Summer 2022

SUMMER 2022 | FREE

3 Directory

Inside This Issue

ECRWSS POSTAL PATRON

5-7 Feature: IHCA Report 8-11 Special: Graduates

20-21 Homeowners Association

22-23 Highlands Youth 24 Community Meeting

13 Volunteers of the Month

27 Community Groups

14 Highlands Council

28 On the Blog

15 Special Programming

29 Fiber Network

17 What's Happening

30 City News

18-19 Community Survey Results

2550 NE Park Drive Issaquah, WA 98029

PERMIT NO. 83 ISSAQUAH, WA U.S. POSTAGE PAID PRSRT STD

2

CONNECTIONS



SUMMER 2022

ISSAQUAHHIGHLANDS.COM

Editor's Note

3

This issue of Connections was truly a team effort. We are between Media Editors, so the entire Highlands Council team contributed to this issue packed with information and fun!

It features the IHCA Annual Report, full of the good work our Homeowner’s Association has accomplished over the past year.

Flip the pages to join us in congratulating our community’s 2022 college and high school graduates – we see bright futures ahead for you and hope you’ll always call Issaquah Highlands “home.”

In addition, this issue introduces the new members of the Highlands Youth Advisory Board, our pickleball group, added services from HFN and a climate change challenge from the City of Issaquah.

We’re also excited to share the results of this year’s community survey, which will guide us in planning for the year ahead.

We look forward to seeing you at events in our community throughout the summer!

Carol, Jim, Katie, Lindsey & Michele Carol, Jim, Katie, Lindsey & Michele Highlands Council Team

A Neighborly View Resident Photographer David Addison

Issaquah Highlands Neighborhood Westridge

Highlands Council is the publisher of Connections, producer of community-wide events such as Highlands Day, owner and manager of Blakely Hall, and liason with the greater community. The mission of Highlands Council, and therefore Connections, is "to foster the development of a vibrant and caring comunity committed to service, diversity and well-being."

About the Photo David regularly walks his kitty, Tab, along the Linear Park Trail and says, "The coyote is out there most days and he/ she looks puzzled by my cat on a lead!"

Learn about coexisting with wildlife in the community when you go on our Carnivores Adventure, created with the Woodland Park Zoo. For details on playing,

visit issaquahhighlands.com/carnivores-adventure.

Fun and knowledge await. Check it out!

Share your "Neighborly View" with Issaquah Highlands media!

Email your high-resolution photograph taken in Issaquah Highlands and first and last name to Katie Cannon at katie.c@ihcouncil.org.

Highlands Council may share your photo in print Connections or on official Issaquah Highlands digital media channels.

Printed in Canada

Community Management Directory More information available at issaquahhighlands.com

Issaquah Highlands Community Association

Our Dedicated Homeowners Association Executive Director: Sarah Hoey 2520 NE Park Drive, Suite B Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

425-427-9257 | 425-223-8887 (After Hours Only) asktheihca@ihcommunity.org payments@ihcommunity.org

Highlands Council

Highlands Fiber Network

Community-Owned Fiber to the Home General Manager: Jeremy Fallt 2550 NE Park Drive (inside Blakely Hall) Customer Service: 425-427-0999 support@hfnservices.com General Inquiries: 425-394-4184 jfallt@hfn.org highlandsfibernetwork.com

Issaquah Highlands Community Fund

A Community-Building Organization Acting Executive Director: Lindsey Pinkston

A Philanthropic Community Organization

2550 NE Park Drive (inside Blakely Hall) 425-507-1107 info@ihcouncil.org

425-507-1107 president@ihcommunityfund.org issaquahhighlandscommunityfund.org

Have questions or concerns? Visit issaquahhighlands.com/contact-us or contact the appropriate community organization directly.

Get weekly Issaquah Highlands updates to your inbox!

Text IHNEWS to 22828 to signup.

Get social with us!



By Community, For Community Connections is a nationally-recognized community publication produced mostly by Issaquah Highlands residents, including volunteer contributors, edited and published by Highlands Council. Connections helps Highlands Council fulfill its mission to develop a vibrant and caring community committed to service, diversity, stewardship, and well-being.

JOIN THE CONNECTIONS TEAM Interested in volunteering your skills or pitching a story? Contact Lindsey Pinkston, Highlands Council program manager, at lindsey.p@ihcouncil.org.

ADVERTISE IN CONNECTIONS Print ad sizes in every price range; digital advertising opportunities are also available.

Contact Highlands Council at info@ihcouncil.org.

SUBMIT A FREE ANNOUNCEMENT For Issaquah Highlands residents only.

See submission form and guidelines at issaquahhighlands.com/news/connections/ announcements.

MORE INFORMATION issquahhighlands.com/news/connections Opinions expressed by editorial or paid content do not necessarily reflect the views of Highlands Council.

Highlands Council may refuse content that does not meet quality standards or reflect the organization's mission.

4

CONNECTIONS



SUMMER 2022

ISSAQUAHHIGHLANDS.COM

A Letter from the Board of Directors

A Note from the IHCA Executive Director I’m excited about the future and what it means to all of us. The pandemic made us look at everything differently, and coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic has put a lot of stress on everyone.

Our message this year revolves around the word commitment. We chose this word to express how the Issaquah Highlands Comunity Association (IHCA) Board

Whether you are traveling for the first time in a long time, graduating from school, staring a new job, or simply being the best you can be today, the Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA) is here for you.

and staff approach the fiscal and property management for the entire community.

ROSSIE CRUZ The culture of the board and the staff are President, IHCA Board of Directors strengthened by our joint commitment, appreciating the past successes of the

5

SARAH HOEY IHCA Executive Director We are committed to ensuring the successes of this community now and in to the future, whatever it may bring. Have a great summer!

community, taking into consideration what we are achieving today and looking ahead to the possibilities of the future.

This year’s annual IHCA report offers a snapshot of the financial health of our community and of all the hard work that goes into making this an amazing place to call home.

We have had some challenges regarding aging infrastructure, taking the next steps to achieve green practices in our maintenance operations and addressing increased crime in the region.

Sarah Hoey, IHCA Executive Director, worked for the past several years with the City of Issaquah’s public works and traffic engineering departments on an ongoing project to have Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) installed at two major pedestrian crosswalks along Park Drive: the “Firehouse Crossing” at Northeast Hickory Lane and the “Trail Head Crossing” at the sport court approximately 100 feet east of Central Park Drive Northeast.

The IHCA paid for the RRFBs out of the IHCA master account year-end operating fund surplus from 2019, as no municipal funds were available.

I'm happy to report that they were installed at the end of May and are fully operational for our community’s use.

In addition to working with the City of Issaquah, the IHCA staff and board work closely with Highlands Council, Highlands Fiber Network (HFN), Eastside Fire and Rescue and King County – to name a few organizations who play a part in Issaquah Highlands’ prosperity.

New Faces in the IHCA Office The past year brought changes to the IHCA's

April brought three additions to two of our teams.

structure, and with the departure of long-time

Both Abdul Tawfiqi and Karim Taleqani joined

familiar faces and the arrival of new ones, it has

the IHCA’s landscaping crew and have been

been an exciting time in the Issaquah Highlands

performing phenomenally. If you see them out

Community Association (IHCA) office!

and about, feel free to welcome them to the community!

In January, Jesus Naranjo left his position with the IHCA landscaping team to pursue

Madison Ramirez filled the vacant community

opportunities elsewhere. Jesus dedicated nine and

manager role and has proven to be a valuable

a half years to Issaquah Highlands and worked

addition. Madison’s background includes several

diligently to preserve and uphold the aesthetic of

years of property management experience, and

our community. The IHCA hopes he continues to

we are excited to continue working with her.

prosper in his new role.

Blair Krieg, community manager with the IHCA Debbie Orosco, one of our community managers,

for over six years, was promoted to senior

moved on in April to follow other prospects

community manager and we are happy to be a

after four years with the IHCA. Debbie’s kind

part of her growth.

demeanor and commitment to upholding the governing documents were appreciated, and we

The IHCA is very excited for the future of our

wish her the best in her new adventures.

team and to continue working together to keep Issaquah Highlands the prosperous place it is.

Finally, I want to thank all owners who participated in this year’s community survey. The survey results provide the board of directors with the valuable feedback necessary to address problem areas, implement change and create effective policy, if needed. The board truly appreciates your input. We are all in this together and we are all committed to the success of this community.

On behalf of the entire IHCA Board of Directors, we hope you have a wonderful summer.

KARIM TALEQANI IHCA Groundskeeper

ABDUL TAWFIQI IHCA Groundskeeper

MADISON RAMIREZ Community Manager

6

CONNECTIONS



SUMMER 2022

IHCA ANNUAL REPORT ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION JULY 2021-JUNE 2022

COMPLIANCE SUMMARY TYPE OF NOTICE

Reminder 1st Fine 2nd Fine 3rd Fine

COMPLIANCE CATEGORY

82% 12% 3% 3%

There are 3,465 homes in the community. On average, 1% of homes receive compliance notices each month.

Landscaping Exterior Paint Trash Cans Holiday Décor Moss Rules Fences

A BUSY YEAR MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING COMMUNITY ASSETS ANNUAL TASKS • Performed project management for three neighborhoods and 11 supplemental communities, including general building and property maintenance such as roof and gutter cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, power washing and management of third-party landscape vendors.

MADISON RAMIREZ Community Manager

2021-2022 SPECIAL PROJECTS • Painted exteriors of Crofton Springs town houses and hillside cottages, Concord Commons Building 3 and West Highlands Park Attached 2.

