[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6270483,"mediaKeyId","3034633-6eb5423cdac1be9512b3d72cda30e0ef","parentId",3034633,"title","Sustainability commissioners finalize booth plans, ORCA card distribution and outreach for Sammamish Earth Day","audioSeconds",523,"startMs",1737000,"endMs",2260000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3034633-6eb5423cdac1be9512b3d72cda30e0ef&start=1737&end=2260","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3034633-6eb5423cdac1be9512b3d72cda30e0ef/thumbnail_1737000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6270483/Sammamish-City/King-County/Washington/Sustainability-commissioners-finalize-booth-plans-ORCA-card-distribution-and-outreach-for-Sammamish-Earth-Day","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270483-84a8a1610b34cb5b8bde0096a666e947/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205062&Signature=Rzifpn~X-XqhNOFJhBqSEkf6YrF7yxQlO7uS3lGUvIUDP1n5BlNWva1UOMadEcXY~hidPt9PUi9-h3s8hHUvhm4XD1wd~aTNuHvEuXHgvbekAF0y0diAFDIDcCrY-Bj-icKNnACzx3UFENA1D2WCtQv4DREW2OgkHvnmYpTghm4i8osHM1npkKFlcyqTR9lUFO1HZdOX7WFb7Cu2MftJt13lZXizzbs1yo9gg4l7R5JprEsRDqmUdy2THXDME~NnD2TrX-3Vpqi-KizVWtFcOnTdctNtCkFZ-Fe-nQpMQkEZgjDrrzwNfh3~W0SovYdqZH6uZtOoH6xbGpDFvRwOhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sammamish City, WA","date","2025-04-17T08:08:53.947Z","article","The Sustainability Commission used part of its meeting to finalize plans for Sammamish Earth Day, including booth placement, outreach topics and volunteer roles.

Staff said the commission will hold two adjacent booths at the event focused on transportation and local sustainability programs. The commission booth will feature an activity wheel with conversation starters aimed at children and families, seed giveaways, and educational one‑pagers about the city’s climate action and sustainability programs. Adjacent to the commission booth, EnergySmart Eastside and Solarize volunteers will field heat‑pump and solar questions.

A key operational item discussed was distributing youth ORCA transit cards to eligible attendees. Staff said they will request a supply of pre‑loaded youth ORCA cards (for riders up to age 19), and coordinators will help residents register the cards on site. Commissioners discussed having one volunteer dedicated to ORCA registration (tablet and online registration recommended) while other volunteers operate the wheel and hand out materials.

Other logistics and decisions

- Materials and giveaways: staff will supply native wildflower seed packets (compostable packaging), a small supply of transportation‑themed keychains, temporary tattoos and sustainability information sheets. Commissioners recommended making wheel text more readable for children and ensuring wind‑proof weights and tenting.

- Staffing and arrival: Commissioners agreed to arrive around 10:30 a.m. to set up for an expected 11 a.m. start; staff will coordinate volunteer sign‑ups and send a reminder prior to the event.

- Accessibility and outreach: Staff will produce a one‑page climate FAQ/talking points for volunteers and will make event resources available on the city website and in printed form for booth use.

Why it matters: Earth Day is the commission’s primary public education event of the season; the booth is intended to raise awareness of local climate programs, encourage transit and bike use and connect residents with heat‑pump and solar resources.

