[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",6196108,"mediaKeyId","3858130-23fc780935f4fab738ed3a6e45f50257","parentId",3858130,"title","Resident and county overdose‑prevention lead urges briefing after reported jail fentanyl fatalities and $5.5M settlement","audioSeconds",292,"startMs",195000,"endMs",487000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3858130-23fc780935f4fab738ed3a6e45f50257&start=195&end=487","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3858130-23fc780935f4fab738ed3a6e45f50257/thumbnail_195000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6196108/Issaquah/King-County/Washington/Resident-and-county-overdoseprevention-lead-urges-briefing-after-reported-jail-fentanyl-fatalities-and-55M-settlement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6196108-af3922833503bcb0f6dc10a486920ea5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185880&Signature=MztL3zhp3TH00PAayg0nDW8bOZruk6L7Xi2HGi2~UiDPL6Lpa3yIxm7W-r5DJfDd6z67jtW-VNGR0WyK6IGVtOWLyNsbMNGiQ4RDSGS1O6KXUnVQBuGIHnWUA2nnt4cSI2xi1gVhEEcc~bhtWKOfuiovqIZAuCvDwnwYQWzIUYBzyCqloRWSz8mbEUXgZRC8gkBkoMR08J234wmKmuBc5LnSx1PKZOLkToUeiBWh4qxB8lgjbjKffG9l~hthAmukGfITOcaN7CWtR4KpsdRA2QdwehzUhUSs86O3g5GXpmbpIp03QmmApF~VALNDeEhwnbD5fm-oxk5-7EgB2kxewQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Issaquah City, WA","date","2025-06-17T03:41:51Z","article","Brad Finegood, an Issaquah resident who said he works in overdose prevention for King County, used the meeting’s opening public‑comment period to press the city for answers and policy changes after media reports that two people died while in the city jail.

Finegood said he learned via news coverage that “2 people died in the city jail of fentanyl overdose or or fentanyl withdrawal” and that Cascade PBS reported the city reached a $5,500,000 payout. “I bring that, as an, in my professional role too,” he said, offering his expertise and asking, “what policies are changing in the jail as a result of that? I urge you to have a briefing in front of council to understand that.”

Nut graf: Finegood framed the comment as both a resident and a professional, saying the deaths appeared to be preventable and asking the council to request a briefing and consider the Human Services Commission or other local mechanisms to develop best practices.

Council response and requested follow‑up

Deputy Council President Barbara DeMichele thanked Finegood and said someone could follow up: “someone can follow‑up with you, Brad, to tell you the answer to your questions,” recorded in the meeting transcript. No briefing date or administrative action was recorded in the transcript beyond that offer to follow up.

Context provided by the commenter

Finegood said he leads overdose prevention work for King County and described himself as a national expert and also as someone personally affected by overdose (he described being “the survivor of a brother that died of an overdose”). He urged use of evidence‑based treatment and involvement by the city’s Human Services Commission. He offered himself as a resource.

Ending

The comment period closed with the clerk indicating someone could follow up with Finegood; the transcript does not show any formal council directive, staff briefing, or subsequent council discussion about the jail at that meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Issaquah City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting - June 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","An Issaquah resident and King County overdose‑prevention lead told the council on June 16 he wants a public briefing after media reports that two people died in the city jail and the city agreed to a reported $5.5 million settlement.","taxTitle","Issaquah, King County, Washington","taxId",53186,"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},6196112,"Issaquah study finds most neighborhoods can clear within about two hours; Highlands could take nearly three",4072,512000,4584000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3858130-23fc780935f4fab738ed3a6e45f50257&start=512&end=4584","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3858130-23fc780935f4fab738ed3a6e45f50257/thumbnail_512000.jpg","/articles/6196112/Issaquah/King-County/Washington/Issaquah-study-finds-most-neighborhoods-can-clear-within-about-two-hours-Highlands-could-take-nearly-three","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6196112-cae4154b618db1103dff5f690150c457/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185880&Signature=m85sC1Fp~ArNc9p-o5TIgW~VMiM24H~2H058rYfa9QOrQYvvb2ANZToCN4QDHebq8rPdnW3kbzm4bqGgIhJXgWOR91G73qK1Q9~te5ymzupLOAVtuzuB5D9zHsgl-VZW3Q5axs3lsJl87y4mtgFcoMn9dvblTjGTV6u~BjKzcTRkpGo8Cl79R39CI6-TRU-41G9tZ6u0bDC6aT0wrLwSSvec3d7LYvVbH-aOkBtiB9upjzLxyv9nPSFedUdK1Qhmr2a0w7~gFsApNxlTVSCYSJ2Ws3Iy2VYpugfy1Uivy4lh0XU-rUQmywa--4i-C07ZtxoArdRmrc23wQWtOCVPFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An Issaquah emergency-management study presented June 16 found that under the modelled scenarios 90% of the city’s residents could leave Issaquah’s municipal boundaries in about 2 hours and 20 minutes, but Issaquah Highlands could take about 2 hours and 50 minutes to reach that same level of clearance.

