Issaquah surpasses 31,000 residents in latest population estimate
June 25, 2012
NEW — 3:15 p.m. June 25, 2012
Issaquah surpassed 31,000 residents in the last year, as population growth continues to inch upward after a decade of expansion.
The latest tally from the state indicates Issaquah added 460 people last year to reach 31,150 residents. The state Office of Financial Management released the information Monday for the period from April 1, 2011, to April 1, 2012.
The state used data from the 2010 Census as a baseline, and then estimated population for Issaquah and other cities from school enrollment, housing construction and driver licensing to determine the numbers.
State officials use the population data to determine how to allocate dollars to municipalities.
Between the decennial censuses in 2000 and 2010, Issaquah ballooned by 170 percent — the result of construction-and-annexation-fueled population growth.
City Council outlines Issaquah goals for 2013
June 5, 2012
City Council members agreed to study options for the aging Issaquah Skate Park to turn it from a bastion for drug use into a community asset, boost economic development efforts in the city and conduct another study about the future of Klahanie.
Other priorities included a plan to televise council budget deliberations, hire a lobbyist to advocate for Issaquah in Olympia, and develop a comprehensive policy related to bicyclists and pedestrians.
The council, alongside representatives from municipal departments, gathered in a YWCA Family Village at Issaquah conference room June 2 to formulate the list.
In the rare Saturday meeting, council members trimmed a long list into priorities for 2013. Though the council conducted the heavy lifting at the retreat, the process is not yet done.
Press Editorial
January 3, 2012
2012 Issaquah goals are very achievable
Each year our news staff and editorial board put their heads together to create a list of goals for the Issaquah area. Some are repeats from former years, but are still on our wish list.
Environmentally speaking — Local restaurants need to step up and get compliant with the city’s mandate on use of recyclable containers. Most already have, but not all. The city should go a step further and follow Seattle’s lead in banning plastic grocery and retail bags.
Central Issaquah Plan — The plan that will act as a guideline for redevelopment of Issaquah’s business district should be completed this year. Take it one step further and implement it for new development in the highlands, too.
Park Pointe — Now that the land deal is done, the city and volunteers can transform the 100 acres on Tiger Mountain for everyone to enjoy; Issaquah Environmental Council volunteers started the process last week by planting native species.
Economic development — With the re-engineering of how City Hall functions to encourage a more robust economic development of the business community, the time has come for action. Put measurable goals in place immediately with an eye toward filling vacant storefronts.
City Council starts quarry redevelopment process
November 29, 2011
The long-term effort to transform land in North Issaquah and adjacent to the Issaquah Highlands from a quarry into businesses and homes inched ahead Nov. 21.
In a unanimous decision, City Council members authorized municipal staffers to start preparing a development agreement between the city and Issaquah-based Lakeside Industries Inc.
The site — a quarry, a hillside and land on the plateau adjacent to the highlands — is zoned for mineral resources. The agreement under consideration could change the zoning to urban village — the same zoning for the highlands and Talus.
Lakeside Industries, the landowner and quarry operator, proposed the agreement for the 80-acre site.
Lakeside also agreed to pay for the city’s administration costs — $195,000 — for creating a development agreement.
If officials decide to draft the development agreement after receiving input from the public, the measure could reach the council for a decision in December 2012.
Issaquah absorbed the quarry and a large portion of land involved in the proposal in the 2000 North Issaquah annexation.
Bumps lie ahead for King County’s rural roads
September 20, 2011
Leaders propose reduced maintenance, less storm response
A vehicle drives on Southeast Tiger Mountain Road at 238th Avenue Southeast. By Greg Farrar
Some streets in rural and unincorporated areas near Issaquah could receive reduced maintenance and a lower priority for snow removal under a proposal King County leaders unveiled last week — a plan County Executive Dow Constantine called “triage” for a cash-strapped and deteriorating roads system.
Constantine proposed a plan to prioritize road maintenance, snow removal and storm response on a tiered system.
County’s proposed road plan calls for limited service on local streets
September 13, 2011
NEW — 8 a.m. Sept. 13, 2011
Some streets in rural and unincorporated areas near Issaquah could receive reduced maintenance and a lower priority for snow removal under a proposal King County leaders unveiled Monday — a plan County Executive Dow Constantine called “triage” for a cash-strapped and deteriorating roads system.
Dow Constantine
Constantine proposed a plan to prioritize road maintenance, snow removal and storm response on a tiered system.
Important arteries — such as Issaquah-Hobart Road Southeast, Preston-Fall City Road Southeast, Southeast Issaquah-Fall City Road and sections of Southeast May Valley Road east of state Route 900 — remain top priorities for maintenance, snow removal and storm cleanup under the proposal.
King County commits $70,000 to repair city’s retaining wall
September 6, 2011
King County recently agreed to fund repairs to a decade-old retaining wall along Southeast Black Nugget Road as city planners seek to shore up the structure against landslides.
The city closed the sidewalk along the wall in March after soggy conditions caused a small landslide on the slope behind Fred Meyer and The Home Depot. The shifting earth did not pose a risk to motorists or residences atop the hill, but the incident refocused attention on plans to strengthen the wall.
County officials committed $70,000 for upgrades. The project could cost up to $640,000 for substantial renovations. The city is setting aside funds to complete the project in the years ahead.
State estimates Issaquah added 256 residents last year
July 12, 2011
Issaquah, long ranked among the fastest-growing cities in Washington, is no longer experiencing a population boom, but the city continues to add residents.
The latest tally from the state Office of Financial Management indicates Issaquah added 256 people last year. The estimated population is 30,690 — about 170 percent more people than a decade ago.
The state used data from the 2010 Census as a baseline, and then estimated population for Issaquah and other Washington cities by using information related to school enrollment, housing construction and driver licensing.
State officials use the population data to determine how to allocate dollars to municipalities.
State demographers released the data June 30. The figures represent population changes between April 1, 2010, and April 1, 2011.
Issaquah added 104 housing units during the past year, to bring the total to 14,018 units.
State estimates Issaquah added 256 residents last year
July 4, 2011
NEW — 8 a.m. July 4, 2011
Issaquah, long ranked among the fastest-growing cities in Washington, is no longer experiencing a population boom, but the city continues to add residents.
The latest tally from the state Office of Financial Management indicates Issaquah added 256 people last year. The estimated population is 30,690 — or about 170 percent larger than a decade ago.
The state used data from the 2010 Census as a baseline, and then estimated population for Issaquah and other Washington cities by using information related to school enrollment, housing construction and driver licensing to form the estimate.
State officials use the population data to determine how to allocate dollars to municipalities.
Executive proposes reform for outreach to unincorporated areas
April 19, 2011
NEW — 10 a.m. April 19, 2011
King County Executive Dow Constantine has proposed reforming the system county government uses to engage residents in unincorporated areas.
In a proposal released Monday, Constantine called for all unincorporated area residents to have a single point of contact for county services. In addition, the executive proposed for teams of existing county staffers to coordinate outreach to community groups.
“All residents should be able to have meaningful involvement in the decisions that impact their communities, and that’s just as true for those who live in unincorporated areas as those in cities,” he said in a statement. “This proposal retains the value and expertise of the existing unincorporated area councils while expanding our outreach to all unincorporated area residents.”
The councils also act as liaisons for unincorporated area residents to the county government based in Seattle. The county is home to 1.9 million people, including 284,000 residents in unincorporated areas.
