Due to the economic hardships of 2009 and the resultant cut in city services, Mayor Ava Frisinger said this week that the City of Issaquah would remain focused on “the City’s essential services” in 2010.

In her annual State of the City address at City Hall on Tuesday night, Frisinger thanked citizens and officials for their support during the recession, and highlighted the accomplishments achieved in spite of lay-offs and reduced hours in her administration.

“Thanks to the hard work of our community… we also pushed ahead and implemented many of Issaquah’s top priorities, from making road safety improvements to building artificial turf fields at Central Park,” she said.

Frisinger also highlighted the construction of the city’s first roundabout intersection at East Sammamsish Parkway and Southeast 43rd Way, the hiring of another police detective, developing Cybil-Madeline Park in the downtown area, and creating a community disaster response plans for events such as a flood or influenza outbreak.

“It’s important to note these community enhancements, and much more, was accomplished within our limited budget,” she said.

The mayor presented a city-produced video featuring questions from several residents reflecting on what she called “the community’s top goals and core values”, covering topics such as the environment, transportation, planning, efficiency, and sustainability.

“Issaquah is known as a special place where people care” and value public participation in government, Frisinger said. “While the unsettled economy has presented numerous challenges for our community, this is also a time of great opportunity for Issaquah.”

In the meantime, the development of a new fire station, Swedish Medical Center and YWCA affordable housing are expected to increase the desirability of the city and drive some of the immediate economic development here.

Looking ahead, the mayor said long-range planning efforts such as the Central Issaquah Plan and the Issaquah Technology Task force would promote a sustainable future for the city.

The newly created technology task force, comprised of local technology experts in the private sector and a number of city representatives, will explore and develop a comprehensive technology infrastructure business plan for the Issaquah community.

This will include the development of a community-wide fiber optics network.

“During 2010, our priority is this: Supporting our community today, while also carefully shaping the building blocks for our bright future ahead,” Frisinger said.