• Conducted annual capital reserve studies for all supplemental communities.

• Completed monthly management reports and distributed/posted to the IHCA website and mobile app for 12 supplemental communities.

• Ratified annual budgets for three neighborhoods and 12 supplemental communities within the master budget.

• Replaced Grand Ridge Drive split-rail fence and managed annual street sweeping.

• Coordinated a successful IHCA Board of Directors election.

• Conducted building envelope inspections of Concord Commons along Park Drive to ensure building integrity.

• Managed monthly Architectural Review Committee (ARC) meetings and processed 262 ARC applications and four home-based business applications from homeowners.

• Managed building façade projects including dry rot repairs, siding replacement and caulking at Concord Commons, Crofton Springs, View Ridge and Villaggio.

• Managed Covenant Committee meetings and homeowner appeal process.

• Managed common area improvements at zHome interior courtyard, including pathway lighting installation and hazardous tree removal.

• Emailed welcome packets to hundreds of new homeowners on behalf of the IHCA, Highlands Fiber Network and Highlands Council.

• Upgraded to LED lighting at Sunset Walk, Concord Commons, Croton Springs, West Highlands Park and Crofton at Village Green neighborhoods.

• Performed weekly compliance site visits, processed 601 non-compliance notices and reviewed three appeals.

• Made emergency storm line repairs, repaired map enclosure, and refinished and replaced handrail at Crofton Springs.

• Coordinated and attended neighborhood and supplemental committee meetings for zHome, Crofton Springs, Dahlia Park and Grand Ridge Drive neighborhoods.

• Conducted evening site walks to locate areas where additional lighting would be beneficial in the zHome, Crofton Springs, Crofton at Village Green, Valais Hudson, The Terraces and Division 4 neighborhoods.

• Managed major landscape enhancements at Dahlia Park, including large tree removal and stump grinding; clearing over crowded, unhealthy and hazardous vegetation; bark installation and new plant installations.

• Launched IHCA Mobile App (see page 21 to download).

MAINTAINING FINANCIAL SECURITY FOR A GROWING COMMUNITY

40% 18% 12% 11% 11% 5% 3%

COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT REPORT

BLAIR KRIEG Sr. Community Manager

ACCOUNTING REPORT

• Encouraged homeowner education by responding to "Ask the IHCA" contact form and email address submissions, community emails and Connections and IssaquahHighlands.com articles.

• Continued education by regularly attending Community Associations Institute (CAI) certification course. Both community mangers are CAI Certified.

KRISTYN MCKINNON IHCA Accounting Manager DEVELOPMENT AND REAL ESTATE Since July 2021, 66 new homes were completed and sold, and 143 homes are still under construction, bringing the total number of resident-owned units to 3,465. Combined with the current 958 rental units and additional builder-owned units, this puts us at 99.8% of "Total Allowable Residential." There were also 179 resales in the past year.

ANNUAL AUDIT We have completed another year of a “clean” audit (unqualified opinion), while maintaining strong controls over the accounting environment. By providing complete and accurate audit schedules to our auditors, we keep our audit fees low and our auditors happy.

INVESTMENTS We analyze our cash deposit positions persistently to attain the highest interest yield while maintaining 100% Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) insurance on all our deposits. Our interest income for 2021-22 is estimated to be $60,000, which is about $14,000 less than last year due to reduced interest rates. We have a very effective CD purchase program with our bank, enabling us to be efficient with cash management while receiving very competitive CD interest rates compared to other banks. Our Master Reserves remain funded at 120%, a phenomenal achievement.

MASTER ASSESSMENTS Master assessments for the upcoming 2022-23 FY will be increasing by $12 annually ($1/month) to $960.

This is needed to cover increasing costs for our aging community. We have continued to encourage the participation of the monthly auto debit payment (ACH) program for collecting assessments, in which 86% of our homeowners participate. This keeps our cash flow even throughout the year and our delinquencies low at a rate of 1.5%.

HOW WE DO IT The community managers and the accounting manager work tirelessly for months on creating the budgets for 14 supplemental neighborhoods and the master community.

Many of the budgets have a high level of complexity; community managers spend countless hours researching and reviewing costs to ensure the numbers are accurate and fair to all homeowners in the community. These budgets are then reviewed and approved by the IHCA Finance Committee and IHCA Board of Directors.

We want to thank the resident volunteers who serve on the finance committee and the board for their support throughout the year. The finance committee meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. The board meets every fourth Monday at 5:30 p.m. All meetings are open to the public. Find more details at issaquahhighlands.com/events or on the IHCA mobile app.

ISSAQUAHHIGHLANDS.COM

7

IHCA ANNUAL REPORT LANDSCAPE REPORT

LANDSCAPE UPGRADES BEAUTIFY OUR GREEN SPACES

MAINTENANCE REPORT

REPAIRS AND UPGRADES GIVE NEW LIFE TO OUR COMMUNITY'S STRUCTURES

As we wrap up another fiscal year, it's a great time to look back and reflect on some of the projects the Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA) Maintenance team tackled.

FENCING

New plantings on Park Drive

The landscape crews were hard at work in the last year, making lasting improvements to parks and trails throughout Issaquah Highlands.

LOGAN PARK

Logan Park received a new playground and fresh landscaping.

For safety, we built a new fence around the playground, and we added benches with concrete pads to make the park more enjoyable for all.

VILLAGE GREEN PARK AND TRAIL

Our first priority was to improve Village Green Park and the Village Green Trail, which are steps away from Blakeley Hall and the Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA) office. Nestled in the heart of Issaquah Highlands, they were well loved and both in need of improvements.

We started by removing invasive plants and trees from areas along the path and slope adjacent to the park. Crews then added soil and new plants to the trail planters and open space perimeters.

New lights were added around the park and along the entire trail, improving safety and security. The team also built fences along the trail in several areas, not only for safety, but also to help with slope protection.

HARRISON PARK

The crew made improvements to Harrison Park by upgrading the drainage and replacing aged plant material. We installed soil, plants and bark throughout the park, giving it a new vibrant look. Walls were added around benches to increase their functionality.

STREETSCAPE

LYLE DICKEY IHCA Landscape Manager

The team also worked on improving our streetscape and added over 50 cubic yards of soil to raise settled areas. We planted 4,000 new one-gallon plants to fill in gaps or to rejuvenate areas.

PARK DRIVE MEDIANS

Two benches with concrete pads were installed, and we finished up the project by adding fresh bark and ground cover to bring it all together.

In addition to the park, trail and streetscape improvements, we directed our attention to three median islands on Park Drive.

The crews improved the grade by installing soil to raise settled areas. To boost pedestrian visibility and safety, we removed large profile plants and installed three hundred new low-profile selections in their place.

The park and trail look great. Go take a walk and enjoy your newly enhanced outdoor space!

The IHCA landscaping team is ready and excited for the summer season!

This year, we installed approximately 3,500 linear feet (two-thirds of a MATTHEW HENDRIKSE mile) of fencing, which included areas behind Swedish Hospital, the IHCA Maintenance Bark Park, Vista Gardens and Logan Manager Park.

LOGAN PARK

New fencing wasn't the only thing to arrive at Logan Park. The park now offers a place for kids to play with the addition of a new play structure. The team removed the concrete tunnels and replaced them with the new play equipment, purchased by the IHCA. This project was requested by the homeowners and the IHCA was happy to support it.

MAGNOLIA PARK

Another area on which the IHCA team focused was Magnolia Park. We added a new basketball court, along with the repair of the gazebo structure. This has been a great addition to our community, and our youth are using it almost daily.

MAILBOX STRUCTURES

Finally, over the past several years, changes to the nearly 300 mailbox structures in the community have been underway. We removed all of the structures around the mailboxes and added tops and bases to many of them. The number to maintain continues to increase as builders continue to develop in the community.

The IHCA Maintenance staff wants to thank the community for its support on these 2021-2022 projects, and we especially want to thank the individuals that are part of the IHCA Board!

Thank you The past two years have been difficult, but we could not have done it without each and every one of our committee members, homeowners and organizations that make up Issaquah Highlands.

We send a heartfelt shoutout to all the Issaquah Highlands residents who have taken action to do their part in making sure this community continues to be one of the most desirable places to live on the Eastside.

Thank you to Highlands Council and HFN for your continued support and dedication to the betterment of our amazing community.

Issaquah Highlands would not be the amazing place that it is to call home without the people that make it great.

Thank you,

The IHCA Team One of the two new benches along Village Green Trail.

CONNECTIONS



SUMMER 2022

n

at u l at i r g o

grads Class of 2022

n

s

o

c

8

Congratulations to our 2022 graduates! Our community's youth have worked hard to achieve their goals and dream of a bright future. We wish all Issaquah Highlands grads luck in their next adventures.

We are so proud of you!

c o l l eg e g ra d s

ava bishop

montana state universtiy ashland park resident

Ava graduated Magna Cum Laude with degrees in sociology and Spanish.

She is currently working as a research assistant in the sociology department at Montana State University and is enjoying life in Bozeman until she figures out what her next adventure will be.

jordan crist

rensselaer polytechnic institute pine crest resident

Jordan will pursue a master's degree in nuclear engineering, along with another year of eligibility to run cross country and track at RPI!

sam foster

berklee college of music grand ridge drive resident

connor goodman university of washington bothell

california lutheran university

Sam graduated with a degree in songwriting and is excited to pursue performance and songwriting. He released a single, "Bozeman," and will release more songs this summer. He will stay in Boston and likely move to Nashville in the near future!

