Sammamish's Newsletter Has a New Look

The newsletter arriving in mailboxes this week will look different from past editions. In an effort to save money, use less paper, and be more efficient with city communications, the newsletter has been condensed to a brief, black and white mailer that will be mailed quarterly instead of every two months. This cuts the annual cost of producing the newsletter by more than half.

Below is a text-only version of the newsletter. You can find a PDF of the October 2026 newsletter as well as past editions here. Let us know what you think! Email communications@sammamish.us with your comments. Thank you!

Sammamish Quarterly
October 2026

Inside this Issue

Message from the Mayor
Proposed Biennial Budget 2027-2028, Quarterly Financial Report
City Council approves affordable housing fee exemptions
Updating the Strategic Communications Plan

Save the Date:

Oct. 29, Pumpkins on the Plaza @Sammamish Upper Commons, 4-7 p.m.

Oct. 31, Recycling Event @Eastside Catholic School, 9 – 3 p.m.

NOV. 3, City Council Meeting @ Sammamish City Hall, 5:30 p.m.

NOV. 7, Coffee with Council @Met Market Sammamish, 9:30 a.m.

NOV. 17, City Council Meeting @ Sammamish City Hall, 5:30 p.m.

DEC. 1, City Council Meeting @ Sammamish City Hall, 5:30 p.m.

DEC. 5, Coffee with Council @Met Market Sammamish, 9:30 a.m.

DEC. 11, Frosty Fest @ Building 120, 5 – 8 p.m.

DEC. 15, City Council Meeting @ Sammamish City Hall, 5:30 p.m.

JAN. 5, City Council Meeting @ Sammamish City Hall, 5:30 p.m.

JAN. 19, City Council Meeting @ Sammamish City Hall, 5:30 p.m.

How the City Will Communicate in 2027–2028

The City is updating its Strategic Communications Plan, the document that sets how residents get information from City Hall.

What you will see: a shorter black-and-white quarterly mailer (this format), two special print pieces when the topic warrants it (including the budget), more timely updates on the website and social channels, and a website rebuild next year that meets federal accessibility standards also known as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Departments remain responsible for keeping their own web pages and the event calendar current.

Questions: communications@sammamish.us. More information about a new website and the communications plan update will be available soon.

Sammamish Quarterly Financial Report

The City is moving to a quarterly newsletter, which will include a quarterly report. Each report will cover the last three months and the biennium to date: finances (revenue, spending, reserves), what we said we would do, what we finished, what we did not, and what we changed and why. It is written for Council and for residents. We hope this improves accountability and supports our concept of ‘no surprises.’

To view the quarterly report visit: www.sammamish.us/projects/2027-2028-budget

Sammamish Biennium Budget Update

Sammamish is a financially healthy city. The 2027–2028 proposed budget strengthens that position by reducing costs, lining funds up with the work, and investing in facilities and transportation so the City can keep current service levels and absorb the fire-and-EMS increase that will dominate this biennium.

The proposal reduces high-cost positions and vacancies, outsources a program the City could not staff, limits studies to what is required, moves capital costs onto capital money, charges internal services to the funds that use them, and sets aside a two-year transition reserve if a fire-service or City operating measure is needed later.

Economic development work will start with strategies the community can support. The proposed budget goes to Council on Oct. 6.

To review the Proposed Budget, please visit our website www.sammamish.us/projects/2027-2028-budget

City Council Approves Changes to Affordable Housing Fees

The Council approved amendments Aug. 18 to Sammamish Municipal Code (SMC) 21.10, which is the City’s Inclusionary Affordable Housing Program. Among other things, the program governs when development must pay a fee to support affordable housing. The Council’s changes make the rules more predictable for homeowners.

Key Updates Include:

Expanding the exemption threshold from 1,500 to 1,750 square feet.
Allowing projects with multiple new units to base their exemption on the average square footage across all units, rather than assessing each unit separately.
Exempting additions or expansions to existing homes, as well as homes that must be rebuilt or enlarged involuntarily (ex. after damage from storms).
Changing how the fee is calculated for larger homes. Previously, the fee applied to a home’s entire square footage once it exceeded the threshold. Now, the fee only applies to the square footage above 1,750 square feet, not the whole home.

In Brief

East Sammamish Park construction is complete: The work on East Sammamish Park was completed in September. The improvements included reconstructed baseball infields with synthetic turf, upgraded warning tracks, renovated batting cages, irrigation enhancements, and accessibility improvements. https://bit.ly/3TGBXLn

George Davis Creek construction expected to finish in November: Construction started on George Davis Creek and is continuing into the fall. A ribbon-cutting for this project is expected in the Spring of next year. https://bit.ly/4iB0Br2

Building 120 update: The City had a professional appraisal of the property completed and invited organizations that may be interested in operating Building 120 as a community facility to share their qualifications and interest through an online form. On Sept. 15, 2026, staff brought a project update to the City Council, where the options for Building 120’s future were discussed. As this effort continues to move forward, the most current information, including City Council presentations, meeting materials, and the latest project status, is available on the project webpage at www.sammamish.us/projects/building-120

Know your ride: This summer, the City acknowledged Bike, E-Bike, and E-Moto Safety Awareness Week with a proclamation accepted by Skyline High School student Divisha Arora who created Know Your Ride, which raises awareness about this topic.

