Issaquah task force urges prompt police space fixes, phased new city hall; council weighs funding options

The Issaquah Public Safety and Civic Facilities Task Force recommended the council prioritize police operational space, renovate 130 E. Sunset Way for exclusive police use and develop a plan to construct a new city hall on city‑owned property, the administration reported on Oct. 20.

Administrative Services Director Autumn said the roughly year‑long community task force produced two preferred locations for a new city hall: City Hall South (the task force majority’s preference) and a Pickering site adjacent to Pickering Barn, which was a close second. The task force recommended phasing work if needed and pursuing a “comprehensive funding strategy,” continuing robust public engagement, and maintaining flexibility for future opportunities.

Kristen Garcia, the city’s finance director, outlined funding options and provided an illustrative voter‑approved bond scenario: an $80 million bond issuance on a 20‑year schedule at a conservative 5% interest rate would produce estimated annual debt service of about $6.4 million, require a 60% voter approval threshold and, using 2025 assessed values in the example, increase the levy by roughly $0.36 per $1,000 of assessed value (she estimated an illustrative annual impact of about $437 on a $1.2 million home). Garcia cautioned these were illustrations and that actual numbers would vary with timing, interest rates and assessed valuations.

Task force cost estimates presented to council were: police renovations $15–26 million; new city hall at City Hall South $44–53 million; new city hall at Pickering $48–57 million. Timing estimates included 2½–3½ years for police renovations and about 3½–4 years to design and build a new city hall.

Councilors asked about alternatives to voter‑approved debt. Several members voiced interest in exploring councilmanic debt (cityborne debt repaid from existing revenues), phasing police renovations with councilmanic bonds, and using one‑time resources—property sale proceeds (city estimate ~$9.6 million), developer mitigation funds (~$3.3 million) and portions of public safety or construction sales tax receipts—as capital contributions to reduce borrowing needs. Council members also emphasized early and transparent communications to avoid premature perceptions about site selection and to explain trade‑offs to voters.

Autumn and Garcia said staff will return in early 2021 with refined recommendations, financing scenarios that split candidate uses of one‑time and ongoing resources, and an engagement plan to gather public input during the next administration’s transition.