While she has a year left on her first term, Bothell City Councilwoman Tris Samberg said she has served the city in one form or another for well over a decade.

Before joining council, Samberg spent 10 years on the city planning commission.

On Oct. 11, during Bothell’s regular council meeting, Samberg announced this next year will be her last in any office. She said she will not run for reelection when her current council term expires at the end of 2011.

“It’s time for somebody else to step up,” Samberg said later. “After 14 years, I’m ready to spend more time with my family.”

Samberg is married with an eight-year-old son.

According to Samberg, she announced her plans well in advance of her leaving office in order to give any interested parties plenty of opportunities to visit council sessions and meet with council members. She said she wants her replacement to know what it means to be a local legislator, to be as educated about the position as possible.

“It takes more than passion and time to do this job,” Samberg said, though she later added a passion for the city certainly doesn’t hurt.

Samberg said she would be more than happy to answer questions from anyone considering taking her place. She added potential candidates can contact her at meetings or through her council e-mail.

Between now and the end of next year, Samberg said she hopes to help the city set up its next budget, to try and ensure Bothell operates in a fiscally responsible manner. She also said she wants to see some further work completed on a few of the city’s various capital improvements, including the rebuilding of Wayne Curve and the Crossroads project, which will see a major revamping of the intersection of the city’s state routes. Work is underway on both those undertakings.