Issaquah Bans Safe-Use Sites For 6 Months

ISSAQUAH, WA - The Issaquah City Council on Monday night voted to enact a six-month moratorium on safe-use sites within city limits. Safe-use sites are facilities where people can use drugs under medical supervision, and are also called Community Health Engagement Locations (CHELs). King County wants to open up to two of these facilities to prevent drug overdose deaths - there have been at least 650 since 2013 in this county alone.

Issaquah's ban comes at a strange juncture for the CHEL issue. On Monday, a King County Judge said that an initiativeto ban the facilities county-wide, I-27, could not appear on the ballot during the February special election.

Also on Monday, the King County Council voted 5-4 to place a measure on the ballot that would allow residents to approve up to two safe-use sites opening within the county.

The organizers of I-27 are expected to appeal Monday's ruling. If the higher court upholds the lower court's ruling, neither measure will appear on the February ballot. If the appellate court overturns the lower court's ruling, both initiatives will appear on the February ballot.

Issaquah joins cities like Renton and Federal Way in placing moratoriums on CHELs. Also on Monday, Bellevue voted to ban safe-use sites within city limits forever.

Here's the text of Issaquah's moratorium:

Patch file photo via Seattle police