Follow @samfostersounds on Insta or his website: samfostersounds.com.

mulberry street resident

magnolia park resident

Connor is working at Avanade as a software engineer.

Kyree will take a gap year to work in the healthcare industry as a physical therapist assistant and then apply to med school.

victoria lasch

ameya mellacheruvu loyola marymount university

washington state university

caroline o'neill

jessica pickering

logan park resident

harrison drive resident

village trail park resident

central park resident

Victoria is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry.

Ameya is a future applicant for the Master of Science program and will join Dell, Inc., in Seattle as a software IT professional starting in July 2022.

Caroline is graduating with a bachelor's in biology, with a minor in chemistry. Caroline plans on attending medical school next year.

university of washington

kyree kelley

tulane university

Jessica recently graduated from Tulane University with a master's in homeland security and intelligence.

She is currently fulfilling a fellowship with the Foreign Policy Research Institute, focusing on Africa. She is seeking a job as a foreign analyst focusing on the West Africa region where she served in the Peace Corp.

rachel rosewater

columbia college chicago hudson heights resident

Rachel graduated summa cum laude (3.97) with a Bachelor of Arts in theater directing and minors in advertising and women, gender and sexuality studies.

Rachel, you’ve worked so hard and accomplished so much. With your passion and enthusiasm, there’s no limit to what you can achieve. We’re proud of you and love you very much.

– Mom & Dad

ISSAQUAHHIGHLANDS.COM

high school grads

bobby bakh

issaquah high school

melanie barry

issaquah high school

charles bennington issaquah high school

issaquah high school

wisteria park resident

wisteria park resident

sorrento resident

ashland park resident

Aleyna graduated from Issaquah High School with honors. She received an admissions achievement award to attend Western Washington University and will major in elementary education.

Melanie graduated from Issaquah High School with honors. She received an admissions achievement award to attend Western Washington University and will major in journalism.

Charles will be attending Gonzaga University in the fall, majoring in computer science.

Emma is planning to attend Western Washington University in the fall and major in theatre arts and business.

anna boone

makenzie brown

central park resident

grand view park resident

wisteria park resident

katsura street resident

ashland park resident

Erinn is passionate about design and architecture. She dreams to go in Italy to study architecture and art.

After graduation, Anna plans to attend Colorado State University.

Makenzie will be attending Brigham Young University, majoring in music performance (violin).

We are so proud of her.

Congratulations Kenzie!! We love you!!

Olivia will be attending Western Washington University in the fall of 2022 to study secondary education and history.

Brooke graduated with honors from IHS and will study psychology and play softball at the University of Puget Sound.

anthony cabrera

samantha chase issaquah high school

issaquah high school

issaquah high school

issaquah high school

roanoke woods resident

30th avenue resident

roanoke woods resident

magnolia park resident

ashland park resident

Anthony will be studying electrical engineering at Montana State University.

Samantha will be attending University of Arizona Nursing.

Clark will attend University of Washington, Information School, in the fall 2022.

Eryn will attend the University of Pittsburgh in the fall and plans to study anthropology.

We are so proud that Kate persevered and not only is graduating from Issaquah High School but she is also receiving her associate's degree from Bellevue College. We are thrilled to say that in the fall, she will be attending Washington State University. (Really!)

gibson ek high school 25th avenue resident

Bobby will participate in a gap year program with a water polo academy based in Barcelona, Spain.

In 2023, he will join Penn State Water Polo. At Penn State Behrend, he will work toward his computer science degree in the School of Engineering, minoring in game development. We're so excited and proud! Congrats, Bobby! Love Dad, Mom and Livy.

erinn bloch

issaquah high school

o’dea high school

aleyna barry

9

issaquah high school

issaquah high school

clark chin

olivia burch

issaquah high school

eryn cooper

emma bishop

brooke byers

issaquah high school

kate enebo

10

CONNECTIONS



SUMMER 2022

high school grads

matthew fullmer

sophia hashmey issaquah high school park drive resident

riverside military academy dahlia park resident

david kapustein

elizabeth kennedy

katherine kennedy

Matthew will attend Colorado School of Mines, working toward a mechanical engineering degree and playing football.

In addition to her high school diploma, Sophia earned an associate's degree with dual credits. She will attend undergrad at the University of Washington and wants to major in business and economics.

David plans to enjoy the summer and then study psychology at Washington State University in Pullman in the fall.

Liz will attend the University of Washington in the fall.

Katie will attend Western Washington University in the fall.

issaquah high school roanoke ridge resident

sydney lai

issaquah high school summit park resident

issaquah high school summit park resident

issaquah high school dahlia park resident

issaquah high school 25th avenue resident

chase nagel

megan reichley issaquah high school dahlia park resident

issaquah high school 30th avenue resident

issaquah high school longmire court resident

Sydney has always loved traveling abroad, so she is pursuing a degree majoring in international business at Gonzaga.

Chase will be attending the University of Arizona in the fall, following in the footsteps of both his parents and sister.

BEAR DOWN!

Megan will attend Central Arizona College on a full athletic scholarship for Softball.

Gil will spend the next four years at Washington State University, studying computer science. In addition, he will be part of the honors program at the university.

Dustin will be attending the University of Arizona in the fall of 2022 to study business management.

adam rosewater

sarah rosewater issaquah high school hudson heights resident

issaquah high school black nugget resident

minal siddiqui

madison stephens

skyline high school crofton springs resident

issaquah high school central park resident

Adam will be attending Bellevue College in the fall where he's planning to major in child development. He is very excited to be starting this new chapter in his life.

Adam, we love you and are so proud of you.

Sarah will be attending the University of Arizona, majoring in business administration. We love you and are proud of you and can't wait to see what you'll do next!

Minal is planning to attend the University of Washington, College of Arts and Sciences.

Madison will be attending Washington State University to get her teaching degree.

Ben will attend the University of Arizona in the fall.

issaquah high school hudson heights resident

Love, Mom & Dad

gil rezin

dustin rhodes

ben taylor

ISSAQUAHHIGHLANDS.COM

U

high school grads

t ha

kabir vats

emma wijsman

paris wallace

issaquah high school central park resident

issaquah high school brownstones resident

issaquah high school central park resident

Kabir plans to pursue computer engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park. Kabir earned a President's Scholarship to attend the school and is looking forward to engaging with the world as an engineer!

Paris will attend the University of Washington in the fall of 2022 to study pre-med. The Wallace family is very proud and delighted with Paris' accomplishments and wish her great success in her college years at UW and in her future career endeavors thereafter.

The Wallace Family Mom, Dad, Lewi, & her grandparents

Emma is going to Ireland!

She will study computer science and business at Trinity College Dublin.

Congratulations!

Surgical excellence. Personalized and collaborative care close to home.

For more than a decade, Swedish Surgical Specialists have been providing high quality surgical care using advanced technologies and focusing on minimally invasive techniques for the greater Eastside community.

Our surgeons recognize that any surgery, whether elective or emergent, is a personal process with each patient taking their own medical path. We believe that a collaborative treatment plan that combines individual goals with our clinical experience will achieve the best outcomes for our patients.

We provide elective and emergent surgical treatment on an array of conditions including: • Breast disease • Abdominal wall hernias • Gallbladder disease • Intestinal and colon disease • Benign and malignant skin conditions • Endocrine disease (adrenal, thyroid, parathyroid) • Stomach disease • Diseases of the spleen To schedule a consultation, please call Swedish Surgical Specialists at 425-313-7124 or visit swedish.org/issaquah

“I definitely feel very comfortable with and confident that my surgeon will always give me the information that I need to make the best decisions about my health care going forward .” — Swedish Surgical Specialist patient

Michelle Eden, M.D.

Eric Heinberg, M.D.

SWEDISH ISSAQUAH 751 NE Blakely Drive Issaquah, WA 98029

Aileen Hwang, M.D.

Matthew Johnston, M.D.

Christine Lee, M.D.

11

are y o

w Share

THE News

u

celebting?

Celebrating a birth, wedding, anniversary, or other culturallly significant milestone? Share the good news with your community!

Submit your free Connections announcement at issaquahhighlands.com/announcements or email katie.c@ihcouncil.org.

U

12

CONNECTIONS



SUMMER 2022

Find connection and joy IN EVERDAY LIVING

University House Issaquah helps you stay engaged and connected—while covering the cooking, cleaning, care if you need it, and more.

Schedule a tour or learn more (425) 200-0331 | eraliving.com Ask about special benefits for

members.

ISSAQUAHHIGHLANDS.COM

13

VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH

Volunteers of the Month May, June, & July 2022

Congratulations and thank you to our Volunteers of the Month for May-July 2022, who represent unique volunteer opportunities with the Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA), Highlands Council (HC), and the Highlands Youth (HY) Advisory Board. Read their personal volunteer stories in full at issaquahhighlands.com/tag/volunteer-of-the-month. You just may be inspired to start volunteering yourself!

May 2022

Sophia Hashmey

Highlands Youth (HY) Advisory Board It was the activities especially that caught my interest. My parents would arrive home and pass by a celebration on the Village Green Park. ... When I was old enough, I wanted to volunteer and be a part of planning the fun. Each event I helped plan with the HY made me feel a little wiser, a little more involved and a little more like a leader."

