Current Annexations
Introduction
On April 28, 2015, the residents of Klahanie and several adjacent neighborhoods voted to annex to Sammamish. The annexation became official on Jan. 1, 2016, raising the city’s total population to approximately 61,000.
Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions:
Frequently Asked Questions
The January 2016 city newsletter was designed as a “user’s guide” for new residents. To take a look, please see the January 2016 city newsletter
The city has committed to hiring six new police officers – one sergeant and five patrol officers – to handle the expanded duties in the annexed area. This will boost police coverage significantly in the Klahanie area.
In northeast King County, where the annexation area is, the Sheriff’s Office has an average response time of 9.5 minutes for “Priority X” calls – stabbings, shootings, in-progress robberies and other very serious crimes. The city’s response time will be four minutes or less.
Well, Klahanie proper has hired off-duty officers to supplement their coverage from King County, and we’re told those extra security people have been able to respond quickly. But the response times from Sammamish Police will certainly be a lot faster than the historical performance of King County Sheriff’s Officers in Klahanie.
No
Nothing will change. Residents in the annexation area already pay the RTA tax and will continue to do so after annexation.
The city’s fiscal analysis projects a $1.4 million annual operating surplus.
The city will be making major road improvements to Issaquah-Fall City Road and Issaquah-Pine Lake Road. It will take time to plan, design and construct these improvements, but the changes will improve traffic flow.
Preliminary evaluations indicate that the majority of the trees will remain in place. Although the design process has not yet begun, the part of Issaquah-Fall City Road where this is a concern will likely require only a three-lane corridor – one lane in each direction plus a turn lane or median strip. The required width for these improvements should have very limited impact on the existing trees
There is no exact timeline at this point due to a number of variables, but the city recognizes that these are high-priority items.
Over time, the city will bring Klahanie-area streets up to the same standards that exist in Sammamish. That means resurfacing, and more preventative maintenance and patching.
Some will happen shortly after annexation, but Klahanie-area roads will become part of the city’s pavement management rating system. All roads in the city are evaluated, ranked and then given an appropriate spot on the schedule.
In recent years, the city has invested $3 million annually. By way of contrast, King County has spent only $2 million annually – and that’s for the entire county.
The city will take over the maintenance and care of Klahanie Park. No other facilities will transfer to the city
Klahanie will be a neighborhood name, just like all the other neighborhood names in Sammamish. But the people who live there will be residents of the city of Sammamish.
No. That, as always, will depend on the school district boundaries. Annexation won’t be a factor.
The current mailing addresses will work indefinitely because it’s the street address and zip code that dictate delivery. So, even if someone puts down Issaquah instead of Sammamish, the mail will still get there.
Yes.
They are eligible immediately, if they meet these two conditions:
- They must be registered to vote before the candidate filing deadline.
- They must have lived in the annexation area for a full year before the election date.
No. Residents will be served in the same way by Eastside Fire & Rescue.
Animal control, garbage, schools, water and sewer – annexation won’t change those at all.
Public input
The city held three open houses in late 2014 to share information about the potential annexation with Klahanie-area residents and current Sammamish residents. The meetings ran from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the following dates:
- Aug. 6 – In Klahanie Faith United Church, 3924 Issaquah-Pine Lake Rd SE
- Sept. 10 – In Klahanie Faith United Church 3924 Issaquah-Pine Lake Rd SE
- Oct. 15 – Sammamish City Hall, 801 228th Avenue SE
Final Report on the Klahanie Area PAA, July 2014
On July 15, the Sammamish City Council received a fiscal analysis of the potential annexation of Klahanie. The fiscal report was prepared by Butkus Consulting, Inc.
Information about the Klahanie annexation area
In addition to Klahanie proper, the annexation area includes several smaller, adjoining neighborhoods. Taken together, the area features 3,930 residential units, a population of 10,800, and 1.94 square miles of land. It’s located at the southeast edge of Sammamish, sharing a border with the city along Issaquah-Pine Lake Road, Southeast 32nd Street, and Issaquah-Beaver lake Road. (See the attached map.)