Rapid Response
February 8, 2011
The city Parks & Recreation Department has hosted a series of open houses and offered a Web questionnaire to gather input on a planned downtown parks complex. How would you rate the city’s public outreach effort during the planning phase?
Though I was not able to attend, I appreciated that the effort was made to get citizen input — good job parks and rec!
Bryan Weinstein, Issaquah
The Parks Department has been doing an excellent job having meetings to get community input, but the real question will be if they were actually listening or not.
C.A. Christensen, Issaquah
I attended a Confluence Park Meeting and Central Park Plan Open House; both were informative, accessible and inclusive of all interested parties.
Gail Givan, Issaquah
Rapid Response
February 1, 2011
The ambitious Central Issaquah Plan has recommended tall buildings and dense development in the business district. How do the recommendations jibe with Issaquah’s existing character?
It doesn’t. Five percent to 10 percent pervious should never be allowed and 150-foot buildings were never in the vision that the community recommended.
Connie Marsh, Issaquah
The city recently received $100,000 to study another transfer of development rights, with the receiving site in the business district. Should the area along Interstate 90 be redeveloped into a dense neighborhood?
It does not make sense to make a dense neighborhood area and at the same time talk about opening up an area for a park complex.
Ken Sessler, Issaquah
Rapid Response
December 28, 2010
The city Parks & Recreation Department has hosted a series of open houses and offered a Web questionnaire to gather input on a planned downtown parks complex. How would you rate the city’s public outreach effort during the planning phase?
Issaquah is unique in how involved its administration and staff is in seeking public input. I suspect Issaquah is far ahead of sister cities with regard to the number of citizens it has on its various boards and commissions.
Mark Bowers, Issaquah
Superb! The parks department and the city as a whole does a very good job at public outreach, not only for this park design, but for all city initiatives.
Ken Konigsmark, Issaquah
Excellent.
Connie Marsh, Issaquah
I haven’t seen any questionnaires. I live outside the city limits, but use the city infrastructure and parks. I would like to have some input.
Jim Harris, Issaquah
Though I was not able to attend, I appreciated that the effort was made to get citizen input — good job parks and rec!
Bryan Weinstein, Issaquah
Rapid Response
December 7, 2010
King County voters overwhelmingly rejected a sales tax to pay for criminal justice services, including police protection. What can the county do to better prioritize and pay for such services in the future?
Taxes should be distributed to critical services first and those services should not be interrupted. Threatening police, fire or education services is simply a strong-arming tactic, aimed at punishing the taxpayer (again), for not passing new taxes or levies. There isn’t a revenue problem; there is a spending problem.
Mark Bowers, Issaquah
Rapid Response
July 27, 2010
Do you believe the completion of the Interstate 90 Undercrossing will make a meaningful reduction in traffic congestion?
I can only hope so. Pretty soon the waiting lines for a green light to get onto Interstate 90 at opposite ends of Gilman Boulevard may end up touching each other in the middle!
Michele Forkner, Issaquah
Yes, but it should connect to East Lake Sammamish.
Matthew Balkman, Issaquah
Yes, in the short run. However, it will only be a short term Band-Aid as our current infrastructure tries to accompany longer-term planned growth. We will have to think “out of the box” to find alternatives to automotive transportation. Realistically, we will have to limit growth to the capacity of our infrastructure to absorb it.
Raymond Extract, Issaquah
Rapid Response
July 20, 2010
How do you feel about a state requirement for schools to record students’ race and ethnicity?
For what purpose? Is funding going to depend on certain demographics? Are subjects or programs going to be race or ethnic specific?
Michele Forkner, Issaquah
Why? What is the purpose? The ACLU would have a ball opposing this in the courts and the media would have a field day. The state should concentrate on ways to fund and provide improved education opportunities for all of our students and stay away from divisive issues.
Raymond Extract, Issaquah
Do you believe the completion of the Interstate 90 Undercrossing will make a meaningful reduction in traffic congestion?