June 2022

Ben Armlin

Highlands Council (HC) My first volunteer position was serving as a garden ambassador for the Sunset Walk community garden. I have also been the president of the Huckleberry Circle HOA for 2.5 years. As the owner of Issaquah Ice Cream Trike, I have donated services to Highlands Council and others. I also volunteer my time to the Downtown Issaquah Association."

July 2022

Bryan Bell

IHCA zHome Neighborhood Committee We in the Issaquah Highlands have a really good thing going here.

To ensure we continue to enjoy our wonderful neighborhood, we each have a responsibility to participate in whatever ways we can, big or small, to keep things great."

Are you inspired to get involved in the Issaquah Highlands community? Opportunities are available!

Visit issaquahhighlands.com/volunteer to discover all the different ways you can get involved in our Issaquah Highlands community, including opportunities to join boards and committees.

Questions? Contact Lindsey Pinkston, Highlands Council Program Manager, at lindsey.p@ihcouncil.org.

14

CONNECTIONS



SUMMER 2022

HIGHLANDS COUNCIL

Highlands Council Earns National Recognition Visual design, programming receive honors from Communicator Awards, NUSA

Highlands Council Welcomes Carol Halas to Team Come say hello to our new Administrative Coordinator at Blakely Hall

by LINDSEY PINKSTON Local resident Carol Halas joined Highlands Council as Administrative Coordinator in March.

This part-time position is primarily responsible for supporting our Blakely Hall rental clients. Blakely Hall has been a busy hub of community activity for 16 years (since March 2005), and has served as the space for countless weddings, graduation parties, baby showers, birthday parties and other special events through the years.

Seven years ago, Carol and her family moved to the Dahlia Park neighborhood of Issaquah Highlands. She brings to Highlands Council a strong background in customer service as well as a master’s degree in human sciences.

Lindsey Pinkston, Highlands Council community program manager, accepts the award for The Art of Adulting program on behalf of Highlands Council at the NUSA conference in Little Rock, Ark.

The work of Highlands Council was recognized by two separate national organizations in the first half of 2022.

The Communicator Awards is the leading international creative awards program honoring excellence in marketing and communications.

by LINDSEY PINKSTON Highlands Council Community Program Manager, & Wisteria Park Resident

Artwork designed for the Global Grub & Groove program received the acclaimed Award of Excellence in the category of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion out of 4,000 entries reviewed by a panel of judges from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA) for 2022.

The Global Grub & Groove artwork was created by Katie Cannon, visual design manager and media producer for Highlands Council. The fun visual captures the essence of the events and features an artistic view of the Village Green, complete with Blakely Hall and the iconic big evergreen tree (see pages 15 and 16).

Connections News received the Award of Distinction from the same panel of judges. Other winners include Forbes, Mattel, State Farm, T-Mobile, Pepsico and The Walt Disney Company.

In May, the Global Grub and Groove program, along with the Art of Adulting, was also recognized at the Neighborhood USA (NUSA) annual conference in Little Rock, Ark. NUSA is a national nonprofit organization committed to building and strengthening neighborhood organizations.

Global Grub and Groove – Issaquah Highlands’ summer series celebrating our neighborhood’s diverse cultures with food, live entertainment, art and activities at Village Green Park – was honored as a finalist for the Neighborhood of the Year Award. The award recognizes exceptional achievements by neighborhood organizations. Global Grub and Groove returned this summer (see page 15).

The Art of Adulting was awarded second place for Best Neighborhood Program, which recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of organizations that work to improve the quality of life in their communities and neighborhoods.

The Art of Adulting was developed by the Highlands Youth (HY) Advisory Board as a life skills and leadership development program for teens. It was built around workshops to teach high school students important lessons they do not learn in school.

The inaugural season of the Art of Adulting included six sessions taught by community members who shared expertise in civics, cooking, auto safety/interacting with the police, using self-assessments to prepare for college, building an online presence, and managing personal finances.

The Highlands Council team is honored to have their work for the community recognized by these prestigious national awards.

You'll find Carol Halas at her desk in Blakely Hall from 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. this summer.

She volunteers her time whenever possible, and she formerly wrote a column for Connections. Currently, she volunteers as a customer service representative with St. Vincent de Paul.

Most days, you’ll find Carol greeting you from the front desk at Blakely Hall. Stop by during open hours to say, “Hi” – Carol is excited to meet more members of the Issaquah Highlands community!

ISSAQUAHHIGHLANDS.COM

15

VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH SPECIAL PROGRAMMING

Rain or Shine, We'll Get Our Global Grub and Groove on in '22 Join us this summer to celebrate culture through music, food and art

by LINDSEY PINKSTON Great music, dancing, art, and foods kicked off this summer’s Global Grub & Groove (GGG) series with a celebration of Juneteenth. Despite the rain, the community party went on inside Blakely Hall with fun for all!

The series continues on July 15 with a celebration of Bastille Day and French culture, including our favorite French partner, L’Experience Paris, a live performance and art with our community’s own Aline Bloch!

On Aug. 12, we’ll celebrate with a fiesta in honor of our Mexican neighbors, complete with live Mariachi, piñatas for all ages sponsored by 9Round, refreshments sponsored by RT Group Realty, and delicious food trucks.

To close the GGG season, we will celebrate Issaquah Highlands culture on Aug. 26. Expect a fun evening complete with a goat petting zoo!

Global Grub & Groove events are free to attend and open to all – we hope to see you there!

16

CONNECTIONS



SUMMER 2022

ISSAQUAHHIGHLANDS.COM

17

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Community Groups

ADHD Caregivers Group Resumes in September Blakely Hall

If you care for someone with ADD/ADHD, you are welcome to join us to chat, share experiences, and get support. Caregivers and parents with kids of all ages are welcome!

Book Club

Second Tuesdays, 7 p.m.

Blakely Hall

Book club is a great place to meet neighbors, socialize, and explore a variety of books. Join the Facebook group at facebook.com/ihbookclub.

Chess Club

Wednesdays, 6-9 p.m.

Blakely Hall

Love to play chess? Miss playing over-the-board (OTB) games live with real people? Come join us for fun and (chess) games! All ages and experience levels are welcome. Please bring your chess set if you have one; otherwise, there will be plenty to share.

Hiking Group

The hiking group is open to all ages to connect with other hiking enthusiasts and go on planned hikes in the beautiful Northwest. For more information and details on our next scheduled hike, join our Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/nwhiking.

 Meditation Group Resumes in September Fridays, 2 p.m.

Discover how to find moments to relax the mind. The group practices exercises that promote balance, strength, and calmness. Learn techniques to help deal with the stress and strain of a busy life. Free to attend and open to all! Questions? Contact ih.meditation@ gmail.com.

Pickleball Group Mondays, 4-6 p.m.

Central Park

Join other neighbors interested in pickleball for games at the Central Park courts! All ages and skill levels (even beginners) are welcome!

 Photography Group Third Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.

Enjoy monthly meetings with guest speakers, share and discuss your work with others, and participate in an online community throughout the month.

Questions? Contact ihpc@outlook.com. Check issaquahhighlands.com/events for details.

Poker Night Last Thursdays Blakely Hall

Poker Night is back! Whether you are a novice or a salty vet looking for some steep competition, you will love our monthly Texas Hold’em tournament! Contact Henry at hlh1969@hotmail.com for more information.

Tai Chi Fitness Class Wednesdays, 6:30 a.m.

Blakely Hall

Free Chen-style Tai Chi for all who are interested in learning and practicing together. This ancient Chinese martial art promotes health by reducing bodily tension and stress, improving balance and coordination, increasing joint flexibility, calming the breath, and clearing the mind.

Toastmasters

Thursdays, 7 a.m.

Blakely Hall / Zoom Hybrid

Mimosa Morning

Tuesday, Aug. 30, 9-11 a.m.

Blakely Hall Patio

Expand your knowledge and horizons while sharing your interests and goals in a positive, supportive environment. Guests are welcome!

Swing by Blakely Hall on the first day of school to celebrate with friends and neighbors! Join us for coffee, mimosas and a light breakfast. All are welcome (ages 21 and over only).

 Yarns & Threads Group

Community-Wide Garage Sale

All knitters, crocheters, and stitchers are welcome.

For more details or questions, please contact Cathie Coulter at Catherine.coulter@ihmail.com. Check issaquahhighlands.com/events for details.

Whether it’s a yard sale or a garage sale, it’s an end of summer tradition! Sell or shop throughout the community at the semi-annual Issaquah Highlands Community-Wide Garage Sale.

Fridays, 10 a.m.

Don't Miss This

Art in the Wild Adventure Ongoing

Embark on an exciting journey to explore Issaquah Highlands' outdoor art using your smartphone. This fun, 10-stop adventure will lead you to solve puzzles while visiting and learning about the outdoor art pieces unique to this community, one location at a time. Complete the adventure by visiting all 10 stops to win prizes throughout the summer. Learn more at issaquahhighlands.com/art-adventure.

Bonus! Don't miss the ongoing, 12-stop "Coexisting with Carnivores Adventure" scavenger hunt, created in partnership with the Woodland Park Zoo. Learn more at issaquahhighlands.com/carnivoresadventure.

Chess Club Special Event Wednesday, July 6, 6 p.m.

Blakely Hall

Join the Issaquah Highlands Chess Club for an unforgettable evening of chess with Women’s International Master Megan Lee! Megan Lee will give a lecture and Q&A session, followed by time for autographs and photos. Finally, try your luck against the master in a simultaneous exhibition (maximum 30 players – register/learn more at issaquahhighlands. com/events.)

