.

The city did send press releases to both newspapers before both meetings and also posted about both meetings on the city’s website, according to Sammamish communications manager Tim Larson.

Mayor Don Gerend said he wasn’t sure holding more meetings would make any difference.

“The citizens have had opportunities, all of those transportation committee meetings were announced,” Gerend said. “The whole design has been open for discussion at council meetings. We’ve listened to input.”

Earlier in the meeting, the council also unanimously adopted an emergency ordinance updating Sammamish city code amendments. The amendments include requiring developers of future projects to alert neighboring property owners, via mail, within 1,000 feet of their project site.

Development applicants must also hold a city-approved neighborhood meeting within city limits. The city may deny permits if the applicant “is unable to present satisfactory proof of ownership” of the property.

This story was updated to include that the city sent out press releases and online posts before both the January and June meetings.