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Issaquah council authorizes updated joint‑use agreement with school district to ease facility scheduling and allow joint capital projects
Summary
The council unanimously authorized the mayor to sign an updated joint‑use interlocal agreement with the Issaquah School District to modernize scheduling, clarify access rules and create a process for addenda on future joint capital projects, including potential elementary school sports fields tied to a park bond.
The Issaquah City Council on June 29 authorized the mayor to enter into an updated interlocal joint‑use agreement with the Issaquah School District that clarifies facility scheduling, operational coordination and a mechanism for future joint capital projects.
Parks Director Jeff Watling told the council the existing interlocal dated from 2003 and lacked differentiation for how to schedule different facility types — for example, gymnasiums, outdoor fields, the Julius Bone pool and the high‑school performing arts center. The update lays out frontline staff processes, distinguishes scheduling for different facilities and formalizes a method to create addenda for future city investments in school properties.
Watling said the updated agreement creates a framework for addendum agreements that would specify funding, building, maintenance and scheduling for joint capital projects such as elementary school sports fields the city might fund and then maintain and schedule. He noted the agreement would not itself obligate either party to future capital spending; addenda would detail any such commitments.
Watling reported the Parks Board unanimously supported the update; staff also presented the draft to the school board and received generally positive programmatic feedback while some legal questions (indemnification, dispute resolution) remain under review by legal counsel. Watling and councilors said the city and district plan to finish legal review before the school board considers adoption on August 13.
Council discussion stressed the importance of hardening scheduling and addendum terms before a park bond goes to voters; Council Member Walsh pressed staff to make the addendum language a priority so that voters understand how a bond investment would affect public access. Watling said separate addenda will be negotiated for each elementary school field project because hours and maintenance responsibilities will vary by site.
Council moved, seconded and unanimously approved a motion authorizing the mayor to enter the interlocal agreement in substantially the form attached to the staff report, with additional non‑substantive edits permitted by the city attorney.
What happens next: School board review is scheduled for August 13; if both parties adopt the interlocal, staff will begin operational implementation and — should voters approve a park bond in November — pursue addenda for each joint capital project.