Saturday, Sept. 17

Governance Mtgs

Highlands Council Board of Trustees Aug. 2, 12 p.m.

IHCA Architectural Review Committee First Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m.

IHCA Finance Committee Second Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m.

Highlands Fiber Network Advisory Group Third Mondays, 5 p.m.

IHCA Board of Directors Fourth Mondays, 5:30 p.m.

Eco-Market

Thursdays, July 14, Aug. 11, Sept. 8 4-7 p.m.

Village Green Park*

Live greener with the Issaquah Highlands EcoMarket! Shop from a variety of small eco-friendly vendors, farmers, and artisans and enjoy dinner from community favorite, Mami Tran food truck. Visit issaquahhighlands.com/events for updates on each month’s vendors, special features, and programs. **In case of bad weather, the Eco-Market will move inside Blakely Hall.

Check issaquahhighlands.com/events for details.

Global Grub & Groove Village Green Park

Join friends and neighbors at Village Green for fun, food, and entertainment to celebrate culture and community! Free to attend (food available for purchase). Check issaquahhighlands.com/events for details.

Friday, July 15, 6-8 p.m.

Bastille Day Celebration

Friday, Aug. 12, 6-8 p.m.

Fiesta Celebrating Mexican Culture

Wanted: Community Group Leaders

Would you like to connect with neighbors with mutual interests? Have an idea for a community group that we don’t currently have in Issaquah Highlands? Group leaders bring people together by sharing their passions and Highlands Council is there to support them all along the way.

Visit issaquahhighlands.com/volunteer or contact Lindsey at lindsey.p@ihcouncil.org to learn more!

Friday, Aug. 26, 6-8 p.m.

A Celebration of Issaquah Highlands Culture

 Indicates this group/event occurs online. Some groups and meetings may pivot between virtual and in-person. Please check issaquahhighlands.com/events for the latest event details. All events are FREE unless otherwise noted.

18

CONNECTIONS



SUMMER 2022

Community Survey Results You Shared Your Voice....We Listened

72%

47%

24%

22%

20%

CRIME

TRAFFIC SAFETY

LAND DEVELOPMENT

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

PROPERTY VALUES

The BIG Five Your Top Community Concerns

HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

94%

WERE SATISFIED WITH LANDSCAPE SERVICES

HOW YOU GRADED THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

96%

SATISFACTION WITH OVERALL ADMINISTRATION

96%

SATISFACTION WITH RESPONSE TIME

97%

WERE SATISFIED WITH OPEN SPACE, PARKS AND TRAILS

WERE SATISFIED WITH THE GOAT PROGRAM (14% Answered N/A)

65%

WERE SATISFIED WITH THE BARK PARK (32% Answered N/A)

99%

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE LANDSCAPING CREWS

SATISFACTION WITH COURTESY

HOW YOU BELIEVED THE MAINTENANCE TEAM PERFORMED

85%

96%

SATISFACTION WITH COMMON AREAS

89%

SATISFACTION WITH PLAY STRUCTURES AND OUTDOOR FURNITURE (10% ANSWERED N/A)

78%

SATISFACTION WITH BASKETBALL COURTS AND SPORT COURT ON PARK DR. (20% ANSWERED N/A)

ISSAQUAHHIGHLANDS.COM

19

4,711 Homes in Issaquah Highlands Data Collected April 1-30, 2022 351 People Participated in Survey

FIBER NETWORK WHAT YOU VALUE ABOUT HFN FIBER INTERNET SERVICE > 1 GIGABIT SERVICE

57%

RELIABILITY FAST UPLOAD/ DOWNLOAD

52%

ZERO TO LOW LAG TIME

44% 27%

PUBLIC WIFI IN PARKS

31%

COMMUNITY OWNED

47%

IN-HOME HFN TECHNICIANS

40%

PRICE

24/7 CUSTOMER SUPPORT

POTENTIAL NEW SERVICES THAT INTEREST YOU

HFN-PROVIDED ROUTER/FIREWALL

16%

HFN-PROVIDIED WIFI OPTION

25% 22%

9%

YOUR LEVEL OF SATISFACTION WITH HFN

VERY SATISFIED

SATISFIED

NEUTRAL

DISSATISFIED

VERY DISSATISFIED

HIGHLANDS COUNCIL

PROGRAMMING YOU WANT 84% 54% 49%

IN-PERSON

(OUTDOOR)

52% 49% 47%

LIVE MUSIC

TRIVIA NIGHTS

ART GALLERY RECEPTIONS

VIRTUAL COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE MEETINGS CANDIDATE FORUMS

43%

(INDOOR)

COMMUNITY GROUP MEETINGS

VETERANS DAY CEREMONY

51% 41% 39%

IN-PERSON

FOR FAMILIES

FOR ADULTS

41%

ART GALLERY RECEPTIONS 22% 19% 12%

COMMUNITY GROUP MEETINGS

RECORDED COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE MEETINGS CANDIDATE FORUMS

FOR WOMEN

23%

COMMUNITY GROUP MEETINGS

COMMUNITY FUND

1.

INITIATIVES YOU SUPPORT

Ampitheater

2.

Public Art

3.

Bike Park

20

CONNECTIONS



SUMMER 2022

HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

Improvements on the Horizon IHCA's long-term planning is key to the 5-year park project

City of Issaquah: An Important IHCA Partner

by SARAH HOEY IHCA Executive Director

The relationship between the Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA) and the city of Issaquah is unique in the sense that Issaquah Highlands feels like a city within a city. Much of the work we accomplish for the Highlands could not happen without the support of the city of Issaquah.

Addressing traffic, speeding and crime The IHCA's number one priority is addressing traffic, speeding and crime, and discussions are ongoing with the city and the Issaquah Police Department (IPD) to mitigate these issues.

Issaquah City Council and the IPD answered residents' questions about community concerns at a meeting held at Blakely Hall on June 15, 2022 (see page 24).

by SARAH HOEY IHCA Executive Director

Crosswalk beacon lights were installed at two of the most highly trafficked areas in the community. These flashing beacon lights are located at two locations on Park Drive: at the Firehouse Park Trail crossing and at the Vista Trail crossing, near the Sport Court.

New surfaces and play equipment will be installed at Kirk Park.

Long-term planning is the name of the game when it comes to property management and completing goals like our five-year park project. For that reason, the Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA) conducts annual reserve studies.

Also, federal and Washington state laws dictate how and when

by SARAH HOEY the association must fund reserve IHCA Executive Director accounts.

Since the beginning of Issaquah Highlands' development, the IHCA has tracked every asset we are fiduciarily responsible to maintain. With the help of a nationally certified reserve specialist company, we identify the assets (components) and determine the useful life of that component using industry standards and the cost of replacement over the life span of that component.

For example, the Kirk Park play structure has a useful life of 10-15 years with regular maintenance. When the structure was initially installed in 2007 (15 years ago), the IHCA added the component to the reserve item list and documented the cost. We determined the 2007 replacement cost and added an inflation rate

of 3% for 15 years, including sales tax and installation charges.

That equaled approximately $143,500, which is required to fully fund the replacemnt of the Kirk Park play structure this year.

The IHCA has over 175 components, and we add to and adjust our list every year. The reserve contributions figure added to every budget is the result of our work to monitor this list. For the fiscal year of July 1, 2022- June 31, 2023, we are contributing $392,000 to the IHCA Master Reserve Fund to fund all components.

Here are the highlights of expected work or replacements over the next several years as a part of our five-year parks plan, announced in July 2021.

• • • • •

Kirk Park play equipment and surface replacements Daphne Park play equipment replacement Wisteria Park play equipment replacement Bark Park fence replacement Sport Court on Park Drive surface replacement

Please note: There are many factors that go into adding or replacing play structures, including City of Issaquah permits, state regulations and national playground safety standards. Costs of materials, shipping, labor to install or availability of product can also affect our efforts at this time.

Weed-Whacking Goats Return in 2022

The goats of Healing Hooves are back for their 16th year in the community this summer The goats visted South Pond the week of June 17 and return to the Magnolia open space the week of July 1.

remember to leave your dog at home when visiting the goats so as not to disturb them or Gigi.

RULES FOR VISITING THE GOATS The goats are kept in their designated area by an electrified perimeter fence and are watched by a guard dog named Gigi. Gigi works to keep her herd safe from both people and predators.

She and the goats are accustomed to each other and can be in the same pen. However, please

Do not feed the goats. They are extremely particular about what they eat, and some food/ plants can be toxic to them. We all love these annual guests and want to keep the tradition alive for years to come, so please come pay the goats a visit and say, "Hi," and be sure to take care of them so they can take care of us!

Flashing crosswalk beacons facilitates a safe crossing across Park Drive by the fire station.

The IHCA thanks the city of Issaquah for the collaborative effort that went into installing these beacon lights for the betterment of the community.

Improving Sidewalks & Trip Hazards

The IHCA is engaged in a collaborative partnership with the city of Issaquah’s Public Works Department to identify rising sidewalks and trip hazards. This is a city-wide initiative to ensure that all sidewalks are compliant with ADA standards and do not pose a hazard for any resident.

Tree roots adjacent to sidewalks are the most common culprit of lifting sidewalks. Removing trees and grinding out roots may be necessary to ensure safe sidewalk passage in the future.

Owners will always be notified if vegetation and/ or trees will need to be removed or be replaced by plants with non-invasive root systems. The IHCA’s goal is only to remove the trees posing the biggest threat to sidewalks, as luscious foliage is a key piece of the community's aesthetic.