Jared Schneider, Issaquah’s emergency manager, told the Committee of the Whole the evacuation time estimate (ETE) combines three factors: how long households take to start a trip, the amount of traffic generated during an evacuation, and the transportation network available to carry vehicles. “The wildfire evacuation time estimate study is really made up of 3 main factors,” Schneider said. The study used a community survey (more than 380 respondents) and a traffic simulation built from detailed roadway observations.

The nut graf: the study is intended to show how quickly people can exit city limits, not how long it takes to reach a designated safe shelter, and to help the city choose mitigation steps — from public outreach to physical infrastructure changes — that reduce evacuation time and avoid gridlock.

Key findings and immediate implications

- Citywide: the ETE for 90% of residents is about 2 hours 20 minutes under the study’s baseline conditions (mixed day/weekend and seasonal scenarios). Schneider said the study reports neighborhood-level times; “most of the neighborhoods individually … are somewhere around 2 hours to 2 hours 5 minutes.”

- Issaquah Highlands: Schneider said the Highlands is “by far our most challenging neighborhood to evacuate,” because of density and limited egress; its modeled 90% evacuation time stood out at about 2 hours 50 minutes.

- Traffic choke points: the study identified SR 900, East Lake Sammamish Parkway, parts of downtown near the I‑90 on‑ramp, and the Costco area as early congestion locations. Schneider noted roundabouts near city edges constrain evacuation flow because they limit safe travel speeds.

- Special populations and transport resources: the analysis included school pick‑ups, assisted‑living populations and the jail. Schneider reported the contractor estimated school transportation needs at roughly 10 buses (because most parents would pick up children), transit‑dependent needs at roughly 22 buses, and additional wheelchair buses and ambulances for medical/assisted‑living transport. The plan also accounted for a 13% “shadow evacuation” from nearby unincorporated areas and adjacent communities, which Schneider said equates to a substantial number of additional vehicles on regional routes.

Scenarios and potential long‑term fixes

Schneider described three modeled road‑building scenarios intended to reduce Highlands evacuation times: connecting Grand Ridge Drive to 220 2nd Avenue SE (modeled benefit ~35 minutes), a Northeast Natalie Way to Old Black Nugget Road link (~10 minutes), and extending to SE Issaquah‑Fall City Road (~30 minutes). He emphasized these are conceptual in the model and that environmental, ownership and feasibility questions remain.

Council members raised operational questions. Councilmember Chang asked how modeled flows would change if an evacuation required routing people away from a fire (for example, driving past a burning slope). Schneider said the baseline scenarios assume all modeled routes are available and acknowledged scenarios that block routes would likely be worse; the administration prioritized studying improvements that could make a measurable long‑term difference for the first set of scenarios.

Operational steps the city plans to take

- Exercise: the city will run a multi‑agency evacuation exercise applying the study’s findings; participants include Eastside Fire & Rescue, Issaquah School District, Costco and others.

- Variable (electronic) evacuation signs: Schneider and the City Administrator identified programmable signs as a key near‑term investment to direct traffic in real time and avoid sending evacuees toward blocked routes. The City Administrator said, “the variable signs… we are going to move expeditiously.” The administration indicated six candidate locations on city maps and said it may return with a budget request.

- School pickup planning: the study found school‑related pickup congestion can add roughly 15 minutes to some neighborhood evacuation times. One operational option cited by Schneider is directing parent pickups to specified collection points (for example, College Drive) to keep station areas and park areas clearer.

- Community outreach and preparedness: Schneider emphasized preparedness reduces travel times; the study’s community survey indicated most households said they would depart with one vehicle, and the city will promote consolidating vehicles, carpooling and signing up for Alert King County.

Next steps and timeline

Schneider said the city will pursue additional scenario development in the fall, develop a neighborhood story map for public use, scope electronic sign options this fall and, if feasible, install signs in winter. He said the study results will be used in a countywide community wildfire protection planning process now under way. The City Administrator committed to move forward “as quickly as possible” on signs and to return with an update in September or October.

