[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6239054,"mediaKeyId","3340085-4bce8cc1328ef0346699364761998862","parentId",3340085,"title","Sammamish council reviews transition plan for former CWU campus; residents push thrift shop and community uses","audioSeconds",3408,"startMs",154000,"endMs",3562000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3340085-4bce8cc1328ef0346699364761998862&start=154&end=3562","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3340085-4bce8cc1328ef0346699364761998862/thumbnail_154000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6239054/Sammamish-City/King-County/Washington/Sammamish-council-reviews-transition-plan-for-former-CWU-campus-residents-push-thrift-shop-and-community-uses","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6239054-4c3f5bd268a341a6140775dd3c7d42b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194545&Signature=CWwpOPh6AkPpUC2QMCYBAFc6SizXCnzE6zgzAUJB9NNw-pPZvy9-7~3MZECA1dErPBlgCzO0MNObdqyrj~PSg8oQfS0tMIQ8SYJQz21gM2uj19h-Rf9FX6ZWw-mcaGhc5MSnLBBbBPVrn5cjLsBLB3X8MnuQmZ1u~0-bO3izNmTFSWYnhIfE~F4O4KR~~eELxLljAaj1xfWmqtOTGajBbo5JOoe5zY6uA0aloxzioPsWj1ws4YX-Vy80J8IjAv62sZnQ7ebkbl1ZH6Ls7rBgHkT5EtLqw43v27B-3TfVd~xNuqGn4SrQGCbYYHCHR4-Y1OhzsyVH9BxIztaaCnPMbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sammamish City, WA","date","2025-05-16T15:57:40.267Z","article","City staff presented options on May 13 for the city-owned community facility at 122 Twentieth Avenue Northeast after Central Washington University ends its lease June 30, and several residents urged the Council to place community programs — including a thrift shop proposed by Sammamish Friends — in the building.

Janie Walzer, management analyst for the Parks and Recreation Department, told the Sammamish City Council the city bought the building in 2015 for \"a little over $6,000,000,\" that it measures about 31,000 square feet, sits adjacent to wetlands, and is sited on roughly 22 acres. She said the lot is zoned residential and the university operated under a conditional use permit issued in 2017; after CWU vacates, the building would be a nonconforming use that can remain occupied for 12 months unless the city takes other action.

Walzer outlined three broad options: find a single anchor tenant to rent the whole facility, sell the property, or maintain city ownership and operate the building. She said initial transition costs to keep the facility open — \"the bare minimum\" — were estimated between \"$175,000 and $275,000,\" ongoing facility operations would be about \"$190,000 a year,\" and a 2022 facility assessment identified roughly \"$5,000,000 in estimated needs\" over a 15‑year horizon (costs not adjusted for inflation).

Public commenters urged community uses if the city retains the site. Sally Farrell, who identified herself as board president of Sammamish Friends, said the nonprofit has drafted a longer proposal and presented an executive summary asking the city to allocate space at the former CWU building for a thrift shop run under Sammamish Friends’ 501(c)(3). \"The thrift shop is something that's been on our mind for a while,\" Farrell said, adding the group would staff the operation with volunteers and would use net proceeds to support human services and senior programs.

Other speakers described expected benefits. Nicola Weiss said the thrift shop would operate under Sammamish Friends’ nonprofit status and supply funds for senior services and other local nonprofits. High‑school volunteers Ayush Agua and Andrew Wang said the shop would provide volunteering and gathering opportunities for youth and help bring foot traffic to the site. Several residents recommended the city consider a senior center, meeting spaces, and performance uses for the gym stage.

Council members asked operational and financial questions and generally expressed interest in retaining the building while staff refines costs. Council member Sid Gupta said, \"I do support the city maintaining ownership and operations.\" Council member Rosheen O'Farrell said she \"fully support[s]\" exploring a city‑owned community facility. Mayor Karen Howe said the opportunity was \"almost too good ... to pass on\" but cautioned the council will need to budget for long‑term subsidy if the city operates the center.

Staff told the council that maintaining ownership would likely require rezoning or a new conditional use permit to allow continued community use beyond the 12‑month nonconforming period and that any plan to expand operations or invest in capital improvements should be integrated into Community Development's work plan and future budgets. Staff also suggested a Metropolitan Parks District as a long‑term funding mechanism.

No formal council decision to buy, sell, or rent the property was made at the meeting. City staff said they would proceed with short‑term transition steps to secure the building and return in the fall with more detailed cost estimates, permitting implications and a community engagement plan to help determine long‑term uses.

