The quarterly meeting of SLSA (South Lake Sammamish Association) was called to order at 7:05 by David Bangs (chairman).  The meeting was held at the home of Deborah Parsons in Greenwood Point.

In attendance were:  David Bangs (Chair of SLSA); Joan Probala (Vice-Chair of SLSA); Becky Stenzel (Secretary of SLSA); Wayne Eddy (Weatherwood SLSA rep); Deborah Parsons (Greenwood Point SLSA rep); Windsor Lewis (South Cove SLSA rep); Mary Victory (Meerwood SLSA rep); Debbie Smith (Sammamish Crown Condos SLSA rep); Melody Scherting (Sammamish View Association); Carolyn Bader (SE 42nd Street resident); Doris Ong (Greenwood Point resident); Margie Nelson (Greenwood Point resident); Craig Kinzer (SE 42nd Street resident).

Featured speakers were David Fujimoto (Manager) of the City of Issaquah Resource Conservation Office and Nels Johnson of Rabanco/Allied Waste Services.  An informative discussion followed introduction of the speakers.  Notable were the scope of how much material can now be recycled in our garbage, recycling and yard waste containers:

1)  All food waste (vegetable, fruit, dairy, meat including bones, etc.) can be put in yard waste containers.  A countertop container is available through the City (starter kit includes compost container) by either calling 425-837-3400 or using website www.ci.issaquah.wa.us/rco.  Or go to the city offices near Lowe's at 1775 12th Ave NW (second floor) to pick up.  Any associated food packaging which is compostable (i.e. pizza boxes, paper plates, napkins, etc.) can be put in the yard waste bin, as well.  NO PLASTICS!

2)  Plastic containers with the numbers 1 through 5 are recyclable.  All glass bottles, plastic jugs and tubs (sour cream, margarine, etc.) are recylable.  Allied Waste will be transitioning to a single recyclable container (versus the three we have now) over the next year or so.  But all recyclable materials are currently loaded into the trucks into a single bin, so it is no longer necessary to separate these items into the three separate bins.  Go ahead & mix them up (or put inside on each floor).

3)  Each yard waste bin is 96 gallons (3 units of 32 gallons each).  Up to 10 units of yard waste (i.e. the equivalent of ten (10) 32-gallon garbage cans or 3 yard waste bins) can be put out each week with no extra charge.  Yard waste can be put out in reclycable bags (no plastic bags), or in other containers like old garbage cans. 

4)  Allied Waste will take plastic bags, but only if put into a single plastic bag and tied (no loose bags).  Should be placed with bottles, glass, etc.

5)  Allied Waste has a website (www.Rabanco.com) which has a virtual tour/video of how materials are recycled.

6)  The city Resource Conservation Office has stencils available for painting symbols on storm drains to prevent hazardous materials from going directly into Lake Sammamish.  If interested, call Micah Vonkowski at 425-837-3420 to obtain for your neighborhood or association.

SLSA Issues Discussed:

1)  Meerwood Park Ice Cream Social:  SLSA voted to contribute $200 this year for the annual South Lake Sammamish neighborhood event.  The entire cost is approximately $1,500 excluding the climbing wall (which was sponsored by Doris Ong at Coldwell Banker Bain in 2006 and will be in 2007, as well).  Several of the HOA's contribute each year (Meerwood, South Cove, Greenwood Point, and Sammamish Beach Club).  The event is organized by Mary Victory, president of the Meerwood HOA.

2)  Doris Ong and Margie Nelson (Greenwood Point residents) are "issue owners" regarding their interest in improving the appearance of fencing and landscaping along 188th Avenue SE.  They want to form a committee to explore possibilities of this enhancement.  Discussion followed of what might be done, specifically enhanced signage at the major entrances along W Lk Samm Pkwy at 188th and 192nd, i.e. large "South Lake Sammamish" signs with individual subdivisions listed below.  Anyone interested in working on such a committee should contact either Doris Ong (dorisong at cbba.com) or Margie Nelson (scott-margie at comcast.net).

3)  For the Fall 2007 meeting of SLSA, we agreed to invite Issaquah City Council candidates (4 positions will be open), since we for the first time will be voting for these Issaquah positions.  Joan Probala will contact candidates and research a venue large enough to hold such a gathering.

4)  Carolyn Bader (425-641-9819) would like to participate in the NW Sammamish Road bike lane/pedestrial path issue headed up by Gary Thede.  She requested that Gary contact her.  Discussion followed that this lane/path could be part of a larger regional trail system once connected from E Lk Samm Pkwy and the State park.

5)  Joan Probala reported that the state legislature had funded $1 million for the first phase of Lake Sammamish State Park improvements (to be spent on environmental studies).  The goal of those working on the improvements is to have them completed by 2011, which is the 100 year anniversary of Lake Sammamish State Park. 

6)  A future bike trail along NW Sammamish Road/W Lk Samm Pkwy was discussed, and the possibility it would connect to the trail on the east side of Lake Sammamish and future bike trail(s) to the west.

7)  Craig Kinzer (SE 42nd Street resident) initiated a discussion about how 188th Ave SE might be improved in the future, in addition to homogenous-appearing fencing from W Lk Samm Pkwy north to the lake.  He questioned whether there would be interest in a landscaped median in the middle of 188th (which slows traffic), or whether fences could be moved away from the street slightly to create large planting beds along the roadway.  David Bangs suggested he contact the City of Issaquah about their "traffic calming devices" and how we might work with the city on these ideas.  Craig Kinzer will be the "issue owner" for this issue.

As discussed at November's meeting, the format SLSA will follow is that individuals may bring issues to share through SLSA.  Those individuals or groups may use SLSA to promote or explore the issue, and will "take ownership" of their issue rather than it being the responsibility of SLSA officers or reps.

The meeting ended at approximately 9:00 PM. 

These meeting notes were compiled by Becky Stenzel

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