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Notes for Fall SLSA Meeting
September 26, 2007
The Fall meeting of SLSA (South Lake Sammamish Association) was called to order at 7:15 by David Bangs (chairman). The meeting was held at the home of Joan Probala in South Cove.
In attendance from SLSA neighborhoods were: David Bangs (Chair of SLSA); Joan Probala (Vice-Chair of SLSA); Becky Stenzel (Secretary of SLSA); Melody Scherting (Sammamish View Association); Jeff and Deborah Parsons (Greenwood Point); Jim Probala (South Cove); Mary Victory (Meerwood); Diane McGee (NW Sammamish Road); Jamie Brakken (NW Sammamish Road); and Pat Bowman (South Cove).
Featured speakers were candidates currently running for City Council: Fred Butler (incumbent); Bryan Weinstein (running against Fred Butler); John Traegger (unopposed); David Kappler (incumbent); Bill Werner (running against David Kappler); Joshua Schaer (running for Position #4); and Vince Ipollito (running for Position #4).
Joan Probala led the candidate portion of the meeting. Each candidate introduced himself and spoke briefly about the issues most important to him, in the following order:
Fred Butler: Mr. Butler has served two terms (i.e. eight years) on the Issaquah City Council; one issue important to him is emergency preparedness for both individuals and the City of Issaquah; he is interested in pursuing a reverse 911 phone program whereby residents would be called in case of emergency.
John Traegger: Mr. Traegger has served on the Issaquah Development Commission for 12 years, and is a Citizen Emergency Reponse team member; land use planning is of special interest to him, especially redevelopment.
Bryan Weinstein: Mr. Weinstein has served on the Planning Policy Commission for 1.5 years; he has run for City Council in a prior election; he feels there is a "disconnect" between what people expect from the City and what the City actually provides.
David Kappler: Mr. Kappler has served on the City Council for 16 years. He is working with other jurisdictions to resolve shorelines issues so there is coooperation between other cities (Bellevue, Redmond and Sammamish) in enforcing shoreline regulations. Land use is his major interest, especially the central subarea plan which is now being developed.
Josh Schaer: Mr. Schaer has been active in the Bellevue Neighborhood Network prior to moving to Issaquah; his areas of interest are traffic and transportation; he also serves on a Metro committee which works on Metro bus routes.
Bill Werner: Mr. Werner has served in the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, Habitat for Humanity, and was recently chairman of Issaquah for Katrina Relief (a fund raising effort to help Hurricane Katrina victims). His areas of interest include roads and traffic, with emphasis on public safety.
Vince Ipollito: Mr. Ipollito has not been involved in politics in the past. His area of interest is managed growth and efficiency in government.
David Bangs then asked each candidate to introduce their opponent and to say something about them and the issues they're concerned about. After that exchange she asked the candidates how they saw Issaquah in future years after the subarea plan is finalized and in progress.
Finally, Joan Probala asked them if they would support the Arts Commission in funding a sculpture for the South Lake Sammamish neighborhood, probably to be located in Meerwood Park.
Jamie Brakken expressed concern about a proposed development on the south side of Interstate 90 (the Mohl development), and the implications for increased traffic along NW Sammamish Road and Newport Way.These meeting notes were compiled by Becky Stenzel
