Council renews Beaver Lake Management District after weighted property-owner vote

The Sammamish City Council on July 7 adopted an ordinance acknowledging the results of a property-owner vote to renew Beaver Lake Management District No. 1.

City staff reviewed the RCW-guided renewal process and explained the city-conducted ballot weighting used for the district vote. Management analyst Jen Ranelli told council the tally included 61 lakefront yes votes and 133 non-lakefront yes votes; when weighted by the proposed assessment amounts (lakefront ballots weighted at 320 and non‑lakefront at 33) that produced 23,909 weighted yeses versus 3,646 weighted noes. The ordinance before council formally acknowledges the vote and continues the district for the 2027–2036 term, with staff noting a scrivener’s error in the draft ordinance that must be corrected to show the proper end year of 2036.

Councilmember Pamela Stewart moved approval of the ordinance as amended to fix the 10‑year term; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously, 7‑0. Mayor Josh Amato thanked staff for the presentation and the first step in the RCW process. Staff said the next step is a public hearing on the proposed assessment rule, planned for September, and subsequent action to adopt the assessment rule and appoint residents to the advisory board.

Why it matters: Beaver Lake Management District renewals set an assessment framework for property owners within the lake watershed. The weighted-ballot approach required by RCW 36.61 means that lakefront parcels and other classes of property carry different vote weights tied to the proposed assessment roll; the council action keeps the renewal process on schedule so that the district can continue without service gaps.

What’s next: Staff will correct the ordinance language to reflect the 2027–2036 term, hold the assessment‑rule public hearing in September, and return with a proposed assessment rule and appointments to the advisory board.