Ending

Staff will finalize materials, confirm ORCA‑card counts and circulate a volunteer schedule; commissioners volunteered to assist with booth staffing and outreach on the event date.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 10, 2025 - Sustainability Commission Meetting","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners organized their Earth Day presence, agreed booth roles for outreach on transportation and energy, planned youth ORCA‑card registration and seed giveaways, and asked staff for a one‑page climate FAQ and logistics support.","taxTitle","Sammamish City, King County, Washington","taxId",5127,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6270488,"EnergySmart Eastside staff report uptake and funding for heat‑pump incentives; commissioners asked for clarity on grants and resiliency",600,678000,1278000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3034633-6eb5423cdac1be9512b3d72cda30e0ef&start=678&end=1278","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3034633-6eb5423cdac1be9512b3d72cda30e0ef/thumbnail_678000.jpg","/articles/6270488/Sammamish-City/King-County/Washington/EnergySmart-Eastside-staff-report-uptake-and-funding-for-heatpump-incentives-commissioners-asked-for-clarity-on-grants-and-resiliency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270488-e8e490dabe7facea136b327ff136c328/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205062&Signature=MNOBQTYkjllFptyfh7sF3Do~7MMuTkdc9Z~32QAOjPxnLILtYboNSpIj7~aPUVSgrXwebcWRLlaVgU8URToV72u28pMw5CD02P8KI5XSrFGLZCahVkj~1SZEpYL66xmS0YUaXsT-ZnYZr9vQ6tMUzXiCa4HNPs3f~2QD5UOvSPpJmXTz~1WsvXDV0sNZmHHHh3wDT1~myCFEUevR9tptvUORG5KQ91WnuKLJKHDMkj1FHTbUB-swbvLVSbZa4z6xHEY7-oOwmKx3TdHrD3dk492AERJg7v2FcIb~~EmPW1PAxprG2if50vMs9e3C79HaiObl08LG7rYyi3nUsenYDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff provided the commission an update on EnergySmart Eastside — the regional heat‑pump and home‑electrification initiative that includes Sammamish and neighboring Eastside cities — describing program structure, incentive tiers and outreach plans.

Staff said most grant funds already awarded to the regional consortium are contracted and secured and that the program is pursuing additional grant opportunities, including state Climate Commitment Act funds and other sources to expand outreach and incentives. Staff noted one small Department of Energy energy efficiency grant supports a limited number of low‑income installs in the program’s portfolio.

The program has a three‑pronged outreach approach: partner with utilities and contractors, pursue grant funding to lower costs for income‑qualified households, and leverage community “trusted messengers” such as commissioners and volunteers to raise awareness. Staff noted the program has a volunteer advisor track that trains community members to hold one‑on‑one conversations and to guide residents through the contractor and rebate processes.

Questions from commissioners focused on grant security and program assumptions. Staff said grants already awarded are under contract and will be spent; staff are seeking contract amendments or extensions where state grant spending deadlines fall within short timeframes. Commissioners also asked about the 2050 target frequently referenced in regional electrification goals and how the program accounts for power outages. Staff acknowledged resiliency concerns and said solar and battery storage and other measures are part of broader conversations but that outages remain an important question participants raise when considering heat pumps.

Why it matters: Heat‑pump adoption is a near‑term lever for reducing building emissions and for meeting local climate goals, while incentives and targeted outreach affect who benefits and whether lower‑income households access the program.

Program metrics and operational notes provided during the briefing

- Staff reported a rising share of new HVAC installations are heat pumps in participating cities and cited city‑level targets and near‑term goals; staff said each city has local targets and that the consortium tracks code and incentive interactions across jurisdictions.

- Staff said roughly two-thirds of recent HVAC installs in Sammamish were heat pumps (staff-presented figure), and the program’s medium‑term goals include higher adoption rates and improved rebate conversion. Staff described a conversion funnel showing some attrition between rebate applications and completed installs, and said follow‑up and code improvements are planned to improve redemption rates.

- Funding: grants referenced include state Climate Commitment Act funding and a U.S. Department of Energy energy‑efficiency block grant used for a small number of low‑income installs; staff said these funds are contracted and that the program is seeking additional funding and potential deadline extensions for grant spending.

