Sammamish council receives reports on police, fire and finances

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the council received quarterly reports about the Police, Fire and Finance departments.

Police Chief Brad Thompson highlighted recent significant events that his department has organized or participated in, including the Fourth on the Plateau, National Night Out, Active Shooter and Patrol training, a community safety fair at Eastlake and back-to-school traffic emphasis.

For the latter, the police department increased enforcement in school zones, particularly near elementary schools, during the month of September. Officers issued 44 citations, 30 for speed and 14 for school zone speed violations, according to the report.

Thompson also updated the council on several personnel changes, including:

• Det. Andreas Kaltsounis accepted a position as a federal law enforcement special agent; Officer Steven Perry was chosen to fill that vacancy.

• Ken Perriera joined the department to replace David Rainey, who was promoted to sergeant.

• Officer Todd Walker completed the police motorcycle training course, and will return to the Sheriff’s Office; he will be replaced by Officer Bruce Matthews.

• LaDonna Ryan joined the department as a jobshare in the front office.

Eastside Fire & Rescue Chief Lee Soptich shared objectives that the board of directors set for him:

• The 2008 annual operating expenditures are at or below 2008 budget.

• The 2009 budget for total expenditures is less than a 5 percent increase over 2008.

• Sammamish will make a proposed operating contribution of $5.2 million, a 5.02 percent increase over 2008. Equipment replacement contribution for Sammamish is proposed at $298,265, a 4.5 percent decrease over 2008. Facility maintenance contribution for Sammamish is proposed at $40,264, an 8 percent increase over 2008.

Soptich also spoke about the history and economics of the Eastside Fire & Rescue partnership, and efficiencies to the members of the partnership.

Finance Director Lyman Howard spoke with the council about the uncertain economic environment, including falling stocks, the banking crisis, waning consumer confidence and the high potential of a recession.

Sammamish has a higher degree of reliance on property tax revenue than many cities. In 2007, property tax revenue for the city was about $19 million, or 68 percent of the total general fund revenues of $28 million, according to Howard’s report. Property tax collections were budgeted at $19.5 million for 2008; so far this year, $10.05 million has been collected.

The four major categories of city expenditures in 2007 were fire and emergency medical services, at $4.9 million or 28 percent; natural resources at $5.1 million or 29 percent; law and justice at $3.6 million or 20 percent; and other general government spending at $3.3 million or 18 percent.

The report covered numerous other topics, including development permit revenue, single family residence permits, real estate excise tax collections, impact fees and more. To see the full report, visit www.ci.sammamish.wa.us.

Howard also gave a preview of the proposed budget, noting that Sammamish is in a good position and able to fund all its programs with no cuts. The budget will include a 2.9 percent increase in general fund expenditures and a 5.6 percent increase with police and fire contracts. The general fund will have a predicted ending balance of $5.6 million.

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