[{"_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",6192207,"mediaKeyId","4125655-c4adcb684074aefb55b30ef76fe65eb0","parentId",4125655,"title","Sammamish city employees urge council to revise merit pay plan, seek retroactive raises","audioSeconds",373,"startMs",148000,"endMs",521000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=4125655-c4adcb684074aefb55b30ef76fe65eb0&start=148&end=521","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4125655-c4adcb684074aefb55b30ef76fe65eb0/thumbnail_148000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6192207/Sammamish-City/King-County/Washington/Sammamish-city-employees-urge-council-to-revise-merit-pay-plan-seek-retroactive-raises","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6192207-436d16da0bff78c68e257e12e9d32bcf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203454&Signature=NZffLQWKQR-bnIWuCNinUeNiDEbRppf4DSucEp5Rm6N1Zt6HjMZ-VVFtOWP9sWbPQiRGUtTBA5EoUWQlxDIvABKY-J6ZTCPOkHBtm60gpO92Gt-s82geAGo3wbQGYewxVmH0h7fKUN8CCS3WnF66uGNb9EJORSh2bkF~fJawDCJ-5-2PL6sXvp5kUfpkqA37bihDdtwZpG4t5FQVbNHzPBUHiGSlLtKCUdt3z0uODpnqhtPlFFmAPaoF8gHvnT9Iz~lyoLaYDjbpmcKNXnEoFa6ISQDQsH5ETlkU7SfzDfgI3~abMetafdHVV6pXWKQkP2ViJzpJeXeOxEDzVLRkDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sammamish City, WA","date","2025-06-18T19:01:15Z","article","Local 1425 representatives on Tuesday urged the Sammamish City Council to revisit a newly implemented merit-pay proposal and seek a pay system that recognizes employees who meet the city's performance expectations.

Darcy Donovan, president of Local 1425, said the city and union jointly developed a new evaluation system rolled out earlier this year but that the city now proposes awarding raises only to employees who \"exceed expectations.\" Donovan said that approach leaves employees who \"meet expectations\" feeling unvalued and could harm morale and retention.

Donovan told the council that the union \"asks that city council direct the city manager's office to work with the union to develop a merit pay system that fairly and equitably compensates employees who meet the city's expectations,\" and that any agreement should be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025. She added the funding for employee raises was included in the city's adopted 2025–26 budget.

Roger Mueller, the union's staff representative assigned to represent Local 1425 City of Sammamish employees, said the union had proposed multiple alternatives at the bargaining table that were rejected. \"Whatever level of trust existed between the employees and the city is now gone,\" Mueller said.

Council did not take action during the meeting; the item was introduced as public comment and council later convened into a closed session on collective bargaining. Donovan and Mueller asked the council to direct the city manager to negotiate jointly with the union and to ensure the city honors funding already included in the adopted 2025–26 budget.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 17, 2025 - City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Local 1425 representatives on Tuesday urged the Sammamish City Council to revisit a newly implemented merit-pay proposal and seek a pay system that recognizes employees who meet the city's performance expectations.","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},6192211,"Sammamish previews town center code rewrite as SEIS comment period continues",3666,2018000,5684000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4125655-c4adcb684074aefb55b30ef76fe65eb0&start=2018&end=5684","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4125655-c4adcb684074aefb55b30ef76fe65eb0/thumbnail_2018000.jpg","/articles/6192211/Sammamish-City/King-County/Washington/Sammamish-previews-town-center-code-rewrite-as-SEIS-comment-period-continues","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6192211-01167a41a2bdeab85f9a3eab1df204ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203454&Signature=UQgDmNwHRmxoRF5AnfGRi9Umhb9asI-9IB5MOGcS8dIVF2P0Wqf9VDCYe6ssiAsic1NrV5XrB2E5s~J~o81Dlab2A6mGs~dXc5W~tY1qfdPuPRuyCgqwlBK~N0fE0~uhcvyTGLyVfkr8~5LibfPdd8j3Lt4PchiMXnUGERwhiTAQfXR8E9JYl4Nx4euCKWnGY98Xmi7wcvTtoST0kY5Hu0P-Cbd3T1rGg~Lo9w3Fy8JTZOzPTF5YWQ7cExM9oEA2nJqmkzMhvVL7PtwvXlffNbP36RgEloSgGJl60ipUVtdm8ICqCDJ2RvGI2vit6NIuSGZSCnospmltLpozEhUzKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sammamish City officials and their planning consultants on Tuesday previewed a draft rewrite of the Town Center code and urged feedback while the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) comment period remains open through July 9.