Background: the facility was constructed in 2008, served as a CWU satellite campus under a lease‑to‑own arrangement, and the city purchased it in 2015. Current subleases include the YMCA operating the community and aquatic center, small classroom rentals and a Microsoft commuter parking agreement. Staff cautioned the council that the $5,000,000 condition assessment figure is a planning estimate from 2022 and does not include transition‑specific items that staff identified separately.

Community members and councilors suggested several near‑term uses that could require minimal investment, including staging community rentals, off‑site city records storage, and targeted safety improvements to lighting and locks. Council members repeatedly emphasized the need for community engagement before committing to significant capital work or a change in land use.

The council did not vote on long‑term ownership or disposition at the May 13 meeting. Staff will return with more detailed pricing, a community engagement timeline and permitting analysis if council confirms it wants the city to retain the building.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 13, 2024 - City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","City staff presented options on May 13 for the city-owned community facility at 122 Twentieth Avenue Northeast after Central Washington University ends its lease June 30, and several residents urged the Council to place community programs — including a thrift shop proposed by Sammamish Friends — in the building.","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},6239044,"City clerk outlines rising complexity of public‑records requests, Project Elephant records initiative and proposed offboarding declaration",670,5030000,5700000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3340085-4bce8cc1328ef0346699364761998862&start=5030&end=5700","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3340085-4bce8cc1328ef0346699364761998862/thumbnail_5030000.jpg","/articles/6239044/Sammamish-City/King-County/Washington/City-clerk-outlines-rising-complexity-of-publicrecords-requests-Project-Elephant-records-initiative-and-proposed-offboarding-declaration","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6239044-60825be2ad51c076ce96b516fa1f2e7c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194545&Signature=k2klaxrM9Lc8zacMcc06lHFumkuG~MWLY4LcmRS~iiL69JcvzhlteLyW33oA1Dn10uecsB7DYmKWOACwAtT5pTumahVgZn-LtQjelalnt4CfhM1Sh8u311Qsuq4zL5BrFyybspPtVnzbzIVARjCCwmUuHJLgVH68vMbvx5ybgKLTmAvGzTMX5vcvWB3IKlJwLgTjtHGNl~2WmLiIb00eyXBrjyxCz72ckiQbJdlkhrFhUEiZFuxOxDKS1Mx1CISZMWvJgf9uKuUWrswZ-StSLsC1QjeZow5FDlUZNOd27e-WzvNuMwtCWU7xF-ueH-dbfxrh7LlgeslTwKQgp8ghUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deputy City Manager Rachel Bianchi and the City Clerk’s Office updated the Sammamish City Council on May 13 about public‑records operations, rising request complexity, a paper‑records management effort called “Project Elephant” and a proposed policy change to require departing employees and elected officials to execute a records‑turnover declaration.

Amber Anderson, Deputy City Clerk, and Sabrina Otnis, the city’s Public Records Officer, described how the city categorizes requests into four classes. They said the city receives more category‑2, 3 and 4 requests this year than last and that many large requests cover multiple subject matters, many people and several years of communications — producing hundreds of thousands of items that require interdepartmental searches and legal review.

Sabrina Otnis said the city tries to respond within the Public Records Act’s five‑business‑day window by taking one of several prescribed steps but noted that full fulfillment of complex category‑4 requests may take more than a year. She said the clerk’s office does not use AI tools to search and review records and emphasized staff coordination and case‑law training for reviewers.

The clerks summarized state reporting requirements. The city’s 2023 report to the joint legislative audit and review committee (JLARC) recorded roughly $912,000 in total public‑records costs; Otnis said about $340,000 of that total was litigation‑related in 2023. The office said it will publish 2024 figures once JLARC reporting is complete.

The clerk’s office proposed two operational initiatives. First, the office will bring a policy amendment to the council for consideration on June 3 that would require exiting staff, commissioners and elected officials to sign a declaration confirming they have turned over public records from personal devices and accounts or identified responsive records. Second, the office is launching “Project Elephant,” an all‑city paper‑records management project to retrieve roughly 1,300 boxes currently stored at Iron Mountain (the city pays about $30,000–$40,000 per year for that storage) and apply the updated state records retention schedule to digitize frequently requested records or transfer archival material to the state archivist.

Council members asked timing and cost questions. Deputy Mayor Amy Lam asked whether 2024 JLARC figures were available; staff said the JLARC report is prepared annually and they are assembling the 2024 submission. Council member Pamela Stewart asked whether AI could help; staff said they are not using AI for records review at present and prefer to follow recommendations from the Municipal Clerks Association and state guidance before adopting new tools.