Ending

Staff invited commissioners to join outreach and volunteer advising work and said the program will return with further findings from a pilot study other cities are conducting on expanding incentives (for weatherization and for technologies such as heat‑pump water heaters).","City staff briefed the Sustainability Commission on EnergySmart Eastside, a multi‑city heat‑pump program serving Sammamish and five neighboring cities; staff described incentive tiers, secured grant funding and outreach plans while commissioners raised questions about program longevity, grant security and outage resiliency.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6270492,"Resident urges Sammamish to plan for thousands of additional ‘B and C’ housing units",201,136000,337000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3034633-6eb5423cdac1be9512b3d72cda30e0ef&start=136&end=337","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3034633-6eb5423cdac1be9512b3d72cda30e0ef/thumbnail_136000.jpg","/articles/6270492/Sammamish-City/King-County/Washington/Resident-urges-Sammamish-to-plan-for-thousands-of-additional-B-and-C-housing-units","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270492-3c4379fa822dd0b96e13e6b0dca2a860/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205062&Signature=nmm9nYXxuW7BCj9OwO3tcN-1XqXEoroXY-32ufrG2h710df~S1XZNlN2~xNXebyOueYdtvml9ocHyzG0hD1vkicW52dJpTPsrXNzOobxoY8t6qZZdZExeeTGbLVNGL1XfYjb4-IVSYHvnmH1NrgodYrCLLkmc2c3TZPRe2bxlrb2WJWucx-4VD~tpdXW5859sccC20LKkvFeVnSiPDrTBhm4Bgkf-iRzdG6qsHjp7P8qSmvJxqjiJmLzwtHJX9FrcHNtpDnUOWxEkQafVjuAD7rztL0EIT~qgn0VBttLAVhLWV0b5WPepw0Gu71ysxwnjYh-1RauG6pWt43yZhCkhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Paul Stickney, who identified himself as a Sammamish resident, used the public‑comment period to urge the commission and city staff to plan for a much larger mix of housing types and greater numbers of moderate- and workforce‑priced units.

Stickney said Sammamish has an “extreme undersupply” of affordable and mid‑priced housing and recommended adding 5,000 B‑ and C‑category units to the city’s planned housing figures for the comprehensive plan cycle. He described B‑category housing as roughly $175,000–$500,000 and market‑rate housing in a higher band, and said a mixed supply would ease long‑term pressures on housing and traffic.

Why it matters: Public comment highlights resident concern that existing policy and market trends are producing mostly high‑end single‑family housing while insufficiently serving teachers, service workers and other workforce households who commute into Sammamish.

What the commenter proposed

- Add 5,000 B‑ and C‑housing units to the 2,100 units referenced in the city’s 20‑year growth target, producing a combined total Stickney described as roughly 7,100 A/B/C units.

- Pursue a citywide approach to “set habitability supply numbers” for generational housing needs.

Stickney framed his remarks with a mixture of broad numeric claims, rhetorical comparisons and appeals to planning for long‑term, multigenerational housing balance. His remarks were delivered during the public comment portion of the meeting; no formal action followed directly from those comments.

Ending

Commissioners acknowledged the comment and continued with the scheduled agenda; staff and commissioners later discussed Town Center planning and affordable housing provisions during the meeting.","A Sammamish resident told the Sustainability Commission the city faces shortages of moderate-price (“B and C”) housing and urged the comprehensive plan update to add thousands of such units.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6270496,"Sammamish staff outline updated Town Center plan, EIS and code changes as development continues",358,374000,732000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3034633-6eb5423cdac1be9512b3d72cda30e0ef&start=374&end=732","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3034633-6eb5423cdac1be9512b3d72cda30e0ef/thumbnail_374000.jpg","/articles/6270496/Sammamish-City/King-County/Washington/Sammamish-staff-outline-updated-Town-Center-plan-EIS-and-code-changes-as-development-continues","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270496-f8dd55d1b4b694692801d5f16b63553c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205062&Signature=Siu1jSa11pcvpEK93qRxiST2AT-kvaiE8j-ekj3JNGW7mp4NuUy85z~qwTWxa2~Nruh1uDgeI4VAPiGgKYmnejp9pfOQPwpyAF58Rb5fjWySKPWU0Cyc9PJm68S8mFLYf8ZlXX1Y86PMgbEtFlkK-1zCu50eiokYSOXjAn2lb7zJlG1STAN73efFNyW0P1Ry6QNiuqjbDPI~upz7SBrG4uBwDjTNSb1Dy8y4RDK0YOaUuj2Gy3il0WMeAvQXUvzatEsz1Yru7ZsYMR48oSdOqUk-3lIyd-OvO1cHabSp890blYBG6jGvCb1IyNwLYlcgXxcPoW~qFXHLK1W5G4~xRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Matt Braemeyer, deputy director of Community Development for the City of Sammamish, told the Sustainability Commission on the topic of the Town Center update that staff are drafting a new plan and a supplemental environmental impact statement to reflect changes since the original 2007 final EIS and the 2008 plan.