The draft code, scheduled for publication June 23, would simplify the Town Center zoning into fewer districts, replace parts of the existing Unified Development Code with a form-based approach emphasizing street-facing design, and introduce an \"eco factor\" (a green-score system) to encourage trees, plantings and other greening treatments, Jeff Arango of Framework told the Sammamish City Council.

The preview matters because the council will select a preferred alternative on July 15 and publish a final EIS in August; the code rewrite is intended to make the Town Center easier to administer, align standards with market realities, and create tools to encourage affordable housing and environmental features.

Arango summarized a code audit finding that \"the code is just really confusing to use. It's hard to administer, and there's a lot of discretion that's involved,\" and said the update aims to remove duplicative sections, clarify standards and replace a cumbersome unified-zone development permit process with an optional master concept plan for larger (more than five contiguous acres) projects.

Deputy director of community development Matt Bradmeier said the SEIS was published June 9 and that the draft code will be posted June 23; an open house is scheduled June 25 and the council will preview SEIS comments and choose an alternative on July 15. Arango described the eco factor as \"a flexible point based system to integrate trees, landscape, green design into projects in a very flexible way.\" He said the system is already used in other cities and can be administered with a scoring sheet.

Council members pressed staff on specifics. Councilmember Sid Gupta asked whether each property would be required to meet a green-score threshold; Arango replied, \"That's correct.\"

Deputy Mayor Amy Lamb asked whether the eco factor could be tied to quantifiable greenhouse gas savings. Arango said staff would research examples and follow up. Councilmember Pamela Stewart asked whether form-based code would force small unit types; Arango said the code would not dictate unit mix, and that \"a form based code actually would be the opposite of being prescriptive in the sense that ... the applicant's choice\" determines unit sizes.

The presentation also addressed parking changes required by recent state legislation. Arango told the council the state law preempts local minimum parking mandates: \"One of the recent bills ... puts limits on what cities can require for parking.\" He added that the law does not set a maximum and developers may still provide more parking for market or financing reasons.

On housing incentives, Arango said the current pool of transfer-of-development-rights (TDR) credits from King County has been largely used and that the city's update would honor existing credits while considering whether additional public-benefit trades (additional affordable housing, TDRs or other benefits) could be authorized as part of height or incentive packages.

Public commenters during the session voiced both support and concern. Jennifer Kim urged the council \"not to approve the additional 2,000 housing units at the Town Center\" citing lack of transit and infrastructure; Jason Kiefer, who said he could not afford to buy in Sammamish, urged the council to allow \"yes to more homes.\" Several residents, including Heather Murphy Raines, said they worry doubling units would change the city's character and urged more outreach.

Matt Bradmeier said staff and Framework have been meeting with property owners, agencies and stakeholders since January and that the team will return July 15 with a recommendation for the SEIS preferred alternative and next steps for public hearings and adoption.

The council did not take final action Tuesday; staff asked the public to submit SEIS comments by July 9 and attend the June 25 open house to review the draft code and street, utilities and permitting details.","City staff and consultants presented a draft rewrite of the Town Center code and invited public comment during an ongoing SEIS comment period, outlining form-based zoning, an \"eco factor\" for landscaping, changes to parking rules tied to recent state law, and a proposed optional master concept plan for larger sites.",{"_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},6192199,"Council adopts Pine Lake Creek Basin Plan after two-year study",3375,3447000,6822000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4125655-c4adcb684074aefb55b30ef76fe65eb0&start=3447&end=6822","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4125655-c4adcb684074aefb55b30ef76fe65eb0/thumbnail_3447000.jpg","/articles/6192199/Sammamish-City/King-County/Washington/Council-adopts-Pine-Lake-Creek-Basin-Plan-after-two-year-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6192199-504919b09e265e0604ee5e1c04a84638/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203454&Signature=ZXcdWJyO8bGjuPzNfnhOsu3-slSKKEtS6mXrxCeTtM4yidHHlPp5X2b9anq-A538DRt2GS13adLP0osd1OyMyTKaVt-GsEFeggAJk0BnTiMkUN9NvCr5DztOosXNd9gIqhF~QYNptjbQcGAe1LPga2ok4w9cy0Y7q0xTa2eIpaYrENSovOEoMC4n-kzQE~QIcAG9QjSXg6RYdvJyTQ0~s4sOBJlbLdkKmxvDBrAuQxHt0sHX8lYDvqMy~xH7N0N5ZFS-7oa94nHMpcgAEUIjO78nvZJrBOhHkAUN~0GF3VgzqhUYYtFDLPb33XjIo9NKi0WUORvKJb-RB9~V-XZWtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sammamish City Council on Tuesday adopted the Pine Lake Creek Basin Plan, a two-year basin planning effort that inventories watershed conditions, recommends prioritized projects and sets outreach and implementation steps for the city’s stormwater program.

