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Minutes for May 5,
2009 SLSA Meeting
The Spring
2009 meeting of SLSA (South Lake Sammamish Association) was called to order at
In attendance from SLSA neighborhoods were: David Bangs (Chair of SLSA, South Cove); Joan Probala (Vice-Chair of SLSA, South Cove); Becky Stenzel (Secretary of SLSA, Meerwood); Melody Scherting (Sammamish View); Doris Ong (Greenwood Point); Barb Anderson (Greenwood Point); Jan Kopczynski (Greenwood Point); Lynda Neilsen (Greenwood Point); Charlene Gaston (Greenwood Point); Deb Freng (SE 42nd Street), and Eric Fleischman (Lake West).
1) The featured speaker was Joel Smith of Puget Sound Energy who did a presentation on home energy savings.
A. PSE can do an energy audit for homeowners (cost is approximately $95). This is a new program. Typical solutions to energy problems are duct sealing (which can lose up to 20% of the heat flowing thru them), flow restrictors, fluorescent light bulbs to replace incandescent ones, floor and wall insulation. There are several new programs in which a homeowner can receive cost-free fixes if participating in an energy update such as floor insulation.
B. The top energy savings can be found in air and duct sealing, insulation (ceiling/attic is more important than crawl spaces), heating systems (from furnace to thermostats), water heating, and appliances.
C. Home electronics usage has grown 6% per year, and now totals 10 to 14 percent of all energy use for residential electricity. There is a new product made by Belkin that hooks up to individual electronic devices. When turned off, it then turns off everything connected with that device (for example, the tv, the dvd player, tivo, and even the remote are all turned off when the tv is turned off).
D. Many of the PSE programs, including rebates for energy upgrades and federal tax credits, can be found on the PSE website (www.PSE.com).
2) David Bangs is now working with Home Performance Washington, a group of energy auditors, contractors, etc. who can retrofit homes to increase energy savings.
3) Doris Ong gave an update on the proposed South Lk. Samm. sign to be placed at 188th Ave SE & W Lk Samm Pkwy SE. The permit was submitted 2 weeks ago, and there should be a response soon. Per Charlene Gaston, the sign is limited to a maximum of 32 square feet, so the size may have to be decreased.
4) There was a short discussion of shoreline issues led by David Bangs. He is a member of an ad hoc group providing input to the City of Issaquah, which is now drafting a new critical area ordinance. Per David, the City is much easier to work with than King County, and is attempting to be realistic with the existing homes along Lake Sammamish.
5) There was a discussion about the future of SLSA. It was generally agreed that until an issue requires action on the part of South Lake Sammamish residents, we will take a "hiatus" and use the existing e-mail list to communicate issues which may arise. Meeting attendance and offers to host meetings have slowed dramatically. Since the main goal of the original SLSA was to get us annexed into the city of Issaquah, the goal was accomplished and a network framework set up which can be activated at any time as future issues arise.
6) Deb Freng reported that the residents on her street (SE 42nd) are participating in the CERT program for emergency preparedness.
7) Becky Stenzel (Meerwood) and Jan Kopczynski (Greenwood Point) worked with the City of Issaquah to get a street light installed at 188th and W Lk Samm Pkwy SE across from the bus stop. PSE will install the light fixture and Metro will pay for the electricity. This should increase safety at the bus stop (where there was evidence of drug use earlier in the year). Becky also worked with Metro to get a garbage can installed the bus stop, which should reduce the litter which was accumulating there.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 PM.
These meeting notes were compiled by Becky Stenzel