ISSAQUAHHIGHLANDS.COM

21

HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

Before You Go: Home Checklist Follow these tips to maintain standards, avoid fines and protect your home while you are away on vacation A vacation should be relaxed and worry free. Whether you're going out of town for a few days or for a few weeks, there are steps that you can take to prepare your home for your absence and for your smooth return. Here is a quick list of tips that we hope you find

by MADISON RAMIREZ helpful: IHCA Community Manager MAIL AND NEWSPAPERS Short-term: hold mail and newspapers or ask a friend or neighbor to collect your mail.

Long-term: Forward your mail by requesting a temporary mail forwarding.

TRASH Trash cans should not be left outside while you are away.

If your trip begins on Friday, trash pickup day, please make arrangements with your neighbor, a family member or house sitter to return your cans to your garage.

YARD AND LAWN CARE Most of us have a home surrounded by green grass, shrubs, and trees. An untrimmed lawn can be a sign that you are away from home. Depending on how it looks, it also can be considered a blight.

Short-term: Mow your lawn and trim plants, trees and shrubs shortly before your trip.

Long-term: Arrange for a lawn service to take care of your landscaping while you are away. This not only keeps the grounds trimmed, it also brings people to your property on a regular basis helping it to not appear abandoned.

PLUMBING AND LEAKS Check for water leaks before you leave. Feel the valves underneath faucets to make sure they aren't moist and turn off the main water supply to the house just before you go.

BATTERIES, ELECTRONICS AND LIGHTS The upcoming warmer weather, hopefully not as warm at last summer, is hard on batteries. Remove batteries from clocks, remotes, etc. for longer trips. However, some thermostats require batteries, which should be replaced before heading out. Electrical service should be left on to operate your alarm system, air-conditioning (heat in cooler weather), dehumidifier and fans, but you can turn off the breakers to the range, oven and microwave. Unplug TV sets, recorders and other nonessentials, including the garage-door opener, then secure the garage door from the inside. Consider leaving several lights on timers or use smart home products to control lights from your phone.

REQUEST A VACATION HOUSE CHECK BY ISSAQUAH POLICE For added security, Issaquah residents can ask the Issaquah Police Department to perform periodic house checks as time allows in their schedule. Submit your request for this service online at issaquahwa. gov/3253/VacationHouse-Checks or call 425-837-3200 if you do not have a computer.

COMMUNITY STANDARDS In addition to the above tips, the IHCA maintains the Community Wide Standards that were created for the enjoyment and benefit of the entire community.

These standards should be kept up regardless of any absence away from home. Part of community living involves following the maintenance standards and guidelines, which ensure that neighborhoods remain clean, well-maintained, and aesthetically pleasing to residents, while enhancing property values.The Community Wide Standards can be found at issaquahhighlands.com/ community-wide-standards.

Find a detailed checklist on the blog at issaquahhighlands.com/news.

A Parking Etiquette Primer

Most streets in Issaquah Highlands are owned by the City of Issaquah. They are under its jurisdiction and are subject to the enforcement of City of Issaquah Municipal Code. Parking space is sometimes occupied by abandoned, unregistered vehicles, boats, trailers and campers in violation of residential street parking codes.

The Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA) does not enforce parking codes on city-owned streets but encourages homeowners to notify the city via issaquahwa.gov/ request upon seeing a vehicle that appears to be abandoned, non-operational or has expired tabs. Once a vehicle is reported, the Issaquah Police Department will investigate the complaint and will attempt to contact the last owner of record.

Depending on circumstances, owners are typically asked to remove the vehicle or risk having it impounded. Please note the following code excerpts: • 10.28.080 Length Restrictions: Standing and Parking of trucks and vehicle combinations exceeding 30 feet in total length for in excess of 6 hours is restricted and prohibited

by MADISON RAMIREZ

upon streets in residential areas of the city.

ARC TIP OF THE MONTH

Accessory Structures Did you know the installation of any accessory structures, including trash can enclosures and sheds, require Architectureal Review Committee (ARC) approval? Also, remember that they are subject to city permits and set-back requirements. Freestanding sheds do not require a city permit but must be set back from the property line at least 4 feet.

Find ARC guidelines and issaquahhighlands.com/ARC.

applications

RULES REMINDER

Fireworks Did you know… the use or discharge of firecrackers and fireworks is prohibited in the Highlands per the governing documents? Not only can the misuse of firecrackers and fireworks be deadly, it can also disturb your neighbors and pets. Keep you and your family safe this summer by letting the professionals handle the show!

MILESTONE

Congrats, Sarah!

Congratulations to Sarah Hoey, IHCA Executive Director, on earning the Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM®) credential from Community Associations Institute (CAI).

To earn the PCAM credential, managers must have five years of community association management experience and complete more than 100 hours of course work. Credentialed PCAMs must also fulfill continuing education and service requirements as well as adhere to a code of ethics.

CHECK THIS OUT

Download the IHCA Mobile App Have the IHCA at your fingertips with the IHCA mobile app. The app is free and is available in the iOS and Android app stores. See QR codes below to download.

• 10.28.070 Obstructing Traffic: No person shall park any vehicle upon any street in a manner which obstructs or otherwise interferes with vehicular, bicycle, or pedestrian traffic upon the travel portions of the roadway, striped bicycle lane, shared-use corridor, or sidewalk.

• 10.28.072 Parking in Alleys: No person shall park a vehicle within an alley in such a manner or under such conditions as to leave available less than 8 feet of the width of the roadway for the free movement of vehicular traffic. No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle within an alley in such a position as to block the driveway entrance to any abutting property.

• 18.09.030 Provision of Required Parking: Required off-street parking is intended to provide vehicle parking only for residents, customers, patrons and employees.

Area devoted to parking may not be used for any other purpose, except as authorized by this Code. Required offstreet parking shall not be used for the storage of vehicles, recreational vehicles, boats, or other materials.

at

Download iOS app

Learn More!

Download Android app

These tips and rules reminders are only a subset of IHCA guidelines and regulations. For complete standards, visit issaquahhighlands.com.

Questions? Call the IHCA at (425) 427-9257 or email asktheihca@ihcommunity.org.

22

CONNECTIONS



SUMMER 2022

HIGHLANDS YOUTH

Welcome to the

HY

Meet the 2022-2023 Highlands Youth Advisory Board

by LINDSEY PINKSTON Highlands Council Community Program Manager, & Wisteria Park Resident

T

*Ryan Aby

Vaibhav Alaparthi

Shaurya Behera

I hope to be able to reach out and find new and fun ways to interact with our youth and help them to interact with each other.

As a volunteer and youth board member serving blind and needy populations, I am passionate about serving the community I love.

I love to help people in my community.

Neal Coppa

Nicole de los Reyes

Maia Esbensen

When we have our monthly meetings, I feel like I am part of something. Nobody is left out, and it's really awesome.

I engaged and helped children who attended events, and I used my voice to promote the Art of Adulting series with fellow high school students.

I really enjoyed connecting with the community via Grub and Groove (super fun!) and other events.

10th Grade

he Highlands Youth (HY) Advisory Board was established in 2013 with the goal of unifying Issaquah Highlands youth through meaningful and fun social experiences, creating lasting memories and building pride.

9th Grade

8th Grade

We are proud to introduce the community to the 202223 roster of student community leaders, some returning alums to the program and many new faces. Out of many qualified candidates, these students were selected based on a written application and peer interview.

Stay tuned for upcoming events for teens!

Be sure to follow @HYBoard on Facebook and check issaquahhighlands.com/events for future HY board news and events.

* Denotes the member is a co-president.

7th Grade

10th Grade

8th Grade

Riley Evans

Sydney Evans

Saira Hashmey

Ethan Hunter

*Vernika Jain

I have benefitted from attending events that I might not have gone to.

I enjoyed helping at Global Grub and Grooves and at the piano event. They were a great way to help others and to get to know HY Board members.

The HY events have been very fun and are a wonderful place to learn about event management and social skills.

There has never been a day in the HY that I haven’t enjoyed or appreciated. I’m interested in continuing to host events and want to start raising awareness of current issues.

My most memberable experiences have been to plan and execute our events. I also love bonding with the HY community and making new friends.

7th Grade

9th Grade

9th Grade

12th Grade

12th Grade

ISSAQUAHHIGHLANDS.COM

23

HIGHLANDS YOUTH

AD A LE

ERSHIP

e r u t n e v d A BEGINS

Haley Lim

Lane MacDougall

Arya Mahajan

Asher Pinkston

Lily Pinkston

I want to help other people in the community.

I benefit from the HY board because it gives me the opportunity to make new friends and help improve our community.

I have participated and helped out in many different events at the HY. In addition, I bring innovative ideas, along with a great positive attitude.

I am hard working and do everything asked of me.

I benefit because it gives me a way to socialize and experience new things.

The HY board benefits because I give ideas and I also volunteer a lot. I get something to do and I enjoy helping the community.

Viggy Ravilla

Grace Rich

Quinn Ryan

Akshadha Seshamani

Aashna Singh

I know a lot of people...who live in the Highlands. I can ask around for feedback or help regarding events planned or issues that arise.

I have learned lots from my peers on how the board is run and it’s helped me develop more skills when putting on events and communicating.

I really enjoyed the Art of Adulting sessions. I found the college planing one to be especially informative.

The HY board has taught me many valuable qualities, like leadership, thoughtfulness, time management, and more.

