This article ran on page A5 of the Issaquah Press, June 15, 2005

King County approves Issaquah annexations

by Larry Johnson

You could call it a slam-dunk or a love fest, but the King County Boundary Review Board called it a unanimous vote to approve the annexation of Greenwood Point/South Cove by Issaquah last week by giving preliminary approval to the annexation plan without debate.

Formal board approval to make the 402-acre, 3,000-resident unincorporated King County area part of the city is likely to come in July, if nothing changes between then and last Wednesday’s public hearing at the Holiday Inn.

Resident after resident asked the board to let Issaquah annex their neighborhoods at the northwest edge of Issaquah between Interstate 90 and Lake Sammamish.

Mostly, they said annexation makes sense for both Issaquah and their neighborhoods.

Many residents said they are willing to assume their share of the city’s bonded indebtedness to accomplish the annexation, in large part because they believe they’ll get better police protection, be able to vote and run for office here, and won’t have to deal with King County government.

“We’re really wanting to be part of Issaquah,” said Melody Scherting. “We subscribe to the Issaquah Press, because that’s where local news is. We shop in Issaquah. We go out to dinner in Issaquah. Our kids go to Issaquah schools. We rarely see the King County police.  Issaquah has better police protection.”

Long-time annexation advocate David Bangs said a mailed survey returned by 475 of roughly 1400 potential respondents showed that 83 percent wanted to be annexed by Issaquah, 6 percent wanted Bellevue, 6 percent wanted to stay in King County and 5 percent didn’t know enough to express a preference.

Bangs, representing the South Lake Sammamish Association, said Greenwood Point/South Cove residents could run for office, see lower taxes, get police protection from Issaquah rather than a King County station in Maple Valley, and would be willing to pay to be part of the city.

“We want to take on our share of Issaquah’s bonded indebtedness,” Bangs said. “We want to pay the same as other Issaquah residents. It wouldn’t be fair not to.”

Eleanor May said burglars recently attempted to enter her home.

“I want to be covered by (Issaquah) police protection,” she said. “Not long ago, our home would have been burglarized if not for our. . . alarm.  Local police could come quicker.”

Kevin Morgan said he had tried to discuss speeding traffic in his South Cove neighborhood with the county but got no action.

“I tried to work with King County on speeding through our neighborhood to no avail. Issaquah has a smaller government, and our voices would be heard,” he said.

Susie Carney said it’s frustrating to shop in Issaquah and pay sales tax there, but get no direct benefits from those payments.

Debbie Smith said that several years ago, rumors were that Bellevue wanted to annex the area.

“ ‘Bellevue!’” I said. “ ‘ I don’t want to go to Bellevue!.’ ”

There’s a reason for that, said Rod Putney

“We feel connected to Issaquah,” he said. “When I drove here tonight to the meeting, it was 1.2 miles.”

Mayor Ave Frisinger stressed that connection in the city’s presentation to the Boundary Review Board.

“We view this annexation area as part of Issaquah, and based on what we’ve heard, we believe the residents do too,” she said.

Noting that Greenwood Point/South Cove has been a potential annexation area of Issaquah since 1995, she said it is a logical place for Issaquah to extend city services.

“Our purpose is to be responsive to residents, and be consistent with King County’s initiatives to get unincorporated urban areas annexed to cities,” she said.

The county wants to pay Issaquah $850,000 plus fund $1.1 million in Issaquah-Fall City Road improvements if Issaquah takes on Klahanie, a much larger neighborhood that the Boundary Review Board approved for annexation by Issaquah last week, also on a preliminary basis.

Michael Thomas of the King County Office of Management and Budget said no financial incentives will be paid to Issaquah for annexing Greenwood Point/South Cove. He said only the 10 biggest urban unincorporated areas come with incentives for the cities who annex them.

Still, he said, the county’s general fund will save $200,000 per year if the area is annexed.

“We don’t have the ability to make everyone whole, or fully satisfied, or even partially satisfied,” Thomas said.

Aside from one speaker reading a letter too quickly for the court reporter who was recording the meeting, about the only confusion at the meeting was about the effective date of Issaquah police protection.

“The total annexation package would take three years,” said Chief Dave Draveling. “Police protection would be effective immediately.”

“That makes me feel a lot better,” said Judy Tessendore, the review board member who was under the impression that police protection for new neighborhoods would be three years down the road.