Councilmember Paul Adair

10/03/2026

Happy Salmon Days! 🐟

Had a great time walking the parade with CM Boyd. I hope everyone comes out and has a wonderful Salmon Days weekend!

09/21/2026

🏛️ SEPT 8 - Council Meeting Recap

The prior Sep 8 meeting included several new policy discussions, along with an important conversation about Eastside Fire & Rescue's proposed budget.

🏘️ Neighborhood Businesses

Council approved adding a proposal to the 2027 work plan that would explore allowing small, neighborhood-scale businesses in more areas of Issaquah. The idea is connected to the City's goal of creating more "10-minute neighborhoods," where everyday services and destinations are closer to where people live.

⚡ Clean Energy Planning

We also began exploring two potential clean-energy initiatives: regulations for battery energy storage systems and the possibility of creating a public development authority focused on clean energy. Both will begin with informational presentations in early 2027 so Council can better understand the opportunities, challenges and legal considerations before deciding whether to move forward.

🚒 Eastside Fire & Rescue

I also shared the proposed Eastside Fire & Rescue budget, which calls for a 15% increase over the current budget. As one of several cities and agencies that make up EFR, Issaquah doesn't control the entire budget, but our representatives will ultimately need to vote on it. We discussed the major cost drivers, including increased fuel and insurance costs, prior underfunding and especially rising overtime costs. We'll be working through additional questions before the October EFR Board meeting.

09/19/2026

🐶 My pup is anxiously awaiting my Council recaps…

Unfortunately, they’re WAY behind. 😂

It’s been a busy month, and I owe everyone an update on what’s been happening at City Hall. I’m working to get caught up and share some of the recent Council activity soon.

Hope everyone is enjoying the last stretch of summer! More to come. 🐾

08/27/2026

🐶 Happy National Dog Day!

We have a new addition to our family! We’re so happy to have him as part of the family. Welcome home, Kirby! 🐾

Now we just need to work on teaching him that shoes are not for eating. 😂

08/07/2026

🏛️ City Council Recap

Monday's meeting focused on our parks, infrastructure, water, and transportation.

🌳 Park Bond Public Hearing

We held the public hearing for the Park Bond renewal that will appear on the November ballot. Residents shared thoughtful comments both in support of and in opposition to the bond, including feedback on individual projects.

The Council has voted 6-1 to place the measure on the ballot, and now the decision belongs to the voters.

I personally strongly support this bond because I believe it is an important investment in our parks, trails, and recreational facilities. Just as importantly, it renews the existing levy rather than increasing the tax rate, allowing us to continue investing in our community while being mindful of today's financial challenges.

💧 Regional Water Supply

We received an update from Cascade Water Alliance regarding the region's long-term water supply. Because our current agreement with Seattle ends in 2041, our region is preparing for a new connection to Tacoma Water.

The scale and cost of this infrastructure project are significant, and many of us on Council were surprised by the projected impacts. While this is a regional issue rather than a City project, we'll continue working with our regional and state partners to explore ways to reduce costs while ensuring a reliable long-term water supply.

🚧 Holding Contractors Accountable

Council approved emergency funding related to the recent Ridgewood Circle water main break caused during fiber internet installation.

The emergency repairs have already been completed, and those costs are being billed back to the responsible fiber company. The company will not be allowed to resume work until those costs are paid. We also discussed the expectations we have for utility contractors and the importance of protecting our infrastructure as fiber expansion continues.

🚲 Newport Way Improvements

We approved the next step for the Newport Way improvement project between SR 900 and SE 54th Street.

This project will add safer sidewalks, bike lanes, landscaping, and a new shared-use trail as part of the Creeks to Peaks regional trail system while improving traffic flow.

One exciting piece of news is that we secured additional grant funding that allows both construction phases to be combined into a single project in 2027. By building everything at once, the City estimates we'll save roughly 25% compared to constructing the phases separately. That's a great example of finding efficiencies while delivering better infrastructure for our community.