I know many kids struggling with mental health, and I feel stepping up as a community to offer more support can make the biggest difference.

7th Grade

11th Grade

7th Grade

9th Grade

11th Grade

12th Grade

9th Grade

9th Grade

7th Grade

11th Grade

Audrey Short

Ashwin Suresh

Alexis Yuen

*Colin Yuen

Jeric Yuen

I love the public art displays in the Highlands and downtown Issaquah. I think there could be value in expanding the opportunities for students to create some of that art.

My experiences have taught me to be more inclusive of people from all walks of life.

Anyone with an adequate support structure can have an influence on their community.

I would like to provide my digital art experience to help enhance the social media presence of the HY board by creating appealing designs and enticing posters.

As the HY board is dedicated to promoting the inclusion and acceptance of all teens within the Highlands, I want to create projects that will aid in fostering this idea of inclusion.

I hope to participate in activities that include cleaning parks, supporting the growth of other students attending sixth grade and improving my community.

10th Grade

11th Grade

10th Grade

12th Grade

8th Grade

24

CONNECTIONS



SUMMER 2022

COMMUNITY MEETING

City Council, IPD Address Concerns Officials talk crime, development and more at Blakely Hall On June 15 at Blakely Hall, Issaquah Highlands hosted a community listening session that included Mayor Mary Lou Pauly, the Issaquah City Council and several City of Issaquah employees, including *Issaquah

by JIM and CAROL HALAS Police Department (IPD) Highlands Council Staff Chief Paula Schwan. & Dahlia Park Residents The purpose of the event was to provide up-todate information on areas of interest to the community and to give residents the opportunity to ask questions and share concerns. Public safety, emergency preparedness, private development, transit, public works and infrastructure maintenance were all discussed.

CRIME Chief Schwan discussed the increase in crime over the past two years. She shared that an average of 10-12 crimes per month are committed in Issaquah Highlands, and that most of those crimes are theft.

in to the IPD after-hours trespass program.

Monthly retail group meetings with city officials and blitz efforts for large retail chains are other steps being taken to address crime within the city. Blitzes are coordinated efforts between police and retailers that facilitate arrests. Victims of shoplifting -- the retailers -- have to be willing to prosecute for police to take action, even if a witness calls in a crime, and blitzes help smooth that process.

Police Chief Schwan offered tips for residents to protect their homes and vehicles: • Stay alert • Call police if you see something suspicious (911 for emergencies or the IPD non-emergency line: 425-837-3200) • Install good exterior lighting • Install and use an alarm system • Lock windows and doors of homes and vehicles • Remove items from cars, even power cords and empty bags • Park in the garage

"We've had a lot of very qualified laterals that we've hired, and that has been very beneficial," Schwan said.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT City of Issaquah Emergency Manager Lee Shin shared steps residents should take to prepare: • Create emergency supply kits that include 72 hours of food and water • Learn first aid/CPR • Identify a safe place for all emergencies (flood, earthquake, fire) • Identify an evacuation route • Teach all in home where to shut off water, gas and electricity

Those laterals are helping to bridge the gap while 12 of the 22 new hires are in training, either at the academy or in field training. The department is hiring for a couple more positions, including a crime analyst, who will make data and statistics readily available to the public.

During emergencies, get key information at the city's website (Issaquahwa.gov), via the city's Twitter feed (@cityofissaquah) or on 1700AM radio. The city also offers a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training course. Sign up at Issaquahwa.gov/em.

IPD is also using non-recording city cameras to monitor areas of the community in real time if a call is received.

PUBLIC WORKS AND DEVELOPMENT Public Works Operations Manager Bennett Ashbaugh noted the I-90 on-ramps are the responsibility of the Washington State Department of Transportation, and surface repairs are out for bid. He also discussed several projects his department is working on or recently finished: • Painting light poles along Highlands Drive and 9th Avenue • Making pavement improvements on 15th Avenue south of Park Drive and on Highlands Drive from

To address the increase in crime and the issue of staff being down nearly 40% seven months ago, IPD has hired 22 new employees, all of whom have been vetted with background, psychological and medical evaluations. Corrections and dispatch are now fully staffed.

Collaborating with local businesses is another important step being taken. Specifically, an after-hours trespass program is in place, which gives business owners the opportunity to sign an agreement with IPD to take enforcemnt action if people not affiliated with a business are on the property after hours. Both the IHCA and Grand Ridge Plaza are currently going through the process to opt

A full house was on hand at Blakely Hall to voice community concerns and to listen to responses from Mayor Mary Lou Pauly, the Issaquah City Council, Issaquah Police Chief Paula Schwan and more.

Discovery Drive toward I-90 • Installation of Rapid Flashing Beacons at two crosswalks on Park Drive Community Planning and Development Director Minnie Dhaliwal discussed the ongoing single-family and townhome construction in Westridge, including affordable housing units there. She also highlighted the High Street Linear Park and the 10 homes to be built on Parcel D at the intersection of 15th Avenue Northeast, Falls and College Drives, adjacent to Forest Ridge.

Watch the full video at youtu.be/xojXoiRjWO4 *IPD Chief Paula Schwan was appointed and sworn in by City Council on June 21, 2022. At the time of this meeting, she was recognized as the interim IPD chief.”

Join Block Watch Program to Help Fight Crime As someone who experienced a situation reflective of the uptick in local crime, I want to do something to fight back. I want to do whatever I can to help our community as a whole.

Although the police force is short on staff (and is in the process of hiring more officers), we, as neighbors, can come together and do our part to try to eradicate crime from our neighborhoods by participating in Block Watch.

by KRISTA OWEN Ashland Park Resident

Block Watch is a program offered by the Issaquah Police

Department for residents, inspired by the National Neighborhood Watch founded by the National Sherrifs’ Association in the early ‘70s. At that time, the unity and cohesion of traditional neighborhoods were deteriorating as people became more mobile and life was faster paced.

Criminals took advantage of the situation and moved in and out of neighborhoods without causing suspicion or alarm.

Law enforcement was not able to keep up with the rise in crime.

solely relying on law enforement to combat crime.

Other issues Block Watch can address are drug awareness, personal safety, first aid, fire prevention, disaster preparedness, city planning, and street construction and repair.

After the implementation of the Neighborhood Watch in communities across America, cases of burglary decreased by as much as 75% in some areas.

To participate, contact Krista Owen at 425-891-1545 or at kristalynowen@gmail.com. Join the Facebook page where much of the communication will take place as the program is launched: facebook.com/groups/ issaquahhighlandsblockwatch/ Note: Block Watch is not a citizen’s patrol or vigilante force, nor is it designed for participants to take personal risks to prevent crime.

People want to assume an active role in making their communities safe, and a key reason the program is a success is because citizens work with law enforcement instead of

The program, aside from keeping crime at bay, instills a greater sense of security, well-being and community that puts the word neighbor back into neighborhood.

ISSAQUAHHIGHLANDS.COM

25

26

CONNECTIONS



SUMMER 2022

ISSAQUAHHIGHLANDS.COM

27

COMMUNITY GROUPS

The pickleball group meets every Monday from 4-6 p.m. at the Central Park Courts and is open to all ages and levels of experience. Visit IssaquahHighlands.com/events for possible schedule changes.

New Pickleball Group Is a Big Hit

New resident Laura McVicker expands options for organized Pickleball in Issaquah I moved to Issaquah Highlands from San Diego, Calif., last November for a job and to be closer to family. (I know - I do miss the sun!)

As an active person who played high school sports and always enjoys the camaraderie of athletic

by LAURA McVICKER activities, I was curious to Pickleball Co-Leader try my hand at pickleball. & Wynhaven Resident I wanted to get outside (or on an indoor court during the winter), get active and meet people in my community.

I’d casually played a few times in California and had heard

how popular it was in the Seattle area, so I figured there would be a bevy of places to find pick-up games close by.

I was surprisingly wrong.

I joined several pickleball Facebook groups located in the Puget Sound region. Shoreline. Auburn. Green Lake.

Kirkland. Every community seemed to have regular pick-up play except Issaquah. To be fair, the Issaquah Community Center offered open-gym pickleball, but it was during the workday, so it was tough for me to find two hours to leave work to play.

I reached out in the Issaquah Highlands Facebook group, inquiring if anyone was interested in organizing some games. I was overwhelmed by the interest. At least 40 people commented that they, too, were interested in organized pickleball games in Issaquah, but they weren’t sure where to

What to Expect When You Show Up : A Great Experience!

First-time pickleballer finds camaraderie and fun on Central Park Courts Hearing that pickleball was considered the official sport of Washington, as well as the fact that it was easy to learn and play, I realized I had to see what it

by CAROL HALAS was all about.

Highlands Council The timing of the Administrative new pickleball Coordinator group created & Dahlia Park Resident in Issaquah Highlands was perfect. My husband and I decided to go check it out, and we’re so happy we did.

I’ve heard that pickleball players are friendly people, and we discovered right away that is the absolute truth. We walked onto the courts

play. I apparently was onto something.

Through communication with the Highlands Council, we were able to set aside courts at Central Park every Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. for pickleball. After the weather improved, we started seeing newbies trickle in to play.

Seeing new introductions between neighbors and watching others help pickleball novices (like me) learn the game and improve is great – all against the beautiful backdrop of Central Park.

I envision that perhaps three courts will soon not be enough for the onslaught of pickleballers turning out.

I know how I’ll be spending my Monday evenings this summer! Join me on the pickleball court!

