The City of Issaquah was busy during 2008. Here are some important issues that came up during the year, some of which will continue into 2009:
Issaquah opens transit center
An Aug. 6 dedication ceremony officially marked the opening of the Issaquah Transit Center, an 819-stall, multi-story parking garage.
Three Sound Transit routes and seven Metro routes serve the $29.8 million center.
The project began in June 2006, and weathered a set of hardships; poor winter weather and a concrete worker strike delayed the project.
“At a time of high gas prices and increased ridership, it’s a real benefit to Issaquah, and a great space for the community,” Sound Transit Spokeswoman Linda Robson said at the time of the opening.
City approves protection plan
The City Council unanimously approved a tree preservation program Dec. 15 that would monitor the amount of trees removed from new developments and those on existing developments.
Generally, if the number of trees on a 5,000 square foot lot drops below two, tree replacement is required.
The ordinance also establishes community education programs on the value and care of trees, proper removal of trees, and requires yearly monitoring reports.
Councilman Fred Butler referred to the plan as something that was “a long time coming… that accomplishes a number of important goals for the city.”
Citizens OK new fire station
Issaquah residents voted in the Nov. 4 election to approve a $4.5 million bond that will help pay for a LEED-certified, three-bay fire station for firefighters at Station 72. This will replace the temporary station they have been operating out of for the past eight years.
The new station, which is currently in the pre-construction planning phase, will house nine crew members and include a decontamination area, protective clothing storage for fire gear and community areas.
The new station is slated to be built as part of the Issaquah Transit Center.
“It’s very gratifying to see this pass,” Eastside Fire & Rescue Chief Lee Soptich said. “There were a lot of moving parts to this, and a phenomenal group of citizens got behind it and poured their hearts into this.”
Talks begin about Park Pointe
The city’s Major Development Ad Hoc Committee met frequently with the Parks Department, Planning Commission, Port Blakely officials and others to discuss a proposed land swap that would protect the Tiger Mountain Forest area while opening land for development in the highlands.
Under the proposed land swap, Port Blakely communities would purchase the Park Pointe area on Tiger Mountain — about 140 acres — and deed it to the city, which would preserve it as permanent open space and park land. In exchange, Port Blakely would be allowed to develop about 36 acres in the Issaquah Highlands as a mixed-use space.
Some of the details of the development and land preservation include: hiking and mountain biking trails, improvement of Central Park amenities, development of a human services campus, a new theater, and construction of 50 units of affordable housing, among other things.
The city had expected to reach a deal by the end of 2008, but decided to delay the project to allow for more time to work out the details. Meetings and discussion will continue into 2009.
Green building takes hold
A groundbreaking ceremony for the zHome project took place Sept. 29 in the Issaquah Highlands.
zHome, originally the Zero Net Energy Project, is a complex of 10 townhouses designed to use zero net energy – meaning the homes will create as much energy as they use, through energy-efficient construction practices and solar panels.
The homes are intended to be carbon neutral, will make use of nontoxic materials, groundwater heat pumps and use 60 percent less water than the average home through rainwater collection.
Issaquah launches emergency radio station
The city’s radio station, 1700 AM, was officially up and running in early September. It’s geared toward providing residents information during emergencies, and is particularly helpful during blackouts, said Issaquah Public Information Officer Autumn Monahan.
The station also carries all hazard alerts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as well as for Amber Alerts.
Signs with solar-powered flashing lights have been set up at the intersection of Front Street and Northwest Gilman Boulevard, and the intersection of East Lake Sammamish Parkway Southeast and 229th Avenue Southeast to notify citizens when urgent messages are playing on 1700 AM.
“The more options we have for effectively communicating with our citizens during emergencies, the better,” Issaquah Mayor Ava Frisinger said in a press release.
Issaquah Mayor Ava Frisinger lauded city employees and citizens for their dedication to making Issaquah a great place to live, and said that she was excited for the coming year.
“Thanks to our citizens, our city planners and engineers, and just all the folks here, we continue to be a community that sustains its natural environment, its business and its people. We are a community that cares a great deal about people,” she said. “I’m expecting (2009) to be a great year, again because of all the people who are committed. There’s a lot of creativity in this city that will help us advance in times that are tough.”