Toby Kanan, the city’s stormwater engineer, told the council the basin—one of 14 within the city and among the most forested—was found to be \"in generally good shape\" based on water-quality sampling and hydrologic modeling, but that some built facilities and stream reaches need targeted improvements. The plan identifies six capital projects, two of which are already on the city's capital-improvement program (CIP).

Kanan said the plan grew from the 2016 stormwater comprehensive plan and the city's retrofit strategy, and it reflects requirements in the city's stormwater municipal permit and the enhanced level of service adopted in a recent rate study. The plan underwent SEPA review and received no comments, Kanan said.

Councilmember Kent Treen moved to adopt resolution R2025-1110 approving the Pine Lake Creek Basin Plan, and the council approved the resolution by voice vote. Treen said the adoption represents steady progress toward implementing the basin retrofit strategy and delivering identified capital projects through the CIP.

Deputy Mayor Amy Lamb asked about septic systems; staff said outreach and education are part of the plan and that any specific outreach about aging septic systems would be coordinated with King County Public Health and sewer district partners. Kanan and staff described the outreach program in the plan as intentionally flexible to allow tailoring to basin needs and partner roles.

The plan will be used to prioritize stormwater projects and inform future budget and CIP decisions.","After a two-year basin-planning process, the council adopted the Pine Lake Creek Basin Plan, which identifies a limited set of capital projects, recommends outreach and ties future work to the city's capital-improvement process; staff said the basin is generally in good health and that the plan will feed into the CIP.",{"_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},6192204,"Sammamish council adopts first arts strategic plan to guide public art and programming",5266,1517000,6783000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4125655-c4adcb684074aefb55b30ef76fe65eb0&start=1517&end=6783","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4125655-c4adcb684074aefb55b30ef76fe65eb0/thumbnail_1517000.jpg","/articles/6192204/Sammamish-City/King-County/Washington/Sammamish-council-adopts-first-arts-strategic-plan-to-guide-public-art-and-programming","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6192204-416c25e7b5031dc52a23bf58f0857bcf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203454&Signature=I3PAEApoNioAwSCLONKIE7W182C1kp5rZ5d1E2HAAi5LAfwte5VwuEo8Q73CyGBCd0Bdo93q8nPWl5ByzVcdOjZ1fUKZ7Xs-131nHaEl5oBvI2OGB2OqkLs0mklcA4j1-02DsA2W0UK1cRWgi~5~ge~vkA1AM4Cvu604jaqut11URZy10voDrk~cDawgTN7b4jDlJB2QaU4CqiYHJ0aaaK~p4Q5WowOjuQj9WOS1f1MKFVSngWvWbnBlQMJztkBlfCEvPXm2XmqBkU4QtbJlZ9TYcgfybx1Du9dvrjg2xPHLH2wtrqZi-dIBXNJ7T085K~Jc3BvMXX901yF0FI7Mpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sammamish City Council unanimously adopted the city’s first Art Strategic Plan on Tuesday, a document the Arts Commission and staff developed to guide public art, programming and cultural services.

Anjali Maia, director of Parks and Recreation, told the council the plan provides a road map for the Arts Commission and staff and was developed through a year of community engagement and a contract with consultant Framework. Janie Walzer, management analyst, said the Arts Commission unanimously voted June 2 to recommend the plan to council.

Walzer described the plan’s four chapters: an introduction and executive summary; an inventory of existing programs and roles; community engagement findings; and a toolkit that includes project selection criteria, budgeting tools and templates for commissioning public art. \"The toolkit is included as a companion to the plan ... it's something that commission and staff can update over time,\" she said.

Deputy Mayor Amy Lamb and other council members praised the plan and the toolkit’s emphasis on grant-writing training and capacity building for the commission. Councilmember Pamela Stewart asked whether the toolkit would accommodate community-driven memorials and similar ideas; staff answered it should, through the project selection criteria and the commission’s annual work plan.

Councilmember Sid Gupta moved adoption of the resolution formally approving the plan; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously. Council later approved resolution R2025-1109 adopting the Art Strategic Plan.

Council members said they expect the Arts Commission to use the plan to queue projects and return to council with implementation steps and budget requests as needed.","The council unanimously adopted the city's first Art Strategic Plan after a presentation by Parks and Recreation and the arts commission; the plan outlines roles, a two-year work plan, funding strategies, and a toolkit for commissioning public art.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sammamish city employees urge council to revise merit pay plan, seek retroactive raises

Sammamish previews town center code rewrite as SEIS comment period continues

Council adopts Pine Lake Creek Basin Plan after two-year study

Sammamish council adopts first arts strategic plan to guide public art and programming