Pickleball 101

It's a mix of tennis, pingpong and badminton BASIC RULES ⬤ Only serving side may score after a fault

and everyone there was warm and welcoming.

The organizers – Penny, Dennis, and Laura – were great about making sure everyone was introduced and felt comfortable.

When we explained that this was our first experience with the game, they took that in stride and clearly outlined the basics of serving, scoring and the court lines. Our crash course in rules was followed by a warm-up to get familiar with the paddle, ball and court. We realized quickly that the best way to learn is to just play the game, and that’s what we did.

The organizers and other experienced players were encouraging, supportive and patient throughout. It was so much fun, and we were hooked. On top of that, we met a lot of great people of all ages and felt a real sense of camaraderie. This pickleball group is another incredible way for the people of our community to meet and connect!

WINNER

⬤ First to 11 (must win by 2)

NON-VOLLEY ZONE (KITCHEN) ⬤ Players may not enter. (Prevents slam shots.)

EQUIPMENT

⬤ Paddle and ball

⬤ Serve is underhand ⬤ Ball must bounce one time per side

28

CONNECTIONS



SUMMER 2022

ON THE BLOG

This Month on the Blog Emergency Preparedness

School News

Read these upcoming stories from your Issaquah Highlands neighbors at issaquahhighlands.com/news.

Community Garden

Highlands Youth

Preparing for Anything in 12 Steps

Team Lego Lynx Goes to State!

Weeds.

You Can Eat Them!

Summer Fun Outside Your Door in Issaquah Highlands

JOHNNA MASTERSON Owner of Inspired & Organized & Central Park Resident

LEGO LYNX TEAM Natalie Levin, Helen Dos Reis, Saanvi Nagaraj, Aadya Syal, Meher Singhal, Hrehaan Motwani & Suraj Narra

TRICIA GRAY Community Garden Ambassador & Forest Ridge Resident

HY BOARD MEMBERS Saira Hashmey, Ashwin Suresh, Lexi Yuen & more

"Most people want to have their emergency kit ready, but it can feel very intimidating and expensive. The lists seem endless, and the process sounds exhausting." Johnna breaks down creating a disaster kit into 12 easy steps, and catches us up on a few steps after her own emergency sidelined her from regular routines. Fortunately, her stocked, 72-hour emergency readiness kit helped keep things running smoothly for her family.

Lego Lynx, the Robotics team from Pacific Cascade Middle School, had the opportunity to compete in Bellevue at the First Lego League competition. The competition allows students to gain an understanding of STEM basics and apply that knowledge. Lego Lynx was one of 32 teams in Washington to move on to the state championship, where the team placed sixth.

"When I first started gardening at Vista, I noticed a bunch of plants always creeping into my plots. At first, I found them quite annoying because they took away space and nutrients from the crops I planted. But one day, I went on a foraging excursion, and the botanist pointed out some weeds were beneficial and edible, including the dandelion, dead nettle, red clover, dock, plantain and purslane found in our plots."

Saturday, sept 17 8am - 4pm

Teen leaders from Issaquah Highlands chime in with their favorite things to do over the summer, including taking in a movie at Regal Cinemas, grabbing an ice cream at Ben & Jerry's or relaxing with friends at a neighborhood park.

ISSAQUAHHIGHLANDS.COM

29

FIBER NETWORK

More Availability and More In-Home Support From HFN More Highlands Fiber Network community services are coming

by JEREMY FALLT HFN General Manager & Central Park Resident

Later this summer, Highlands Fiber Network (HFN) will begin the rollout of expanded weekend onsite support and premium in-home tech assistance.

Included will be personal Internet device installation, setup, and more.

And we've already started; if you have a connectivity issue, our field teams are now available Monday through Saturday. More details will be announced soon, so be on the lookout!

The

Top

3 Questions

Highlands Fiber Network receives many requests and questions from Issaquah Highlands residents every month.

Below is a breakdown of the types of support requests and the top three questions posed by users in May.

Most Popular Questions in May

Q: Q: Q:

How can I pay my bill online?

A:

HFN has an easily accessible online payment portal available at https://www.highlandsfibernetwork.com/PayBill/

How can I recover my account information?

A:

You can access your account online at any time at https://www.highlandsfibernetwork.com/your-account.

If you lost your registration number or password, they can be recovered by using the links at https://www.highlandsfibernetwork.com/support/locate-registration.

How should I set up the network in my home?

A:

Being a community switched fiber network, it is important to review the importance of having your personal router/firewall as the primary device connected to your home gateway. Please review our guide at https://www.highlandsfibernetwork.com/guide/ connecting-your-home.

All-Time Most Popular Support Request Types Accounting

Percentage of Calls 31%

Connectivity

16%

New Service Accounting

13%

Transfer of Service Other

12% 7%

No Connectivity

6%

Billing Information Update

4%

Scheduling Question

3%

Lost Credentials

2%

Email Help HFNVoice Help

2% 2%

Home LAN Troubleshooting

2%

30

CONNECTIONS



SUMMER 2022

CITY NEWS GREEN HOMES

City's New Programs Support GHG Reduction

Energy Smart Eastside Heat Pump Program and Climate Action Challenge aim to make reaching climate goals efficient and fun Forty-two percent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States come from how we power our everyday lives – how we cook, drive, heat our water, and heat and cool our homes.

As we see more days over 90 degrees, most people have either installed air-conditioning (AC) systems or are strongly considering it. Installing a heat pump heater instead of AC will not only lower your monthly bill due to efficiency gains, but it will also give you a new heating system on the cheap, sparing you the cost of having to replace that later. These miraculous machines both heat and cool.

When you think your decisions and actions do not make the impact necessary to meet the required change to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius, understand the enormous opportunity that CHRISTIN PELGRUM To provide education and guidance in addition to reducing coordinating efforts offer and what the collective Dahlia Park Resident impact means for the future of our city and people. complexity and customer inertia, Spark Northwest is When you think figuring out the way forward is an teaming up with the cities of Bellevue, Mercer Island, insurmountable feat amid our already busy lives, Issaquah, Redmond and Kirkland to form the Energy understand that some impactful decisions are not daily ones, but Smart Eastside Heat Pump Program. Like the 2017 solar program, rather ones that you make once every decade. Understand that this program helps streamline the process by cutting out half the steps banding together with your neighbors reduces the time, risk typically involved in installing a heat pump. The heat pump program and money required to decarbonize your life and enable a safer, also offers an equity-focused component that adds additional support healthier and more equitable future for us all. for low-income customers. Check out energysmarteastside.org for more information and upcoming workshops.

Lucky for us, our city is leading the way by providing a plan and the tools needed to decarbonize in an effort to protect our From BrightAction comes the Eastside Climate Action Challenge families and our beautiful city. between Redmond, Bellevue, Issaquah and Mercer Island. Painlessly and quickly, you can create an energy profile, select actions to reduce In 2021, the City of Issaquah adopted the Issaquah Climate your carbon footprint and start receiving customized recommendations Action Plan (ICAP). The plan is a comprehensive, proactive as you track your household’s progress in its decarbonization and strategic approach to reduce our city’s emissions, targeting journey. You can also join and track the achievements of your city, those derived from our buildings’ energy use, transportation a community group or a local team in addition to collaborating and and land use, as well as materials and their consumption. The sharing resources with your neighbors to compete with others.

ICAP also focuses on preserving our natural systems and water resources while building community resilience and In about 30 minutes, I was able to answer a short set of questions and well-being. input my data from my PSE bills. I created an Issaquah Highlands community group and a Dahlia Park + Roanoke Woods team, selected According to the ICAP, 61% of Issaquah’s GHG emissions a bunch of actions my household is actively talking about, crossed are from energy use. Recognizing that achieving the city’s decarbonization goals comes from individual participation in addition to municipal, state and federal coordination, the city is excited to announce two programs that make it easy and fun to save money and make your life cleaner and more resilient through electrification: the Energy Smart Eastside Heat Pump Program and the Climate Action Challenge.

Heat pumps are part of our energy solution. Despite longterm savings, heat pump adoption is often challenged by high upfront costs, customer inertia, and the complexity of the technology, options and incentives.

The Pelgrum household's energey profile

Because all the homes in Issaquah Highlands were built with gas furnaces, there are additional challenges.

Switching to a heat pump from a gas furnace is not supported by a Puget Sound Energy (PSE) rebate, and the operating cost of a standard gas furnace versus a heat pump doesn’t justify the cost to make the change when solely replacing a furnace in Issaquah Highlands.

off the ones we’ve already taken, and received a profile and plan with numerous resources laid out before me. As suspected, my household’s biggest emitter (55% of our total household emissions) is our cars (one of which is a hybrid), producing 16.1 tons of CO2 emissions per year. I can’t wait to see that reduced as we work our way through the steps on this platform toward purchasing electric vehicles (EVs) this year. You, too, can get excited about and access this resource at eastsideclimatechallenge.org.

But if the fact that heat pumps offer 200-300% efficient, clean energy – compared to the 95% efficiency of their CO2-emitting natural gas furnace counterparts – doesn’t incentivize you to make the switch, then the argument for installing a heat pump versus air conditioning should hit home both financially and environmentally.

As I said, we are lucky to live in a city that is providing us with the plan and tools needed to make action accessible. I look forward to participating in the Issaquah Highlands community efforts and sharing this electrification journey together. You can set up a group for your Issaquah Highlands neighborhood and challenge your neighbors to participate!

ISSAQUAHHIGHLANDS.COM

31

32

CONNECTIONS



SUMMER 2022