It should take people off Front Street and away from that awfully congested corner at 17th Street and Southwest Lake Sammamish Parkway, so yes, I think it should help. I would rather have seen it go north and end near the Barnes & Noble shopping center, though. But it should help nevertheless.
Barbara Extract, Issaquah
The undercrossing project will relieve congestion by rerouting traffic. An additional benefit is shortened trips, saving fuel, as well as time.
Gail Givan, Issaquah
What features would you like to see incorporated in the downtown, Issaquah Creek-area parks, keeping in mind that the area will be limited to passive activities?
Does it include “passive” smoking?
Paul Stewart, Preston
Hello!?!?! There is a recession going on! The city sends out pleas for ideas about how to save money — here is the plan… stop spending money! Especially on passive parks that very few people utilize when we need to repair and make more usable the parks we have, the parks that serve our population the most (active parks) and that generate some revenue. There are so many repairs and basic infrastructure needs and other active park demands to focus on in our city.
Matthew Balkman, Issaquah
Rapid Response
July 13, 2010
Will King County’s new plan for animal control and sheltering services provide better services for taxpayers?
Yes, if they have a presence here in Issaquah. They will need to have enough officers to respond in a timely manner to complaints or assistance with regard to animals/pets.
Michele Forkner, Issaquah
Only if ‘animal control’ encompasses the cougars trolling the local bars!
Paul Stewart, Preston
Should Seattle Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill — facing a domestic violence charge in Issaquah — be allowed to play this season? Read more
Rapid Response
July 6, 2010
How can the city best encourage owners of undeveloped land/open space to preserve their property for conservation?
Pass an ordinance that says we’ve met all our growth targets, and then stop granting permits for new construction.
Bryan Weinstein, Issaquah
Have environmental groups, such as Conservancy and Mountains to Sound, purchase the land. Provide tax incentives and donors with public recognition through statues, plaques, sitting benches, etc. Provide incentive for projects willing to preserve open space.
Mark Bowers, Issaquah
If it is zoned for development, the only honest thing to do is to buy it from them or purchase development rights to keep it as open space. Anything else is stealing.
Fred Nystrom, Issaquah
Rapid Response
June 29, 2010
In light of current economic conditions faced by school districts, how do you think Washington state should raise the money to provide a globally competitive education to students?
Use the money they have to start teaching kids the basics, so they will be successful in school first, and the global marketplace second.
Bryan Weinstein, Issaquah
The education system needs more competitive incentive and less nanny-state funding. Good schools and teachers are rewarded — bad schools and teachers are not. Washington state education should be far less controlled by unions and bureaucrats. Removing layers of bureaucracy, providing community equivalent standards in educator benefits, improve classroom to nonclassroom hours ratios. Consider privatization of public education with a year-round option.
Mark Bowers, Issaquah
Put educational funds in a separate legal place where politicians can’t get their hands on it. It should never be a part of the general fund.
Fred Nystrom, Issaquah
Drop a number of the school bus runs and make the kids walk to school. This will also give them some exercise.
Paul Stewart, Issaquah
Does more money spent always mean a globally competitive education? In the decline in funding, focus on creating a culture of globally relevant outcomes: Rather than training students to be consumers, train them to be creators!
Don Burnett, Issaquah Read more
Rapid Response
June 22, 2010
As the city moves closer to establishing a human services campus, what role do you feel the city should play in providing social services to residents?
Continuous review to ensure the services offered are the right services for our community at the right time.
Bryan Weinstein, Issaquah
The role of government is to provide safety (police and fire), education and infrastructure. Participating in housing and feeding the less fortunate should be a collaborative effort with government, business, churches and citizens. Get the latter three even more involved than now through tax incentives and public recognition for their efforts.
Mark Bowers, Issaquah
Assist in finding a place and fast track the applications and then stay out of it.
Fred Nystrom, Issaquah
Interfaith and community collaboration is vital to keep a safety net in place for meaningful social services. People become unsafe in isolation and thrive in community!
Don Burnett, Issaquah
Don’t need the nanny state at the local level.
Ken Sessler, Issaquah Read more