The draft plan revisits density and code administration in the city’s roughly 240-acre Town Center, Braemeyer said, noting portions of the area are already built or permitted and other constraints — including 83 acres of critical areas and about 26 acres dedicated to civic uses such as City Hall and the library. He said roughly 32 acres are built or planned for near-term construction and that the remainder of developable land is limited.

Braemeyer said the original FEIS studied up to 4,000 housing units and the adopted plan landed on a 2,000-unit figure. With more than one-third of the original Town Center unit capacity now built or under construction, staff are re-evaluating the assumptions and impacts used in the earlier analysis. “We are evaluating up to 4,000 units, which is the same as our original EIS,” Braemeyer said during the presentation, adding staff will review traffic, schools, utilities and environmental impacts as part of the supplemental EIS.

Why it matters: Sammamish’s Town Center is central to the city’s strategy for providing more housing types and local services in a walkable area. Revising the plan and code will determine how much additional housing the area may accommodate, how tall or dense new buildings may be, and what public improvements will be required to serve new residents.

Key details presented

- Size and land use: Staff described the Town Center as about 240 acres, with 83 acres designated as critical areas that will not be developed, roughly 26 acres for civic uses and about 10 acres in rights-of-way. About 32 acres are built or planned for near-term construction; the remainder is limited.

- Housing capacity: The 2007 FEIS analyzed a range of densities up to 4,000 units and the adopted 2008 plan set 2,000 units as the planned level for the Town Center. Braemeyer said the review is prompted by a ‘‘one‑third’’ milestone in the plan that calls for reevaluation once roughly one-third of the planned units are built; staff estimate that more than one‑third are now built or under construction.

- Commercial space: The FEIS assumed up to 600,000 square feet of commercial space; staff said about 234,000 square feet is built or has permits, leaving roughly 366,000 square feet remaining under the original assumption.

- Code changes and process improvements: Braemeyer said the Town Center code is “difficult to administer” and that the entitlement process currently requires two sequential steps that add cost and time without improving outcomes. Staff plan to streamline entitlements and update street and design standards for walkability, multimodal access and building feasibility.

- Sustainability and incentives: Staff described incentives for green building — for example, LEED certification, solar, green roofs and low-impact development — that could be tied to density bonuses. Braemeyer said cities commonly use incentives rather than wholesale mandates when adding sustainability requirements.

Questions and concerns raised

Commissioners and residents asked about the traffic and school impacts of added density, whether existing water and stormwater systems could support growth, tree retention, parking strategies, and whether taller buildings would be allowed. Braemeyer said traffic and school impacts will be studied in the supplemental EIS and that the city uses tools such as concurrency certificates and impact fees to ensure growth pays for necessary infrastructure. He also said water-district studies and coordination with the fire district and other service providers are part of the process.

Braemeyer stated that the city can require concurrency (capacity confirmations) before issuing permits and that impact fees are collected per unit; he said impact fees are intended to make growth fund growth-related infrastructure. On tree retention he warned that sometimes trees proposed for retention do not survive hydrology or grading changes, so code tools need to be realistic.

Process and next steps

Staff said they are drafting the plan, a draft supplemental EIS and related code updates, and plan additional community engagement. Braemeyer said the draft plan and supplemental EIS would be published for public comment and then proceed through Planning Commission and City Council review, with staff aiming to have a draft available within months and formal adoption later in the year depending on public comment and review timelines.

No formal decisions were taken at the meeting. Staff emphasized the update is an iterative process that will continue to incorporate technical studies (traffic, utilities, schools, stormwater) and public comment.

Ending

Braemeyer urged commissioners and residents to review background materials posted on the city website and to submit questions and comments; he said staff will post drafts, maps and technical reports online and will coordinate further briefings as the supplemental EIS and code updates are completed.","Deputy director Matt Braemeyer told the Sustainability Commission the Town Center update will re-examine growth caps, revise the development code and complete a supplemental EIS as development and state requirements have changed since the original plan.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sustainability commissioners finalize booth plans, ORCA card distribution and outreach for Sammamish Earth Day

EnergySmart Eastside staff report uptake and funding for heat‑pump incentives; commissioners asked for clarity on grants and resiliency

Resident urges Sammamish to plan for thousands of additional ‘B and C’ housing units

Sammamish staff outline updated Town Center plan, EIS and code changes as development continues