To learn more visit: www.knowyourride.org or visit our website: www.sammamish.us/government/police/e-bicycles-e-motorcycles/

Housing strategy for Sammamish City Centers: City Council unanimously approved researching a new Centers Housing Strategy, which could simplify how Sammamish meets state affordable housing rules and better spread future growth across the Town Center, Inglewood, Pine Lake, and Klahanie neighborhoods. The strategy focuses new housing in areas that already have roads, utilities, and transit to support it, while still reflecting what the community wants for the Town Center. www.sammamish.us/news/city-council-approves-path-forward-for-housing-strategy-in-city-centers/

Big Rock Park South: Any building on the site would require a significant ongoing operating subsidy to be viable for public rentals, though there remains strong interest in developing and opening the park. Staff will return to Council later this year with lower-cost alternatives for consideration. https://bit.ly/4h0cHsq

The Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex: This is a community-driven document to identify and assess vulnerabilities and outline long-term strategies to reduce or eliminate injury and property damage caused by future disasters. The City’s plan is maintained as an annex to the King County plan that is updated every five years. Annexing to a federally approved hazard mitigation plan not only helps to identify regional specific risks but also ensures access to federal funding for mitigation projects. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4cUthaO

Winter preparedness: Sammamish has over 210 centerline miles and 415 lane miles of public roads. The City developed four Priority Routes, prioritizing serving the greatest number of people as well as accommodating transit, police, fire, and medical responders’ needs. Be prepared to stay indoors in the event of a snowstorm, check out our plow map and other resources here:

www.sammamish.us/government/public-works/snow-and-ice-response/

Fire safety: As temperatures cool, many households may begin to use fireplaces to help keep warm. Keep anything that can burn—such as blankets, decorations, and curtains—at least three feet away from your fireplace, and always use a sturdy screen to contain sparks. Never leave a fire unattended, and make sure it is completely extinguished before leaving your house.

A Message from the Mayor

I want to share how your City Council has been rethinking the way we work, with an eye toward being more fiscally responsible while still delivering the services and projects you count on.

Much of this starts with a mindset shift. Interim City Manager Andy Parks asked city staff to explore how artificial intelligence tools could make our operations more efficient and directed staff to provide the Council with more options when decisions come before the Council. These sorts of changes empower staff to do more with less while providing the council the opportunity to find more savings.

For example, at a recent City Council meeting we were able to trim a project expense by $67,000. We’re also changing the way we approach large infrastructure and parks projects. Rather than waiting for an entire project to be fully designed before any work begins — which leaves good ideas stuck in years of planning — we’re identifying smaller, actionable pieces that can move forward now.

We’re also making the Council’s work more efficient. We’ve reduced the number of meeting days from three to two each month while increasing the number of Work Sessions to dive into the details. Complete meeting agendas are now published a week before. These changes give you more opportunities to engage in the process. It also provides our staff time between Council meetings to get the work done that you can actually see, rather than preparing for the next Council meeting right after the last one ended.

As we head into the budget process in October and November, you’ll also see more focus on increasing efficiencies and reducing costs. This council is serious about being responsible stewards of your tax dollars, while still delivering results for you. I’m proud of the hard work our City staff has put into these efforts. I look forward to sharing more with you as it continues.

To contact City Council, please email CityCouncil@Sammamish.us for individual contact information, visit our website: www.sammamish.us/government/city-council/

To view City Council meetings and agendas, please visit: bit.ly/4cGbe87

Earthquake Safety 101

International Shakeout Day was Oct. 15, a day when millions of people worldwide will participate in earthquake drills. By taking proactive steps now, you can significantly reduce risk of injury and improve your chances of weathering the aftermath safely.

Master the drop, cover, and hold on technique

When shaking begins, immediately drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible. If no shelter is available, move to an interior wall away from windows. Hold your position until shaking stops, protecting your head and neck throughout.

Secure your living space

Identify potential hazards like televisions, mirrors, bookcases, and water heaters that could fall during shaking. Use straps, hooks, and latches to anchor these items securely.

Prepare emergency supplies

Include at least three days of food, water, and medications for portability, plus two weeks’ worth for home storage. Create a bedside emergency kit with sturdy shoes, flashlight, glasses, and a whistle for nighttime earthquakes.

Develop a communication plan

Ensure you have backup phone charging methods and battery-powered radios. Learn first aid, CPR, and how to shut off home utilities. Consider earthquake insurance, as standard policies typically don’t cover seismic damage.

Regular practice and preparation today can save lives tomorrow.

Sustainable Sammamish: Switch Your Trips This Season

Switch Your Trips is a month-long transportation event happening in Sammamish during the month of October. This campaign challenges our community to replace standard drive-alone trips with sustainable travel options such as walking, biking, rideshare, and transit.

By participating, you have a chance to win $1,500, an electric bike, or numerous other gift card prizes! Eligible modes of travel include carpool, vanpool, bus, light rail, bicycle, walking, rolling, or a combination of these.

How to Participate:

Use more sustainable travel options throughout October.

Complete and log at least ten trips during the month and you will be automatically entered in a prize drawing.

Trips can be tracked daily, weekly, or all at once at the end of the campaign.

Bus Service Change

During weekday peak period (6 a.m. - 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.), Route 269 service will increase to every 15 min from the previous 30 min intervals. Service hours are also extended from 7 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. On weekends, Route 269 will get new Saturday and Sunday service, with buses arriving every 30 min from 8:30 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.

Protect Yourself from Financial Scams

The City has received reports of scams involving callers pretending to represent banks and other financial institutions. They can spoof phone numbers. These scammers may claim there is an issue with your account and ask you to wire or transfer money. Don’t do it. Wired money is often lost money.

If you receive an unexpected call asking you to send money or provide financial information, just hang up. Contact your bank directly by visiting or calling your local branch to confirm whether there is actually an issue with your account.

Residents are also encouraged to talk with family members, particularly those who may be more vulnerable to scams, about phone and financial safety. Remind them not to provide account information, passwords, PINs or verification codes to unexpected callers. If you have questions, reach out to Sammamish Police, contact information can be found here:

Sammamish Quarterly October 2026