🚗 Parking Regulations

Discussion on proposed parking regulation updates, including parking near mailboxes, was postponed until September's Services, Safety & Parks Committee meeting. I support taking additional time to gather community input before making changes.

August won't include any additional regular Council meetings as staff focuses on preparing the 2027-2028 budget, but committee meetings and regional work will continue throughout the month.

As always, thank you to everyone who follows along and stays engaged with the work we're doing to serve Issaquah.

08/03/2026

I was there! I promise!

https://www.theurbanist.org/issaquah-breaks-ground-on-affordable-housing-project-ten-years-in-the-making/

08/02/2026

“They should have it like this all the time!” - Overheard at Al Fresca On Front

07/31/2026

🎉 Breaking Ground on Issaquah's Trailhead Development!

Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending the groundbreaking ceremony for the Trailhead Development Project, a milestone that has been nearly 10 years in the making.

This project represents the kind of thoughtful, long-term investment that will benefit our community for decades to come. Located next to the Issaquah Transit Center and Tibbetts Valley Park, it brings together housing, transportation, healthcare, and public space in one connected, walkable neighborhood.

When complete, the project will include:
🏠 Affordable apartments serving households earning 40-60% of Area Median Income.
🏘️ Additional market-rate homes, creating a true mixed-income community.
🏥 Dedicated to medical and behavioral health services for low-income residents.

It was inspiring to celebrate this achievement alongside fellow elected officials, King County leaders, community partners, and everyone whose vision and persistence helped make this day possible.

Projects like this don't happen overnight. They take years of planning, partnership, and commitment. Seeing construction finally begin is an exciting reminder that big ideas can become reality when a community works together.

Congratulations to everyone who helped move this incredible project from vision to groundbreaking. I can't wait to see it take shape!

07/23/2026

🏛️ Council Meeting Recap

Monday's meeting included several important policy discussions, with the biggest focused on Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology.

👮 ALPR Policy

Over the past several months, we've heard from many residents about concerns surrounding ALPR cameras. The Administration presented three possible paths forward: adopt the state policy, develop a more restrictive local policy with additional safeguards, or pursue a complete ban.

After considerable discussion, Council determined that none of the proposed ordinance options met the community's expectations. In particular, many residents have expressed a desire for a fully local, closed-loop system that the administration isn't currently feasible.

Because of that, we voted to table development of an ALPR ordinance indefinitely. Our existing resolution remains in place, meaning ALPR technology is not authorized for use in Issaquah and will remain that way unless a future policy is brought back to Council.

I also raised the idea of exploring a broader surveillance technology policy rather than addressing only ALPR. I believe that conversation may provide a more comprehensive framework for evaluating emerging technologies in the future. I will continue discussions on that idea and if there is support for by council and the public on something more broad.

🏗️ Smarter Infrastructure

Council approved targeted updates to our street standards that reduce unnecessary costs for certain public utility projects while maintaining safety and allowing us to invest resources where they'll have the greatest benefit.

🏠 More Housing Options

We aCouncil approved a new self-certification program for Detached Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), making it easier, faster, and less expensive for homeowners to build ADUs while meeting new state requirements.

I'm excited about this change because ADUs are one important way we can expand housing options in Issaquah. By reducing unnecessary barriers while maintaining safety and quality standards, we can help create more attainable housing throughout our community.

📋 Rental Fee Transparency

Finally, we discussed a proposal to explore an ordinance requiring landlords to clearly disclose all rental fees so tenants understand the true cost of renting.

I supported first holding a public town hall to better understand local experiences before developing policy. While that amendment did not pass, Council approved moving the proposal forward for future work. Since this work is not expected until 2027, there will still be many opportunities for residents, landlords, and housing providers to share their perspectives. I also continue to believe this issue is best addressed at the state or regional level whenever possible, and I hope we'll see progress there as well.

Thank you to everyone who continues to participate in these discussions and share your perspectives. Your input truly helps shape the decisions we make.

07/07/2026