South Lake Sammamish Update

News from the South Lake Sammamish Association SLSA

February 17, 2007

In this issue: 

• Future of SLSA - Survey and Brainstorming Results

• Winter SLSA Meeting February 27th, in South Cove

  • Discuss future of Meerwood and Timberlake Parks with Issaquah Parks Department

    • Should dogs be banned in these parks?

  • Elect new SLSA Officers, Pick issues for 2007

• Issaquah Park Board Vacancies

• Controversy over Comcast Cable TV Rates Charged Here

  • Cable rates in our area much higher than rates for other Issaquah residents

• No Power, No Problem! - Clean Air Agency promotes gas fireplace inserts

Future of SLSA - Survey and Brainstorming Results

Quite a few subscribers responded to last fall's "Future of SLSA Survey".  All right -- perhaps few people answered the actual questions, but many did reply to let us know that they enjoy these SLSA Update Newsletters.  They also find multi-neighborhood communication useful so that we can respond to big issues when they arrive.

At the brainstorming meeting, we decided to become more informal and fun, now that the big annexation has been achieved.  We will meet in local homes three or four times a year.  We will not need further financial contributions from HOA's. We will only pursue issues if someone who is willing to attend SLSA meeting becomes the "Issue Owner."  The issue owner will submit "blurbs' for the SLSA Updates email.

Now that the meeting are in the "hood", why not drop by and see what's going on?

Winter SLSA Meeting February 27th, in South Cove

Our first SLSA quarterly meeting of the year will be held Tuesday Feb 27th, 7pm, at the South Cove Home of Joan Probala.

Home of Joan Probala
19218 SE 45th Pl
Issaquah, WA 98027

Our special guests will be Anne McGill and Al Erickson from the Issaquah Parks department as we discuss the issues surrounding the transfer of Meerwood and Timberlake parks into the Issaquah Park System.

While we are excited about the transfer, there are some issues to consider.  For example, Issaquah has a policy to ban dogs in all parks.  We suspect some dog owners here might not be happy about a dog ban in these two parks.  What do you think?  Come and join the discussion.

~~~~~

Also on the Agenda:

• Elect 2007 SLSA Officers  (Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary Treasurer)
• Pick Issues to work on this year.  We will only work on an issue if someone is willing to be the "issue owner."  If you see a problem that needs to solved through multi-neighborhood cooperation, we welcome you -- especially if you'd like to help out.

Issaquah Park Board Vacancies

Are you interested in the future of our local parks? Or perhaps the future of sports fields used by your children around Issaquah?

We have some vacancies on the Park Board and are very interested in getting someone from South Cove area to apply.  Applications can be obtained from the City Clerk.  Could you spread the word—it would be wonderful to have someone from your area.

The Park Board meets the 4^th Monday of each month, 7-9 p.m. and is an advisory board to the Mayor and Park Director.  We have a great group of folks serving on it.

Thank you again.
Anne McGill
Director of Issaquah Parks
425.837.3325
annem@ci.issaquah.wa.us

Controversy over Comcast Cable TV Rates Charged Here

Jeff Parsons, of Greenwood Point writes:

Greenwood Point and South Cove Pay Higher Cable TV Rates

There is some confusion regarding cable TV rates for Comcast customers in the areas annexed by the City of Issaquah in March 2006.  Comcast continues to charge those residents higher rates than other customers within city limits, and Comcast offers incomplete and contradictory explanations for the differences.

I’ve discussed this with the Issaquah Cable Commission, and they agree.  At both the October 2006 and January 2007 meetings of the Commission, they stated that homeowners in the annexed areas are entitled to the same rates as the rest of the city.

Even Comcast agreed -- at one point.  Last summer, Comcast sent a letter to residents in our neighborhoods (see attached letter dated August 11, 2006), stating in part that:

·       Comcast had received notification that our area had been annexed into the City of Issaquah, acknowledging that in order to do business in our community, they are subject to the community’s cable franchise authority.

·       Comcast would be updating customer accounts to “properly reflect the city/county area in which they live” within in 60-90 days, and that “service prices, fees and taxes will be adjusted to reflect appropriate calculations for the City of ISSAQUAH.”

However, to date, Greenwood Point/South Cove cable TV bills still list the franchise authority as “King County Office of Cable Communications.”  Comcast’s January 2007 Products and Services Price List describes our area as “King County South Cove (Issaquah), Sammamish.”  And we continue to be billed at King County rates, rather than City of Issaquah rates.  One exception to this are the franchise fees, which were finally brought in line with Issaquah’s fees in November 2006.  But despite the franchise fee change, Comcast refuses to change our franchise authority or the corresponding cable TV rates.

The difference in rates can be significant.  For example, Comcast’s top package (Basic Cable + Digital Platinum) cost a City of Issaquah customer $76.17 in Dec 2006, while a Greenwood Point customer paid $104.98 for the same service.  As of Jan 2007, Greenwood Point rates went up another $6.26; it’s not yet known what increases, if any, the rest of Issaquah experienced.

Click Here to read a letter that I’ve sent to Comcast, as well as the Issaquah Cable Commissions.  I encourage anyone who is a Comcast cable TV subscriber to read it, and to contact Comcast and/or the Issaquah Cable Commission if you have questions about your rates.

Regards,

Jeff Parsons

Greenwood Point homeowner

(425) 373-5969

Jeff@theparsons.com

Jeff is continuing to follow this issue, and has posted additional information here .
He encourages concerned customers to contact the Issaquah Cable Commission Liaison or Comcast.

No Power, No Problem! - Clean Air Agency promotes gas fireplace inserts.

Did you notice how smoky our air got during the power outage?
Modern natural gas fireplace inserts work without electricity, and burn clean.

This from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency:

No Power, No Problem! - Hearth retailers offer special discounts on natural gas and propane stoves and fireplaces

Keeping homes warm during our winter storms has been challenging for many of us. What's more, outdated wood stoves and improper wood burning during the power outages caused serious air quality issues in our region.

So here's an idea for staying warm while clearing the air next time the power goes out: switch to a natural gas or propane stove or fireplace insert.  They're the cleanest ways to heat your home. And, most don't require electricity.  So next time, you can say "no power, no problem!"

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and the Northwest Hearth, Patio and Barbeque Association have joined together on a special promotional campaign that includes hot deals on natural gas and propane hearth products.  Listen for our radio ads that will start Feb. 19 and run through March 11.  To date, 16 retailers in the region have signed on to offer discounts and/or special financing starting in February, so it's a great time to buy.

A list of members offering discounts has been posted to www.burningclean.com.  The Web site also offers tips on how to burn wood properly for maximum heat with minimum smoke if you choose a wood stove or fireplace.