Skip to content

City of Sammamish with Council-Manager form of government pays an estimated $400,000 in severance to City Manager, changed city managers six times in five years

Prop 1 proposes to change Clyde Hill’s form of government to the Council-Manager form. As a result of this change, the City Council can hire and fire a City Manager with a simple majority. The City of Sammamish uses this proposed Council-Manager form of government.  

Recently, Sammamish paid an estimated $400,000 in severance to part ways with their latest city manager (Sammamish Independent Link). According to the Seattle Times, in 2018 $300,000 was paid in severance to another City Manager. It has been a revolving door for Sammamish as they have gone through six city managers (three permanent, one interim, and two acting city managers in the last five years, Seattle Times Link). 

If Prop 1 passes: 

  1. Could Clyde Hill be stuck in the same situation? 
  2. Would this constant churn of City Managers cause major disruptions to services for the residents of Clyde Hill? 
  3. Would property tax have to be increased (levy lid lift) to pay for the multiple rounds of severance packages and hiring-related fees? 

What is happening in Sammamish serves as a cautionary tale.  Is this proposed change in government best for Clyde Hill?  

The article links here: 

  • Sammamish Independent Article:  Link 
  • Seattle Times Article: Link 

Vote No on Prop 1

Recent News
Clyde Hill’s Quiet Coup: How the City Council Silenced Your Voice

While many residents of Clyde Hill were on summer vacation, the City Council made a move that could have a lasting impact on local governance—and not for the better. On July 30, in a narrow 3-2 vote, the Council passed a motion that significantly alters the process for public input on crucial development decisions. This …

The Problem of Speeding on Clyde Hill’s Residential Roads

Speeding on Clyde Hill residential roads remains an ongoing and concerning problem. Despite various efforts, the issue persists, particularly during rush hour when commuters seek shortcuts through Clyde Hill to evade major traffic congestion on thoroughfares like SR-520 or I-90. One contributing factor to this problem is the reliance on GPS apps, which often redirect …

Navigating the Blog Landscape in Clyde Hill 

Over the past two years, more blogs have emerged covering news in Clyde Hill. Our blog, Clyde Hill Coalition, is run by private citizens. Others are operated by elected officials, including Clyde Hill City Councilmembers Dean Hachamovitch and Steve Sinwell. Hachamovitch has drawn attention because of the blurred lines between his personal blog and official …

Stay in the know with our newsletter.