Issaquah liquor store to close May 29 before changeover
May 24, 2012
NEW — 2 p.m. May 24, 2012
The state-run liquor store in Issaquah is due to close May 29, as the Washington State Liquor Control Board prepares to shift stores from public to private ownership.
Under a state law approved by voters last year, liquor sales by private entrepreneurs can start June 1.
The board auctioned the rights to entrepreneurs to sell liquor at the state-run store in Town & Country Square along Northwest Gilman Boulevard last month. State records show the right to the Issaquah store sold to Seattle merchant Leon Capelouto for $251,000.
“There is a lot of work involved in transferring these stores to private ownership,” Chris Liu, director of retail services for the liquor authority, said in a statement. “This method will ensure that our customers have the ability to buy liquor right up until June 1, when private retailers take over.”
Supreme Court hears challenge to Costco-backed liquor privatization
May 22, 2012
Opponents of liquor privatization urged state Supreme Court justices May 17 to overturn Initiative 1183, less than a month before the switch from a state-run liquor system to private entrepreneurs.
If the high court overturns the Costco-backed measure, state-run liquor stores could remain open and retailers could not sell spirits. The changeover is scheduled to occur June 1, and a ruling is expected before then.
Opponents said I-1183 violates the single subject rule for statewide ballot initiatives.
In addition to the liquor privatization language, I-1183 included a section directing $10 million to public safety, in addition to the liquor-privatization language.
State Supreme Court hears challenge to Costco-backed liquor privatization
May 18, 2012
NEW — 8 a.m. May 18, 2012
Opponents of liquor privatization urged state Supreme Court justices Thursday to overturn Initiative 1183, less than a month before the changeover from a state-run liquor system to entrepreneurs.
If the high court overturns the Costco-backed measure, state-run liquor stores could remain open and retailers could not sell spirits. The changeover is due to occur June 1, and a ruling is expected before then.
Opponents said I-1183 violates the single subject rule for statewide ballot initiatives.
In addition to the liquor privatization language, I-1183 included a section directing $10 million to public safety, in addition to the liquor-privatization language.
King County Library System’s Internet policy is unchanged after court ruling
May 8, 2012
The use of software to filter Internet content for library patrons received support in a recent federal court ruling.
Officials at the King County Library System filter Internet content at public computers, although library patrons can have the filter deactivated. The library system uses a tiered system of filters to determine patrons’ access to Internet content.
In April, Eastern Washington Federal District Court Judge Edward F. Shea ruled the Wenatchee-based North Central Regional Library did not violate the First Amendment by installing Internet filtering software on computers for all library patrons.
Under a policy adopted in August 2003, the Issaquah-based library system provides access to the Internet on all public computers and uses Internet filtering software.
Supreme Court upholds state redistricting plan
May 8, 2012
The state Supreme Court has authorized use of the redrawn political boundaries for upcoming elections, even as a citizen challenge to the Washington State Redistricting Commission’s maps continues to proceed.
The bipartisan commission responsible for reshaping the districts spent 2011 redrawing legislative and congressional districts. State legislators then made minor modifications and the plan entered into effect Feb. 7.
Vancouver resident John Milem filed a challenge against the redistricting plan Feb. 8. The longtime redistricting observer contended the reshaped maps granted too much power to Western Washington counties.
Commissioners divided Issaquah between the 5th and 41st legislative districts to determine representation in Olympia, and kept the city in a reshaped 8th Congressional District for federal representation.
Schools fare well in House budget, officials wait for Senate proposal
February 28, 2012
Local officials are taking a wait-and-see attitude toward budget and revenue news coming out of Olympia.
The state House of Representatives passed its version of a 2012 supplemental budget Feb. 21.
In total, the spending plan slices about $890 million from the current budget. While local school officials have been steadying themselves for budget cuts, the House plan largely leaves funding intact, Issaquah School District Superintendent Steve Rasmussen said.
However, Rasmussen quickly noted the state Senate must still act on its version of the budget. He didn’t say so, but the two plans almost certainly will need some work to blend them into one document, which still would need approval by Gov. Chris Gregoire.
Bellevue utility tax hits some Issaquah residents
February 7, 2012
Bellevue officials decided Jan. 23 to impose a utility tax on water customers in Greenwood Point and South Cove — Issaquah neighborhoods served by the Bellevue municipal water system.
Bellevue City Council members approved extending a utility occupation tax to the water utility’s revenue, including for customers beyond Bellevue. Starting March 1, customers should start to see a 10.4 percent increase on water bills. The change does not affect customers in Bellevue.
Officials intend to use the additional dollars for fire hydrants, oversized pipes and reservoir storage.
The decision followed a 2008 state Supreme Court ruling related to how cities pay for municipal fire hydrants. The ruling in Lane v. Seattle identified hydrants as a general government service and not a utility.
Bellevue imposes utility tax on some Issaquah water customers
January 30, 2012
NEW — 6 a.m. Jan. 30, 2012
Bellevue officials decided Jan. 23 to impose a utility tax on water customers in Greenwood Point and South Cove — Issaquah neighborhoods served by the Bellevue municipal water system.
Bellevue City Council members approved extending a utility occupation tax to the water utility’s revenue, including for customers beyond Bellevue. Starting March 1, customers should start to see a 10.4 percent on water bills. The change does not affect customers in Bellevue.
Officials intend to use the additional dollars for fire hydrants, oversized pipes and reservoir storage.
The decision followed a 2008 state Supreme Court ruling related to how cities pay for municipal fire hydrants. The ruling in Lane v. Seattle identified hydrants as a general government service and not a utility.
Eastside business leaders outline priorities to state lawmakers
January 30, 2012
NEW — 6 a.m. Jan. 30, 2012
Eastside business leaders focused on economic development, education, taxation and transportation in a legislative agenda for state lawmakers in Olympia.
East King County Chambers of Commerce Legislative Coalition members urged legislators to foster job creation, shore up transportation funding, and adopt reforms to K-12 and higher education.
The coalition is comprised of 10 chambers from the region, including the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce.
“Our state is at an important crossroads and the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce is proud to work with the coalition to affect positive change for the Eastside business community in Olympia,” Issaquah Chamber of Commerce CEO Matthew Bott said in a statement.
State Supreme Court again rules basic education is state duty
January 10, 2012
“Cautiously optimistic” was the response of Issaquah School District Superintendent Steve Rasmussen to Jan. 5’s state Supreme Court ruling regarding school funding.
In a 7-2 decision, the court ruled that the Legislature is not living up to its constitutional mandate to fund basic education.
The ruling came in the so-called NEWS lawsuit, filed in 2007 and named for the coalition of school districts, teachers unions and education advocates that led the suit. The Issaquah district supported the suit through an amicus brief filed with the court.
That group is known as the Network for Excellence in Washington Schools. It was asking the court to help enforce a 1978 ruling that also said the state was not living up to its paramount duty to pay for basic kindergarten through 12th-grade education.
In the conclusion of its ruling, the court majority opinion stated that Article IX, Section 1 of the state Constitution makes it the “paramount duty of the state to amply provide for the education of all children within its borders.”
“The state has failed to meet its duty under Article IX, Section 1 by consistently providing school districts with a level of resources that falls short of the actual costs of the basic education program,” the opinion further states.