Staff said they will provide the council with the proposed offboarding declaration for review on June 3 and will return with Project Elephant cost estimates and recommendations when the initial inventory and options are developed. No formal policy change was adopted at the May 13 meeting.","City clerks reported growing volume and complexity of public‑records requests, a 2023 cost report of roughly $912,000 (including litigation), a new Project Elephant effort to remove roughly 1,300 paper boxes from Iron Mountain storage and a proposed policy requiring departing officials to declare they turned over public records.",{"_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},6239049,"YMCA presents 2024 activity and scholarship totals; council asks about utilities and federal wraparound funding",719,2096000,2815000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3340085-4bce8cc1328ef0346699364761998862&start=2096&end=2815","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3340085-4bce8cc1328ef0346699364761998862/thumbnail_2096000.jpg","/articles/6239049/Sammamish-City/King-County/Washington/YMCA-presents-2024-activity-and-scholarship-totals-council-asks-about-utilities-and-federal-wraparound-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6239049-69bc639018836d2451c35f787d5e3f10/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194545&Signature=ck3RLdVF6Vxq8Xj~PDH0RcQIS0U3VIwuDzxHEq9PnKfTY1j0W7RCtQJ0v2Y2ldsyPRFEofZMniAYulAPjpcU2g-MkKW9~kGEUzQ~RdXZlrV1c58N~IedpJh5QxQwLgVaJcJKeIpyojTPkbAU~aZJRFCalksKRi6Xus~2XfZi-HAWRs2Tv11OVrdcQTliY9jvQy4pL5Kn3EhTiaqIZxc~tvloJLrO2zUcT1879UJaRpqeWAtESChV1rH~DaQ5VtsWX5BQsoBenTEg2xFIHc3Ah8xsId~-pI-P117ZXNR~807LgXoyhBnnAPHQWVu04NRVWHe-PPh915DU~o2eN815MA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kelly Martin, branch executive for the Sammamish Community and Aquatic Center with the YMCA of Greater Seattle, presented the branch’s 2024 annual report to the Sammamish City Council on May 13 and highlighted program activity, scholarships and partnerships with the city.

Martin said the branch awarded more than $185,000 in scholarships in 2024 for memberships and programs, taught \"over 7,100 swim lessons,\" served \"over 13,000 meals in the Sammamish community,\" and reported \"over 31,000 visits to our kids zone.\" She also described recurring free community offerings supported by the city partnership, including weekly community swim sessions, community pickleball and older‑adult classes.

Anjali Meyer, the city’s Director of Parks and Recreation, introduced the YMCA presentation and reiterated that the city’s contract with the YMCA makes the organization a primary community‑service partner for the leased CWU facility and plaza events.

Council member Sid Gupta asked about a substantial drop in reported utility costs despite membership growth; Martin said the branch’s recent pool closure likely contributed to lower utility charges. Martin also told the council that YMCA fundraising and scholarship dollars are separate from membership income and \"open doors for all,\" citing roughly $134,000 in fundraising in 2024 that helped expand access for residents.

Deputy Mayor Amy Lam asked whether area high school teams are using the pool; Martin said YMCA staff \"have reached out to all 3 high schools\" to explore practice use. On federal funding for wraparound services, Martin said the branch itself had not yet been directly impacted but that the YMCA’s broader social‑impact programs (WYSIC/WISE) that rely on grant funding have seen reductions and could affect some wraparound services.

Martin thanked staff and community partners, noted the branch’s role as a warming/cooling center during emergencies and said the renovated pool tile project completed in 2024 had returned the pool to full service. She invited councilors to follow up with questions and said the YMCA would continue coordinating program delivery with the city.

No formal action was taken. Councilors thanked the YMCA for the report and asked staff to share additional data on federal funding impacts to wraparound services when available.","The YMCA of Greater Seattle summarized 2024 activity at the Sammamish Community and Aquatic Center, including scholarships awarded, lessons taught and program metrics; councilors asked whether reduced utility expenses reflected the pool closure and whether federal funding cuts affected wraparound services.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sammamish council reviews transition plan for former CWU campus; residents push thrift shop and community uses

City clerk outlines rising complexity of public‑records requests, Project Elephant records initiative and proposed offboarding declaration

YMCA presents 2024 activity and scholarship totals; council asks about utilities and federal wraparound funding