Kudos to Issaquah Council Member Mark Mullet for having the courage of his convictions – OK, call it guts – to suggest the city take over Lake Sammamish State Park.

It’s not that it’s a bad idea; it’s just that we’re still struggling with the end (we hope) of a recession. Nonetheless that idea, and more generated at the council’s recent retreat, should give residents plenty to talk about in the coming months.

“For me it’s the most transformative thing that the city of Issaquah could do over the next 10 years,” Mullet told Reporter staff writer Celeste Gracey.

He’s absolutely right.

The park, for all of its sometime summertime popularity, is a drag on Issaquah now and for what it can become. In city hands, the park could blend with what officials envision for the area.

There are plenty of other ideas worth considering, too.

The council’s top goal for 2012 is to look at the need for additional parking as part of its Olde Town study. As much as parking spaces exist here and there, having more in one or more convenient places would be a plus.

Also good is putting economic vitality up there at No. 2. Yes, Issaquah has considerable retail offerings along I-90, but attention is needed for its historic downtown to keep it viable and not just a quaint afterthought.

We also like the idea to bring Health Point and Dental Point services to Issaquah immediately. We know some in the public health arena don’t want to jeopardize the possibility of forming a social services campus similar to what is available in Redmond, but the poor can’t always wait for the best possible solution when there’s a good one handy. Some innovative work by the city and building owners might produce a solution that lets one flow into the other.

Renovating the Julius Boehm Pool is also a worthy – if expensive – task. Issaquah isn’t alone in trying to find a financial answer to an aging Forward Thrust pool. The solution likely is asking taxpayers to step up to the plate.

All of this and four council seats on the fall election ballot should be plenty to keep residents engaged.