BEST OF RESULTS
Best
Reporter ISSAQUAH | SAMMAMISH
2015
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I S S A Q UA H & S A M M A M I S H
ISSAQUAH & SAMMAMISH Pages 4-7
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FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015
Issaquah to apply for skate park grant
PITCHING IN ON EARTH DAY
New Friends Exec. Director says Lake Sammamish is a cause “easy to love.” Page 10
BY DANIEL NASH ISSAQUAH/SAMMAMISH REPORTER
Eastside Scene
Special pullout section inside Opposite Page 12
Photo courtesy of Doug Williams, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks
On Earth Day, celebrated Wednesday April 22, the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks brought students from Margaret Mead Elementary in Sammamish out to the East Lake Sammamish Trail to plant trees and shrubs. Above right, Makena Dinklocker and an unidentified student take hold of a shrub.
The journey toward a full build-out of the city of Issaquah’s planned Tibbetts Valley Park skate park moved forward an inch Monday night. But, judging from the number of skate park supporters who showed up in the audience section of City Hall South, the progress may as well have been a mile. Seated audience spilled out of the council chambers as the city council authorized Issaquah staff to submit an application for a $75,000 grant from King County’s Youth Sports Facilities program. With $350,000 already budgeted to build a new skate park, the application
Sports
Lake Samm. chronicled in photographs Crusaders cruise against Spartans Page 13
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BY DANIEL NASH ISSAQUAH/SAMMAMISH REPORTER
One hundred years ago, Lake Sammamish was a haven for boating, fishing and shoreside relaxation. Today, it’s… well, it’s largely the same. Though the lake may no longer function as a hotspot for the sawmills or over-water transport that serviced the area’s once-robust logging industry, residents really haven’t changed the way they use the lake for recreation. Make a paddle board out of fiberglass and you’re still paddle SEE BOOK, 12
SEE SKATE, 12
Search for Yazici replacement to remain internal BY MEGAN CAMPBELL ISSAQUAH/SAMMAMISH REPORTER
Sammamish City Council unanimously voted on April 21 to pursue an internal search to replace current City Manager Ben Yazici when he retires in February 2016. The council could approve an internal candidate as soon as mid-May, according to Yazici’s time line. Yazici, who announced his retirement earlier this month, recommended Deputy City Manager Lyman Howard for the job. This recommendation will carry a fair amount of weight, Mayor Tom Vance said. Yazici recommended Howard because of his strong finance background. Howard, who joined the city about a decade ago as its finance director, was named deputy city manager in 2011. Yazici pointed out the importance of having a city manager who has a firm grasp on the city’s contracts. Sammamish partners with various groups to provide residents with services; for example, the city contracts with the King County Sheriff ’s Office to provide Sammamish with its police force.
“We are a unique city for how we deal with services,” Yazici said. “(Howard) understands the contract model of management.” The council took note of Yazici’s recommendation, but decided to open the search to all city staff. “All of our directors are extremely capable individuals with several having additional assignments beyond normal departmental responsibilities,” Yazici wrote in a memorandum to council outlining his suggestion. Yazici said that recently two of his department heads have gone on to become city managers in Burien and Medina. The council formed a committee of three members to oversee the internal search. The search committee will include Vance and Deputy Mayor Kathy Huckabay; the third member was not named, although council urged councilmember Nancy Whitten to volunteer, citing her legal expertise. Councilmembers Don Gerend and Huckabay were involved in the internal search that led to Yazici’s 14-year career. He is the city’s second city manager.
DISCOVER PREMIER RETIREMENT LIVING Tuesday, April 28 | 12:30 pm: Presentation | 2 pm: Wine, Appetizers, & Music 22975 SE Black Nugget Rd, Issaquah, WA 98029 • RSVP at (425) 200-0331
eraliving.com