City Council bans plastic bags at Issaquah retailers
June 12, 2012
Ordinance goes into effect for most businesses in March 2013
Issaquah joined a string of cities along Puget Sound to outlaw plastic bags at local retailers June 4, after months of sometimes-acrimonious debate about adverse impacts to the marine environment and the regional economy.
In the end, concerns about the environment led the City Council to decide 5-2 to eliminate most retail uses for plastic bags. The legislation — and a 5-cent fee on paper bags — go into effect in March 2013 for most businesses.
The council listened to advocates from environmental groups and the plastics industry in public meetings throughout April and May, and then again before the decision.
The plastic bag ban sponsor, Issaquah Highlands entrepreneur and City Councilman Mark Mullet, presented the legislation as a way to reduce the estimated 10 million plastic bags the city sends to the King County landfill each year.
Kathleen Drew, former Issaquah legislator, receives Democrats’ endorsement for secretary of state
June 3, 2012
NEW — 12:30 p.m. June 3, 2012
Kathleen Drew, a onetime Issaquah state senator and a former aide to Gov. Chris Gregoire, received state Democrats’ endorsement in the race to succeed Secretary of State Sam Reed.
Drew received the nod at the state party convention June 2 after outpolling former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and Puyallup state Sen. Jim Kastama among party activists. Though the candidates all appear on the August primary ballot, only Drew earned the party’s nod.
The secretary of state serves as the top elections official in Washington. The office also handles registrations for corporations and charities.
The incumbent secretary of state, Reed, is a Republican and plans to retire.
Drew served as a representative for Issaquah and other Eastside communities in the mid-1990s.
State Department of Ecology scrutinizes proposed shoreline rules
May 29, 2012
The state Department of Ecology requested input from citizens as officials evaluate the city-developed plans for land along Issaquah Creek and Lake Sammamish.
The updated Shoreline Master Program is designed to guide construction and development for 12 miles along the creek and the lake. The agency is accepting public comments on the proposed rules until June 29.
The proposed rules combine local plans for future development and preservation, plus recent development ordinances and related permitting requirements. The plan is meant to minimize environmental damage to shoreline areas, reserve appropriate areas for water-oriented uses and protect public access to the shoreline.
Gaining ground for Puget Sound by building rain gardens
April 17, 2012
12,000 Rain Gardens campaign aims to curb pollution, create beautiful landscapes
A completed rain garden must be maintained through ongoing mulching, weeding and watering as needed and the avoidance of fertilizer and pesticides. By Stewardship Partners
As more than 14 million pounds of toxins enter the Puget Sound each year, two Washington entities are working hard to curb the contamination — 12,000 times over.
City Council delays decision on plastic bag ban
April 10, 2012
The decision to outlaw plastic bags at Issaquah businesses is on hold, City Council members decided April 2 after listening to appeals from environmentalists concerned about Puget Sound pollution and plastics manufacturers anxious about lost livelihoods.
The proposed plastic bag ban at local retailers is meant to limit garbage headed for the King County landfill and reduce marine pollution.
The measure stalled after speakers questioned the scope, timing and lack of input from the businesses affected by such a change. The council opted in a 6-1 decision to postpone further discussions on the plastic bag ban to a still-unscheduled meeting in May.
“It bothers me that in this last week that we were still turning over stones,” Councilwoman Stacy Goodman said before the meeting.
FISH needs volunteers to prep hatchery before celebration
April 10, 2012
Before the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery celebrates 75 years, Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery needs help preparing the hatchery grounds for a public celebration.
The nonprofit group is hosting a work party April 14 to spruce up the hatchery. The event starts at 9 a.m. and runs for the rest of the day. Participants can volunteer for the entire stretch or for a few hours.
Organizers asked for volunteers to report to the Steve Bell Theater at the hatchery, 125 W. Sunset Way.
City Council delays decision on Issaquah plastic bag ban
April 2, 2012
NEW — 9:03 p.m. April 2, 2012
The decision to outlaw plastic bags at Issaquah businesses is on hold, City Council members decided Monday after a contentious discussion and appeals from environmentalists concerned about Puget Sound pollution and plastics manufacturers anxious about lost livelihoods.
The proposed plastic bag ban at local retailers is meant to limit garbage headed for the King County landfill and reduce marine pollution.
The measure stalled after speakers questioned the proposal’s scope and timing. The council opted in a 6-1 decision to postpone further discussions on the plastic bag ban to a still-unscheduled meeting.
The plastic bag ban proponent, Issaquah Highlands entrepreneur and Councilman Mark Mullet, said the legislation offers Issaquah a chance to reduce the estimated 10 million plastic bags the city sends to the King County landfill each year.
Issaquah forum to focus on proposed plastic bag ban
March 27, 2012
NEW — 4 p.m. March 27, 2012
Citizens can learn more about a proposed plastic bag ban at a forum Thursday.
The public forum includes the lead backer of the plastic bag legislation, Councilman Mark Mullet, and Robb Krehbiel, a program associate from the nonprofit organization Environment Washington. The forum is meant to educate participants about the impact of discarded plastic bags on Puget Sound wildlife.
The forum runs from 5-6 p.m. at Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop, 1011 N.E. High St., No. 103. (Mullet is the proprietor of the ice cream shop and Zeeks Pizza.)
Issaquah could join Bellingham, Edmonds, Mukilteo and Seattle to ban plastic bags at local retailers — a step designed to limit garbage headed for the King County landfill and reduce pollution in Puget Sound.
State predicts smaller chinook, coho salmon returns
March 6, 2012
State salmon fishery officials expect a smaller coho return to Puget Sound streams in the months ahead.
Overall, the forecast calls for 732,363 coho to return to local streams — or 249,000 fewer coho than the 2011 forecast.
King County streamlines rules for wetlands
February 21, 2012
Builders in rural and unincorporated areas can purchase credits to offset construction-related damage to wetlands, after a King County Council decision Jan. 17.
Dow Constantine
County Executive Dow Constantine spearheaded a measure to enable builders to pay a fee, rather than completing projects in a process called mitigation, to compensate for damaged or destroyed wetlands.
The law requires builders to avoid and minimize impacts to wetlands and other sensitive areas as much as possible. Mitigation is required if damage is unavoidable.
The legislation creates “mitigation credits” for builders to purchase to offset damage to wetlands. The county can then use the payments for “mitigation credits” to design, construct and maintain watershed restoration projects.
“This market-based tool is the first of its kind in the state, and will better protect our environment while providing options for the building industry,” Constantine said in a statement.
