Y and City Contract Negotiations To Continue

Last night, at the meeting of the Sammamish City Council, Councilmember Tom Vance moved that the Council "approve a resolution to accept the certified election results from the advisory vote on the November 6, 2012 general election ballot for a community and aquatic center in the City of Sammamish, and authorize the City Manager to proceed with the steps necessary to design and construct the Community and Aquatic Center, pending finalization of an operating agreement between the city and the YMCA."

Councilmember Don Gerend seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-1, with Councilmembers Vance, Valderrama, Whitten, Odell, James, and Gerend voting Yes; Councilmember Curley voted No.

It is expected that the completed operating agreement could be presented to the Council at the January 15, 2013 Study Session and approved at the Council meeting January 22.

YES! Wins the Community/Aquatic Center Advisory Vote!

Final certified results: Yes: 12,700 votes, 53.65%; No: 10,971 votes, 46.35%.

Yes! Sammamish Community Center wishes to thank all the citizens who contributed to this effort. In spite of the misinformation -- we are being polite -- from the NO campaign, and the big money they spent (probably more than $50,000 when all the reports are in), we managed to get the facts out to enough voters to help the YES vote succeed.

Thank you Sammamish voters. Although our work is not done, we are looking forward to going for a swim in the new community/aquatic center!

A Letter from Mayor Tom Odell

We have all been deluged with mailers, letters to the editor, and signs opposing the Sammamish Community and Aquatic Center and disparaging your City Council and administration.  This negative campaign is funded by a single business owner who is not a Sammamish resident and has committed more than $45,000 to defeat the advisory vote.  Much of the information in their flyers is incorrect, especially the claim that the city is giving a $25 million gift to the YMCA.

The third of our population which is under 18 badly needs this type of facility – and has for years!  This is equally true for seniors and retirees.  Current facilities – public or private – simply do not meet that need!  The Community Center will – and affordably!

Programs and Activities at the Y: What do they Offer?

For a look at the kind of programs and activities the Y can offer Sammamish residents, check this program guide for the Coal Creek Y at Newcastle here.

Judy Petersen, Parks Commissioner, Responds to Patch Comment

Christie Malchow has written a very thoughtful post that raises several questions a lot of people are asking about the proposed Sammamish Community and Aquatic Center.  Like her, I believe that swimming is a critical life skill.  (I currently drive from my home in Sammamish to the Coal Creek Y in order to give my grandchildren an opportunity to learn to swim.)  But unlike her, I have made up my mind on this issue:  My vote will be a resounding “Yes!”

As a member of the Sammamish Parks Commission, I am acutely aware that numerous polls of our citizens have indicated a strong desire for an aquatic center right in the heart of our city.  We live in a young community and need a family-oriented center, with a pool that allows for all ages and abilities.  Lap pools at local fitness centers are not suitable for young children.  The recreational pool proposed for our community will have a shallow entry, a water slide and other fun features as well as life guards!  And the proposed lap pool will have equipment that allows for handicapped entry.

I know a lot of us believe there are other, competing uses for these funds.  But more than half of the funds for this community and aquatic center would come from restricted funds: the Parks & Recreation capital budget.  The City Council moved other parks construction projects forward to beyond 2015, to free up these funds.

Letter to the Editor: Sammamish Reporter, October 10,2012

Vote 'yes' on YMCA facility

A Sammamish City Non-Binding YMCA Facility Question is on the crowded November 6, 2012 ballot. While reportedly tight races for top elected offices both nationally and state-wide, along with a wide array of critically important initiatives dominate the headlines, the proposed City/YMCA project might well be the ballot measure that actually impacts current and future Sammamish residents most directly -- and for years to come.

Voters and non-voters have often argued that their vote generally doesn’t really matter in the big picture. The logic being that a single vote is statistically insignificant and that the candidates often are more alike than not. The belief is that either way, the results will have little or no bearing on their or their loved ones lives.

Not so with Proposition 1. There will only be a few thousand voters deciding this matter and we’re not talking ideologies here, we will either create a new community asset or not. While it is advisory only, a no vote would almost certainly kill the concept for decades to come. Savvy elected officials and prudent YMCA Directors can be expected to heed the will of the voters -- and also typically have long memories making them hesitant to support failed initiatives in the future.

Conversely, voting YES represents a remarkable individual investment opportunity for residents to enjoy for generations to come….as no new taxes will be levied to pay for operations, maintenance or construction costs. Individuals who either oppose the proposal or would prefer not to use the facility will pay nothing. And the city’s investment cost will be covered in total by funds already in the more than healthy reserve fund balance.

City Releases New Fact Sheet On the Community/Aquatic Center

Today, the City of Sammamish released it's new "Community and Aquatic Center Fact Sheet." According to City officials, this will be mailed to Sammamish addresses this week. You can see a preview here.

Councilmember Don Gerend Weighs In on the Community Center

Will a community and aquatic center increase Sammamish property values?

Don Gerend, former Sammamish mayor and current councilmember, has been a real estate professional for many years. Here's what he has to say:

"Numerous studies show that schools, parks and other amenities raise property values. Many people believe a world-class community center in the heart of our city would raise the value of total Sammamish real estate. How much is uncertain, but families looking to relocate here cite great schools, low crime rate, great parks, trails and other infrastructure as reasons. The community/aquatic center will complement the parks and other recreation opportunities nicely, making this community even more appealing. Even an increase in value of Sammamish real estate of one percent would mean a more than $82 million increase in equity to Sammamish property owners."

Sammamish Review Letter: September 16, 2012

Support the Community Center

Occasionally, we citizens have the unique opportunity to make a decision that has a long lasting positive effect on a community.

We have this chance on Nov. 6 by voting Yes on Proposition 1, the advisory vote for the community/aquatics center that will enhance and benefit citizens of all ages within our city.

The proposed Sammamish community/aquatics center will be built without any increase in our taxes by using a portion of the city's reserves.

The partnership with the City of Sammamish and YMCA includes the guarantee that the Y, with 144 years of community service and experience, will operate the center and guarantee to cover all operating expenses, insuring that the citizens of Sammamish are not taxed to subsidize the facility as many other cities do.

Press Release: Monday, September 24, 2012

For immediate release:  Monday, September 24, 2012

For more information: Hank Klein, 425-891-1193, hdklein@comcast.net

Group Formed to Support Sammamish Community & Aquatic Center

A group of Sammamish city residents is encouraging citizens to vote yes on Proposition No. 1 to support development of a new community and aquatic center.

The recently-formed committee – Yes!  Sammamish Community Center – is chaired by Bob Keller and Doug Eglington, Sammamish residents and community activists.

Said Keller, “Sammamish voters will have the opportunity in the upcoming election to voice their approval for this exciting joint venture between our city and the YMCA of Greater Seattle.  The goal of our committee is to educate voters and to encourage them to support this measure.”

The conceptual design for the proposed multi-purpose center includes gyms, indoor track, multi-purpose rooms, and lap and recreational pools with water slides, shallow entry, and a lazy river.

For years, Sammamish residents have asked for this type of facility.  Now they will have the chance to confirm their interest in enhanced indoor recreation in a year-round, multi-purpose venue.