Ending

Schneider and council members characterized the study as an operational tool to guide exercises, outreach and capital decisions rather than a set of finalized mandates. Schneider said the study showed both the limits of the road network as a capacity constraint and concrete near‑term actions the city can pursue to reduce evacuation time and improve coordination with regional partners.","An Issaquah emergency‑management study presented June 16 found that under modeled conditions 90% of residents could exit city limits in about 2 hours 20 minutes, but Issaquah Highlands could require nearly three hours to clear.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6196103,"Council reviews 2027–2032 CIP draft; administration asks whether to prioritize maintenance, light‑rail supports or large visionary projects",0,4799000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3858130-23fc780935f4fab738ed3a6e45f50257&start=4799&end=4799","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3858130-23fc780935f4fab738ed3a6e45f50257/thumbnail_4799000.jpg","/articles/6196103/Issaquah/King-County/Washington/Council-reviews-20272032-CIP-draft-administration-asks-whether-to-prioritize-maintenance-lightrail-supports-or-large-visionary-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6196103-ba9c36697cfbbac5750bee4273ce9bef/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185880&Signature=PN1-zNfJ~21r2c2G5e3EAiF~S8XenO2vTem6UH0NDQk6lpLZ0r2wMOL7wm3pgv87zRLGSX3wTmny9bvX7JXP-mpr5QR7H8NyeWdTyKPS4IsGJwoZDXb31ht6sEkuVzZ8kfpF8IUnHreGklHSoNlOGoGRtWqu5Muzpt0KBBhxXs4ChE5uTzFRxRw0zXmbCDCRKv2Uwx28WhTxIiCjR4TQDgHMiU8Npl6~6QAx22PAOVB5GmC83xIgP0zCXrxWAvz9ly8qM80NZoXChgHofMgOJQu~QgQZURU4uvHBIqc848zesyKnLLbeiyOYPW7DahLWotjG3rW3ZG9uj~448dMxaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deputy City Administrator Andrea Snyder presented the draft 2027–2032 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to the Committee of the Whole on June 16 and requested council feedback on several policy choices: whether the administration should prioritize maintenance over new assets; how to prioritize transportation projects that support light rail; and whether to fund large, long‑term “visionary” projects or smaller immediate projects.

Snyder said the CIP reflects updated utility rate‑study inputs, a larger emphasis on facilities maintenance, and a continued mismatch between needs and anticipated revenues. “Needs continue to outpace the revenues,” she said, and the CIP departs from prior versions by not attempting to fully balance the first two years of the plan because of uncertainty about future revenues and grant prospects.

Nut graf: the CIP is a planning document meant to make the city eligible for grants and to show anticipated work across utilities, transportation, parks and city facilities; Snyder asked the council to weigh trade‑offs so staff can bring more detailed budget recommendations during next year’s budget cycle.

Key points raised in the presentation and council discussion

- Maintenance priority: Snyder said the administration emphasized maintenance and replacement programs over new assets, especially for facilities that staff described as deferred for too long.

- Light rail and transportation tradeoffs: Mobility and Infrastructure Committee members and others said they support maintenance and light‑rail‑related projects but expressed concern about committing to high‑cost visionary projects (for example an I‑90 pedestrian crossing associated with a future station) without identified funding. Snyder noted the I‑90 crossing currently lacks an identified funding source.

- Northwest Sammamish Road and other local priorities: Councilmembers reiterated long‑standing community interest in Northwest Sammamish Road pedestrian improvements. Snyder said that project is in the plan and tentatively scheduled for 2028, with Transportation Benefit District (TBD) sales tax revenues anticipated to help fund the debt service.

- Facilities and public‑safety projects: the plan includes Issaquah Police Department renovations and City Hall facility work beginning in 2027; Snyder said the administration prioritized facilities maintenance and will return with more detailed budget requests. The Public Safety and Civic Facilities Task Force continues to meet and will provide recommendations to the council.

Quantities and funding signals mentioned in discussion

- Snyder stated the city expects TBD sales tax initial revenues in the order of $2.2 million in the first year (used in council discussion to illustrate scale), and noted some projects in the transportation section have TBD‑backed debt shown (for example a multi‑million dollar placeholder for a North‑of‑Sammamish corridor project), but she cautioned that exact debt‑service impacts depend on future bond market conditions.

- Snyder said the CIP includes updates from the utility rate study, including the timing for a new water treatment plant to be funded by the water utility; exact utility rate impacts will be considered in next year’s budget process.

Next steps and requested direction

Snyder asked whether council supports the administration’s emphasis on maintenance over new assets, whether council wants to prioritize projects that support light rail, and how council prefers to treat large visionary projects versus smaller immediate projects given funding uncertainty. The administration seeks potential adoption of the plan on June 23 to meet a July 1 statutory deadline for Transportation Improvement Plan updates, but staff said the CIP is a planning document and some items will require further refinement during the next budget process.

Ending

Councilmembers expressed broad support for prioritizing maintenance and pedestrian safety projects, reiterated specific commitments to Northwest Sammamish improvements, and asked staff to return with more detailed cost and funding information during the budget cycle. Snyder said staff would return in September/October with implementation updates and additional scoping work for high‑priority items.","Deputy City Administrator Andrea Snyder presented the city’s draft 2027–2032 capital improvement plan on June 16, asking the council for guidance on prioritizing maintenance over new assets, funding transportation projects that support light rail, and how to balance high‑cost visionary projects versus smaller, immediate projects","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident and county overdose‑prevention lead urges briefing after reported jail fentanyl fatalities and $5.5M settlement

Issaquah study finds most neighborhoods can clear within about two hours; Highlands could take nearly three

Council reviews 2027–2032 CIP draft; administration asks whether to prioritize maintenance, light‑rail supports or large visionary projects